Summer 2019 PEG

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 2019

President Number 100 George Eynon, P.Geo.

| apega.ca

The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta

WHO WILL BE CELEBRATED NEXT?

Shine a light on excellence in engineering or geoscience by nominating a colleague or project for an APEGA Summit Award.

apegasummit.ca/nominate Nominations close September 15, 2019 .

Contents

SUMMER 2019

FEATURED PHOTO: PAGE 32

35

10

21

FEATURES

47 Viewfinder 53 Volunteer Spotlight 55 The Discipline File 78 Member Benefits 79 The Record

10–15 Meet the President 17 Council Nominations Open Soon 50 In Their Words—PD Praise

DEPARTMENTS

4 President's Notebook 6 RCEO's Message 16 APEGA News 20 Movers & Shakers 35 The Watch

SUMMER 2019 PEG | 1

The PEG (ISSN 1923-0052) is published online in the spring, summer, and fall/winter, by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta. The PEG’s content relates primarily to APEGA, our statutory obligations, our services to Members and Permit Holders, and the professional development of Members. The magazine also celebrates Member and Permit Holder accomplishments in Professional Engineering, Professional Geoscience, and other areas. The PEG is not a technical, peer-reviewed publication. Although we publish items about accomplishments in research, we do not publish actual academic or scientific papers and presentations, even in summary form. The PEG does not accept advertising. Opinions published in The PEG do not necessarily reflect the opinions or

VOLUME 3 | NUMBER 2 | SUMMER 2019 ISSN 1923-0052 Director of Communications Nancy Biamonte Nancy.Biamonte@apega.ca Editor George Lee , FEC (Hon.), FGC (Hon.) George.Lee@apega.ca

policy of APEGA or its Council. Inquiries: George.Lee@apega.ca

EXECUTIVE TEAM Registrar & Chief Executive Officer Jay Nagendran , P.Eng., FCEA, ICD.D, FEC, FGC (Hon.)

COUNCIL President

George Eynon, P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.) Vice-President Timothy Joseph , P.Eng., PhD, FCIM President-Elect John Van der Put, P.Eng. Past-President  Nima Dorjee, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) Councillors

Deputy Registrar & Chief Regulatory Officer Matthew Oliver , CD , P.Eng. Chief Financial & Corporate Officer Sharilee Fossum , CPA, CMA, ICD.D, MBA Director, Communications and Acting Chief Membership Services Officer Nancy Biamonte Senior Advisor & Director of Council Relations Sloan d’Entremont , P.Eng. BRANCH CHAIRS Calgary Tibor Kaldor, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) calgarybranch@apega.ca Central Alberta Jeff Krehmer, P.Eng. centralalbertabranch@apega.ca Edmonton Andrew Liu, P.Eng. edmontonbranch@apega.ca Fort McMurray Siddarth Gautam, P.Eng. fortmcmurraybranch@apega.ca Lakeland Anmol Bansal, P.Eng. lakelandbranch@apega.ca Lethbridge Ahmed Ali, P.Eng. lethbridgebranch@apega.ca Medicine Hat Clayton Bos, P.Eng. medicinehatbranch@apega.ca Peace Region Kimberly Chin, E.I.T. peaceregionbranch@apega.ca Vermilion River Dustin Wiltermuth , P.Eng. vermilionriverbranch@apega.ca Yellowhead Leonard Sanche, P.Eng. yellowheadbranch@apega.ca

Jennifer Enns , P.Eng. Darren Hardy , P.Eng. Tim Hohm, P.Eng. RaeAnne Leach, P.Eng. David Johnson, P.Geo., PhD Walter Kozak , P.Eng. Manon Plante, P.Eng., MDS, CD1 Melanie Popp, P.Eng. Jason Vanderzwaag, P.Eng. Claudia Villeneuve, P.Eng., M.Eng. Emily Zhang , P.Eng., PMP

Mary Phillips-Rickey , F CA Georgeann Wilkin , RN, LL.B., MBS

Public Members of Council

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION Engineers Canada Directors Lisa Doig , P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), MBA

APEGA CONTACT INFORMATION HEAD OFFICE 1500 Scotia One, 10060 Jasper Avenue NW Edmonton AB T5J 4A2 PH 780-426-3990 TOLL FREE 1-800-661-7020 FAX 780-426-1877

Gary Faulkner , P.Eng., PhD, FEC, FGC (Hon.) David Lynch , P.Eng., PhD, FEC, FGC (Hon.),

FCAE, FEIC, FCIC (President-Elect) Jane Tink , P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) Geoscientists Canada Director Colin Yeo , P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.)

www.apega.ca email@apega.ca

CALGARY OFFICE 2200, 700 Second Street SW Calgary AB T2P 2W1 PH 403-262-7714 TOLL FREE 1-800-661-7020 FAX 403-269-2787

2 | PEG SUMMER 2019

Let’s hear it for the 11,172 professional members who exercised their franchise in APEGA Election 2019. Collectively, you make up 19.3 of our eligible voters—that’s a healthy increase of 4.2 percentage points over last year. Based on member feedback, we’re confident that the voter experience we provide is getting better and better.Together, let’s keep that percentage trending upward! Thank you, too, to the listed permit-holding companies for their regulatory leadership. Each of them employed six or more eligible voters at election time, and each of them achieved a participation rate greater than 50 per cent. Thank You x 11,172

Well done!

ENMAX Utility Services Limited OnQuest Canada ULC AGAT Laboratories Ltd. Evraz Inc. NA Canada TIW Western Inc. Almita Piling Inc. KANATA Energy Group Ltd.

