INNOVATION November-December 2014

BC Building Code Update • Elliot Lake Inquiry • 2014 Annual Conference and AGM

JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS OF BC

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

Dr. John J. Clague, P.Geo., FGC APEGBC President Richmond’s First District Energy Utility Mandatory CPD Bylaw Consultation

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content s

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2 014 [ VOLUME 18 NUMBER 6)

features 14

Dr. John J. Clague, P.Geo., FGC – Geoscientist, Teacher, Philanthropist and Lucky Man Robin J. Miller 20 The Future Begins Here – Richmond’s First District Energy Utility Tom Ruffen 24 Who Says Big Science is Dead? TRIUMF’s New Advanced Rare Isotope Laboratory Robin J. Miller

news

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President’s Viewpoint – Leading the Way in Earthquake Protection

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Association Notes – Results of the APEGBC Council Election and Bylaw Vote; APEGBC Beginning Consultation on Proposed Act Amendments; New Government Appointee to APEGBC Council; Have You Updated Your Practice Declaration and CPD Hours?; APEGBC and ABCFP Address Concerns Over Forest Road Crossings; Renew Your Membership for 2015

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Council Report – September 12 and October 25, 2014

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Members Asked to Ratify Bylaw for Mandatory Continuing Professional Development

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Quality Is Everyone’s Business

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2014 APEGBC Annual General Meeting

ON THE COVER: 2014/2015 APEGBC President Dr. John J. Clague, P.Geo., FGC Photo: Wendy D.

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Elliot Lake Inquiry Final Report Issued

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Annual Conference – Global Innovation Begins at Home

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BC Building Code Update depar tment s

5 Newsmakers 23 APEGBC Professional Development 30 Discipline and Enforcement 30 Membership 34 Professional Services 38 OQM List

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TRIUMF is Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics. Located on the south campus of UBC at the edge of Pacific Spirit Park, the facility spans 5.1 hectares and houses the world’s largest cyclotron (long green building at right) and a new superconducting electron accelerator that will produce isotopes for science, medicine, and business in the new flagship facility, ARIEL (orange building at centre).

NOV EMB E R / D E C EMB E R 2 0 1 4 3

i n n ova t i o n

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014

VOLUME 18 NUMBER 6

v iewpoint

We live on risky ground in British Columbia. Colliding lithospheric plates deliver the threat of earthquakes and tsunamis, and hurricane- force winds and floods accompany cyclonic storms that come ashore from the Pacific Ocean. In addition, landslides threaten the transpor- tation, energy, and communication corridors connecting our prov- ince to the rest of Canada and the US. In the face of these threats, the provincial government is working to reduce the risk that earthquakes, floods, landslides, and other inevitable natural hazards pose to its citizens and our built infra- structure. And APEGBC continues to play a critical role in assisting government in this effort. Over the years, we have made quantum leaps in our understand- ing of earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest. Geoscience advances have found their way into national and provincial building codes through code seismic provisions. And comparable advances in engi- neering design and engineered materials have improved the safety of our built infrastructure. Nevertheless, most cities in BC have a large stock of older buildings that are vulnerable to structural failure in the event of a strong earthquake. In 2004, the BC Ministry of Education engaged APEGBC, with support from UBC’s Department of Civil Engineering, to assist in implementing a seismic upgrade program for BC schools, arguably our most critical infrastructure. This unique partnership led to the development of seismic assessment tools and the Seismic Retrofit Guidelines, which enable engineers to make informed and cost-effec- tive decisions when designing seismic retrofits for school buildings. The guidelines have been recognizedwith awards at both the provincial and national levels for innovation and technical excellence, and have been modelled by government and emergency planners from the US to Israel. Even with this success, much remains to be done and we cannot rest on our laurels. Inmy view, the Seismic Retrofit Guidelines are just the start of a much larger and longer process. We need to consider and discuss whether the principle that underpins earthquake risk reduction—pro- tection of people from injury and death—is sufficient when wealth is increasingly being concentrated in large, seismically vulnerable cities. We have had great success in protecting people from earthquakes in North America, but the economic losses from earthquake disas- ters continues to rise. Perhaps it is time to consider mandating structural engineering that reduces the risk of serious damage to our building stock during earthquakes. Perhaps it is time to apply the approach taken with the Seismic Retrofit Guidelines to other crit- ical infrastructure, such as bridges, tunnels, hospitals, and firehalls. Another logical extension of the current program is to municipali- ties. Since a fatal landslide within its jurisdiction in 2005, the District of North Vancouver has been a leader in pan-hazard risk reduction, including earthquakes, through its partnerships with UBC and Natural Resources Canada. Why not capitalize on North Vancouver’s success by encouraging similar efforts in other municipalities? I occasionally hear from a member who questions the value of our association. Well, here is just one tangible benefit – contributing to the protection of our children and teachers and, in so doing, provid- ing the leadership that has made APEGBC one of the most innova- tive engineering regulators in the country. Our members should be proud of the leadership APEGBC is providing and the national and international attention that its efforts are garnering.

Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC Canada V5C 6N2 Tel: 604.430.8035 Fax: 604.430.8085 E-mail: apeginfo@apeg.bc.ca Internet: www.apeg.bc.ca Toll free: 1.888.430.8035

2014/2015 COUNCIL, APEGBC P RESIDENT J.J. Clague, P.Geo., FGC

V ICE P RESIDENT D R . M.C. Wrinch, P.Eng., FEC I MMEDIATE P AST P RESIDENT M.B. Bapty, P.Eng., FEC

Leading the Way in Earthquake Protection

COUNCILLORS C.J. Andrewes, P.Eng.; Dr. C.D. Anglin, P.Geo. D.E. Campbell, P.Eng.; A. Fernandes, CIM, FCSI D.I. Harvey, P.Eng.,Struct.Eng., FEC; H. Hawson, P.Eng., FEC D.M. Howes, P.Eng., FEC; H.G. Kelly, P.Eng. K. Laloge, CA; T. Mitha, LLB

C.L. Park, P.Eng.; R.P. Stewart, P.Eng. K.V. Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng.; Dr. S.Wynn

ASSOCIATION STAFF A.J. English, P.Eng. C HIEF E XECUTIVE O FFICER A ND R EGISTRAR T.M.Y. Chong, P.Eng. C HIEF R EGULATORY O FFICER A ND D EPUTY R EGISTRAR J.Y. Sinclair C HIEF O PERATING O FFICER M.L. Archibald D IRECTOR , C OMMUNICATIONS A ND S TAKEHOLDER E NGAGEMENT J. Cho, CGA D IRECTOR , F INANCE A ND A DMINISTRATION D. Gamble D IRECTOR , I NFORMATION S YSTEMS P.R. Mitchell, P.Eng. D IRECTOR , P ROFESSIONAL P RACTICE , S TANDARDS A ND D EVELOPMENT D Olychick D IRECTOR , M EMBER S ERVICES G.M. Pichler, P.Eng. D IRECTOR , R EGISTRATION E. Swartz, LLB D IRECTOR , L EGISLATION , E THICS A ND C OMPLIANCE V. Lai, CGA A SSOCIATE D IRECTOR , F INANCE A ND A DMINISTRATION J.J.G. Larocque P.Eng., LLB, CD A SSOCIATE D IRECTOR , P ROFESSIONAL P RACTICE

J.J. Clague, P.Geo., FGC President

Melinda Lau M ANAGING E DITOR

EDITORIAL BOARD S. Chiu, P.Eng.; R. Gupta, P.Eng., P h D; C.L. Hall, P.Geo.; S.K. Hayes, P.Eng.; K.S. Hirji, P.Eng.; M.A. Klippenstein, P.Eng.; I. Kokan, P.Eng.; M.E. Leslie, P.Eng.; B. Thomson, P.Geo., FEC (Hon)

president@ apeg.bc.ca

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Subscription rates per issue $4.50; six issues yearly $25.00. Annual subscriptions of Association members are apportioned from membership dues in the amount of $15 per member (rates do not include tax). Innovation is published six times a year by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia. As the official publication of the Association, Innovation is circulated to members of the engineering and geoscience professions, architects, contractors and industrial executives. The views expressed in any article contained herein do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Council or membership of this Association. Submission Guidelines: Innovation encourages unsolicited articles and photos. By submitting material to Innovation, you grant Innovation a royalty-free, worldwide license to publish the material in Innovation magazine; and you warrant that you have the authority to grant such rights and have obtained waivers of all associated moral rights. Innovation reserves the right to edit the material for length, clarity and conformity with our editorial guidelines (www.apeg.bc.ca/innovation-editorial) and is under no obligation to publish any or all submissions or any portion thereof including credits. All material is copyright. Please contact the Managing Editor for reprint permission.

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US Postmaster: Innovation (ISSN 1206-3622) is published bimonthly for $25.00 per year by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, c/o US Agent-Transborder Mail, 4708 Caldwell Rd E, Edgewood, WA 98372-9221. Periodicals postage paid at Puyallup, WA, and at additional mailing offices, US PO #007-927. POSTMASTER send address changes (covers only) to Innovation, c/o Transborder Mail, PO Box 6016, Federal Way, WA 98063-6016.

