The quarterly publication of APEGA. This edition features Plot Devices: Children Engineer Solutions for Storybook Characters; Council Candidates Announced; Legislative Review Wraps Up; Dues Increase Goes to Risk Reserve; Foundation Renamed, Refocused
SUMMER 2015
I can confidently say that APEGA’s much-discussed transformation is beginning to pay dividends. Members and applicants can count themselves as recipients
of these benefits, and so too can the public Connie Parenteau, P.Eng. APEGA’s 96th President
PROGRESS AND RENEWAL
The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta | apega.ca
Contents
PEG
SUMMER 2015
FEATURED PHOTO: PAGE 23››
44
10
60
Progress and Renewal
FEATURES
DEPARTMENTS
10 Meet the President
4 President's Notebook
71 And You Are?
35 Takeaway Learnings
6 CEO’s Message
74 Focal Point
40 Personal Branding — Online
16 Readers’ Forum
80 Member Benefits
44 PROGRESS AND RENEWAL • Nominate Now • Legislative Review • Appeals, Stamps, Titles • Membership Totals • Renewing Member Services 59 Rubber-Band Innovators
18-33 Latitude
83 Record
35 Professional Development
55 Viewfinder
65 AEF Campaign Connection
PRINTED IN CANADA
SUMMER 2015 PEG | 1
US POSTMASTER: PEG (ISSN 1923-0044) is published quarterly in Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter, by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta, c/o US Agent-Transborder Mail 4708 Caldwell Rd E, Edgewood, WA 98372-9221. $15 of the annual membership dues applies to the yearly subscription of The PEG. Periodicals postage paid at Puyallup, WA, and at additional mailing offices. US POSTMASTER, send address changes to PEG c/o Transborder Mail, PO Box 6016, Federal Way, WA 98063-6016, USA. The publisher has signed an affiliation agreement with the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency. Please return Canadian undeliverables to: APEGA, 1500 Scotia One, 10060 Jasper Ave., Edmonton, AB T5J 4A2. Publications Mail Sales Product Agreement No. 40062712
VOLUME 6 | NUMBER 2 | SUMMER 2015 (Print) ISSN 1923-0044 (Online) ISSN 1923-0052
Opinions published in The PEG do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policy of the Association or its Council. Editorial inquiries: glee@apega.ca. Advertising inquiries: chiemstra@apega.ca.
Editor George Lee glee@apega.ca Administrative Assistant Catherine Hiemstra
chiemstra@apega.ca
2014–2015 COUNCIL President Connie Parenteau , P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) ( St. Albert) President-Elect Dr. Steve Hrudey , P.Eng., FCAE (Canmore) Vice-President Nima Dorjee , P.Eng. (Calgary) Past-President Colin Yeo , P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.) (Calgary) Councillors Dr. Jeff DiBattista , P.Eng., MBA (Edmonton) Lisa Doig , P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) (Calgary) Jennifer Enns , P.Eng. (Calgary) George Eynon , P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.) (Calgary) Dr. Brad Hayes , P.Geol., FGC (Calgary) Wenona Irving , P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) (Edmonton)
STAFF LEADERSHIP
EXECUTIVE Chief Executive Officer Mark Flint , P.Eng. Director, Executive & Government Relations Pat Lobregt , FEC (Hon.), FGC (Hon.) Director of Operations Krista Nelson-Marciano , BA Special Advisor to the CEO Len Shrimpton, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.)
REGULATORY Registrar Carol Moen , P.Eng.
MEMBER SERVICES Director, Member Services Heidi Yang , P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) COMMUNICATIONS Director, Communications Philip Mulder , APR, FEC (Hon.), FGC (Hon.)
Paul Knowles , P.Eng. (Calgary) Craig McFarland , P.Eng. (Calgary) Mahsoo Naderi-Dasoar , P.Eng. (Edmonton) John Rhind , P.Geol. (Calgary)
CORPORATE SERVICES Director, Corporate Services D.S. (Pal) Mann , P.Eng.
