INNOVATION January-February 2014
As the official publication of Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia, Innovation is circulated to almost 34,000 BC-registered professional engineers and geoscientists, other professionals, industry and government representatives, educational institutions and the general public. The magazine is published six times each year on a bi-monthly basis.
New Building Energy Requirements • Sustainability in the Professions • 2013 Council Report
JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS OF BC
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014
Geoscientists Address International Resource Management UrtheCast Cameras Share New World Views
PM40065271
4 questions to ask about critical illness The financial impact can be as devastating as the disease itself. Because of medical advances, Canadians are more confident about physically surviving cancer or other critical illnesses than surviving the impact on their net worth. Find out if you’re financially prepared for a critical illness.
Can you afford the financial impact? 3 • Cancer drugs taken outside the hospital – and not automatically covered by the government – cost about $20,000 for a course of treatment. Newer drugs cost over $65,000 . 1 • Recovery from heart disease and stroke can continue for years , resulting in more medical bills and lost income and productivity 2 • Family caregivers also have to deal with wage loss and the real potential of a decreased standard of living 3
Are you at risk for a critical illness? 1 About 2 in 5 Canadians will develop cancer in their lifetimes. In 2013, it was estimated that: 1 • 96,200 Canadian men will be diagnosed with cancer • 91,400 Canadian women will be diagnosed with cancer • Over 500 Canadians will be diagnosed with cancer every day About 9 in 10 Canadians already have at least one risk factor for heart disease and stroke. In Canada, there is: 2 • 1 stroke every 10 minutes • 1 heart attack every 7 minutes What are your chances of surviving it? 2 • 63% of Canadians diagnosed with cancer are expected to survive for 5 years or more after diagnosis 1 • The cardiovascular death rate in Canada has declined by nearly 40% in the last decade 2 • 1.3 million Canadians are living with the effects of heart disease, and 315,000 are living with the effects of stroke 2
How can critical illness insurance help? 4 The Engineers Canada-sponsored Critical Illness Plan pays a lump sum upon diagnosis of a covered condition. You and your spouse may apply for benefit amounts between $25,000 and $1 million to help meet the costs associated with surviving a serious illness, including cancer, heart attack and stroke. Choose from two types of coverage:
• Essential – covers 6 conditions • Enhanced – covers 18 conditions
LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR: Engineers Canada-sponsored Critical Illness Plan www.manulife.com/APEGBC/CI 1-877-598-2273 (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET)
Sources: 1 Canadian Cancer Statistics, 2013. 2 Heart & Stroke Foundation Statistics, 2013. 3 Colleen Nelson B.Ed, PBCE, “The Financial Hardship of Cancer in Canada: A Literature Review,” Canadian Cancer Society, 2010. Underwritten by The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company. Manulife, Manulife Financial, the Manulife Financial For Your Future logo and the Block Design are trademarks of The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company and are used by it, and by its affiliates under license.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2 014 [ volume 18 number 1)
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New Eyes Trained on Planet Earth: Richmond’s UrtheCast Installs Cameras on the ISS to Deliver Startling Views of Our World D’Arcy Jenish 22 BC Geoscientists Contribute to International Resource Management Discussion Jean Sorensen
news
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President’s Viewpoint – International Projects Are Guided by Ethics
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Association Notes – 2014 Council Election: Call for Nominations; Volunteers Sought for Innovation Editorial Board; APEGBC Government Relations Update; 2014 President’s Awards: Call for Nominations; APEGBC Mentor of the Year Award; Call for Annual Conference Presenters; APEGBC Introduces Deterrents Against Exam Misconduct; Supporting Engineering and Geoscience Students in BC; APEGBC Foundation Calls for Scholarship Adjudicators; Declaring CPD; OQM Launch Assist; Sustainability and Environmental Awards: Call for Nominations; Go Green with Your Innovation Subscription; National Engineering and Geoscience Month 2014
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Council Report: October 27, and November 28, 2013
ON THE COVER: Cosmonauts install the UrtheCast cameras on the ISS. Photo credit: UrtheCast.
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Sea to Sky Branch Seeks New Ideas and Member Involvement
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APEGBC Releases Position Paper on Climate Change
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New Building Energy Requirements—BCBC 2012 and 2014 VBBL
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New Energy Requirements and Their Impact on Professional Responsibilities
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In Support of Sustainability for Engineering and Geosciences
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5 Letters 5 Newsmakers 21 APEGBC Professional Development 31 Membership 34 Professional Services 38 OQM List
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Firn snow fields situated on wind leeward sides of steep slopes in the high Andes of northern Chile/Argentina. Gelifluction lobes can be seen on the far right ridge Photo: L. Arenson, 2014.