Alberco Construction Ltd. Becht Engineering Canada Ltd. SolidEarth Geotechnical Inc. McMillan-McGee Corp. Challenger Geomatics Ltd. Cybertech Automation Inc. Bidell Gas Compression Ltd.

Marsh Canada Ltd. Englobe Corp. Sunshine Oilsands Ltd. Longshore Resources Ltd. DIALOG/Al-Terra Joint Venture Rangeland Engineering Canada Corp.

SUMMER 2019 PEG | 3

President’s Notebook

APEGA

Building Public Awareness is Intrinsic to APEGA Centennial 2020 BY GEORGE EYNON , P.GEO., FGC, FEC (HON.) APEGA President

I was sworn in as APEGA’s 100th President at the Annual General Meeting in April, making me the association’s elected leader for the year up to and including the launch of our centennial, which happens April 10, 2020. I am honoured to be involved at this level. A century of public service through professional self-regulation is definitely worth celebrating, but our centennial is more than a party. It’s a public awareness opportunity that APEGA can and will use to full advantage. My career has taught me that the more stakeholder buy-in you achieve, the more successful your enterprise. Our enterprise is self-regulation, which under our model means APEGA serves the public interest at the pleasure of the Government of Alberta (GoA). We need this campaign. Our centennial comes at a time when self-regulation and the value of professional expertise itself are under threat. Misinformation and a lack of knowledge abound in the public sphere, fostered by communication platforms that tend to strip conversation of nuance and substance. For the most part, the public we serve doesn’t have a clue about APEGA. They have little idea about who we are, what we do, or why we do it.

We can change that. Council agrees, having made public awareness the number one goal of APEGA Centennial 2020. The tactical work of telling the story of APEGA and our role in building this province are the responsibility of each and every one of us. Yes, it’s a staff responsibility, under the direction of Registrar & CEO Jay Nagendran,

LINKS Centennial 2020 Photo Contest

A Century Well Built APEGA Strategic Plan

Questions or comments? president@apega.ca

4 | PEG SUMMER 2019

MASTER APEGA

recognition for women as full persons under federal law. The Centre Street Bridge in Calgary was only a few years old when our association came into being, and the Legislature building in Edmonton about seven. My profession, geoscience, was so much in its infancy that it didn’t exist as its own entity. APEGA’s name of the day reflected that: the Association of Professional Engineers of Alberta. More than 25 years later, Leduc No. 1 would make clear how big a deal oil and gas would become for Alberta, and geoscience would start to come into its own. The goal of our founders was to find a way to protect the public from unethical and unskilled engineering in Alberta. APEGA’s track record demonstrates that they succeeded.

P.Eng.; but it’s also the personal responsibility of all our professionals! I’m sharing my perspective on platforms like this one, as well as in your communities during branch-by-branch President’s Visits—and on my social media platforms. Further opportunities will also present themselves as I represent APEGA across the province and country. I urge you to support our centennial, too. APEGA is going to be very visible from now on through 2020, and your job is to connect the dots for your neighbours, families, and friends. Explain what you do every day and how it ties into your self-regulatory organization. Show them how the APEGA professions improve their lives. What does this have to do with regulation? A lot. We get to practise our professions under a self-regulatory

Let’s step into the limelight. Let’s show the Government of Alberta and the public that we’ve earned the trust they’ve placed in us.

'

'

model envied the world over. That’s a privilege, and by definition, privileges can be taken away. We do our best to be worthy professionals, but the public rarely notices. Let’s step into the limelight. Let’s show the GoA and the public that we’ve earned the trust they’ve placed in us. All this began with Frederick H. Peters, P.Eng., who served as our first president. He and his fellow engineers—they were all men, in those days—joined forces to present their self-regulatory model to the GoA. Mr. Peters’ term ended on April 10, 1920, when the GoA proclaimed our organization into being. Think of how far Alberta and the world have come in the last 100 years. Our launch predates penicillin, movies with sound, and the assembly line. In Alberta, it predates by almost a decade the Famous Five gaining official

I do have other priorities as your President, of course. Many are explored in the Meet the President feature, which starts on page 10 of this PEG. Council’s full direction-setting, meanwhile, is included in a new strategic plan that you can see on our website. I’ll expand on its details in the fall/winter edition. As your 100th President (and the 10th President who happens to be a geoscientist), I’m thrilled to be your elected leader at this exciting time in our history. Thank you for placing your trust in me. I plan to do our professions, you, and the public proud.

SUMMER 2019 PEG | 5

Registrar & CEO's Message

MASTER APEGA

The Positive Story Behind Practice Reviews BY JAY NAGENDRAN , P.ENG., FCAE, ICD.D, FEC, FGC (HON.) APEGA Registrar & Chief Executive Officer

Has your permit-holding organization been selected for an APEGA practice review? If so, lucky you—and I’m not being facetious. I’m also not minimizing that the process can be stressful, from notification onwards, but I do hope to ease your mind somewhat by explaining the benefits and positive outcomes of the experience. After a permit holder review is complete, representatives of the organization often provide us with comments that emphasize how valuable and thought- provoking our process was. Our practice reviewers conclude each review with a detailed debrief to an engaged and motivated audience of professionals, leaders, and other staff members. It’s important that all APEGA members, regardless of work situation or position, understand the purpose of practice reviews and why they’re so important. What these reviews accomplish speaks to the heart of self- regulation. This is about us—all of us—working together in the public interest. To borrow a phrase from APEGA President George Eynon, P.Geo., practice reviews are an example of “professionalism by peer review.” You can even think of them as advanced, employer-specific, continuing professional development. Those who take part in the debriefs learn practical ways to improve their professional work and understand

LINKS Professional Practice Management Plan Responsible Members

Questions or comments? Registrar_CEO@apega.ca

Permit to Practice Seminars APEGA Discipline Decisions

6 | PEG SUMMER 2019

MASTER APEGA

The permit holders we’ve reviewed tell us that the experience is constructive, proactive, and useful, exposing compliance weaknesses and identifying improvement opportunities.

