FOR COUNCIL Jason Vanderzwaag, P.Eng., MASc, LEED AP, PMP
• See proposed legislative changes to fruition • Voice for members in Alberta’s regions • Wide-ranging civil and public health engineering experience
After graduation, my work experience included
water resources engineering with Associated Engineering in our Burnaby office. I also took a six-month internship in Guatemala through the City of Calgary’s Central American Water Resources Management Network, providing technical support to community develop- ment projects in rural com- munities.
A current APEGA councillor winding up a one-year term, I am seeking re-election to continue my involvement in the legislative review and other initiatives. I am passionate about APEGA’s role as a self-governed regulator and the inherent responsibilities of Council to members—and of members to the health and safety of the public and the environment. So far, I have been part of many initiatives, including: • regulatory changes required to help APEGA meet the challenges of evolving demands of our professions and maintain the privilege of self-regulation • committee work to review and approve key changes in our regulatory boards • interface with the Consulting Engineers of Alberta to review how engineering services are procured in Alberta • budget and expenditure reviews to ensure that the association responsibly allocates members’ dues and other fees, while continuing to meet regulatory obligations I am a civil engineer with 15 years of experience. As the office manager for Associated Engineering in Fort McMurray, I lead a team of engineers and technologists to support the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo and other clients in municipal infrastructure and community development projects. Recent ones include Snye Channel rehabilitation, offsite infrastructure for the MacDonald Island Park Expansion, and recovery works following 2013 flooding in Fort McMurray. In response to the 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire, I led the Associated Engineering team to assist the regional municipality in its response. We provided remote operation of the water treatment plant to meet firefighting needs and the subsequent Water System Recovery Plan. The latter included draining and cleaning every water reservoir and flushing every watermain to provide potable water for the community. Our team won two Awards of Excellence from the Consulting Engineers of Alberta for the services we provided. I have an undergraduate degree and a master’s degree, both from the University of British Columbia. During my undergraduate program I participated in the Engineering Co-op Program, taking placements with the Corporation of Delta in B.C., Progressive Engineering in Calgary, Habitat for Humanity in Costa Rica, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Habitat Enhancement Branch in Vancouver. I also studied one semester on exchange at the University of Chile in Santiago.
I completed my master’s in pollution control and waste management. This was through a multidisciplinary program that combined public health, public policy, and engineering. My thesis topic was Use and Performance of BioSand Filters in Posoltega, Nicaragua. Field research included three months visiting rural communities in Nicaragua to assess the long-term efficacy of household drinking water treatment. Follow-up work included education and training programs to improve the biosand filter program in this region of Nicaragua. The work was performed in collaboration with several organizations, including the Centre for Affordable Water and Sanitation Technology in Calgary. My thesis work and related technical presentations were recognized with several major awards, and I published two papers based on my research work in the Water Quality Research Journal of Canada. My past participation in APEGA includes Chair and other executive positions with the Fort McMurray Branch, from 2012 to 2017. I helped engage local members and students in STEM activities, including science fairs and science olympics, scholarships, teacher awards, and technical talks. I was proctor for the National Professional Practice Examination, 2013–2015, and have been an APEGA mentor since 2015. Also since 2015, I have been on the champions collaborative of the APEGA legislative review, gaining insight into the proposed changes to address challenges APEGA faces as a self- regulating association. A key motivation for running for Council is to be involved in the implementation of changes arising out of the review. I also want to act as a voice for the Fort McMurray region and other regional branches, in recognition of the challenges we continue to face across the province. As for my other interests and activities, I am a youth coach for cross-country ski lessons with the Ptarmigan Nordic Ski Club and also sit on the board of directors. I am a board member for my condominium corporation in Fort McMurray. I like hiking, running, cycling, skiing, scuba diving, and travel. I hope I can count on your support in APEGA Election 2018!
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