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Over the course of our professional practice, we will have many opportunities to learn some very valuable lessons that will help promote social stewardship within our communities. Within my work, this has meant both locally and internationally. As professional engineers and geoscientists, we have certain re- sponsibilities in the ways that we conduct our business. In fact, the APEGBC Code of Ethics lends itself well to good business practice as it sets out principles that guide us in our work with regard to professionalism, fairness, and fidelity to public needs. Two personal examples can serve to illuminate how honouring the code has furthered my professional endeavours. At an exploration site on a new lease in southern Ecuador, we had permits to proceed though we knew the farmer whose land it was felt worried about losing his farm and being displaced due to mining activity. Our team took the time to meet with him and understand his worries, and then to communicate these to the client. When working internationally at different project sites with varying degrees of controversy or community interest, the agreement that we’ve entered into as professionals should act as our compass: as members of APEGBC, we agree to “uphold the values of truth, honesty, and trustworthiness, and safeguard human life and welfare and the environment.” Our work at home here in BC, as well as internationally, needs to endeavour to do all of the aforementioned in order to protect our professions from misunderstanding and misrepresentation: this means care- ful consideration for the local community impact and an objec- tive attention paid to each project on an individual basis. On the same project, after an induced polarization survey identified several features of interest, the client wished to drill- test the targets. The results of sampling the larger targets were generally disappointing; however one was a mineralized shear containing some base metal sulphides and several grams of gold per tonne. Our professional counterparts on staff with the local vending company were impressed given that it was the only new discovery they had that year and their initial skepticism about finding anything with such a small footprint. Our firm was invited back to review company proposals and direct associated drill projects. The technical success we had on-site made it such that local experts accepted us into their professional ranks and welcomed the opportunity to share knowledge and gain profes- sional development. The take-away truth is that any project in which we as profes- sional members of APEGBC are involved is bolstered when the community can see that the visitors are real people with a vested interest in furthering civic welfare as well as environ- mental welfare; when a community has knowledge about our professions and an appreciation for them, the opportunity for all stakeholders to benefit increases. We are as much representa- tives for our professions as we are for our clients. Good luck with your venture.
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 2013/2014 COUNCIL, APEGBC P resident M.B. Bapty, P.Eng., FEC V ice P resident John Clague, P.Geo., FGC P ast P resident M.D. Isaacson, P.Eng., PhD, FEC, FGC (Hon.) COUNCILLORS A.E. Badke, P.Eng.; S.M. Carlson, P.Eng. A. Fernandes, CIM, FCSI; D. Harvey, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC
International Projects Are Guided by Ethics
H. Hawson, P.Eng., FEC; D.M. Howes, P.Eng., FEC H.G. Kelly, P.Eng.; G.D. Kirkham, P.Geo., FGC K. Laloge, CA; A. Mill, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC K.E. Savage, P.Eng., FEC; K. Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng. M. Waberski, BCLS; S. Wynn, PhD
ASSOCIATION STAFF A.J. English, P.Eng. C hief E xecutive O fficer and R egistrar T.M.Y. C hong, P.Eng. C hief R egulatory O fficer and D eputy R egistrar J.Y. Sinclair C hief O perating O fficer M. L. Archibald , D irector , C ommunications and S takeholder E ngagement J. Cho, CGA D irector , F inance and A dministration D. Gamble D irector , I nformation S ervices M. Lau, A cting D irector , C ommunications and S takeholder E ngagement P.R. Mitchell, P.Eng. D irector , P rofessional P ractice , S tandards and D evelopment D. Olychick D irector , M ember S ervices G.M. Pichler, P.Eng. D irector , R egistration E. Swartz, LLB A cting D irector , L egislation , E thics and C ompliance R.M. F ilipiak, P .Eng. A ssociate D irector , A dmissions V. Lai, CGA A ssociate D irector , F inance and A dministration J.J.G. Larocque, P.Eng., LLB A ssociate D irector , P rofessional P ractice
Michael Bapty, P.Eng., FEC President
Michelle Grady, 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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Advertising Contact: Gillian Cobban Tel: 604.929.6733 Fax: 604.929.6753 E-mail: advertising@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/resource/innovation/editorial.html) 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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Introducing the Newest Principals of Levelton Consultants
l et ter s
How to Leverage Voter Apathy I was disappointed but not surprised to see the typical 20.9% response in the recent APEGBC Council election and bylaw vote. Currently, Council can change the bylaws of the associa- tion with the approval of two-thirds of the votes cast by ballot. Thus two-thirds of the usual 21% voting in favour of a new or amended bylaw can impose the will of 14% of the APEGBC membership upon the remaining 86%. I urge all eligible mem- bers to vote in future ballots so the fate of professional engineer- ing and geoscience in BC isn’t decided by the enthusiastic few. Keith Antonelli, P.Eng. Vancouver, BC Letters to the Editor containing your views on topics of interest or concern to members are encouraged. While we welcome your input, due to space limitations we may be unable to publish all letters received. Opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily endorsed by APEGBC. Letters can be e-mailed to mgrady@apeg.bc.ca. Correction The article, “2013 President’s Award Recipients” in the September/ October 2013 issue of Innovation contained a misstatement in one of the President’s Awards. Dr. Akram Alfantazi, P.Eng., received the UBC Killam Award for Excellence in Mentoring, not the Killam Teaching Award, in 2010.
