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As Ontario’s construction sector prepares to kickstart into a hoped-for recovery that ideally will include the next housing boom and a reinvented large-projects regime, Toronto’s George Brown College and the Ontario Building Officials Association are stepping up to ensure there’s a sufficient inspection workforce in place to deliver essential building approvals.

Next week, George Brown with the support of the OBOA will launch the fall 2025 intake of the��, a free, 16-week training initiative designed to fast-track talent into careers as building inspectors and other associated building officials.

It’s the fourth year for the program.

OBOA registrar Francois Couture, a Sault Ste. Marie building inspector and OBOA board member, said these are challenging times for the profession, with municipalities experiencing a crunch for qualified officials as they prepare for the next upturn in construction, when builders more than ever will be demanding swift approvals.

Half close to retirement

Building officials, who are employed by municipalities to examine and inspect building construction and apply the Ontario Building code, will be a key part of expedited project delivery, Couture said.

Unfortunately, a 2023 report found over 50 per cent of current Ontario building officials are close to retirement.

“There’s a great need,” said Couture. “Since they announced More Homes Built Faster, there’s a big gap there.

“Municipalities are having a hard time finding qualified practitioners.”

City of Ottawa chief building official John Buck, City of Mississauga director of human resources Lori Kelly and City of Kitchener chief building official Mike Seiling all acknowledged the tight recruiting environment.

Buck explained how the City of Ottawa relies on a provincially approved internship program – similar to an apprenticeship – to endeavour to meet its recruiting needs.

Still, said Buck, “Despite the success of the internship, recruiting fully qualified, job-ready building officials who already hold all required provincial credentials remains very challenging.”

Kelly said Mississauga is competing in a tight labour market where municipalities are drawing from the same limited pool of qualified candidates.

“The role demands specialized expertise to keep pace with an evolving building code and regulations, which further narrows the field of suitable applicants,” she said.

Couture and Seiling suggested awareness of what the profession entails is a major barrier. Seiling said the City of Kitchener regularly reaches out to Conestoga College students to offer a job description and discuss what qualifications are required. Couture said it’s not like explaining to students what a police officer or teacher does.

“We’re trying to create awareness, and to trigger students to be interested in this profession, because it’s a great profession,” said Couture. “You’re working for municipalities. There’s great benefits, great pay, great work/life balance.”

George Brown��has been the official training provider for building code courses and manuals on behalf of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing since 2015.

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Free program launches

The free program this fall begins Sept. 15 with a second instalment beginning Nov. 24.

The program includes four weeks of study on workplace culture, occupational communication and job readiness, followed by 12 weeks of technical building code training.

Graduates of the program receive a Building Officials Fundamentals Certificate from George Brown and are prepared to write the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s BCIN (Building Code Identification Number) exams.

Those who pass are eligible to receive the OBOA’s Building Code Qualified certification in Housing.

Certification can include small or large projects, management, specialty plans examiner or specialization in HVAC, mechanical, plumbing and more.

“This program is about more than just training, it’s about real pathways to employment,” said��Joseph Sirianni, George Brown’s director of corporate training, in a statement.

Couture said the profession’s high retirement rate stems from the fact the work tends to attract a significant number of workers with experience in the trades who transition later in their careers.

“We’re seeing a lot of mature students,” he said. “You know, either being an electrician, or carpenter and saying, ‘You know what, my body’s hurting right now, and I need something else. But I love the building aspect.’”

Coursework requires application of the new Ontario Building Code of 2024.

“We had tremendous amounts of revising our courses, and we’re all up to date, and we’re ready,” said Couture.