'

'

professional expectations to comply with Alberta law. These learnings cascade through the permit holder and all the licensed professionals, contractors, and other organizations that it provides services to or gets services from. Word, as it’s said, gets around! Your practice reviewer is an experienced licensed professional who understands what it’s like to be part of a professional team, to manage at a senior level, and to deliver professional services and knowledge, whether from behind a drafting table, in a conference room, or out in the field. The reviewer will add clarity to your procedures, processes, roles, and even to job descriptions and reporting structures. Improvements such as these are invaluable to any employer. The permit holders we’ve reviewed tell us that the experience is constructive, proactive, and useful, exposing compliance weaknesses and identifying improvement opportunities. They tell us that our interviews are thorough and professional, that seeing their organization through APEGA’s eyes is very worthwhile, and that they appreciate our collaborative and collegial approach. I’ve used the singular “reviewer” here, but some of our larger permit holders may require more than one of our staff members on site. Some reviews take a day, others take much longer. After a week-long review, one large organization learned that it needed more Responsible Members (RMs) to manage its professional practice properly. The organization’s leaders decided to nearly triple the number of RMs and ensure all areas were covered.

One major impact of a practice review is that it helps you develop a better Professional Practice Management Plan (PPMP). Every permit holder is required to have a PPMP. Your PPMP describes the corporate policies, procedures, and systems used to ensure your professional work is done responsibly and meets all legal and ethical requirements. The PPMP must be active and current, and it must be available, upon request, to APEGA members practising on behalf of the company, as well as to APEGA. What can an RM do right now? Make sure your PPMP is current and in order. To better understand what your PPMP might need, attend our recently refreshed permit to practice seminars or review the seminar material online. Remember: RMs must complete the seminar at least once every five years. Find out more about the PPMP, Responsible Member duties, and permit to practice seminars at apega.ca. While you’re there, check out the discipline decision page, too. It’s interesting to note how many findings stem from poor communication, missing documentation, and other procedural errors, and how often the PPMP is specifically mentioned as a tool to help prevent major missteps. '

SUMMER 2019 PEG | 7

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! 2019 Summit Award Recipients

Centennial Leadership Award Nigel Shrive , P.Eng., PhD In recognition of the highest distinction relating to engineering or geoscience through directorship of an outstanding project, original research or invention, or an exemplary career in teaching. Outstanding Mentor Award Ayodeji Jeje , P.Eng., PhD In recognition of exceptional achievement as a mentor.

Environment and Sustainability Award Jeff Rent , P.Eng. In recognition of excellence in the preservation of the environment and the practice of sustainable development. Community Service Award Russell Wlad , P.Eng. In recognition of an outstanding contribution made to society.

Early Accomplishment Award Jordan Johnsen , P.Eng. In recognition of exceptional achievement in the early years of a professional career.

Excellence in Education Award Clayton Deutsch , P.Eng. PhD In recognition of exemplary contributions to teaching and learning.

Frank Spragins Technical Award Ian Gates , P.Eng., PhD In recognition of integrity, technical expertise, and outstanding accomplishments in fields relating to engineering and geoscience.

Research Excellence Award Nader Mahinpey , P.Eng., PhD In recognition of innovative research in the professions that improves our economic and social well-being.

Project Achievement Award North Red Deer Regional Watewater System In recognition of engineering or geoscience projects that contribute new technologies, processes, or innovations for the improvement of society.

Women in Engineering and Geoscience Champion Award The Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and

Technology 2018 Conference Steering Committee In recognition of achievement as a champion of women in engineering and geoscience.

8 | PEG SUMMER 2019

APEGA 2019-2020 Executive Committee and Council

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Past-President Nima Dorjee, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.)

President George Eynon, P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.)

President-Elect John Van der Put, P.Eng.

Vice-President Timothy Joseph, P.Eng, PhD, FCIM

PUBLIC MEMBERS OF COUNCIL

COUNCILLORS

Tim Hohm, P.Eng.

David Johnson, P.Geo., PhD

Darren Hardy, P.Eng.

Mary Phillips-Rickey, FCA

Jennifer Enns, P.Eng.

RaeAnne Leach, P.Eng.

Georgeann Wilkin, RN, LL.B., MBS

Manon Plante, P.Eng., MDS, CD1

Walter Kozak, P.Eng.

Melanie Popp, P.Eng.

Claudia Villeneuve, P.Eng., M.Eng.

Bob Rundle, P.Eng., PMP

Jason Vanderzwaag, P.Eng.

Emily Zhang, P.Eng.

SUMMER 2019 PEG | 9

APEGA

Meet the President

George Eynon, P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.) An experienced regulator, energy consultant, and board governance authority is leading APEGA into its centennial year as the association's 100th President. George Eynon, P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.), said in his inaugural speech as President that "the public comes first because our mandate, under the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act, is to protect public safety and welfare." It takes members, however, to put that mandate into action. Mr. Eynon gives special credit to the several hundred volunteers who sit on statutory boards and committees. “We couldn't call it self-regulation without them.” The swearing-in took place at the Annual General Meeting, held Friday, April 26, in Calgary, to cap off APEGA AGM & Conference 2019. Now the principal of an energy consulting firm, Mr. Eynon spent about two decades in oil and gas exploration and development. Later, he served six years on the board of what's now called the Alberta Energy Regulator, the last five months of which he was a hearing commissioner. He also has six years of experience on APEGA's Council and has served on a variety of APEGA regulatory and governance committees, including the Practice Review Board and the Geoscience Subcommittee. Not long after his swearing-in, The PEG asked the new President about the centennial, the future of self-regulation and the professions, the part his background will play during his term, and more. His answers are edited for publication.

