Program Areas: Online Courses

A variety of Good Roads courses that can be taken online for your convenience.

HR Essentials for Public Works

System Upgrade in Progress! We’re improving how we manage course registrations to serve you better. During this transition, beginning August 8th, online registration will be temporarily unavailable — but you can still register using our PDF forms located here.

 

Course Schedule

This is an instructor-led online course. There will be one 2-hour virtual lesson each week for a total of 4 weeks. In addition, there will be pre and post work such as readings and activities. Participants should plan to spend 2.5 – 3 hours on this course each week.  (2 hours in the virtual lesson and up to 1 hour for pre/post work)

Online content opens Thursday, Nov 6th
Virtual Lessons take place on Thursday, Nov 13, 20, 27, and Dec 4th from 1 – 3 pm

Course Description

Today’s organizations are doing more with fewer resources allocated to people services. And organizations are investing in their Management Team to become better Human Resource Leaders.

This introduction to HR Talent and Performance Management is designed for those who would like to learn about HR fundamentals and better manage their people resources This program was designed to introduce the many facets of HR and share foundational HR concepts to support your role. This HR 101 for non-HR professionals will help municipal leaders be better prepared to manage the HR function and align key practices and programs with their most valuable asset – people

The program goal is to provide you with the key skills to lead the HR function while engaging, selecting, retaining, and developing your top talent.   Learn HR skills for non – HR managers while networking with other small municipalities.

Highlights

  • Interactive programming and virtual discussions led by an experienced Facilitator
  • Opportunity to network with other leaders from small municipalities
  • Participant Workbook for note taking and self reflection (printable PDF)
  • Curated content via our D2L learning management system
  • Action plan that aligns with performance and personal development

Participants who attend all virtual lessons will receive a certificate of completion.

Course Content

  • Strategic Human Resources
  • Human Resources foundational topics
  • Recruitment & selection
  • Performance management
  • Coaching and feedback

Who Should Attend?

This course is designed for:

  • mangers that do not have a Human Resources department to support their talent and performance development needs.
  • those that would like to increase their level of awareness of HR functions, and how you can improve your people programs

Snow School

System Upgrade in Progress! We’re improving how we manage course registrations to serve you better. During this transition, beginning August 8th, online registration will be temporarily unavailable — but you can still register using our PDF forms located here.

Thanks for your patience and support!

T.J. Mahony Road School – Construction Section

System Upgrade in Progress! We’re improving how we manage course registrations to serve you better. During this transition, beginning August 8th, online registration will be temporarily unavailable — but you can still register using our PDF forms located here.

Bridge and Structure Inspection

Using the concepts, procedures, and methods identified in the Ontario Structure Inspection Manual (OSIM) you will:
• Identify the type and severity of material defects,
• Assess and rate the condition of a variety of bridge elements, and
• Report your findings using the OSIM forms.

Course Content
• Types of Bridges
• Bridge Elements
• Materials focusing on concrete, steel, and asphalt.
• Material defects
• Procedures for conducting and documenting a detailed visual inspection using OSIM, including identification of material defects, material condition, defect severity levels, and performance deficiencies.
• Inspection Safety
• Field trips to bridges

Who Should Attend
Government employees, consultants, and contractors involved in the detailed visual inspections of bridges, or individuals who need to gain an understanding of OSIM reports.

Recommendations
A basic understanding of bridge types and bridge elements.

Materials Required
• CSA approved safety vest, hard hat, safety boots, safety glasses, and appropriate outdoor clothing for the field trips.
o Clothing: CSA Standard Z96-15
o Hard Hats: CSA Standard Z94.1-15
o Work Boots: CSA Standard Z195-14
o Safety Glasses: Z94.3.1-16
• Calculator

Evaluation Process
Pre-course evaluation, case studies, field assignments, and open-book knowledge evaluation.

Accreditation:

This course is recognized by:

  • This course is recognized by:This course qualifies as a “specialized course” for the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors (AORS) Certified Road Supervisors – Intermediate level (CRS-I) certification program.
  • This course may be used for technical specialist, technician, and technologist programs. Point Value = 7
  • The Engineering Institute of Canada awards 3 Continuing Education Units to this course.

T.J. Mahony Road School – Maintenance Section

NEW in 2025: Course fees now include a complimentary meal plan (breakfast, lunch, & breaks).

The Maintenance section provides participants with a basic foundation prior to attending any of the C.S. Anderson Road School courses. The T.J. Mahony Road School is a two-part course comprised of a construction and a maintenance section. Road construction and road maintenance are offered in alternate years.

Course Content

  • Minimum Maintenance Standards
  • Road maintenance and drainage legislation
  • Drainage structures maintenance
  • Road surface maintenance
  • Road markings
  • Legal demo
  • Roadside maintenance
  • Signs, signals and devices
  • Winter maintenance
  • Legal issues

Who Should Attend
Public works employees involved in road construction and/or maintenance.

Certificate
A grade of 65% is required on each of the two Mahony sections to successfully complete the course.

Accreditation
This course is recognized by:

  • The T.J. Mahony completion certificate is one of the options for the AORS Certified Road Supervisors Certification program, contact AORS for additional details.
    Must take both construction and maintenance to obtain 10 points credit in the technical specialist exam program.
  • These courses may be used for the technical specialist program if you complete the construction course and the maintenance course. Point Value:  10
  • The Engineering Institute of Canada awards 2 Continuing Education Units to this course.

Effective Management

NEW in 2025: Course fees now include a complimentary meal plan (breakfast, lunch, & breaks).

Course Content
•    Management vs. leadership
•    Communications
•    Conflict management
•    Work & personal life balance
•    Organizational structure & culture
•    Team building
•    Performance management
•    Emotional intelligence

Who Should Attend
Municipal supervisors and managers, and future supervisors.

Accreditation
This course is recognized by:

  • This course or Managing Human Resources is a mandatory requirement for the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors (AORS) Certified Road Supervisors – Intermediate level (CRS-I) certification program.
  • This course may be used for the technical specialist program only. Point Value = 5
  • The Engineering Institute of Canada awards 2 Continuing Education Units to this course.

 

Signs & Lines

Signs and Lines offers practical experience in using Ontario Traffic Manuals 5, 6 & 11. You will learn, through participation in group activities how signs and lines assist drivers as they travel from their point of origin to their destination. You will return to your municipality with an understanding of how these manuals work together plus a list of best practices to help minimize risk and defend the municipality in an insurance claim.

Course Content

  • Principles of Positive Guidance
  • Influencing driver safety
  • Sign manufacturing & Three Speed Triangle
  • Best practices for ordering road signs
  • MMS Requirements for Signs
  • Retroreflectivity & Reflective Sheeting
  • Sign Management Program
  • Regulatory Signs (OTM 5)
  • Warning Signs (OTM 6)
  • Pavement, Hazard and Delineation Markings (OTM 11)
  • Collision investigations

Who Should Attend

Decision makers and individuals responsible for the selection and placement of regulatory signs, warning signs, and the pavement, hazard and delineation markings.

Accreditation

  • This course qualifies as a “specialized course” for the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors (AORS) Certified Road Supervisors – Intermediate level (CRS-I) certification program.
  • The Engineering Institute of Canada awards 2 Continuing Education Units to this course.

This course can be completed online. Please visit https://goodroads.ca/program-detail/?program_area=olc for more information.