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OPBA 2026 Annual Meeting

Thursday, June 25, 2026 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET | Virtual

Registration closes Tuesday, June 23, 2026

OPBA members in good standing are encouraged to attend the 2026 Annual Meeting to vote in the Board of Directors election, participate in association business, and hear updates on OPBA initiatives and priorities for the year ahead.

Members Only | Free Registration | Eligible for 1.00 Contact Hour

Special 30-Minute Feature

AI in Procurement: Contracts, Vendors & Risk in a Changing Landscape

Presented by Info-Tech Research Group

Get a preview of an upcoming OPBA Annual Conference pre-conference workshop exploring how AI is reshaping contracts, vendor relationships, and risk in public procurement.

👉 Register for the AGM

Member Awareness: Bill 194, Bill 97 and MFIPPA Amendments

Following OPBA’s June 9 Coffee with Counsel session presented by Lise Patry on Ontario Bill 194, OPBA is sharing an additional legislative update for member awareness, particularly for municipal members and public agencies.

Bill 97 received Royal Assent on April 24, 2026, and includes amendments to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). These amendments align municipal privacy obligations more closely with the FIPPA framework adopted under Bill 194 and include requirements related to privacy impact assessments, breach reporting, breach notification, and enhanced IPC oversight powers.

The MFIPPA amendments come into force in stages, with certain provisions effective July 1, 2026, and others effective January 1, 2027.

While this update may not affect procurement directly, it may be important for municipal members and public agencies to be aware of.

NCPP Tracking Project Coming to Canada

The National Cooperative Procurement Partners (NCPP) is launching its Tracking Project in Canada, an initiative designed to better understand the true costs associated with conducting public procurement bids and tenders in Canadian organizations.

The project will collect data from participating procurement teams to help identify the time and resources involved throughout the procurement process — from procurement staff and subject matter experts to legal review and contract award activities.

NCPP is encouraging as many public sector entities as possible to participate. Participating organizations will receive a report outlining their own bid costs compared to national averages, while contributing to broader benchmarking insights for the Canadian procurement community.

Additional information, FAQs, and the submission form are available on the dedicated Canada project webpage.

👉 Learn more about the NCPP Canada Tracking Project

We are conducting the 2026 Member Survey to better understand the challenges and priorities of our members. The strength of OPBA comes from valued members, like you; professionals who share their knowledge, support one another, invest in their development, volunteer, and help advance the public procurement profession every day.

As OPBA continues to grow, we welcome you to help shape the future priorities of the association through our member survey.

Complete the Survey by July 17

👉 Click here to begin the survey

OPBA Board Approves New Statements of Commitment on DEI and Indigenous Engagement

Two years ago, OPBA began a deliberate journey to strengthen awareness and build practices that support a more inclusive and responsive association. As a first step, we invited members to join a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee. What began as a small group of members grew steadily into a dedicated committee, strengthening its capacity and commitment to learning, listening, and leading change.

Through an environmental scan and exploration of leading practices across other organizations, the Committee deepened its understanding of how OPBA can better serve its members and the broader procurement community.

This work culminated in two important documents, both of which are posted on the OPBA website.

In May 2026, the OPBA Board of Directors formally approved both Statements, along with their supporting action plans.

OPBA Annual Conference 2026: Build Your Conference Experience

Planning to join us in London this September? The OPBA Annual Conference 2026 program is now available, making it a great time to explore the sessions, workshops, networking opportunities, and special events taking place this year.

Under the theme Procuring for Tomorrow: Are You Ready for It?, this year’s conference will bring public procurement professionals together at RBC Place London for practical learning, timely discussions, and opportunities to connect with peers from across the public sector.

The program features keynote presentations, educational sessions, networking events, and pre-conference workshops, including OPBA’s newest course, Contract Management, and AI Contracts in the Real World, presented by Info-Tech Research Group. Attendees can also learn more about this year’s conference charity initiative and start planning how they want to make the most of their time at the event.