LET’S GET STARTED President George Eynon, P.Geol., is sworn in at the 2019 APEGA Annual General Meeting, April 26 in Calgary. Mr. Eynon says public awareness and ongoing improvement of APEGA’s proven model of self-regulation are critical to the continued success of the organization.

10 | PEG SUMMER 2019

APEGA

Why did you choose to run for the APEGA presidency?

We have public representation on our statutory committees and Council, too. They provide a perspective from outside the professions, which is also important. Would you expand on your experience and tell readers why it’s a good fit? GE Two regulatory and governance pieces of my experience have great similarities: APEGA and the ERCB (Energy Resources Conservation Board), which became the Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) while I was there. The cabinet of the Government of Alberta appointed me to the board of ERCB in 2008, and for the last six months of 2013 I was an AER hearing commissioner.

George Eynon Mainly because I have the kind of experience APEGA needs. I feel that we have to make sure that APEGA continues being an effective regulatory agency and gets even better. Self-regulation is under at- tack in a lot of places. In the U.K. and Australia, for ex- ample, self-regulators have been turned over to public bodies. It’s even happening to some extent in Canada: in B.C. and in Quebec. In the latter, the government placed the engineering regulator under trusteeship for some time. Yet self-regulation in Canada works extremely well. Who better to decide whether I’m operating professionally than

Our self-regulating organization makes Alberta strong, safe, and secure, and that’s something that we have been doing for 100 years. We need to put that APEGA brand out there so the public knows who we are, what we do, and why we do it.

'

'

my peers? They have a vested interest in making sure that engineers and geoscientists act professionally, because it reflects on every one of them if we don’t. Could you tell us more about why you support self-regulation? GE The whole concept of self-regulation is excellent. Canada is one of the few countries that uses it to the extent we do, and it works. Having your peers regulate you, which I call regulation by peer review, means that none of the member volunteers on the committees who implement our regulatory functions want to see the professions decline in excellence. The same is true of APEGA’S professional staff. There is a certain sense of pride in being able to maintain the excellence of our professions.

For APEGA, my regulatory experience started more than two decades ago, as a volunteer with the Practice Review Board. My Council and related roles date from 2012. APEGA regulates the practices of engineering and geoscience, much of which in Alberta leads to oil and gas development. AER regulates at the implementation stage in energy. That’s a clear connection. I learned a great deal as an ERCB board member, overseeing the regulatory function and conducting hearings, considering the input of the public and interveners. Although a separate committee at APEGA conducts discipline hearings, our regulatory processes are quite similar. Public service is a really important connection. APEGA serves the public interest by regulating our professional

SUMMER 2019 PEG | 11

APEGA

Let’s continue talking about APEGA Centennial 2020. What has Council instructed staff to do? GE The centennial is so important that Council has made public awareness APEGA’s number one centennial mandate. APEGA, under the direction of the Registrar & CEO, is going to be giving the public a much better understanding of who we are and how we go about protecting public safety and welfare. That’s a central piece of the centennial celebrations—and it has already begun. The tagline for the centennial is A Century Well Built. How have APEGA and the professions built Alberta? GE Starting from April 10, 1920, when the first provincial act enabling us to self-regulate became law, you can match much of the province’s timeline to ours and see how we’re connected. For a year up to that date, our founders worked with the provincial government to build a self-regulatory model. That’s why I’m the 100th President and not the 99th. Frederick H. Peters, P.Eng., was President number one, although the association didn’t technically exist for his term. Those first 40 or 50 years, we were really building the province’s infrastructure. We were building a safe and successful Alberta, which is a major theme for the centennial.

practices for the public’s welfare, and ERCB/AER serves the public interest by making sure the public’s resources development is conducted appropriately. So, there’s great similarity but also some differences, and philosophically the two bodies do overlap. What’s the major issue facing the professions today? GE Maintaining the public trust in us to do our job. Although I say maintaining the public trust, to be perfectly honest, I don’t think the public knows who APEGA is, what we do, or why we do it. We’re really going to have to let the public know more about us, so we can earn that trust. You’ve been clear that 2020, APEGA’s centennial year, represents an opportunity for the association to be more visible than ever before. Could you expand on that? GE I think our centennial is really about making sure the APEGA brand is known and understood. Our self-regulating organization makes Alberta strong, safe, and secure, and that’s something that we have been doing for 100 years. We need to put that APEGA brand out there so the public knows who we are, what we do, and why we do it. We want people to know just how much professional engineers and geoscientists have been building that Alberta. That’s our brand.

