Movers & Shakers
LATITUDE
COME FOR LUNCH, STAY FOR THE HONOURS March was a big month for select group of Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) alumni, recognized at the college’s annual President’s Award Luncheon for service to the community. Hosted by the GPRC Alumni/ Foundation, the event dates from 2004 and presents the college’s most esteemed awards. Of the seven selfless people receiving honours, two of them happen to be members of APEGA. Peter Merlo, P.Eng. , received the college’s highest honour, the Board of Governors Award of Distinction. Recipients earn the award by making notable contributions to the Grande Prairie community and the advancement of higher education. Mr. Merlo was a member of GPRC’s Board for eight years, until 2017, and served three of those years as chair of the board’s governance committee. His board experience extends to the wider Grande Prairie community—the Alberta Blue Cross and the area’s community foundation. He’s a past-president of the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce and of the Swan City Rotary Club, and he was construction committee chair for the Centre 2000 project. Centre 2000 is a community centre in Grand Prairie’s
Muskoseepi Park, and it’s billed as a “welcoming landmark” for the city. Mr. Merlo led a partnership between his own company, LSM Group of Companies, and GPRC to develop and initiate the college’s sheet metal worker program, which has since proven itself for industries across the region. He was also a strong advocate of transitioning the college to a degree-granting institution—a goal realized in 2018. He’s currently a member of the college’s Vital Campaign Cabinet, advancing priority GPRC projects like increasing student supports and improving infrastructure. David Lario, P.Eng. , of Sexsmith, near Grande Prairie, is one of two recipients of the Steps to the Greater Alumni Award. This award celebrates the outstanding accomplishments of alumni early in their careers. Mr. Lario completed his first year of engineering at GPRC in 1995 before heading to the University of Alberta to earn his bachelor’s and then master’s degree in mechanical engineering. Mr. Lario has not forgotten his roots. He volunteers with APEGA to support future professional engineers, speaks on engineering panels at GPRC, lends a hand with presentations and workshops in the region, and mentors young engineering students.
LINKS
The Summit Awards Class of 2019 Global Innovation Coalition for Change and SHEInnovates: Two Members from Alberta Announced Researcher with a Long Review Receives Fellowship from Medical and Biological Engineering Group Engineers Canada’s 2019 Award Recipient List Includes Two APEGA Members Speed Bumps on the Road to Success: Edmonton’s EcoCar Recovers from Shaky Start CEA Showcases Innovative Projects and Standout APEGA Members and Permit Holders A New High Water Mark for Hydrogeological Company: HCL Turns 50 Alberta’s New Government and Cabinet Includes Two Professional Engineers U of A Professor Receives E.W.R. Steacie Fellowship for Studying Molecular Surfaces Major Funding Goes to Autonomous Systems as Alberta Aims for Quantum Tech Hub Status Two APEGA Members are Among Grande Prairie College Alumni Honoured for Community Service
34 | PEG SUMMER 2019
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