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newsmaker s

Minister Accepts Honours for Seismic Guidelines Since 2001, the Ministry of Education, supported by APEGBC and UBC, has been addressing seismic upgrades at BC schools. This unique collaboration has resulted in APEGBC’s Seismic Retrofit Guidelines being recognized in 2013 by the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies Canada with both the ACEC Award of Excellence and the ACEC Engineering a Better Canada Award, presented to a project showcasing how engineering enhances the social, economic or cultural quality of life of Canadians.

Minister of Education Peter Fassbender was presented with these awards during the President’s Awards Gala on October 24 in recognition of his ministry’s contributions to the project. The awards were presented to Minister Fassbender (left) by Steve Fleck, P.Eng., a director of ACEC-BC, and APEGBC President Michael Bapty, P.Eng., FEC (right). The Seismic Retrofit Guidelines allow users to effectively and consistently determine the seismic risk of an existing building, and optimize the extent of new structural components required to achieve a life-safety seismic performance. The methodology is also being utilized by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

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25 Years 1989—2014

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as soc ia t ion notes

APEGBC Beginning Consultation on Proposed Act Amendments

Results of the APEGBC Council Election and Bylaw Vote The 2014/2015 APEGBC Council election and bylaw amendment vote closed at noon on October 10, 2014. A total of 17% of registered members and licensees cast a ballot. The results of the Council election vote are as follows:

APEGBC administers and is governed by the Engineers and Geoscientists Act , which regulates the professions. APEGBC may advise on changes to the Act that would enhance the regulation of professional engi- neering and geoscience, but this piece of provincial legislation can only be amended by government. The Act was originally drafted in 1920 and remains outdated in several areas, so development of recommendations for changes has been an ongoing process for APEGBC. At this time, Council is planning to bring forward a request to government for several amendments to be considered for the 2016 legislative sitting. Although any changes will ultimately be the decision of government, member input is an important part of this process. APEGBC has begun gathering feedback from members and relevant stakeholders on each of the requested amendments. The Consultation Process Member consultation will include informa- tion in Innovation , APEGBC e-news and on the website, as well as consultation sessions with key committees, branch and division representatives, past presidents and others. There will also be many additional opportunities for members to provide their feedback to Council. These include a survey of members, through your local branch representative or other APEGBC represen- tative such as a division chair or councillor; directly through the vice president’s visit and presentation to the branches, or at other APEGBC events where members of Council and staff are available; and at any time via dedicated email at legislation@apeg.bc.ca. Members are encouraged to take the time to get informed and provide input on the amendments that are being proposed. Members are at the heart of the gover- nance process and feedback received from the consultations will be considered in framing the request that will be brought forward to government. Member consultation is now underway. Watch for more details coming in January.

President Dr. John Clague, P.Geo., FGC Vice President Dr. Michael Wrinch, P.Eng., FEC Immediate Past President Michael Bapty, P.Eng., FEC

Councillors Elected Caroline Andrewes, P.Eng. Dr. ‘Lyn Anglin, P.Geo. Dan Campbell, P.Eng. Carol Park, P.Eng. Bob Stewart, P.Eng. Continuing David Harvey, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC Herb Hawson, P.Eng., FEC

Donna Howes, P.Eng., FEC Harlan Kelly, P.Eng. Kathy Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng. Government Appointees Ana Fernandes, CIM, FCSI Ken Laloge, CA Tajdin Mitha, LLB Dr. Sheila Wynn

The result of the 2014 bylaw amendment ballot is as follows:

Total

In favour Opposed Result

Bylaw 3 - Election of Council

3,899

3,409

490

Passed

More information on the election and bylaw vote is available at apeg.bc.ca/ About-Us/Our-Team/Council.

Back row (l-r): Dr. ‘Lyn Anglin, P.Geo., Herb Hawson, P.Eng., FEC; Ken Laloge, CA; Ana Fernandes, CIM, FCSI; Dan Campbell, P.Eng.; Carol Park, P.Eng.; Harlan Kelly, P.Eng.; Kathy Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng.; David Harvey, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC; Tajdin Mitha, LLB. Front row (l-r): Bob Stewart, P.Eng.; Donna Howes, P.Eng., FEC; Michael Bapty, P.Eng., FEC; Dr. John Clague, P.Geo., FGC; Dr. Michael Wrinch, P.Eng., FEC; Caroline Andrewes, P.Eng.; Dr. Sheila Wynn.