12 | PEG SUMMER 2019

APEGA

'

most ethical and best-trained engineers and geoscientists in the world. Alberta has seen a decline in some of the immediate positions available for our members, but we’re going to see a lot of opportunities to take those skills to the rest of the world. How we regulate outsourced work is a major priority in our new strategic plan. My predecessor Nima Dorjee, P.Eng., looked deeply at the outsourcing of engineering to other countries. What is APEGA’s ability to regulate something that’s implemented here in Alberta but engineered elsewhere? So, I think there will be international opportunities, and not just in terms of going overseas but also in terms of doing a really good job making sure that what’s brought into Alberta is safe. Also, natural resources aren’t just oil and gas. We have tremendous opportunity with wind and solar, obviously. Another important piece is the minerals industry, which most of our members are not engaged in but many Canadian geoscientists certainly are. Geothermal energy is another one: we can get a great deal of energy out of the ground quite easily, given that Albertans are The number of jobs that came out of the work of professional engineers and geoscientists in the latter part of the last century and the early part of this one is phenomenal. Today, there’s a real opportunity to bring other areas of our natural resources base in, and there are also opportunities in artificial intelligence, software engineering, the knowledge economy, and much more. '

By the late 1930s, more and more geoscientists were involved in the province’s development, eventually developing into a separate profession (or professions at the time, geology and geophysics) in the 1960s. The oil and gas industry was really growing, and it became the financial foundation not just for the professions but also for the workplace and the economy. The number of jobs that came out of the work of professional engineers and geoscientists in the latter part of the last century and the early part of this one is phenomenal. Today, there’s a real opportunity to bring other areas of our natural resources base in, and there are also opportunities in artificial intelligence, software engineering, the knowledge economy, and much more. I don’t think we’ll have booms like the ones we’ve had in the oil and gas industry. But oil and gas is not going to go away, and growth in other areas is going to be really important to the future of Alberta, APEGA, and our professions. What are your thoughts on APEGA’s role in our licensed professionals finding employment? GE We put on events and professional development sessions that help members help themselves and each other. But beyond that, I’m not sure there’s a lot we can do. We are a regulator, and we are a self-regulating organization. The way we’ve executed our responsibilities under that model has allowed us to develop perhaps the

SUMMER 2019 PEG | 13

APEGA

very experienced at drilling for oil and gas. Drilling for geothermal is probably a lot simpler than what we’ve been doing, so I think there’s tremendous opportunity there; and in finding water and getting it to the people who need it around the world. There are also many other areas professional members can branch into. Volunteers, you said, make this system work. How do you encourage members to donate time and expertise to APEGA? GE It’s quite simple, really. I ask them, “Are you really going to sit back and allow someone else to regulate our practices?” We, as professional engineers and professional geoscientists, are the best people to know what good conduct is and—with the support of staff—to implement it. It’s not a matter of saving APEGA members and the taxpayers of Alberta money. Yes, that’s great, but we take great pride in doing this and in knowing that our peers are the best people to be regulating us. There are a lot of things we need volunteers for and not just to do the self-regulatory part of our work. I encourage our members, at whatever stage they are at in their careers, to look at the volunteer opportunities APEGA posts and think about what might fit their schedules, skillsets, and personal and professional development needs. It doesn’t have to be something big and time consuming. We have several hundred volunteers with regulatory roles, and we have a couple thousand people doing other things for APEGA. And again, who better than our own members to connect with each other, with students, and with the people of Alberta? An important thing to remember is we have 10 branches. So, we have members volunteering all across the province. Our branches—Fort McMurray, the Peace Region, Lakeland, Yellowhead, Vermillion River, Edmonton, Red Deer, Calgary, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat—and the communities in these areas are represented by APEGA through our branch members. They reach out to the public and their peers. They get their peers involved in their

branch meetings, tours, and professional development opportunities. They often need speakers, too. Who knows where sharing your knowledge with your peers will lead you! There’s a lot our people can be doing, and it doesn’t have to be a huge commitment for each individual. Something small by everyone would be an enormous help in the ongoing improvement of APEGA. You mentioned the branches. Members of the branches helped spread the word and gather input during APEGA’s multi-year legislative review. What stage is APEGA at with that? GE We’ve made a joint submission with ASET (the Association of Science & Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta) to the Government of Alberta. We currently operate under one Act. We spent a lot of time looking at that Act, consulting members throughout the branches and other stakeholders. And we submitted our recommendations. We didn’t get agreement with ASET on everything. There are some additional things both we and ASET put forward separately that the organizations are not quite aligned on. But I am quite convinced that our government is not going to want to have two acts for what is essentially one function. The current government has stated unequivocally that it doesn’t want to create more regulatory agencies, so I don’t see Alberta separating the two. You’re not only APEGA’s 100th President. You’re also the 10th geoscientist president. What’s your take on the relationship between APEGA and the geoscience community, and the relationship between engineers and geoscientists? GE We used to be APEGGA—we had two Gs, representing geologists and geophysicists. The distinction was quite unnecessary. We don’t divide engineering like that, as far as regulation goes, into mechanical, electrical, structural, etc., so combining the two into a single geoscience designation, professional geoscientist, was the right thing to do.

14 | PEG SUMMER 2019

APEGA

So, it’s important that we celebrate that specifically within APEGA. We have some amazing members here from all over the world, and I think that’s particularly worthy of mention. They’re important to us and to the fabric of Alberta. We’ll be giving diversity and inclusion additional attention this year and during APEGA Centennial 2020, so stay tuned. over the world, and I think that’s particularly worthy of mention. They’re important to us and to the fabric of Alberta. ' ' We have some amazing members here from all

There’s a collegiality between engineers and geoscientists. We get along fine. We, as in geoscientists, do a different but related job. Once we’re done, somebody else is going to have to drill the holes or build the dam or whatever, so there’s a real symbiosis there. I like the idea that I’m the 100th President and the 10th geoscientist. I put no stock in numerology, but it’s just kind of a neat coincidence. Let’s end on the topic of diversity. You’ve noted that Council is 44 per cent women and that 80 per cent of the executive committee are from other countries. Why is diversity important? GE All diversity and inclusion are important, whether we’re male, female, non-binary, trained in other countries, representative of a particular age demographic, or representative of any other community or culture. The research is clear that good decisions come from a range of perspectives.