Art Washuta , P.Eng. (Edmonton) Terry Waters , P.Eng. (Calgary) Public Representatives Ross J. Harris , FCA, ICD.D Robert Lloyd , QC Mary Phillips-Rickey , F CA Engineers Canada Directors Jim Beckett , P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) Larry Staples , P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) Geoscientists Canada President George Eynon , P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.) BRANCH CHAIRS Calgary Adekunle (Ade) Okusanya, P.Eng., MBA chair_ca@apega.ca Central Alberta Sonny Nagra , P.Eng. chair_rd@apega.ca Edmonton Sadiq A. Pirani , P.Eng. chair_ed@apega.ca Fort McMurray Unokhaso (Uno) Monofi , P.Eng. chair_fm@apega.ca Lakeland Natasha Pounder , P.Eng. chair_ll@apega.ca Lethbridge Adam St. Amant , P.Eng. chair_le@apega.ca Medicine Hat Said Said Yussuf , P.Eng. chair_mh@apega.ca Peace Region Brian Morrison , P.Eng. chair_pr@apega.ca Vermilion River Dustin Wiltermuth , P.Eng. chair_vr@apega.ca Yellowhead Vacant
APEGA CONTACT INFO
HEAD OFFICE 1500 Scotia One
CALGARY OFFICE 2200 Scotia Centre
10060 Jasper Avenue NW Edmonton AB T5J 4A2 PH 780-426-3990 TOLL FREE 1-800-661-7020 FAX 780-426-1877
700 Second Street SW Calgary AB T2P 2W1 PH 403-262-7714 TOLL FREE 1-888-262-3688 FAX 403-269-2787
www.apega.ca email@apega.ca
2 | PEG SUMMER 2015
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President’s Notebook
MASTER APEGA
Everyday Leadership — Pass it On
BY CONNIE PARENTEAU, P.ENG., FEC, FGC (HON.) APEGA President
My journey to the APEGA presidency began with the perfect career choice — a choice that stemmed from the right suggestion from the right person at the right time. I was one of perhaps 100 high school students my guidance counsellor would talk to in an average year, but he knew who I was and what I might become. He saw things in me that I didn’t know were there, and he made a suggestion that would, as it turns out, profoundly affect my life. I’ve said this before but it bears repeating: Being your President is a huge privilege. I get to lead a great organization at a critical time in its history. But I did not get here without the support, influence, and leadership of others. The same holds true for my other professional and career accomplishments. And it all started with a counsellor who was simply doing his job. “There’s a panel discussion on engineering happening at the university,” he said. “Your math and science marks are strong. Perhaps you should go.” I knew nothing about engineering. In fact, I didn’t even understand what it was. So of course I had no clue it would turn into an incredible career. Still, I acted on my counsellor’s suggestion, and in doing so found my passion. I’m embarrassed to say I can’t remember the counsellor’s name. But in a way that’s appropriate. All leadership — but especially the everyday kind that’s available to us all — is not centred on the person doing the leading. It’s centred on the recipient of the kind word, the timely
piece of advice, the positive reinforcement, the nudge in the right direction, the carefully crafted criticism. Everyday leaders sometimes fade into the background of your life, but their impact carries on as you carry on. They are empathetic, understanding and selfless. They find time, as they go about their regular business, to recognize the abilities and strengths of others. Sometimes the things they notice are latent or well-hidden — it takes that outside observer to make them apparent. That’s certainly been my experience.
THE APEGA CONNECTION
By now you may be wondering, what does any of this have to do with being a Professional Engineer or Geoscientist? Let me connect it to you and your Association. North American society has a propensity for celebrating the individual. (I make this point in an edition of The PEG that features about 10 photos of me!) There’s really nothing wrong with this propensity, but we do need to remind ourselves that individual achievement is only one element in any success story. Most of the recipients of our Summit Awards are individuals. Listen to their words and a universal truth emerges: no one succeeds without support. Do recipients heap praise on themselves? No. Instead, they inspire us all with their humility and their willingness to give others credit. At least four Summit Awards directly connect to the topic of this column, in that
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President’s Notebook
APEGA
THE EVERYDAY LIST
they celebrate Members for influencing or helping others. The Outstanding Men- tor Award, the Community Service Award, the Excellence in Education Award, and the Women in Engineering and Geoscience Champion Award — these go to Members with roles particularly suited to everyday leadership. Our awards are examples of the selflessness and service that lie at the core of professionalism. A leadership thread, after all, runs through our Code of Ethics . I’ll single out the requirement that we “uphold and enhance the honour, dignity and reputation of (our) professions and thus the ability of the professions to serve the public interest.” To me, this says that our individual reputations affect the overall reputation of our professions. Most of us hope that others describe us in positive terms, even when they disagree with us. We hope we matter, in other words. We hope we’re having a positive impact on the people around us — the stranger on the bus, the student in our class, the Member-in- Training on our work team. But hope is a really poor strategy. If you want to matter, you have to make yourself matter. There is certainly value in quietly and competently going about your technical work. But there is also value in influencing others to be the best they can be. Here’s another connection. APEGA requires that all of us keep current, through the Continuing Professional Development Program (CPD Program). The opportunities for everyday leadership in CPD are legion. CPD is not only about taking courses or attending presentations. Giving back to your professions, your technical societies, and your communities — all of this qualifies as professional development. APEGA considers giving back to be part of your own education. The Association even offers a formal mentoring program, allowing you to give back in a direct, one-on-one, everyday leadership way.
This is a subject dear to me, so I hope you’ll excuse a bit of corniness. Let me offer you an everyday way to be an everyday leader, by providing a few suggestions you can use in your own lives and careers. • Recognize — What positive things have I said about others? • Empower — How have I helped others reach their goals? • Demonstrate Self Respect — What have I done to be good to myself? • Express Gratitude Often — Have I said thank you to someone?
THANK YOU
With the last point in mind, I have to say that my high school counsellor was but one of many influences. A parade of other leaders have played important roles in my personal and professional growth. Among them are my colleagues, students, other professional women, APEGA Councillors and other APEGA volunteers, and, of course, APEGA staff — including CEO Mark Flint, P.Eng., and his predecessor, Neil Windsor, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), FCAE, P.E. (Hon.), along with Al Schuld, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), a former Registrar of APEGA who recently retired.
