The Ontario Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Contractors Association (ORAC) and The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen ties.

According to the press release, the two groups will:

• Join forces to increase their impact and efficiency in specific areas of mutual interest;
• Identify and appoint a government relations specialist to engage with the Ontario Provincial government;
• Share in the appointment of a public relations firm to develop and disseminate messaging that will benefit the members of both HRAI and ORAC.
• Create a joint Ontario Government Relations Committee consisting of equal members from each organization.

In addition, the two organizations will supply appointees from within their ranks to attend each of the other’s conferences and key meetings and sit on particular bodies such as the ORAC Associates Committee and the HRAI Contractors Division Board. Other joint initiatives are still being finalized and are likely to include a webinar series, communications campaigns, and sharing of research resources.

“This new relationship will benefit members of both HRAI and ORAC,” said HRAI President & CEO Sandy MacLeod in the press release. “It will optimize the resources of both organizations, advance our mutual goals, and create synergies from the combined effort.”