SUMMER 2019 PEG | 15

MASTER APEGA NEWS

APEGA and ASET have signed and submitted a joint letter to the Government of Alberta that recommends changes to the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act (EGP Act) and related regulations. The recommended changes came after five rounds of stakeholder consultation sessions and more than 7,000 comments from members. “Continued partnership and joint regulation with ASET are paramount to the safety of Albertans. I believe this joint submission will improve and modernize the legislation,” said Jay Nagendran, P.Eng., APEGA Registrar & CEO The EGP Act is the joint legislation for APEGA and ASET (short for the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta).The Act has not been significantly updated for about four decades. In that time, the practice of the professions has changed, along with business, industry, and society in general. More than 160 recommended changes were jointly submitted to the Government of Alberta. To better serve the public interest, the following key regulatory Province Receives Recommended Changes to EGP Act Are you a sole practitioner? If yes, you’ll be pleased to know APEGA is simplifying the annual dues process. As of July 1, permit dues are $250, plus GST. When APEGA changed its dues calculation for permit holders in 2017, we used the same calculation for all permit holders, which is $500 times the number of members employed, plus GST. After two years and a chance to review our processes, we realized we could simply things. Council approved the flat rate in December 2018, in advance of the implementation date. A sole practitioner is defined as: • a permit holder for which the chief operating officer (COO) and the Responsible Member are the same person—an APEGA member and the only member listed on the permit.   • a permit holder for which the COO is not an APEGA member and the Responsible Member is the only APEGA member listed on the permit. Dues System Simplified for Sole Practitioners

recommendations were included in the submission: • Increase the maximum discipline-related fine to $100,000 for members and $500,000 for permit holders from the current $10,000. • Allow the use of creative sanctions when these would be more appropriate than punitive measures. • Allow an investigation to start without requiring a written complaint, providing it appears the public is at risk. On the membership side, the submission included the recommendation to create a certified geoscience technologist designation—C.G.T.—similar to the existing certified engineering technologist (C.E.T.) designation. Currently, registered technologists practising geoscience must use the C.E.T. designation, which does not reflect their area of work. Although some joint legislative matters still need to be resolved, APEGA will continue to work closely with ASET and the Government of Alberta in the hopes of having the legislation proclaimed in 2020—to coincide with APEGA’s centennial.

If you qualify as a sole practitioner, the flat rate will be applied to your permit automatically. Also, you no longer need to apply for a dues reduction—the lower price will automatically be applied. If you have any questions about this or other permit matters, please email permits@apega.ca. We’ll be happy to assist you.

LINKS Company Self-Service Centre Member & Permit Holder Changes Member & Permit Holder Dues

16 | PEG SUMMER 2019

APEGA NEWS

It takes public and professional service at the gover- nance level to make APEGA’s self-regulatory model work. Is this a type of volunteerism you qualify for? Or do you know of other professional members you think should run? The current APEGA Council is a few months into its year, yet the process of renewing it in 2020 is already underway. Nominations open August 19 in the search for qualified candidates to seek seats in our centennial year election. APEGA accepts nominations electronically. Full infor- mation about the process and what you need to do will be posted on APEGA.ca before the start of the nomination pe- riod, which continues for almost six weeks until September 26. We’ll distribute links on social media and in electronic newsletters, once the site begins accepting nominations. An APEGA election takes place the first quarter of every year, renewing Council by filling at least four of 12 Council seats. Voters also elect a President-Elect, who advances to the presidency the following year, and a Vice- President. The APEGA Nominating Committee makes sure those putting their names forward qualify. The committee may even recommend you. Recommended candidates meet specific needs identified as important to Council. These needs change year to year, based on the challenges of the day and the gaps left as terms of Councillors end. Appearing on the next pages is more information about putting your name forward. An Opportunity to Help Shape APEGA's Future

Nomination Window Opens

August 19 9 a.m. Monday

Nomination Window Closes

September 26 4:30 p.m. Thursday

SUMMER 2018 PEG | 17

APEGA NEWS

2020-2021 Council Needs APEGA’s Council and Nominating Committee identified the following key skills and areas of knowledge needed for the 2020-21 Council. If you’re thinking of running, you should be aware of them and how they line up with your own experience. The items are listed alphabetically:

Effectively conveying information, ideas, or policy in various formats to a wide range of audiences The culmination of professional development, research and publication, advancement of the profession, and employment in diverse industries (academia, industry, government). Effective governance ensures objectives are realized, resources are well managed, and the interests of stakeholders are protected and reflected in key decisions. APEGA must consider the balance between public interest, social licence to operate, established governance, and the operation of the organization. As a part of governance, AEPGA Council governs through policies establishing organizational ends and governance processes. Knowledge of the association from involvement and interactions with APEGA (or ASET—the Association of Science & Engineering Professionals of Alberta), which provides insight into the association, the membership, and stakeholders, as well as its trials, tribulations, and successes. Including many styles and independent of personality traits and attributes, effective leadership is the maximizing of the efforts of others to accomplish desired outcomes. Knowledge gained from understanding or working with the Engineering and Geoscience Professions Act , having experience being part of a regulator or working in a heavily regulated industry. Working knowledge of risk management, crisis management, and the basic laws and regulations under which non-profits operate Understanding of and experience with an organization’s process of defining its strategy, or direction, and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this strategy. Ability to think creatively and strategically about the big picture, while considering the impacts of decisions.