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Have You Updated Your Practice Declaration and CPD Hours? As a part of your annual membership renewal, don’t forget to update your practice declaration and declare your 2014 continuing professional develop- ment hours. The information gathered through the practice declaration assists APEGBC in more accurately identify- ing and serving members and licensees by practice area. Annual declaration of compliance with the Continuing Professional Development Guideline provides APEGBC with a way to dem- onstrate to the public that its members and licensees are keeping up-to-date in their area of practice—clearly visible through the “Declared CPD Compliant” note in members’ listings on APEGBC’s online public directory. To update your practice declaration or to declare your professional devel- opment hours for 2014, log on to the member portal through the APEGBC website at apeg.bc.ca. Did you know that you can opt to receive Innovation magazine online in lieu of having a hardcopy of the magazine mailed to you? If you opt in for this service, you will receive a notification email every time the magazine is published with links to access the latest issue. The maga- zine can be viewed on a desktop or mobile device, or downloaded for later reading. To make the switch, simply up- date your communication prefer- ences by signing into the APEGBC member portal at apeg.bc.ca/For- Members/Member-Portal/Update- Communication-Preferences, or con- tact Melinda Lau, Managing Editor, at mlau@apeg.bc.ca or 604.412.4866. Receive Innovation by Email

New Government Appointee to APEGBC Council APEGBC is pleased to announce the appoint- ment to Council of Tajdin Mitha, LLB, by the Lieutenant-Governor in Council of the Government of British Columbia. Mitha is a Barrister-at-Law who has prac-

ticed law in Uganda, the United Kingdom and Canada, and worked in international develop- ment with the Secretariat of His Highness the Aga Khan and the Aga Khan Development

Network in Canada, the USA and France. Mitha was responsible for leading a variety of legal and diplomatic initiatives including negotiations of accords, protocols, co-oper- ation and investment agreements and mul- tilateral treaties relating to economic, social and cultural development projects in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Mitha has served as a director on several boards throughout his career, including the boards of BCIT, the Aga Khan Foundation Canada, FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance units in Canada, Europe, and the USA, Tourism Promotion Services (Tanzania) Limited and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto. He is a legal consultant for the Aga Khan University, the University of Central Asia, and the proposed Aga Khan Museum in Toronto. Mitha will serve on APEGBC’s Council for a two-year term and joins Dr. Sheila Wynn, Ken Laloge, CA, and Ana Fernandes, CIM, FCSI, as one of four government appointees to Council. Tajdin Mitha, LLB

Councillor Mike Waberski Completes Six Years on Council Having served six years on APEGBC’s Council, Mike Waberski, BCLS, has completed his final term in office as a Government Appointee. A retired professional land sur- veyor, Waberski has been active in various regulatory review initiatives and was a mem- ber of the Oil and Gas Commission Practice Advisory Group and a chair of the Oil and Gas Commission Advisory Commission. During his time with APEGBC, Waberski has taken an active interest in the gover- nance of the association, contributing on the Executive and Audit Committees, Legislative Review Task Force, Professional Practice

Mike Waberski, BCLS

Committee, and the Value for Money Steering Committee among others. His thoughtful and incisive observations were of great value to Council deliberations, and he has been an outspoken champion of APEGBC’s duty to public protection. APEGBC thanks Mike Waberski for his efforts on behalf of the public and association members, and is grateful for his commitment to the professions.

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as soc ia t ion notes APEGBC and ABCFP Address Concerns Over Forest Road Crossings

In March 2014, the Forest Practices Board (FPB) released a report that examined whether forest bridges are meeting the legislated requirements and conforming to standards of professional prac- tice. After investigating 216 bridges constructed throughout the province in the last three years, the report indicated that there were numerous non-compliances with legislation and 32 bridges that were either unsafe or posed serious safety risks. In its report, the FPB cited the role of the Guidelines for Professional Services in the Forest Sector—Crossings , estab- lished jointly by APEGBC and the Association of BC Forest Professionals (ABCFP), in setting the standard of professional practice for bridge projects. The report indicated a number of professionals have not been following the guidelines. The FPB requested that by October 31, 2014, the Joint Practice Board of APEGBC and ABCFP advise them of the steps planned or taken to address the professional issues identified in the report. The development of forest road crossings is complex, involv- ing a number of participants from concept to completion and in determining if the bridge safe for use. These participants can include forest professionals, professional engineers, staff from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations,