FINAL KEEP-IN-MIND POINTS
• Great leaders create opportunities. • Never underestimate your ability to influence the future. • Recognizing the simple does not mean little. So thank you, everyone. Lead on!
Questions or comments? president@apega.ca
SUMMER 2015 PEG | 5
CEO’s Message
APEGA
Let’s Adjust our Self-Regulation Model To Leverage the Contribution of Volunteers
BY MARK FLINT, P.ENG. APEGA Chief Executive Officer
sometimes those agendas are 700 or 800 pages long. For statutory boards, there is an expectation to perform significant analyses of complex situations. In some instances this could include ongoing efforts that continue for several years. The significance of the decisions that these boards make cannot be overstated. These are life-affecting decisions. They determine who is competent to become and remain licensed. While this is the very premise of self-regulation, I assert that we also have an obligation to properly enable these processes in a way that recognizes the need to preserve the concept of self-regulation along with the need to be efficient and responsive. We continue to ask more of our volunteers. Unless we adapt our system as we grow, we will find ourselves becoming less and less effective. Here’s a parallel drawn from our country’s history. In the late 1800s, Canada recognized the need for a full-time army. We were a colony of England, so territorial defence was provided by British troops temporarily stationed here, with support volunteers from local militias. As Canada’s permanency became clear, it was apparent that depending on a few professional soldiers and volunteer militias would not provide sufficiently for the defence of a country of Canada’s size. And so in 1871 Canada established the first permanent, regular force army unit in Kingston, Ont., and Quebec City, Que. It should not be forgotten that although Canada created a professional, full-time military, neither the First World War nor
It is unbelievable, the commitment and dedication volunteers put towards serving the professions and the public. But as our membership grows, the complexity of our business environment increases, and the demand for innovation and better service becomes even greater. We have to ask ourselves: Is the volunteer model that was the genesis of the engineering and geoscience professions sustainable in its current form? Let me be clear. It is not viable to operate a self-regulatory body of the size and complexity of APEGA without the unfailing support of volunteers. Even if APEGA engaged another 40 or so employees to offset the efforts of our 1,500 volunteers, it would still be necessary to draw on the breadth of experience available in the wider membership to advise on issues that are investigated. The issue is not whether a self-regulating profession should use volunteers. Rather, it is how to optimize the impact of the valuable knowledge our volunteers offer. Those of you who volunteer with any organization understand the balancing act it takes to juggle a full-time career, family commitments, and volunteer contributions. A common experience is that you receive an agenda of several hundred pages a few days prior to a meeting. You’re expected to digest everything in that package and be ready to discuss issues from an informed viewpoint. For those volunteering on governance boards, this typically happens four or five times a year. For those serving on some of APEGA’s statutory boards, it’s happening every month — and
Self-regulation is a powerful model. Canada is fortunate to have a system that so fully supports the standards, ethics, and qualifi- cations required of professionals to manage — in the public interest — their work, their careers, their teams, and all of their other business activities. In the early days of self-regulation, engineers banded together to create a system of ensuring professional oversight in the delivery of engineering services. It was based on a cooperative of volunteers, through which Professional Engineers would donate their time and resources to ensure that the public would be protected. The numbers were small in those days and the community closely tied. It included geoscientists, who eventually emerged with their own professions (and then a single profession) under the same regulatory umbrella. Today, the number of Members has increased significantly. The regulatory space has also increased, to include corporate practice and continuing professional development. Although the concept of self-regulation is still sound, it is time to rethink the manner by which we self-regulate. It is impossible to calculate the amount of time and effort that volunteers have given to the professions. APEGA currently enjoys the contributions of about 1,500 active volunteers. Some of them have been actively volunteering for over 40 years. Some of them work 15 to 20 hours a week to ensure that people applying to the professions are suitably competent. That’s right — 15 to 20 hours per week.
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CEO’s Message
MASTER APEGA
Member without Council’s approval, even if the Member wishes to withdraw voluntarily. It makes sense that before Members leave the professions we ensure, on behalf of the public, that there are no administrative issues. Still, this arrangement does not appear to make the best use of volunteers’ time. Another illustration involves statutory boards. Some meet regularly and some meet much less frequently. Due purely to the size of our current membership, the original intent and expectations of some of these boards, as described in the Act, would overwhelm a part-time board. According to the Act, the Practice Review Board is supposed to administer the continuing professional development program. At APEGA’s current size this is already a significant, full-time activity. Expecting Members to volunteer their time to administer a core program is unreasonable. However, asking volunteers’ guid- ance to help develop parameters is entirely appropriate. I believe that’s exactly what our predecessors intended. Given the volume of the work, the complexity of the issues, and the administrative effort required to prepare these boards to make decisions, we need to rigorously review how work and authorities are apportioned. When our statutory functions are not seen to be operating efficiently, we put our social licence to regulate at risk. APEGA has a highly dedicated and professional team of full- time employees. Some of them are Professional Engineers and Geoscientists, and they too bring considerable experience and skill to bear on our professions. It is our full-time staff members who need to be appropriately empowered to set the timelines for the administration of certain functions and to perform routine statutory functions. If we reconstruct our system slightly so full-time employees are better able to manage processes, and if we also focus volun- teers solely on making decisions rather than supplementing administration, we will make the best use of the volunteer ex- pertise we need and value. Let’s concentrate on each volunteer’s experience and judgment. That way, we will improve volunteer engagement and the satisfaction they gain from contributing. APEGA is experiencing unprecedented regulatory challenges. This is the new normal for our professions, and we need to make our model sustainable. By rebalancing the authorities and respon- sibilities of employees and volunteers, we will enable our system to adapt and evolve to meet the challenges ahead. I believe that self-regulation will continue to rely on the selfless dedication of volunteers. But to preserve the integrity of our system, we must make adjustments. The result will be a more effective and efficient team, and the continued success of a model that has served the public well.