Shakir Rashid, P.Eng., has 15 years’ experience specializing in Building Envelope, working with numerous strata corporations and property managers. He sits on the Board of Directors of BC Building Envelope Council. Scott Cumming, B.A.Sc., M.E., P.Eng., is the Concrete Technology Group Leader specializing in non- destructive evaluation of concrete structures, roller-compacted concrete, aggregate evaluation and thermal mitigation. Jay Rao, M.A.Sc., P.Eng. is a Senior Environmental Engineer specializing in site assessments & remediation. Jay is a member of the CSAP Society and is on the Chair of the Surrey Board of Trade Environmental Group. Guillaume Vadeboncoeur, P.Eng., LEED AP, is a Group Leader providing Building Envelope services in the Fraser Valley and Okanagan. He is a member of ACEC- BC Building Engineering Committee and RCI Western Canada Chapter. David E. Smith, MScE, P.Eng., is the Group Leader of a laboratory specializing in condition assessments of concrete structures, service life modelling for new construction, testing thermal properties of concrete and concrete mix design develoment.
newsmaker s The Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC) announced the 2013 recipi- ents of its annual awards presented to those iden- tified for significant contributions to the mineral exploration and development industry. Among the recipients are several APEGBC members. Timothy Smith, P.Geo., of Kaminak Gold Cor- poration, and Alan Wainwright, P.Geo., of Venture One Capital join Rob Carpenter, Craig Finnigan, and Adam Simmons in receiving the H. H. “Spud” Huestis Award for excellence in prospecting and mineral exploration. They are recognized for their role in Kaminak Gold Corporation’s exploration and development of the Coffee Gold Project. Peter Holbek, P.Geo., and Rod Shier, both of Copper Mountain Mining Corporation are recipients of the E. A. Scholz Award for excellence in mine development. They are acknowledged for their leadership in bringing the Copper Mountain mine back into production after a long hiatus. They recognized the geological potential of the deposit, arranged the financing for the exploration and mine development, and established the necessary ore reserves. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
APEGBC Members
Receive AME BC Awards of Excellence
Tyler Abel, M.Sc., is the Air Quality Group Leader specializing in environmental assessment, air permit applications, and air quality modelling and monitoring.
We solve specialized Engineering and Environmental challenges. info@levelton.com
www.levelton.com
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Ben Ainsworth, P.Eng., and Garrett Ainsworth, P.Geo., of Alpha Minerals Inc. will receive the Colin Spence Award for excellence in global mineral explo- ration. The father and son team are being recognized for their efforts that led to the discovery of a high- grade uranium mineralized system at the Patterson Lake South project in Saskatchewan. Harvey McLeod, P.Eng./P.Geo., of Klohn Crippen Berger is recognized with the Robert R. Hedley
Award for excellence in social and environmental responsibility for his leadership in the evolution and development of mine waste management practices as well as in integrating socio-environmental responsibility with the engineered aspects of tailings and waste rock. Recipients received their awards at the Mineral Exploration Roundup 2014 Awards Dinner on Janu- ary 29, 2014, at the Westin Bayshore in Vancouver.
APEGBC has partnered with the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC APEGBC Makes Self-assessment Tool Available for Internationally Trained Professionals
(ASTTBC) and the BC Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training to develop an online self-assessment tool to assist internationally trained professionals entering the engineering and technology fields in BC to understand where they may fit into the job market. This tool was designed to be easy-to-use and to help individuals to determine if their qualifications are more appropriate to either register as an applied science technologist/ technician with certification through ASTTBC or as a registered professional engineer with APEGBC. After the need to increase support for internationally trained professionals who want to better understand and meet the requirements of the Canadian workplace and integrate into the BC job market was expressed, APEGBC and ASTTBC created this tool. It will also help to more clearly define the roles and qualifications of engineers, technologists, and technicians in Canada, and ensure that internationally trained professionals arrive prepared to embark on the path to certification and registration with the regulatory body that best fits their experience and qualifications. Canadian-trained prospective applicants to APEGBC and ASTTBC may also find the tool useful in evaluating their qualifications and determining what to expect when their application is reviewed. The self-assessment tool asks a series of questions about an applicant’s educational background and work experience and then provides information about how these specific qualifications are likely to be assessed by APEGBC or ASTTBC. The self-assessment tool is available online now at engtechinbc.ca.