logging contractors, woodlot owners, and First Nations—among many other groups. APEGBC and ABCFP therefore brought together a team of indi- viduals representing a majority of the participants who share a role in the planning, design, construction and use of forest road bridges to discuss the findings in the report and identify solutions. In a joint letter dated October 30, 2014, APEGBC and ABCFP confirmed 12 action items completed or planned, which include the release of a revised Guidelines for Professional Service in the Forest Sector-Crossings (2014) , train- ing sessions on the new guidelines, publication of the report to members of all organizations involved, referral of relevant files to the investigation processes of APEGBC and ABCFP, and publishing key learnings from the investigation in the official magazines of both associations. On November 13, 2014, the Chair of the FPB thanked the associations for their response, and noted that it satisfactorily addresses the Board’s recommendation. For further information and resources, and to view the full list of actions in the joint letter from APEGBC and ABCFP to the Forest Practices Board, please visit the APEGBC website at apeg.bc.ca/Response-to-FPB-Report.

...REMEMBER January 1, 2015 Deadline

RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR 2015

Do you offer assistance to members who can’t afford to pay their member- ship fees? Fee reduction - APEGBC’s reduced fee policy allows access to reduced annual fees based on an “active income” thresh- old or a medical condition that renders the member or licensee unfit for work. Requests for reduction of annual fees will be based on a formal application through the online renewal process or on the detachable form on the back of the membership renewal invoice. Fee deferral - Members who wish to defer 2015 membership renewal fees due to hardship are required to make a confidential application for deferral or waiver of annual fees to the Director of Registration and Licensing. Please refer to apeg.bc.ca/go/deferfees/. Whom can I contact for membership renewal assistance or information? Billing amounts and balance outstanding 604.412.4859 • billing@apeg.bc.ca Online payment support 604.412.4887 • support@apeg.bc.ca Changes in status or registration 604.412.4856 • register@apeg.bc.ca

non-practising or reduced fee status if eligible, declare compliance with the APEGBC CPD guideline, make a con- tribution to the APEGBC Foundation or Benevolent Fund, join a division, and print an official income tax receipt. How do I discontinue my membership? Members or licensees who do not wish to maintain membership with APEGBC are advised to resign prior to the January 1, 2015 deadline. This can be done online through the member portal or by contact- ing APEGBC by mail or email. Members and licensees who neither resign nor renew their membership will be removed from the member register on March 1, 2015, and will be liable for the 2015 member fees. How do I reinstate my membership following resignation or removal for non-payment? Please be aware that if you wish to re- apply for membership, you will be subject to the Return to Practice Policy for pro- fessional members or the Reinstatement Policy for members-in-training. In addi- tion, you will have to pay the outstanding annual fee, $75 late fee and associated administrative fee before being reinstated.

It’s time to renew your membership or license for the 2015 year. APEGBC mem- bers and licensees should have received their 2015 annual membership renewal invoice by email by the end of October. For those who did not express a prefer- ence for the online membership renewal package, paper invoices followed by mail in mid-November. Please be aware that, under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act , the deadline to renew your membership is January 1, 2015. After this date, a late fee will be levied on late payments, and as of March 1, 2015, anyone who has not yet renewed their membership will be struck off the register. How do I renew my membership? Members and licensees may renew their membership online, by mail or by fax. The January 1, 2015, payment deadline also applies to any members submitting their 2015 annual fee invoice to their employer for payment. The fastest and most convenient way to renew your membership is online, through the APEGBC member portal at apeg.bc.ca. It also allows you to update your contact information, complete the Practice Declaration, apply for

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counc i l repor t

The new OQM Policy Regarding Ongoing Practice Reviews allows for fair and consistent handling of such cases. Under the policy, if a member is selected for a random Practice Review and their employer initiates participation in the OQM program before the general review takes place, the random practice review will be deferred for a maximum of 12 months. Once OQM certification is achieved, all deferred random practice review files will be closed. If that 12-month period is exceeded, then the deferral will be lifted and the practice review will take place. Approval of Content for the Online Law and Ethics Seminar APEGBC Council has approved the proposed modules, learning outcomes and content for an online Law and Ethics Seminar. The Law and Ethics Seminar is one of the six qualifying require- ments that must be completed before professional registration or licence can be granted. The other requirements include academic, experience, character, language and the Professional Practice Examination. In April 2014, APEGBC Council approved a three- year budget that included transition of the Law and Ethics Seminar to an interactive online format by March 2016 at a reduced price of $250. Revenue generated from the seminar is projected to offset the cost of developing and maintaining the online seminar. A revised set of topics and learning outcomes have been developed that closely match the subject matter of the cur- rent seminar. However, the revised version also provides enhanced learning on additional topics such as communica- tions and BC-specific issues including the requirement to comply with APEGBC practice guidelines and the practice review program. Draft Mandatory CPD Bylaw Approved for Consultation APEGBC Council has approved in principle a draft manda- tory continuing professional development (CPD) bylaw to implement a mandatory CPD program for ratification by the membership in the fall of 2015. As it currently stands, compliance with the CPD Guideline is recommended but not mandatory. The APEGBC Executive Committee has approved a member consultation plan for the bylaw. This plan includes a member survey and consultation with APEGBC committees, branches, divisions and other associations. If the membership chooses to ratify the bylaw in the fall of 2015, it has been recommended by the CPD Committee that the mandatory CPD program become effective January 2017. This would allow one full year for members to prepare and plan their CPD activities. More information about the proposed bylaw and the planned consultation is available on page 11. Legislative Amendments Approved for Consultation Continuing on with the work of modernizing the Engineers and Geoscientists Act , Council has approved several proposed amendments to the Act for consultation with members. Council would be looking to bring forward the amendments for consideration by government during the 2016 legislative sitting.