the Second World War would have been won without the sacrifice of Canada’s volunteer service personnel. As APEGA reviews the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act (EGP Act) and prepares its submission of a substantial rewrite to the Government of Alberta, we have a huge opportunity. We can shape this legislation. In doing so, we can achieve a more appropriate approach to managing the task of self-regulation. In practical terms, what exactly might this look like? This paradigm shift would, for the most part, be unnoticed by Professional Engineers and Geoscientists as they go about their daily lives and business. The difference lies in how authorities are delegated. The shift would place a greater reliance on permanent employees to manage the tempo of our business.
Many aspects of the day-to-day regulatory business are fairly routine. Yet the authority to perform them, as outlined in the EGP Act , rests with volunteers. It must be
said that over the years APEGA has done a good job developing policy solutions to address some of these issues. But it is time to formally address them in the Act. Here’s an example. The Registrar cannot cancel the reg- istration of a
Questions or comments? ceo@apega.ca
SUMMER 2015 PEG | 7
APEGA 2015-2016 Executive Committee and Council
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
COUNCILLORS
PUBLIC MEMBERS OF COUNCIL
Jeff DiBattista* P.Eng., PhD, MBA
Lisa Doig P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.)
Connie Parenteau P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) President
Ross Harris FCA, ICD.D
Jennifer Enns* P.Eng.
Colin Yeo, P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.) Past -President Colin Yeo P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.) Past-President
Robert Lloyd QC
Wenona Irving P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.)
George Eynon P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.)
Brad Hayes P.Geol., FGC, PhD
Mary Phillips-Rickey CA
Steve Hrudey P.Eng., FCAE, PhD President -Elect
Paul Knowles P.Eng.
Craig McFarland P.Eng.
Mahsoo Naderi-Dasoar P.Eng.
Nima Dorjee P.Eng. Vice - President
John Rhind* P.Geol.
Art Washuta* P.Eng.
Terry Waters P.Eng.
* Denotes newly elected.
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The Summit Awards honour and recognize the contributions APEGA Members make to the engineering and geoscience professions and to society. Congratulations to all award recipients! 2015 Summit Award Recipients
Centennial Leadership Award Douglas LaValley P.Eng. In recognition of the highest distinction as an executive or director of a continuing enterprise
Early Accomplishment Award Anastasia Elias P.Eng., PhD In recognition of exceptional achievement in the early years of a professional career
Excellence in Education Award Pierre Mertiny P.Eng., PhD In recognition of exemplary contributions to teaching and learning
Frank Spragins Technical Award Brian Howes P.Eng. In recognition of integrity and expertise, and for outstanding accomplishments in fields related to engineering or geoscience
Outstanding Mentor Award Saumya Barua P.Eng. In recognition of exceptional achievement as a mentor Environment and Sustainability Award David Wood P.Eng., PhD In recognition of excellence in the preservation of the environment and the practice of sustainable development
Women in Engineering and Geoscience Champion Award
Laleh Behjat P.Eng., PhD
In recognition of achievement as a champion of women in engineering and geoscience
Community Service Award Anita Rossall P.Eng. In recognition of an outstanding contribution made to society
Project Achievement Award Imperial Oil’s Mahkeses Heat-Recovery Steam Generator Replacement Project In recognition of a substantial contribution to technical progress and the betterment of society
APEGA
Meet the President She focused much of her career on strategic thinking and planning. Now, Connie Parenteau, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), is putting those skills to work as APEGA’s 96th President
Connie Parenteau Giving back to my profession is my motivation. My interest started at university, and con- tinued when my employer encouraged me to volunteer for APEGA. My first volunteer role with APEGA was outreach to Grade 3 science students. I brought in children’s toys that made various sounds. Then we discussed how the sounds were made, and we watched how waves propagated, using an overhead projector with water, an eye dropper, and Duplo blocks for obstacles. I went on to serve as a Councillor and a Vice-President on APEGA Council, and the rest is history. Along the way I’ve met many profes- sionals and have always found it very rewarding. This past spring, I travelled Alberta meeting APEGA Branch Members. I’ve been talking with them about who we are and what we do. The PEG: What have you learned from Branch Members? CP The visits confirmed for me that we are, in essence, innovators and influencers. We combine science with creativity to enable people to enjoy a high standard of living. We come up with new and better ways to make life easier and safer. We guide and shape the future of Alberta, Canada, and the world. And that is amazing to me. The PEG: What are your priorities as APEGA’s 96th President? CP More and more, Council’s time is spent looking ahead and shaping the future. We are leaving operations where they belong: in the hands of CEO Mark Flint, P.Eng., and his staff. Our confidence in staff