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Vancouver Firm Pioneers First Project Calculator App for Architects and Engineers Structural engineers at the Vancouver firm Fast + Epp have developed CONCEPT, a free iPhone app that allows architects and engineers to calculate member depths and browse project
photos in an easy-to-navigate tool. Created in collaboration with app developers at Burnkit, the project was conceived by the firm’s internal ideas division, a group tasked with applying structural engineering concepts in other fields of endeavor. The plan for CONCEPT was to create a tool that could be used by both design professionals and the general public when assessing the feasibility of potential projects. Ian Boyle, P.Eng., Struct. Eng., Fast + Epp’s Senior Associate, says in the project start-up phase, they knew they wanted an app with simple technology that would potentially save users both design time and money in the long run. “Most of the questions we were getting in project start‐up meetings focused on the depths of beams, joists, and slabs,” explains Boyle. “Architects and their clients were trying to get a handle on the aesthetic implications of using wood, concrete, or steel structural solutions. We’ve created an app that answers most of those questions.” CONCEPT’s depth calculator uses typical span-to-depth ratios for common steel, concrete, and wood members. The user simply indicates if the information they’re inputting is a roof or floor, with the internal calculator determining an approximate depth. Ad- ditional information is provided to qualify the load assumptions and tributary areas. Users are also able to share search and calculation results by e-mailing them to coworkers and clients for discussion prior to the first design charrette. More information is available about the CONCEPT app project at fastepp.com.
Connect with APEGBC Online Connect with APEGBC on social media. We keep you posted with the latest association events, news, and interesting engineering and geoscience stories from around the web. Find us on Twitter @APEGBC (twitter.com/ apegbc) and on LinkedIn (ca.linkedin.com).
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APEGBC is governed by a Council of elected members and government appointees responsible for setting policy and overseeing the affairs of the association, as regulated by the Engineers and Geoscientists Act . Each year, members have the opportunity to elect a President, Vice President, and a minimum of five Councillors to serve on APEGBC’s Council. The Nominating Committee has now commenced its work of developing its slate of nominees for the positions of President, Vice President and Councillors. The election will be held during September – October 2014, and those elected will take office at the Annual General Meeting on October 25, 2014. The Nominating Committee is now seeking referrals or expressions of interest for consideration with respect to its slate of nominees. Eligibility Professional engineers, professional geoscientists, and limited licensees in good standing are eligible for candidacy as Councillor. Under Bylaw 3(b), Nominating Committee candidates for the office of President must have served on Council for at least two years, and candidates for the office of Vice President must have served one year. Previous experience on Council is not required for write-in candidates. Term of Office Councillors are generally elected for a two-year term, commencing October 25, 2014. The President and Vice President are elected for a one-year term. Nomination Process There are two ways candidates can be nominated: 1. Nominating Committee candidates : The Nominating Committee selects candidates for nomination based on candidate qualifications, experience, and expertise (see sidebar). The Nominating Committee is now accepting referrals for nominations for Councillor, and will meet from January to April to select the slate of candidates that it will submit for election to Council. Members are encouraged to submit referrals or expressions of interest directly to the Nominating Committee Chair, Dr. Michael Isaacson, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), at pastpresident@apeg.bc.ca. Referrals must be received by Monday, March 3, 2014. Shortlisted individuals will be contacted and requested to provide a completed Prospective Nominee Profile and Declaration Form . 2. Write-in candidates : Members can also submit nominations for President, Vice President, or Councillors, with the support of 25 members in good standing, directly to the Registrar. Nominations made by 25 members in good standing require a nomination form signed by the members making the nomination, and the written consent of the nominee. The completed form must be received by the Registrar no later than Friday, June 27, 2014. Election packages, including the nominee statements of candidacy, will be made available to all members in September and the election count will take place in October. 2014 Council Election: Call for Nominations Volunteers Sought for Innovation Editorial Board The Editorial Board for Innovation magazine is seeking new volunteer members. The board advises the Editor on content of interest to the readership of the maga- zine. Interested volunteers should be available for a time commitment of up to four two-hour meetings per year, in addition to occasional input by e-mail. If you are interested in contributing to the Innovation conversation and suggesting stories for features in the magazine, let the Editor know. Members and licensees are strongly encouraged to submit a letter of interest to the Editor at mgrady@apeg. bc.ca. For more information, contact Michelle Grady, Managing Editor, at the above e-mail address, or at 604.412.4893 or toll-free at 1.888.430.8035 ext. 4893.
Candidate Profile All nominees for Councillor must be members (P.Eng., P.Geo., or limited licensees) in good standing. Desirable Skills and Experience: Ideally, candidates will possess finan- cial fluency (such as relating to finan- cial statements, cash flow, budget- ing, financial planning, investing, and risk management); familiarity with governance structures of corpo- rations and/or large organizations; ex- perience in strategic planning; profes- sional experience through a minimum of five years of professional practice as a member; leadership roles, includ- ing strategic thinking, public speaking, organizational management, committee leadership, and an interest in engagement across the full spectrum of Council issues. It is expected that many of these skills and experiences may be acquired by service on boards of companies or voluntary, profes- sional, or community organizations. Commitments : Candidates should be willing to make the time commitment to serve on Council (including attendance at five full-day Council meetings a year, additional meetings as a member of Council committees, and attendance at the Annual General Meeting and Conference). All Councillors will be expected to adhere to the association’s Code of Ethics and Governance Policy CG-6, Code of Conduct for Council Members (available at apeg. bc.ca/about-us/governance) and will be requested to sign the Oath or Affirmation of Office (contained within Policy CG-6). 2014 Nominating Committee Chair: Dr. Michael Isaacson, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) Council Appointees: Dr. Catherine Hickson, P.Geo., FGC Christopher Newcomb, P.Eng., FEC Dr. Ernest Portfors, P.Eng., FEC Branch Appointees: Peace River: Doug Barry, P.Eng. Richmond/Delta: Ravee Ramakrishnan, P.Eng. Sea to Sky: Piotr Mazur, P.Eng. South Central: Andrew Watson, P.Eng. Tri-Cities: Tomer Curiel, P.Eng. Vancouver: Ben Skillings, P.Eng. Vancouver Island: Lee Rowley, P.Eng. West Kootenay: Elroy Switlishoff, P.Eng.