Introduction of New Council Members At the inaugural meeting of the 2014/2015 Council, new coun- cillors were introduced to current members of Council as well as the association’s staff leadership team. Inter-Provincial Transfer Fee for Members-in-Training Waived APEGBC Council has approved a change to the application fee for Members-in-Training (MIT) who apply to the association from other provinces. The application fee for academically quali- fied MITs who apply from outside of BC has now been waived— a savings of $157.50 to the applicant. Updates to Looking-to-Exempt Policy for Engineering Applicants The Looking-to-Exempt Policy has been updated to remove the requirement of a telephone reference check for low risk applicants. This policy sets out the conditions for evaluation of mature engineering applicants for licensure and the possibility for waiver of their examinations. There are various categories for mature engineering applicants. Low risk applicants are individu- als who have been working in Canada for more than five years, have good documentation and outstanding references. The updated policy removes the necessity to confirm all referees for a low risk applicant. DEGIRS Revises Terms of Reference Council has approved revisions to the Terms of Reference of the Division of Engineers and Geoscientists in the Resource Sector (DEGIRS). The most notable of these changes includes the creation of three distinct membership types: Division Membership, Division Associate Membership and Division Affiliate Membership. Division members are licensed members of APEGBC. Division Associate members include members-in- training, engineering or geoscience students, and provisional members who are enrolled by APEGBC. Division Affiliate mem- bers are individuals who work in an area related to engineering and geoscience in the resource sector but who are not APEGBC members. To ensure that DEGIRS is comprised primarily of APEGBC members, the number of Division Affiliate members has been restricted to a maximum of 10% of the total number of Division members. OQM Policy for Ongoing Practice Reviews APEGBC Council has approved a new policy for APEGBC’s Organization Quality Management (OQM) program regarding ongoing practice reviews. A benefit of the OQM program is that the employees of OQM-certified organizations are exempt from random practice reviews. On a number of occasions, when an APEGBC member was selected for a random practice review, their employer subsequently initiated participation in the OQM program. APEGBC’S Council of elected members and government representatives meets throughout the year to conduct the business of association governance. The following are the highlights of the September 12 and October 25, 2014 meetings.

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as soc ia t ion notes c ounc i l repor t

The amendments are related to:

However, member consultation is an important part of this process and starting this winter, APEGBC will begin the process of gathering input from members and relevant stakeholders. Feedback received from the consultations will be considered in framing the request that will be brought forward to government. The Audit Committee assists Council in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities by reviewing financial information, systems of corporate controls and the audit process. The 2013/2014 audit of APEGBC’s finances was completed without any issues noted and Council approved the financial statements. As in previous years, the Chief Executive Officer’s expenses were also audited and expenses verified against supporting documentation. Expenses were considered reasonable per APEGBC policy and properly authorized with no substantive issues noted . Key Performance Indicators July 1, 2014 – June 30, 2015 Council has approved the Key Performance Indicators for the first year of the 2014-2017 Strategic Plan. These Key Performance Indicators will provide insight into the progress that is being made on specific objectives in the new Strategic Plan and will be publicly reported on a semi-annual basis. APEGBC Council approved Key Performance Indicators for the 2014/2015 year in addition to an overall three-year target. Support Requested to Exempt ASTTBC Members from Requirements under Modernization of Regulations for Building Officials The Association of Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) asked for Council’s support of their request to exempt ASTTBC members from require- ments under the modernized regulations for building officials. Council directed the request to the APEGBC/ASTTBC Joint Board for consideration. The Building and Safety Standards Branch of the BC government is currently proceeding with a moderniza- tion initiative that includes a review of the requirements to achieve recognition as a Building Official. The proposed requirements state that any individual functioning as a Building Official within local government must hold mem- bership with and pass examinations by the Building Officials Association of BC (BOABC). Professional engineers and architects who are working as Building Officials are exempt from this requirement. Council indicated that more information was needed from the Joint Board before making a decision on this item. Report on 2011-2014 Strategic Plan Wrap-up The 2011-2014 Strategic Plan has guided the work of APEGBC for the past three years, focusing on six major strategic objectives. Council received a report outlining how these objectives were met, and also reviewed the Balanced Score Card for the 2013/2014 year that provides indicators for how APEGBC is performing. The Balanced Score Card can be viewed on the APEGBC website at apeg.bc.ca/About-Us/Our-Team/Council/ Council-Resources. More information is available on page 6. Successful Audit for 2013/2014 Fiscal Year