Communication

Diversity of Experience

Governance Experience

Knowledge about APEGA

Leadership

Regulatory Understanding

Risk Management

Strategic Planning

Visionary

Work Experience

A minimum of 10 years' experience.

18 | PEG SUMMER 2019

APEGA NEWS

Nomination Requirements Following are some the requirements for a potential candidate to consider. ❑ Let your professional network know you’re seeking support. At least 25 professional members in good standing will need to confirm their support electronically with APEGA—so contacting more than 25 is a good idea. ❑ Write an explanation of why you want to run for Council. Make it no longer than 700 words. ❑ Rate your skills and attributes, as provided and explained on apega.ca. ❑ Polish your curriculum vitae for posting. ❑ Gather other supporting documents you would like to submit for review during the nominations process. to the Registrar & CEO to implement them though staff. Specific results sought by a specific Councillor can’t be guaranteed, because such direction must come from Council as a whole. Councillors bring their own ideas, areas of expertise, and areas of passion to the table. That’s a reflection of the diversity on Council, and a wide range of perspectives is encouraged by APEGA’s Nominating Committee. However, all Councillors work for the public first. After that, they work for all members equally. A Councillor from one industry brings the perspective of that industry to the table—but does not work exclusively for that industry’s members. This same principle applies to geographic areas of the province. Positions on particular issues are important. Just as important are the skills and experience Councillors possess. Individual candidates are free to campaign within specific guidelines. APEGA and its Council, meanwhile, are responsible for those materials distributed directly by staff. SUMMER 2019 PEG | 19

The paramount purpose of Council and APEGA is to work together to protect the public through the leadership of the Registrar & CEO, Council strategically directs the association. Elected candidates are involved in a team decision- making process. Each Councillor is one of up to 19 voices around the table—those of 16 professional members and up to three government-appointed public members. Council’s role breaks down this way: • to develop and drive APEGA’s strategic direction • to ensure the responsible use of resources to effectively execute APEGA’s strategic plan • to provide ongoing oversight of APEGA’s functions and activities • to make decisions that affect the professions and the membership • to provide financial oversight Although direction and oversight come from Council, day-to-day operations of the organization do not. As a group, Council can seek specific outcomes, but it is up What Do Councillors Do?

Movers & Shakers

LATITUDE

Movers&Shakers CELEBRATING A CAREER OF BRICKS AND BONES: CALGARY PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER RECEIVES HIGHEST APEGA HONOUR Few people embody the diverse nature of engineering research like the recipient of APEGA’s most prestigious award does. On April 25 in

Community Service Russell Wlad, P.Eng ., received the Community Ser- vice Summit Award for his exceptional fundraising efforts in central Alberta. He has raised money for the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre’s pediatric ward and the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, among other organizations. His generosity and community involvement have inspired his colleagues at Stantec to take part, too, reflecting an ethos common among staff of the major permit holder. Early Accomplishment In 13 short years, the recipient of the Early Accom- plishment Award grew from eager student to the youngest executive of Canada’s largest condensate producer. Jordan Johnsen, P.Eng. , of Grande Prairie, has played a major role in Seven Generations Energy ’s burgeoning success. When the economic downturn had nearly stalled the rest of the energy industry, he oversaw departmental growth to help the company quintuple production. Excellence in Education A professor in the civil and environmental engineering department at the University of Alberta, Clayton Deutsch, P.Eng., PhD , has achieved commendable student ratings and displayed a steadfast dedication to educating the pro- fessionals of tomorrow. He challenges his students to dive deeper, make connections, and offer innovative solutions, which has helped earning him the Excellence in Education Award. Outstanding Mentor Ayodeji Jeje, P.Eng., PhD , connects with students in a personal way, and here’s one amazing example. Dr. Jeje demonstrated compassion and a collaborative, creative approach to problem solving, after a student was involved in a devastating car accident. He visited the woman in hospital and brainstormed ideas with fellow professors

Calgary, Nigel Shrive, P.Eng., PhD , celebrated a distinguished career that includes research into skeletal and cardiovascular systems—and masonry. Dr. Shrive is the 2019 recipient of APEGA’s Centennial Leadership Summit Award. Before about 400 professional peers, dignitaries, and others, Dr. Shrive accepted the honour at our Summit Awards Gala, which is held each year in conjunction with the APEGA Annual General Meeting & Conference. Dr. Shrive set a benchmark for innovation early in his career when, as a doctoral candidate at the University of Oxford, he invented an artificial knee. It’s since been implanted in thousands of patients worldwide. Connected to the University of Calgary for most of his career, he was the first non-medical professional in charge of the McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health. Now he takes his place among APEGA’s most distinguished members. Every day, APEGA members like Dr. Shrive discover, innovate, and improve their neighbourhoods, their cities, and the world at large. And every year during our Summit Awards Gala, APEGA honours a selection of these high- achievers and their exemplary work. Nine other individuals and teams also received awards in 2019.