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APEGBC Update on Government Relations Activities As a part of its regulatory role, APEGBC works with municipal, provincial, and fed- eral governments to enhance public protection and provide leadership in addressing issues relating to the practice of professional engineering and geoscience. The follow- ing describes some of the current activities in which APEGBC has been engaged. Since the summer, APEGBC has had meetings with Amrik Virk, Minister of Advanced Education; Peter Fassbender, Minister of Education; AndrewWilkinson, Minister of Technology, Innovation, and Citizens’ Services; Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training and Ministry Responsible for Labour; and Dr. Ralph Sultan, P.Eng., MLA for West Vancouver – Capilano to discuss APEGBC’s partnership with the BC Government and priorities for the coming year. Sewerage Guidelines APEGBC partnered with the Ministry of Health and the Applied Science Technolo- gists and Technicians of BC (ASTTBC) to present a seminar on the APEGBC Profes- sional Practice Guidelines—Onsite Sewerage Systems in five locations across the province (Nanaimo, Nelson, Kamloops, Prince George, and Langley). Government Core Review APEGBC has expressed interest to government in being included as a stakeholder in its current core review process. A letter, co-signed with the Association of BC Forest Professionals, highlighted our support of professional reliance in the natural resource sector. We continue to pursue this issue with government staff. Environmental Operators Certification Project APEGBC continues its support of the Environmental Operators Certification Project (EOCP) Project. This work with the ministry and other stakeholders seeks to achieve consensus on how environmental operators should be classified and certified to sup- APEGBC, in partnership with ASTTBC and the BC Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training, has developed a new online self-assessment tool to assist internation- ally trained professionals entering the engineering and technology fields in British Columbia. The self-assessment tool for potential applicants is now available online (see page 6). Seismic Retrofit Guidelines APEGBC held a full-day training session on the Seismic Retrofit Guidelines 2 nd Edi- tion (SRG2) in collaboration with the BC Ministry of Education and the BC Ministry of Advanced Education. Over 100 professional engineers were in attendance. Legislated Dam Safety Review Guidelines In September, Council approved revisions to the Legislated Dam Safety Review Guidelines to include mining dams. The new version of the guideline is undergoing final editorial and legal review and will be posted on the APEGBC website shortly. In October, a presentation on the Guidelines (unrevised version) was given at the APEGBC Annual Conference and AGM. APEGBC staff, along with senior staff from the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations presented the Guidelines at the Annual Conference of the Canadian Dam Association in Montreal. The revised guidelines will now address the standard of care to be followed by professional engineers and geoscientists who carry out dam safety reviews of dams regulated under the Mines Act . Engineers and geoscientists play a key role in public safety and well-being, and APEGBC is committed to working constructively with government at all levels to assist in carrying out this responsibility. For more information on APEGBC’s government rela- tions activities, contact Janet Sinclair, Chief Operating Officer, at jsinclair@apeg.bc.ca. port public safety. Labour Mobility
2014 APEGBC President’s Awards Call for Nominations The APEGBC President’s Awards are BC’s top honours for professional engineers, professional geoscientists, and limited licensees. The awards program was created to recognize the exemplary and outstanding professional, technical, and community contributions of APEGBC members. APEGBC asks members to identify deserving individuals within the engineering and geoscience community—professionals who serve as role models, excel at what they do, and inspire others. Nominations are now being accepted until Friday, April 11, 2014. There are seven categories of President’s Awards: meritorious achievement, community service, professional service, and teaching at the post-secondary level. The Young Professional Award recognizes an individual not older than 35 years of age who combines professional achievement, community service, and professional service early in their career. The R. A. McLachlan Memorial Award and the C. J. Westerman Memorial Award are APEGBC’s premier awards for engineering and geoscience respectively, and recognize those who have made a significant contribution to their profession throughout their careers. Nomination forms, along with information on the nomination process, are available online at apeg.bc.ca/awards. If you have questions about the awards program or how to nominate someone, contact Laurel Buss, Commu- nications Officer, at lbuss@apeg.bc.ca or 604.412.6052
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APEGBC Introduces Deterrents against Examination Misconduct When it comes to ethics, not all issues are black and white. Cheating on association examinations, however, is a zero tolerance issue for APEGBC’s Council. In response to the recent detection of instances of unprofessional and inappropriate conduct by examination candidates during the Professional Practice (Law and Ethics) examination, APEGBC’s Council has recently approved an Examination Misconduct Policy, whereby each candidate must confirm in writing that they have read and will be bound by the policy. APEGBC Examination Misconduct Policy The policy, approved by Council last September, confirms APEGBC’s commitment to the prevention, detection, and investigation of potential examination misconduct by applicants, members, and licensees. It allows for investigation into suspected cases of examination misconduct and sets out an escalating range of consequences for inappropriate behaviour related to APEGBC examinations, including reassignment of a candidate’s seat in the examination, denial of registration or licensure, cancellation of the assessment or examination administration for a particular session, and the exercise of