The healthcare housekeeping industry in Ontario is applauding the merger of the Ontario Healthcare Housekeepers Association (OHHA) with ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association. As OHHA joins ISSA’s Canadian division, ISSA Canada, the association will now be known as OHHA, a Division of ISSA.
Formed in 1957, OHHA is an association dedicated to the advancement of the healthcare housekeeping industry as an integral partner of any team caring for patients and residents in both hospitals and long-term care facilities in Ontario. OHHA has delivered on its mission by providing housekeeping management staff, lead hands and frontline staff with the tools, educational resources, and training to upgrade their qualifications as true professionals.
“We are so pleased to have OHHA and its members join our growing ISSA family,” said ISSA Executive Director John Barrett. “It is without question a union of immense strategic importance not only to the healthcare industry in Canada, but in North America as well. This merger further demonstrates our commitment to all sectors of the cleaning industry worldwide.”
According to Wendy Boone, Executive Director of OHHA, “It has always been the goal of our forefathers to become a national organization, and we can now see this goal coming to fruition.”
“This is such an exciting opportunity to ensure the OHHA remains strong and continues to be the leader in the health care housekeeping and environmental services profession,” Boone said. “Not only will we be able to elevate our members in Ontario with the highest-quality educational resources to succeed, but we will be capable of servicing health care housekeepers across Canada.”
All OHHA members who are current with their dues will be automatically transferred to ISSA’s OHHA membership category. Active OHHA members gain access to all the benefits of both ISSA and ISSA Canada, including expanded educational opportunities, market exposure, networking events, business tools and resources, certifications and much more.
IEHA, a Division of ISSA, which serves executive housekeepers at commercial, industrial, institutional and health care facilities, is delighted to welcome Wendy Boone and OHHA into the family.
“This new collaboration will allow OHHA to have a broader reach in Canada, and allow members to have expanded resources and educational opportunities,” said IEHA Executive Director Michael Patterson. “We look forward to assisting Wendy and her team in accomplishing OHHA’s goals, and providing them with a platform to be part of a global initiative to bring awareness and growth to the health care housekeeping industry.”
The merger further demonstrates ISSA Canada’s initiative to unite all facets of the Canadian cleaning and sanitary maintenance industry and help change the way the world views cleaning.
“With OHHA standing alongside ISSA and ISSA Canada, we can ensure the long-term success and stability of the health care housekeeping and environmental services industry in Canada,” said ISSA Canada Executive Director Mike Nosko. “OHHA has a great leader in Wendy Boone, who has the vision and drive to take this industry to the next level. Additional services and added marketing support will provide further value to the successful OHHA educational platform, which will help grow membership across Canada. This is truly an opportunity to have a great voice and we look forward to supporting the OHHA.”
OHHA officially signed an agreement of dissolution and assumption with ISSA on October 1, 2020. The association has now begun the process of dissolving the corporation and transferring its assets and liabilities to ISSA in accordance with Canadian law.
SOURCE: ISSA Canada