APEGA continues to improve the regulation of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists, says President Connie Parenteau, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), and she’s thrilled to play a leadership role in the process. The 96th President enjoys giving back to the professions she loves by putting her strategic planning skills to good use. “I am in the right place at the right time — a time when I can confidently say that APEGA’s much-discussed transformation is beginning to pay dividends. Members and applicants can count themselves as recipients of these benefits, and so too can the public,” says Ms. Parenteau. Although she’d been named President beforehand, her swearing-in took place April 24 at the APEGA Annual General Meeting in Calgary. (She began leading APEGA after last year’s President resigned in November.) In recent years, the St. Albert resident served APEGA as Vice-President and President-Elect, so she’s played key roles in driving change. Born in Edmonton, Ms. Parenteau is a graduate of the University of Alberta’s electrical engineering program. Over a 33- year career with TELUS Communications, she held a variety of technical, managerial, and leadership positions. She introduced several new services and improved many existing ones — taking a strategic approach that serves her well as APEGA continues its evolution. The PEG asked Ms. Parenteau a series of questions about her presidency and the issues she and APEGA face. The PEG: You’re a long-time APEGA volunteer. What motivated you to run for President? Why is it important to be involved with APEGA?
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APEGA
and this separation of our roles means we are reacting less, and anticipating and planning more. My top two priorities — reviewing the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act and updating the APEGA Strategic Plan — are a reflection of this strategic approach. As we review and revise the EGP Act , we need to engage stakeholders. This is the legislation’s first major update in more than 30 years. Our Members are critical parts in this process, which will continue over the next several years. That’s why APEGA created our champions collaborative in 2014 — to bring the grassroots of APEGA into the process of developing a new and modernized Act to propose to the Government of Alberta. For more about the legislative review, see page 47. Comprehensive engagement is needed to ensure that the decisions made enhance the self-regulation of our professions and fulfill our responsibilities to the public. I’ve been sharing details with everyone I meet about how they can get involved. One way is through the legislative review sessions being held across the province for both Members and Permit Holders. The PEG: Where will the review process take APEGA? CP The desired outcome is that we have a more modern EGP Act , along with more modern regulations and bylaws. This enabling legislation belongs to Albertans, and we need to help the Government of Alberta make sure it serves them for many years to come. The PEG: Could you tell our readers more about updating the APEGA Strategic Plan ? CP The groundwork began in 2014 and continues this year, and will be complete in early 2016. Identifying significant risks for the professions has been the first step. As I’ve mentioned in past columns in The PEG , we’re taking a closer look at some major incidents that have occurred in other regions in Canada to identify significant risks for the professions. In other words, we’re learning from the experiences of others.
‘We can assume some constants about the future. But a good strategic plan must be resilient enough to accommodate the unexpected’
For example, in Quebec, Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec has had to adjust to revelations of corruption unearthed by the Charbonneau Commission. Professional Engineers Ontario is re-examining the way it regulates in the wake of the Elliot Lake Inquiry’s report on the deadly collapse of the Algo Centre Mall. And in B.C., the failure of a tailings pond and the resulting spill at the Mount Polley Mine are raising questions about the pond’s design — an issue of major concern to APEGBC. These are just a few examples we’ve been assessing.
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APEGA
our professional obligation to maintain our competency and integrity. I recently met a Member who no longer lives in Alberta but has maintained his APEGA membership for more than 20 years. Why would you do that? I asked him. In the country where he now resides, he said, business practices are sometimes unethical. When he is challenged for not following these practices, he simply says that he is an APEGA Member, and the behaviours are not allowed under his Code of Ethics. When individuals become Members, it’s a lifelong commitment to demonstrate our professionalism wherever we practise. Knowing this, I feel confident that our professions are making a difference around the world. On a more tangible level, I’m looking forward to seeing continued progress in the improvement of APEGA’s registration process. The addition of more software- based processes and better service to applicants is, for me, the story of the year. Some people balk at calling applicants customers, but I have no problem with the word. Applicants represent the near future of our Association. Their licensure is the beginning of an important relationship with APEGA — and with the professional standards and ethics Albertans expect and require of them. The PEG: You’ve volunteered as a role model in Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science and Technology (WISEST) since 1991. What motivates you to inspire girls to explore careers in science? What do you say or do to encourage young people — girls in particular — to enter the professions? CP It surprises some people to learn that in my high school years, I was unaware of our professions. I had never met a Professional Member and I had no idea what engineers or geoscientists do. I first got introduced to engineering through a student panel forum. Female engineering students from the University of Alberta spoke about their work and it really interested me. Fortunately, I had good marks in math and science, so I enrolled in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Alberta.