all legal remedies by APEGBC and/or the test provider (including cost recovery for the investigation and creation of new questions, general and special damages, and injunctive relief). To read the policy in its entirety, visit apeg.bc.ca/exam-misconduct. Cases of Cheating Detected by APEGBC Through a long-standing agreement, APEGBC participates in the National Professional Practice Examination, provided by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA). For quality assurance purposes, APEGA conducts a range of statistical and psychometric tests to ensure the reliability, validity, and overall integrity of the examination. After each examination session, APEGA provides results for individual candidates and overall statistics related to group performance by jurisdiction. When the case arises, APEGA also identifies statistically anomalous results for pairs of candidates whose pattern of right and wrong answers shows a degree of correlation so high that the chance of random agreement would be close to statistically impossible; therefore indicating a strong likelihood that one candidate has copied from the other or that there was collusion. For APEGBC’s April 2013 session of the Professional Practice Examination, three such pairs of anomalous results were identified. Further investigation by APEGBC showed that each pair of candidates had sat the examination at the same location and were seated close or next to each other, such that at least one member of each pair could view the answers of the other. After being interviewed, two of the candidates admitted copying answers from the other person in the identified pair; the third admitted guilt after an extended period of time. The results of the other three candidates were validated and the three candidates who admitted to cheating were invited to make submissions to Council to explain their actions and to respond to recommendations for consequences drafted by the Registration Committee with respect to each. In all three cases, the April 2013 examination results were invalidated. All three candidates were prohibited from reattempting the examination before a specified future date and then only under stringent proctoring conditions. Finally, the conduct of the candidates during the examination was considered to be a potential breach of the Code of Ethics. Each potential candidate is required to address the Code of Ethics through the submission of evidence satisfactory to Council that they are of good character and good repute at the time of their application for professional registration. These three candidates will need to meet a high bar in order to convince the Council that each applicant understands their professional and ethical duty as a member of APEGBC and warrants the trust of Council, the public, and their colleagues. All future Professional Practice examinations will also have multiple versions at each session to further deter the temptation of some candidates to copy from their colleagues. For more information on APEGBC’s examination program, members are invited to contact Gillian Pichler, P.Eng., Director, Registration, at gpichler@apeg.bc.ca.
Call for Nominations APEGBC Mentor of the Year Award APEGBC’s Mentor of the Year Award recognizes excellence amongst mentors in the engineering and geoscience community in British Columbia. Mentorship plays a key role in supporting a successful career in engineering and geoscience and APEGBC wishes to acknowledge the importance of these mentoring relationships amongst association members. Nominations for the award are now being accepted until May 16, 2014. Nominees must be a mentor in the APEGBC mentoring program. Full details on the nomination process and awards criteria can be found online at apeg.bc.ca/For-Members/Awards/ Mentor-of-the-Year-Award- Nomination-Procedures. The award will be presented at APEGBC’s 2014 Annual Conference, to be held October 23 – 26 in Vancouver, BC. Call for 2014 APEGBC Annual Conference Presenters APEGBC is currently seeking presenters for technical, business, managerial, and personal development topics for its 2014 Annual Conference in Vancouver, BC. The professional development sessions will be scheduled on Thursday, October 23, and Friday, October 24, 2014. The theme for the 2014 conference is Global Innovation Begins at Home and will focus on how professionals in BC create solutions for global challenges. For more information visit apeg.bc.ca/annual-conference- presenters.
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OQM Launch Assist— Helping Organizations to Become Fully Certified Through the development and rollout of the Organizational Quality Management (OQM) program, APEGBC has learned that due to competing priorities, not all organizations have the resources to imple- ment a quality management program in a timely fashion. To better support such organizations, APEGBC introduced OQM Launch Assist in mid-2013. OQM Launch Assist provides cost-free consultation for organi- zations that require assistance in prepar- ing their submission for OQM certifica- tion. To qualify, one representative from participating organizations must have attended the OQM Certification Training. OQM Launch Assist usually begins with a visit to your organization by APEG- BC’s consultant. Depending on what each organization already has in place, services may include the following: • A gap analysis of an existing quality management system against the OQM Audit Checklist • Assistance with the adaptation or development of OQM compliant policies and procedures • Overview and review of appropri- ate organizational policies and procedures. Dr. Eustina Musvoto, P.Eng., President of TruSense Process Engineering, used Launch Assist to help her organization implement a quality management program more easily. “The training workshop and follow-up support with Marg Latham, P.Eng., [the Launch Assist Consultant], were very helpful. They clarified and simplified the whole process, making it painless particularly for a small business like ours.” If you have already attended the OQM Certification Training and would like to take advantage of OQM Launch Assist, e-mail oqm@apeg.bc.ca. If you would like to sign up to participate in the OQM program, visit apeg. bc.ca/oqm-sign-up. Join the over 200 organizations already participating in the OQM program.
