For over sixty years, OMHRA has been the premier professional association representing human resources, labour relations, and senior management professionals within the local public sector in Ontario.

Our members are employed in municipalities, local boards, agencies and commissions; they provide timely human resources advice and assistance to their respective Councils, Boards, Management Teams and Commissions.

Our Values - OMHRA

Our Values

We believe:

  • People are the essence of municipal services and we must help grow their capacity as HR professionals through education and connectivity.

  • A successful organization, both internally and externally, provides and fosters strong leadership, advocates for those they serve and connects us to the future.

  • Effective communication includes listening, understanding and being responsive to the needs of our constituency.

  • It is imperative to be innovative, to address and provide guidance on trends and upcoming changes, respond proactively and understand all points of view.

Our Mandate

  • Share Human Resources subject leader expertise and thought leadership.

  • Partner within and advocate for the municipal sector as well as with other agencies, boards, commissions and associations.

  • Build capacity and expertise of our members through knowledge exchange, education and communication.

  • Strengthen the Human Resources community by helping HR professionals, at all stages of their careers, grow and expand their network.

OMHRA - Our Mandate
OMHRA Logo

Promoting Professionalism
in Municipal
Human Resources since 1963

OMHRA has a proud history of six decades of uninterrupted service to Municipal Human Resource professionals and Ontario municipalities.

We began in 1963 as the Ontario Municipal Personnel Association (OMPA) with a mandate to share information and identify opportunities to proactively respond to emerging trends and legislation in the personnel field, which was very much in its infancy at that time.

OMPA offered members a unique networking opportunity where they could discuss common interests and challenges, share best practices and formulate joint positions for collective bargaining.

The evolution of the personnel function over the next three decades was dramatic. Human resource management, which began in Ontario municipalities as a policing and processing function, became an integral part of the success of a municipality. Likewise, OMPA went from a membership of nine in 1963 to a vibrant association of one hundred and seventy-six members, representing one hundred and twenty-seven municipalities by 1993.

OMPA was renamed the Ontario Municipal Human Resources Association (OMHRA) in 1994.

Today, OMHRA represents over 500 members in over two hundred Ontario municipalities.

OMHRA Founding Members

  • Norm Mackenzie, City of Kitchener

  • George Noble, Metro Toronto

  • Albert King, City of Toronto

  • Bob Humphrey, City of Toronto

  • Tom Murphy, City of North York

  • John Longworth, City of Hamilton

  • Durward Preston, Town of Waterloo

  • Jon Harding, City of Scarborough

  • Glen Morrow, City of Etobicoke

OMHRA Honourary Members

  • Grant Armstrong
  • Christine Ball
  • Dara Barry
  • Elizabeth Bourns
  • Dan Carnegie

  • Graham Dart

  • John Fleck

  • K. Lynn Georgeff

  • John Johnson

  • Roy Male

  • Peggy Mellor
  • Gerry Nagle

  • Diane Nielson

  • Don Paterson

  • Bob Rae

  • Mac Redmond

  • Ross Rowe
  • Don Shaban
  • David Tomalty
  • Susan Trayes

  • Kandy Webb

OMHRA Constitution

OMHRA is the voice of advocacy, education and guidance on
municipal Human Resource practices and trends.

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