The next stage is to determine what areas we need to focus on for the coming 2017 to 2019 timeframe, allowing staff to incorporate actions into the annual business plan. We can assume some constants about the future. But a good strategic plan must be resilient enough to accommodate the unexpected. The PEG: Another area you’ve said you want to focus on is making APEGA a stronger regulator. What is your vision in this area? CP APEGA’s key functions are regulatory. To me, becoming a stronger regulator means that Members clearly understand their responsibilities as Professional Members. They need to demonstrate the competencies required for their licence, and they need to maintain these competencies throughout their career. In the coming months, Members can expect to see more emphasis on key aspects of our professions, such as professionalism, technical oversight, management oversight, and technical competency. Members have a role in regulating the professions. They are not only responsible for themselves; they should also offer peer support when challenges arise. We should do this in a respectful and professional manner, with the goal of resolving an issue before it reaches the point of requiring a complaint to APEGA. Since we are all well aware of what goes into teamwork, this shouldn’t be difficult to achieve in many, many situations. When something is serious and the public interest is at immediate risk or has already been compromised, of course: file a complaint. But also remember to teach, coach, listen, and mentor. Our current processes tend to be passive. We wait for a problem to arise and then we react. It’s time for us to move to a more active approach. The PEG: What other challenges lie ahead for APEGA and its professions? How should APEGA address them? CP Globalization of our professions will continue to grow. We can prepare for this by continuing to uphold
The opportunity to hear from other women that there are exciting and fulfilling careers in engineering — that made a difference in my own career. At university, I began to volunteer at schools to talk to children about engineering. I see taking part in programs like WISEST as a way to give back to our professions and perhaps offer other young women an opportunity to find out more about our professions. What I like to say to young women is that engineering and geoscience careers are an opportunity to leverage their math and science skills, and ultimately improve everyone's quality of life. I like to ask them: Are you interested in making a difference in the world? Do you enjoy understanding how things work? Do you love when a plan comes together? Then I encourage them to consider the engineering or geoscience professions. We value public safety, societal well- being, and the environment. Our professions are deeply trusted by the general public because we care. Those things resonate with young people, and I like making sure they hear about them.
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APEGA
CP I’ve never had a formal mentor, but I’ve had informal mentors throughout my career. My employer offered support, mostly from my managers and directors. My most influential mentors were from my volunteer work at APEGA, including APEGA past-presidents, APEGA CEOs, and fellow Councillors. But the strongest mentors for me have been, and continue to be, my female engineering peers. Many of these friendships go back 25 to 35 years. These are the people I call when I’m in a pickle. The PEG: How would you define your leadership style? CP Transparent and approachable. I believe leaders should share as much information as possible with others. This is particularly important when a decision has to be made, and you are not available. Someone needs that knowledge and understanding, so those who fill in for you are confident — and you are confident that good decisions are made. Listening is also important. I’m always interested in what others are thinking. Learning new ideas and approaches is a passion of mine. It is important to me to know what needs to be done, and why. I’m very outcome focused. I like to have targets identified so you know when you hit them, or when you need to make adjustments. The PEG: When you aren’t volunteering for APEGA, what keeps you busy? CP With the summer here, I enjoy being outdoors. I love working in my yard, planting annuals, and creating enjoyable spaces to read a book, rest in the sun, or entertain a guest or two. And of course, I am always up for a round of golf. Year round, on weekends, my husband and I enjoy walking to our favourite coffee shop in the mornings. If it’s too cold, we head to the gym at Servus Credit Union Place in St. Albert. Going to movies and plays is also a favourite pastime, especially with family and friends. I enjoy going to hockey games, especially when the Edmonton Oilers win! I am also an Edmonton Eskimos fan and like get to a few of their games.
‘The (Branch) visits confirmed for me that we are, in essence, innovators and influencers. We combine science with creativity to enable people to enjoy a high standard of living. We come up with new and better ways to make life easier and safer. We guide and shape the future of Alberta, Canada, and the world. And that is amazing to me.’
The PEG: For TELUS Communications, one of your roles was manager of the company’s Graduate Engineer Program. You also continue to mentor engineering graduates. Why is mentorship of young professionals important? CP A lot of reasons. One of them is that it’s essential to maintaining the self-regulation of our professions. Members are responsible for the practice and technical expertise within their fields of work. Working with Members-in- Training at this critical time in their careers sets the framework for their future practice. My experience has been that Members- in-Training appreciate the mentoring, and mentors usually learn new, state-of-the-art approaches. Definitely a win-win. I encourage all Members to stay familiar with the requirements for work experience and our Code of Ethics. We all need to refresh our knowledge of these important parts of self-regulation. I have also been very involved in organizations that mentor graduates and young professionals about work-life balance. I recall when I was just starting
out, it was helpful to bounce ideas off of others. When I was starting my family, I was fortunate to be able to work part-time at TELUS. I did this for five years and was able to keep engaged in the business while I was enjoying raising my children. I like to share these aspects of my career with others, and know that others can benefit from my experience and apply it to their situation. Each situation is different, and in the end what is important is that everyone makes the right decision for their particular situation. Recently, APEGA published a document called Managing Transitions , a guideline for businesses and employees to help them strategically plan for absences from work. It has been recognized nationally for its forward-thinking suggestions. This guideline was developed by the Women in APEGA Committee, but its scope is not limited to women and maternity leave. I encourage anyone who is considering being away from business to check it out.