Supporting Engineering and Geoscience Students in British Columbia The APEGBC Foundation would like to congratulate the recipients of the 2013/2014 scholarships and bursaries. Over 50 scholarships were awarded through the Foundation’s scholarship program to deserving engineering and geoscience students studying at post- secondary institutions. These include the following: • Fifteen $1,500 BC Hydro – APEGBC Scholarships • Ten $1,000 APEGBC – MAPS Scholarships • The $500 APEGBC Central Interior Branch/ University of Northern BC Vladimir Pasicnyk Scholarship • Two $500 APEGBC Okanagan Branch and UBC Okanagan 4 th Year Engineering/ Geoscience Scholarships • Fifteen $2,500 Entrance Scholarships • The $1,000 APEGBC South Central Branch Thompson Rivers University Engineering Transfer Scholarship Each scholarship fund is unique and awarded based on a diverse set of criteria including academics, year of study, exemplary professional characteristics, advancement of the professions, and community involvement. With these funds, the APEGBC Foundation strives to remove financial barriers and assist the best and brightest students to pursue careers in engineering and geoscience. The APEGBC Foundation was established in 1993 to promote education in engineering and geoscience. Administered by a Board of Directors, the Foundation is a registered charity responsible for collecting, managing, and investing contributions, donations, and bequests from both members and external partners. Through the generous donations of APEGBC members, the Foundation has awarded hundreds of scholarships since its inception. Donations are welcome year-round to support students pursuing careers in engineering or geoscience and can be made online, by mail, or through the annual fee renewal. To discuss giving a charitable gift, please contact Jennifer Cho, Director of Finance & Administration, at jcho@apeg.bc.ca or 604.412.4870. More information on the APEGBC Foundation is available on the APEGBC website at apeg.bc.ca/foundation. APEGBC Foundation Seeks Scholarship Adjudicators The APEGBC Foundation is seeking additional members for its Scholarship Review Committee. This Committee was established by the Foundation to adjudicate scholarships for engineering and geoscience students, using the criteria set out by the Foundation directors. All scholarship adjudicators must be professional engineers, professional geoscientists, or limited licensees registered with APEGBC in good standing. The Foundation seeks Committee members who demonstrate a desire to support those pursuing engineering or geoscience education, have some experience assessing applicants’ resumes and qualifications, and maintain an ongoing association with students. The Scholarship Review Committee currently adjudicates Entrance and Transfer Scholarships, the BC Hydro – APEGBC Scholarship, and the APEGBC – MAPS Scholarship. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Scholarship Review Committee, please contact Andrea Wilson, Student Program Coordinator, at awilson@apeg.bc.ca or 604.412.4860. Have You Declared Your CPD? Don’t forget to declare your continuing professional development (CPD) hours for the 2013 calendar year. You can do so online through the APEGBC website by signing into the member log-in area at apeg.bc.ca/For-Members/Member-Portal.
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Call for Nominations 2014 APEGBC Sustainability and Environmental Awards Nominations are now being accepted for APEGBC’s Sustainability Award and Environmental Awards. Sustainability Award From innovative processes that do more with less to adaptive measures that address an uncertain climate future, APEGBC engineers and geoscientists practice at the leading edge of sustainability. APEGBC recognizes these leaders through the annual Sustainability Award as a means to celebrate and share the positive contributions to a sustainable future. The award is open to any project that has demonstrated a commitment to, and understanding of, the concept of sustainability and/or has applied one or more of the Sustainability Guidelines. The Sustainability Committee welcomes diverse nominations from sustainable projects both large and small. Full details on the submission process and awards criteria are available at apeg.bc.ca/about/sustainability/award. Environmental Awards APEGBC’s Division of Environmental Professionals encourages submissions for the Environmental Awards, which highlight professional engineers’ and geoscientists’ roles in responsible environmental management. Awards are offered in Concept and Assessment as well as Design, Construction, and Monitoring. Full details on the submission process and awards criteria for the Environmental Awards can be found in the Submission Rules and Judging Criteria at apeg.bc.ca/ environmental-awards. Nominations should be no more than 500 words and should be submitted by March 7, 2014. For more information about the awards program, contact Laurel Buss, Communications Officer, at lbuss@apeg.bc.ca or 604.412.6052.
