With the blessing
of the OCCA Council in London, initial enquiries were made in
early 1970 into the feasibility of forming a Branch or Section
of OCCA in Ontario.
Discussions
were held at that time with the Canadian Institute of Chemistry
/ Surface Coatings Branch and the Toronto Society for Coating
Technology. The intent was not to compete directly for membership
with these established institutions but to try to find a special
niche in Ontario which would complement their activities.
The main conclusions
of these discussions were:
That OCCA
could perform a significant role in organizing and providing
training facilities for young non-acedemically qualified people
in the coloured pigment-using industries.
That the
need for training and related facilities was greatest in the
printing ink industry.
Unfortunately,
the final conclusion was that the timing was not right and that
the plans to start OCCA in Ontario were premature.
It was the
arrival in Toronto in 1974 of Herbert Worsdal of the OCCA London
Section, with a special mandate from OCCA Council to get OCCA
established in Ontario, that provided the vital spark or specific
catalyst to get this underway.
The first
formative "meeting" was held in the reception area of
the Skyline Hotel and approximately eight OCCA members were in
attendance. At this meeting, it was decided that a Branch of OCCA
should be formed and that this would be a Branch of the London
Section. The intent was also expressed to obtain full Section
Status as soon as possible.
Based on his
previous experience as Vice Chairman of the Scottish Section,
Peter Birrell "volunteered" to stand for election as
the Chairman of the Ontario Branch.
Response from
OCCA members and especially from new members was extremely encouraging
and the Branch set about its main aims.
To provide
training facilities for young people in the pigment-using industries.
To concentrate,
initially at least, on the printing ink industry.
To obtain
Section status as soon as possible.
In relation
to 1 and 2, mention must be made of the excellent assistance and
guidance provided by Barrie Porteous and Walter Fibiger in OCCA
/ Ontario establishing its own Printing Ink Technology Course.
The first graduates qualified in 1981 with certificates recognized
by the Canadian Printing Ink Manufacturers and by OCCA world-wide.
Section status
was acheived in 1976. In the 15 years since then, what has differientated
the Ontario Secton from others is:
the high
attendances at its technical meetings, in relation to total
membership.
its emphasis
on youth.
the increasing
role of females in its technical activities.
The future
is very promising for the Ontario Section.