The PEG: How have mentors played a role in your own career?
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APEGA
In my past, I’ve volunteered for Edmonton Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity and the Edmonton Food Bank. I found this to be immensely rewarding. Meeting new people while supporting a worthy cause energizes me. What I can offer these organizations is simple — a bit of my time, knowledge, and skill. The PEG: Is there anything you want to say that we haven’t mentioned? CP This spring, I was honoured to accept two awards on behalf of APEGA and Professional Engineers in Alberta. In March, the Alberta Council of Technologies presented its first Innovation Award to all Alberta Professional Engineers for the significant contributions that professionals give to Alberta each and every day. And in May, the Canadian Society of Petroleum Geologists presented APEGA its prestigious Partner Tracks Award, recognizing APEGA’s role in regulating geoscientists, and ensuring they are legally and ethically committed to applying and maintaining their knowledge. This is a partnership that benefits all Albertans, one that has lasted for almost a century, and it is the basis for the CSPG award to APEGA. Also, I’ve had the privilege of attend- ing many AGMs for other societies and professions. I’m always impressed by their commitment to the public interest. Some of them have also called out APEGA as a model to aspire to. Two other organizations I would like to mention are Engineers Canada and Geoscientists Canada. Both of these organizations represent the national faces of our professions. As APEGA President, I’ve had the honour of attending some of their events and business activities. I’m in awe at these sessions. It is amazing to me to see how these individuals represent the vast knowledge and expertise that changes not only our province, but also our country and the world. Serving APEGA Members and Albertans as the President of APEGA is the greatest honour and privilege of my career so far. I can’t imagine what would top it. Thank you!
‘Members have a role in regulating the professions. They are not only responsible for themselves; they should also offer peer support when challenges arise’
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Readers’ Forum
OPINION
Readers’ Forum submissions should be emailed to George Lee, PEG Editor, at glee@apega.ca. Please limit them to 300 words or less. Longer letters are printed at the discretion of the editor. Letters may be edited for brevity, taste, clarity, and legality. Please note: Readers’ Forum items are treated as opinions and therefore are NOT peer reviewed. They do not necessarily reflect the views of APEGA Council, Executive Committee, or staff.
PROFESSIONALS NEED BETTER COMMUNICATION SKILLS — AND HERE’S A GREAT PATH
effective and lowest-cost speaking and presentation training available. To find clubs near you, visit d42tm.org. My own club, the 3,500 Foot Club in Calgary, meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Centre on Southport Road SW. The centre is a 10-minute walk from the Anderson LRT Station. We have four Professional Engineers in our club — we’d love to have more.
No matter how ingenious your ideas are, for them to be implemented, you must persuade others to adopt them. Often, those who need persuading are not technical types but do hold the purse strings. Through its network of clubs, Toastmasters International has successfully helped people improve their speaking and presentation skills for 90 years. There are about 70 in Calgary alone. A club provides a friendly, supportive atmosphere for you to become a better communicator. Although the club provides guidance manuals, you choose your own topics and words. Club colleagues are your audience, providing evaluation and feedback. You develop at your own pace. As a mining engineer in a consultant firm, my Toastmasters experience has been invaluable. I learned to speak confidently at project meetings and with clients. I learned that structure, in both oral and written reports, is an essential part of communication. This helped my report writing and boosted client confidence. At a small gathering to honour new APEGA Life Members, I was the only one who responded to a call for a story from my engineering experience. A club meeting includes an impromptu speaking session. Members are chosen to speak briefly on a given topic. This is not easy for beginners, but the skill can be developed. It’s good practice for question-and-answer sessions at technical presentations. Some clubs include a business meeting in their agenda. This is when parliamentary procedure and chairing a meeting are practised — important skills for Professional Engineers assuming management roles. Each club has a name. It may be a breakfast club, a noon- hour club or an evening club. Some clubs are company clubs, open only to the company’s employees. There are clubs related to professions — the Calgary Society of Petroleum Engineers has one, for example. You can attend a club as a guest, at no cost, to see if it’s to your liking. Every club has its own flavour, so check out a few before committing. Membership fees vary according to the cost of the meeting place. Company-provided meeting places usually mean lower fees. Toastmasters is, in my opinion, the most
ANTONY STRICKLAND, P.ENG. Life Member Calgary
TANK CARS — CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION
Re: Tank Cars Present a Design Challenge, Readers’ Forum, The PEG, Winter 2014, and various responses, Readers’ Forum, The PEG, Spring 2015. My letter suggesting that Professional Engineers have another look at our current tank car designs brought a good response. I am glad to be able to reply to some of the remarks. Jim Blum, P.Eng., of Calgary, notes that the problem of curves can be ameliorated by the conical design of bogey wheels. On a curve, the one-piece wheelset slides outwards by centrifugal force until the outer wheel’s flange rubs the outer rail, and the different rail contact diameters provide for different peripheral distances travelled. It’s only a partial solution, though. There are problems. What’s called hunting oscillation, or the swaying motion of a train, occurs at higher speeds. On a long curve, wheel flanges will hammer the outer rail, bounce off, and return, usually at a cycle frequency related to train speed. This may account in some measure for rail failures. Jim Benedict, P.Eng., also of Calgary, suggests that sloshing may result from my proposed egg-shaped tank, resulting in dangerous interior gas formation. Perhaps a cross-section of an equilateral triangle, with well-rounded corners, would make for less sloshing than would a cylinder,