Go GREEN with Your Innovation Subscription
The digital version of Innovation magazine has been available since the November/December 2009 issue, and 17.5% of subscribers have opted to receive the electronic edition over the paper one. As the digital edition of Innovation comes straight to your e-mail and is downloadable to be read offline on your tablet or smartphone, it is not only an environmentally friendly option, but also a space-saving one. The digital edition of the magazine also has features that the paper version does not, including: • An easy-to-search, navigate, and read format • Tools to bookmark, share, and link articles • Online access to searchable, archived issues • Hyperlinks to help you get where you need to go quicker A strong level of support from subscribers would have a noticeable environmental impact
and would help APEGBC reduce its carbon footprint as we continue to track our emissions. The staff- led Green Team is active in mea- suring and monitoring APEGBC’s carbon footprint, while pursuing greenhouse gas and waste reduc- tion strategies through composting and recycling programs, reduced paper consumption, and other ini- tiatives to encourage sustainable, green behaviour. APEGBC encourages you to opt in via e-mail for the green, digital version of Innovation. Please ensure that APEGBC has your up- to-date e-mail address in order to successfully receive each issue.
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Celebrate National Engineering and Geoscience Month 2014
APEGBC is gearing up for National Engineering and Geoscience Month (NEGM), which is held yearly for the entire month of March. NEGM promotes awareness of engineering and geosci- ence, highlights career choices in these fields, and reminds the public of the relevance of engineering and geoscience to everyday life. APEGBC is excited to be promoting NEGM through print, radio, and social media. Events and activities will be held all month long. Look out for Pop- sicle Stick Bridge building competitions, the Edible Car competition, drawing contests, and much more. Involve your family and friends so The APEGBC Science Games will be held at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre and Museum of Vancouver on Saturday, March 1. This interactive competition is for students in Grades 1 – 6 and promotes science education and science-based careers. NEGM Drawing Contest This drawing contest for children ages 4 – 12 encourages them to think about careers in the sciences and use their creative skills. A $50 Chapters gift card goes to the winner. For more information and contest forms, visit the NEGM website at apeg.bc.ca/negm. they can participate in the fun. APEGBC Science Games
APEGBC Works Challenge—Back by Popular Demand! Are you competitive? Do you love to solve problems? Do you have what it takes to compete with the best of the best? If you answered “yes”, then this challenge is for you. Building on the success of last year’s Water Works challenge, APEGBC is once again calling upon the ingenuity of its members as well as engineering and geoscience undergraduate students to battle against one another in this team-based contest. Will Fluor’s Team Smart Snake defend their title or will an undergrad team take the win? Keep checking our NEGMwebsite for updates about this year’s challenge. I Love My Profession Picture Campaign Do you or does someone you know have a great picture of you enjoy- ing work as a professional engineer or geoscientist? Send us a picture via Twitter @APEGBC or via e-mail to mckelly@apeg.bc.ca. Show us your passion and pride for your profession. (One entry per person. Participant in image must be a current APEGBCmember in good standing. For full contest details and rules, please visit apeg.bc.ca/negm.) Branch Events Each year, our branches host exciting competitions and events. Please see below for events near you. You can also find them on our website at apeg.bc.ca/negm.
Date & Time
Location
Event
Branch
Peace River
February 22, 2014 • 10:00 am R.L.Angus Elementary
Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition
17 th Annual Popsicle Stick Bridge Building Competition and Geo Rocks Event
Central Interior
February 23, 2014 • 11:00 am Pine Centre Mall Food Court
H.R. MacMillan Space Centre and Museum of Vancouver Plumbing Lab - TRU Trades & Technology Center
March 1, 2014 • TBD
APEGBC
Science Games
South Central Branch and Thompson Rivers University Tri-City Branch and Douglas College
March 1, 2014 • 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition
March 1, 2014 • TBD
Douglas College
Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition
Kwantlen Polytechnic University - Surrey Campus
March 1, 2014 • 10:00 am
Fraser Valley
Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition
March 3, 2014 • TBD
TBD
Northern
Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition
Okanagan Branch
TBD
Various locations throughout the Okanagan
Speaker Series
Peace River
March 8, 2014 • 10:00 am
Dr. Kearney Secondary School
Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition
Burnaby/NewWestminster
March 8, 2014 • 11:00 am
Burnaby Public Library, Metrotown Branch
Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition
Vancouver
March 15, 2014 • 10 am – 4:00 pm Vancouver Public Library
18 th Annual E-Fest
Sechelt Indian Band Community Hall, 5555 Sunshine Coast Hwy
March 16, 2014 • 10:00 am
Sea to Sky
Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition
April 4, 2014 • 10:00 am
Tumbler Ridge Elementary School
Peace River
Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition
Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition and Presentations
Richmond/Delta
April 12, 2014 • 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Lansdowne Mall
April 12, 2014 TBD
LV Rogers High School
West Kootenay Branch
Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition
April 20, 2014 • TBD
Capilano Mall (North Vancouver
Sea to Sky
Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition
TBD Vancouver Island For the latest information on NEGM events and activities, please visit apeg.bc.ca/negm. Look for us on Twitter @APEGBC and on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/user/apegbc1. Country Club Mall Popsicle Stick Bridge Competition
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