1. Compliance provisions to support mandatory CPD program 2. Fitness to practice 3. Recognition of licensees in third party legislation 4. Early alternative dispute resolution 5. Council member conduct 6. Interim suspension or conditions by the Investigation Committee 7. Removal of references to the Board of Examiners in the Act . As changes to the Act can only be passed by government, members would not vote on the legislative amendments.

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regu la tor y note s

Members Asked to Ratify Bylaw for Mandatory Continuing Professional Development In the fall of 2015, members will be asked to ratify a bylaw to establish a mandatory continuing professional development program. This will commit all practicing members and licensees to undertake a minimum amount of professional development each year and report annually that this requirement has been met. The Evolution of Continuing Professional Development in BC

For the last 20 years, the issue of mandatory professional development has been widely debated by members, and discussed at great length by APEGBC Councils, task forces, committees, and working groups. But despite a vast amount of research and deliberation, BC remains the only province in the country where neither engineers nor geoscientists are required to partici- pate in a mandatory professional development program. 1 In the case of engineering, the only other province with a voluntary system is Ontario; however, a recent recommendation from the Elliot Lake Inquiry stated that Professional Engineers Ontario should implement a mandatory professional development program within the next 18 months. APEGBC’s first guideline for continuing professional development was introduced to members in 2006, along with a voluntary program to compliance, a comprehensive information and marketing campaign was undertaken to increase voluntary compliance. Despite this, compliance reporting showed very minimal increases, and remains below 50% of practicing members. One of the groups who considered the need for a mandatory professional development program was the Professional Renewal Task Force. Comprising a diverse group of members and led by a government appointee to Council, this task force was charged with determining whether APEGBC’s programs were contributing to the end goal of effective and responsible self‐regulation that protects the public. The task force acknowledged that it is APEGBC’s respon- sibility to have “ mechanisms in place that ensure members remain competent, current and safe practitioners, and through which mem- bers and the association can demonstrate to the public, members and other professions members’ commitment to professional development .” With this in mind, the group recommended to Council that a bylaw for mandatory CPD be put before the membership for ratification. The bylaw proceeded to voting in the fall of 2009 and received 57.7% support, falling short of the two-thirds majority required to pass. Following this, APEGBC’s CPD Committee conducted signifi- cant research to determine what specific aspects of the proposed program were of most concern to members. Based on the results of their survey, in which more than 3,000 APEGBC members participated, the committee revised the existing CPD guideline to align its requirements with those of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta. This new guideline took effect in 2012 and remains in effect today. 1 CPD is mandatory for professional engineers in all provinces but BC and Ontario, and in the Yukon and Northwest Territories. CPD is mandatory for professional geoscientists in all provinces but BC, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and PEI, and in the Yukon and Northwest Territories.

Mandatory CPD Basics Who: All members and licensees with practice rights. What : 240 hours on a three-year rolling total (average of 80 hours per year). Where : Activity can be in person or online, accrued in six different categories. When : Bylaw vote in fall of 2015. If ratified, bylaw takes effect in January 2017.

declare compliance with the guideline on an annual basis. In the first reporting year (2007), 41.4% of members reported their CPD compliance to APEGBC. In 2010, APEGBC began recognizing members who voluntarily report compliance by adding a “Declared CPD Compliant” note to the member’s record in the online member directory. Seeing no significant increase in those reporting