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Readers’ Forum
OPINION
EARTHQUAKE-DAMAGED SCHOOL IN NEPAL NEEDS HELP
which allows cyclical flow patterns to occur. Better beam strength, too. Harald Witzler, P.Eng., of Sherwood Park, cites ease of service and reliability of the one-piece wheel sets. However, a big extra stock of wheel sets is needed, since if one wheel bearing goes, both wheels must be replaced. To achieve the same lateral strength that two-wheel sets have, one could mount long-stemmed, single-wheel axles two together on one side of the bogey, and two apart on the other side, which would let every wheel turn at its own rotational speed. Better traction over muskeg based tracks, too. Managers of the rail line to Churchill, Man., recently refused to carry crude oil. They chose grain as a cargo. It was easier to clean up after a wheat spill. Calgary’s Jason Arnot, P.Eng., is not concerned about a high centre of gravity and cites the use of double-stack container trains. Tipping stability of tank cars carrying dilbit and heavy oils is of major concern to shippers. It seems as dangerous as pipeline breaks. Tank cars have a fulcrum base much narrower than the track gage. It is really the width of the vertical bearing which allows the wheel carriage to swivel on turns. What about my offhand remark about swaybacked older tank cars? I meant sagging by stress creep of the unsupported long tanks. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada also wants thicker steel specified for tank cars as quickly as possible. And Mr. Arnot’s point about the higher cost of better train speed does not factor into oil market urgency. Canada is a huge country, and good train transport policies can help us prosper.
Recent earthquakes in Nepal have left a trail of devastation, with 15,000 schools out of action. Among these is Shree Mangal Dvip Boarding School, serving impoverished Himalayan families. There had been little earthquake awareness at the school until the Canadian resident director was contacted about the need for strengthening buildings and training children and staff. Of the five school buildings, the four-storey dormitory building was selected for a retrofit due to its physical characteristics and the vulnerability of the several hundred children crammed within its walls. During 2006 several Stantec engineers volunteered design time, producing detailed plans under the guidance of Antoni Kowalczewski, P.Eng., of Janto Engineering Inc. Funds were raised by individual donations and in 2007 a first phase was carried out, strengthening the stairwell and replacing with reinforced concrete the weak brick infill between columns on the ground floor. Of the five buildings, three were badly damaged in the recent earthquakes, but there is no cracking of the dormitory, which had the potential of going down like a deck of cards. There is now an urgent need for an assessment of the buildings and it is hoped that a volunteer can travel to Nepal and spend time at the school doing this. We are looking for help in any way, including technical input and, of course, direct donations through a Canadian or U.S. charity serving the school. Please note that students and staff have been able to assist local residents and also to send aid to remote villages. For more information, please contact me at 780-504-1055 or amgmitch@gmail.com.
HENRY A. SPENCER, P.ENG. Life Member Edmonton
ANDREW MITCHELL, P.ENG. Life Member Edmonton
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SUMMER 2015 PEG | 17
The Buzz
CALGARY HITS HIGH NOTE WITH NEW OPERA AND PERFORMING ARTS CENTRES
Wagner will meet the Wild West when the Calgary Stampede and Calgary Opera “pardner” up to build a $33-million opera centre on the Calgary Stampede Youth Campus near 12th Avenue and Fifth Street SE. Scheduled to open in 2017, the opera centre will form part of a new arts hub in the heart of the city, close to the new National Music Centre and the new Central Library. Plans for the youth campus already include an arts academy charter school, a school of performing arts, and other cultural venues. The opera centre will also pony-up space for Calgary Opera’s Emerging Artists Program, two rehearsal spaces — one of which converts into a 300-seat theatre — and shared space for non-profit and youth organizations. Another Calgary performing arts venue, The Bella, will open its doors in September at Mount Royal University’s Conservatory. The $90-million venue will include 43 soundproofed practice studios, an early childhood instructional suite, six rehearsal halls, and a 773-seat concert hall, whose ceiling sound reflector panels evoke the petals of Alberta’s official flower, the wild rose. -Jacqueline Louie
Lethbridge College is on schedule, with phase one — the Crooks Schools of Transportation — set to open in September. It will house the school’s automotive service technician, parts technician, agriculture and heavy equipment technician classrooms. The second phase, which involves demolishing part of an existing
structure, will open two years later. It will be home to the wind turbine technology, engineering design, geomatics, civil engineering, electrical, welding, and interior design programs. The $65-million expansion will accommodate an additional 880 students, bringing the college’s trades and technology capacity to 2,300 spaces.
TRADES AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION GROWS IN LETHBRIDGE
Construction of a 15,000-square-metre Trades and Technology Facility at
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