Before the conference begins, members and partners are also invited to take part in the Caveat Emptor Cup Golf Tournament on September 22 at Echo Valley Golf Club in London — a relaxed opportunity to connect with colleagues ahead of the main conference.

👉 View the conference program and event details

👉 Register for the golf tournament

Coming Soon: Public Procurement Training for Elected Officials and Senior Leaders

This new online, self-paced training program is designed specifically for elected officials and senior non-procurement leaders who play a role in procurement oversight, governance, decision-making, and accountability.

Participants will gain a practical understanding of public procurement, procurement risks, and the important role leadership plays in supporting fair, transparent, and defensible procurement processes.

We encourage you to share this upcoming training opportunity with leaders across your organization.

Watch for more details and introductory launch pricing coming August 1.

OPBA Mentoring Program: Share Your Experience

Experienced procurement professionals play an important role in shaping the next generation of public procurement leaders.

The OPBA Mentoring Program provides an opportunity for members to give back to the profession by sharing knowledge, offering guidance, and supporting colleagues navigating their careers in public procurement.

At the same time, mentees gain valuable perspectives, practical advice, and professional connections that extend beyond their own organizations.

👉 Visit the OPBA website to learn more about becoming a Mentor or Mentee

Mentoring strengthens both individuals and the broader public procurement community.

Questions? Contact members@opba.ca

Member Recognition

OPBA extends warm congratulations to Lori Friesen of Haldimand County and Irene Kiourdi of the City of Richmond Hill on their retirements.

Thank you, Lori and Irene, for your years of service, professionalism and contributions to Ontario’s public procurement community. We wish you both all the very best as you begin this exciting next chapter.

PPLL Courses

Structured learning to build procurement knowledge and skills

As the cornerstone of OPBA's educational offerings, PPLL provides a more comprehensive and meaningful learning experience through a blend of self-paced online modules and a virtual classroom session via Zoom in the final week.

Pro-D Webinars

Practical learning for public procurement professionals

OPBA Ignite: Navigating the OECM Indigenous Marketplace

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET (Virtual Event)

Registration closes on June 22, 2026 at 12 PM ET

OECM’s Indigenous Marketplace reflects our commitment to social procurement and economic reconciliation, in alignment with TRC Call to Action 92. Through this initiative, 40+ qualified Indigenous suppliers have been vetted to help municipalities advance their Indigenous engagement journey in a practical and compliant way.

Coffee with Counsel: Breaking Up with a Vendor - Managing Difficult Supplier Relationships Legally and Defensibly

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET (Virtual Event)

Registration closes June 29, 2026 - 12:00 PM ET.

At some point, every public procurement team encounters a supplier relationship that becomes difficult to manage. Performance concerns, communication challenges, contract disputes, and ongoing operational frustrations can create significant risk and strain for public agencies.

But when is it appropriate to move on from a vendor, and what legal, contractual, and procurement considerations should organizations keep in mind before taking action?

Join Jung Ah Kwon, Senior Counsel, Legal Services at the LCBO, for an interactive Coffee with Counsel discussion exploring real-world challenges and considerations related to difficult supplier relationships in the public sector. This session will focus on practical lessons learned, common risk areas, and considerations procurement professionals should be aware of when navigating challenging vendor situations.

👉 View the full OPBA learning calendar, delivered by PPLL 

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The OPBA is diversifying its revenue sources so that we are not solely reliant on revenue generated through membership fees. Our goals are to strengthen the financial health of the association and continue to deliver valued member services while maintaining a reasonable cost of membership. We appreciate the support of our partner vendors and suppliers, many of whom have advertising and sponsored content in this enews. Articles provided by advertisers are solely for the purpose of raising awareness. OPBA does not endorse, promote, or advocate any products and services.

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The Ontario Public Buyers Association (OPBA) is a not-for-profit professional association representing public procurement professionals throughout Ontario. We promote the ethical and effective expenditure of public funds and encourage excellence in public purchasing through our continuing professional development opportunities, the encouragement of certification programs and through networking among our members.

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