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r egu l a t o r y no t e s

Why Now? Mandatory programs are now standard for regulated professions. In BC, most professionals–including architects, doctors, lawyers and accountants–are required to participate in and report their professional development activities. More importantly, the primary duty of a self-regulating body is to ensure the public interest is protected: this is APEGBC’s mandate. One way that the public believes this is demonstrated is through requirements such as man- datory continuing professional development. Since 2008, APEGBC has conducted three surveys to gauge public opinion of both the professions and the regulation of the professions in BC. Each time, the public expressed their expectation that regulators should ensure the professionals they license are competent and safe practitioners. The Proposed Bylaw The proposed bylaw follows the current requirements set out in the CPD Guideline, and applies to members and licensees with practice rights. If ratified by members, the bylaw will come into effect in January 2017. Under this bylaw, members must complete a minimum of 240 professional development hours on a three- year rolling total in at least three of the six eligible categories. This is an average of 80 hours per year, which can include up to 50 professional development hours for professional practice each year. Active professional practice as an engineer or geoscientist or having some effect on how the professions are practiced. Structured educational programs with an evaluation, or seminars offered by industry, employers, associations or technical societies that are at least four hours in length. Self-directed study; attendance at conferences, seminars, educational field trips, trade shows, technical or professional association meetings.

CPD Eligible Categories

Professional Practice

Formal

Informal

Participation

Mentoring, service on public bodies or technical committees.

Presentations

Technical/professional presentations outside your normal job functions.

Contributions to Knowledge

Development of codes and standards; patents; publication of papers, articles, or books; thesis at Masters or PhD level; reviewing/editing articles and papers for publication.

Providing Your Feedback to Council

Bylaw Approval and Consultation Process

When any bylaw is proposed for amend- ment, Council undertakes a consultation process with members. This practice sup- ports stronger member participation and enables Council to enact changes, when ap- propriate, before presenting the final bylaw for voting. Once consultation has been com- pleted, Council will review all the available information to determine next steps. Members are strongly encouraged to inform themselves on the proposed bylaw and provide their thoughts and feedback on this issue. For full information on the bylaw, associated CPD Guidelines and the consultation process, visit: www.apeg. bc.ca/mcpd v

STEP 1 Bylaw

identified for amendment

STEP 5 Member ratification

STEP 2 Council votes to proceed

STEP 4 Revisions and final approval

STEP 3 Feedback loop

Stakeholders members, commitees, others

Council

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Quality Is Everyone’s Business OQM Organizational Quality Management Program

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Improving the quality manage- ment of professional engineering and geoscience practices at both the individual and organizational level is the goal of APEGBC’s Organization Quality Management program (OQM). The program provides guidance to employers on implementing or adapting in- house quality management policies and procedures that will support APEGBC professionals in meeting their quality management require- ments under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act and APEGBC bylaws. Participating organiza- tions are recognized with OQM Certification, and their APEGBC- licensed professionals are exempt from random practice reviews. One of the first companies to sign up for the program was engi- neering consulting firm Associated Engineering. The company recognized that the OQM program offered stan- dard benchmarking as well as features other programs did not have. OQM was flexible in that it worked with existing programs and encompassed all parts of a business - administration, management, finance, engineering and other highly technical areas. According to Martin Jobke, P.Eng., General Manager of Associated Engineering, “It sets stan- dards from contracts to process—it has wider usage in a company. From a business standpoint, that’s a good thing.” Jobke notes, “We have created a culture of quality.” This helps with business, because when potential clients and customers know that a company is OQM-certified they know that they are dealing with organization-wide quality. OQM can benefit any organiza- tion looking to set the bar higher in

standardization and quality man- agement. One benefit that stands out for Dieter Diedericks, P.Eng., Division Manager, Infrastructure for Associated Engineering, is the scheduled audit, something that other programs don’t offer. “Being audited can be very stressful to both the company and individuals involved. But knowing that you will be audited every five years can ease that stress and gives everyone the extra drive to follow the require- ments and strive for the highest quality of work.” This extra motiva- tion allows companies to constantly review and improve business stan- dards, practices and procedures. OQM has assisted organiza- tions improve the quality of work by reducing risk and increasing productivity. This means an over- all high level of satisfaction from the organization to the customers or clients as well as the employees. “Although it is a voluntary program, OQM has the potential to be the most powerful regulatory device in the association toolbox, while also providing value to organiza- tions by helping them better manage their risk,” says Peter Mitchell, P.Eng., APEGBC’S Director, Professional Practice, Standards and Development. This provides APEGBC with an efficient and cost- effective method of supporting and regulating members’ professional practice. Since its launch, the OQM program has more than 300 orga- nizations participating to date. (See page 38 for the latest participants.) For more information about the OQM program, visit apeg.bc.ca/ OQM or contact Kelly Dayman at kdayman@apeg.bc.ca. v

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