20 | PEG SUMMER 2019

Movers & Shakers

LATITUDE

at the University of Calgary to keep her education on track. The result? She completed classes be- tween surgeries and wrote exams from her hospital bed. The recipient of our 2019 Outstanding Mentor Award, Dr. Jeje continually demonstrates that kind of unwavering encouragement and support. Research Excellence As the world demands more and more eco- friendliness in energy development and generation, decreasing the sector’s carbon footprint is increas- ingly valued and crucial. Nader Mahinpey, P.Eng., PhD , a professor with the University of Calgary Schulich School of Engineering, is a major player in this endeavour. The recipient of APEGA’s Research Excellence Award, Dr. Mahinpey conducts leading- edge research for innovations in carbon capture and For organizing a successful conference in sup- port of its community, the Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades and Tech- nology (CCWESTT) 2018 Conference Steering Committee accepted the Women in Engineering and Geoscience Champion Award. The committee pro- vided a space for attendees to discuss diversity and inclusion in science, engineering, trades, and tech- nology. With the conference’s success, this enthusi- astic group also increased the visibility of women in engineering and geoscience. Environment and Sustainability With a commitment to eco-friendly and sustain- able building designs, Jeff Rent, P.Eng. , of Ches- termere, near Calgary, is helping the environment for generations to come. His projects have received provincial and national awards, and more than 30 of them have earned certifications under the Leader- ship in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. The Stantec professional now has the APEGA Environment and Sustainability Summit Award to add to his list. conversion technologies. Championing Women

SOME BONES AND VEINS ABOUT IT A man of many talents, Dr. Nigel Shrive, P.Eng., boasts a career that’s included research on skeletal and cardiovascular systems.

Project Achievement Designed by Stantec , the North Red Deer Regional Wastewater System promises a cleaner future for com- munities in central Alberta. Completed on time and under budget, the system incorporates innovative approaches and leading-edge technologies to provide a modern wastewa- ter solution—while protecting a sensitive watershed. The system is this year’s Project Achievement Summit Award recipient. Frank Spragins Technical Rounding out our 2019 APEGA Summit Award class is Ian Gates, P.Eng., PhD , of the University of Calgary , the recipient of the 2019 Frank Spragins Technical Award. Dr. Gates and his renowned research group discovered how to transform heavy oil and bitumen into self-sealing pellets— their liquid core is surrounded by super-viscous skin—for transportation by truck or rail. The work is a potential game-changer for a sector in need of shipping capacity and lowered environmental risk. APEGA has been presenting the Summit Awards every year since 1990. Nominations for the 2020 awards are open now.

Nominations Now Open APEGA has been presenting the Summit Awards every year since 1990. For information on nominating a person or project for the 2020 awards, visit apega.ca/summit-awards.

SUMMER 2019 PEG | 21

Movers & Shakers

LATITUDE

SHE INNOVATES AND SHE INNOVATES TOO: MEMBERS CATCH THE EYE OF GLOBAL COALITION A select group of Alberta innovators are piloting the first Canadian chapter of a coalition empowering women worldwide. The Global Innovation Coalition for Change has invited 66 women—including Elizabeth Cannon, P.Eng., PhD, FEC, FGC (Hon.) , president emerita and professor at the University of Calgary , and Deanna Burgart, P.Eng ., founder of Indigenous Engineering Inclusion—to advance gender equality and support female innovators under the banner of SHEInnovates Alberta. Group members will act as local role models, work to tackle gender stereotypes, connect with and support female innovators, and raise awareness of innovations developed by women in Alberta. During eight and a half years as president and vice-chancellor of the U of C, Dr. Cannon took steps to harness and develop entrepreneurial thinking. She saw diversification and entrepreneurial leadership as necessary to support a rapidly evolving global economy, and she wanted to provide young people with the tools to be self-sufficient and resilient. So she oversaw the creation of the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking, a groundbreaking U of C initiative to create and deliver a bold new approach to learning, teaching, and discovering. “When we opened up the Hunter Hub, students just naturally gravitated to it. Many who hadn’t even thought about being entrepreneurial started to see what it’s all about. They see the support systems are there and their individual creativity just takes over,” Dr. Cannon says in a story on the SHEInnovates website. “That is what I get excited about: when I see young people, with all of their passion and energy and with a little bit of support, really move from an idea into dreaming and doing something big.” Dr. Cannon is also a big name in

-photo courtesy SHEInnovates

-photo courtesy Deanna Burgart

ANOTHER TRAIL TO BLAZE Dr. Elizabeth Cannon, P.Eng., and Deanna Burgart, P.Eng., are two of the Alberta women charged with developing the first global SHEInnovates chapter in the province.

APEGA governance and self-regulation. A former Councillor, she has served on numerous committees and boards, including nominating, discipline, and registration. Among the three APEGA Summit Awards on her shelf is the Centennial Leadership Award for 2011. Ms. Burgart is the founder of Indigenous Engineering Inclusion, which promotes science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to Indigenous youth. She bridges the gap between engineering principles and traditional Indigenous world views, showing that the two are not mutually exclusive. As a consultant to post-secondary institutions and STEM-based organizations, she advises on ways to incorporate calls to action in the report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. “One of the barriers for Indigenous youth in STEM—and there are many—is the lack of role models in which they can see themselves reflected. That’s why it’s so important to me to create a community of Indigenous STEM professionals. So we can support each other and amplify our voices, and so the youth can see the many different opportunities for them,” Ms. Burgart says. “Indigenous people have been STEM professionals and innovators for thousands of years before contact. We are inherently connected to the land and sciences. We just didn’t use the Western words to describe (the connection).” SHEInnovates officially launched in New York in March, on International Women’s Day. The launch also served as a celebration of 100 women from around the world who mentor, support, and empower women. Of these 100 women, five were from Alberta— including Dr. Cannon.

22 | PEG SUMMER 2019

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48 Page 49 Page 50 Page 51 Page 52 Page 53 Page 54 Page 55 Page 56 Page 57 Page 58 Page 59 Page 60 Page 61 Page 62 Page 63 Page 64 Page 65 Page 66 Page 67 Page 68 Page 69 Page 70 Page 71 Page 72 Page 73 Page 74 Page 75 Page 76 Page 77 Page 78 Page 79 Page 80 Page 81 Page 82

www.apega.ca

Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker