INNOVATION July-August 2017

Council Election • Benevolent Fund and Foundation Donors • Disciplinary Notices • Branding Update

JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS OF BC

JULY/AUGU ST 2017

Improving Flood Preparedness for British Columbians Making Strategic Research and Development Financing Work Funding Homegrown Innovation

PM40065271

content s

JULY/AUGUST 2 017 [ volume 21 number 4)

fea tures 14

Funding Homegrown Innovation Robin J. Miller

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Making Strategic Research and Development Financing Work Darius Garcha, P.Eng., CPA, and Laslo Cesar Improving Flood Preparedness for British Columbians Kylie Williams

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Newsmakers Engineers Canada Honours Contributions of Two BC Members; Member Recognized by YWCA; Green Building Awards Acknowledge BC Expert; Society Commemorates Canada’s First Pre-stressed Concrete Bridge; Study Highlights BC Labour Market Information Needs; GIT Program Information Guide Available 10 Association Notes New Procedure for Submitting Motions for the 2017 Annual General Meeting; Coming Soon: Renewed Brand for the Association in late August; Cast Your Vote in the 2017 Council Election; Questions and Misconceptions; Certified Professional Program

ON THE COVER: Nano One Materials Corp. has made use of a number of government funding programs since 2011 to support projects, including construction of a $6-million pilot plant to prove production viability of a new process in a full-scale commercial facility.

depar tment s

4 President’s Viewpoint: Reflections on Changing Perceptions of the Professions 5 Letters 12 Council Report 25 Insight 26 Community 28 Discipline 30 Benevolent Fund and Foundation Donors 34 Professional Services 38 Membership 38 Classifieds 38 Display Advertisers Index 39 APEGBC Continuing Professional Development

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Highway 16 was closed in both directions in June

2012 when a mudslide came down near the junction of Highway 5 at Tete Jaune Cache, cutting off travel from Prince George to Alberta. P hoto credit : M inistry of T ransportation and I nfrastructure , CC by - nc - nd .

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JULY/AUGUST 2017

VOLUME 21 NUMBER 4

v iewpoint

In an organization with some 33,000+ members it is only natural that there might be different perceptions and expectations out there about the association and the professions it represents. We have a name, a logo, shared beliefs and shared values about how we should conduct ourselves, but this is complicated by an array of perspectives and priorities—how the organization sees itself, its role as a regulator and its expectations of members; how members see themselves as professionals, what they expect of their colleagues and their association. Most importantly, as an organization and professions that are charged with serving the public interest, how the public perceives us and the work we do is deeply relevant to us. We have often considered ourselves the silent professions, steadily and quietly toiling for the betterment of society, happy to let our work speak for us. However, we’re on shifting sands—what we need to be as a regulator and who we are as professionals has changed over time. We are not who we once were. Engineers and geoscientists aren’t just the technical experts we used to define ourselves as. Our work today requires leadership, multi-disciplinary approaches, teamwork, project management, and communications skills. And, as an organization, we are facing the challenges of regulating in the modern world—offshoring, cross-discipline practice, and regulatory grey areas. We are multi-faceted professions, as diverse as the professionals who represent them. We have a larger story to tell, and this is critical, otherwise we are defined by others’ interpretation. Often, what people see of us is informed solely by popular media, usually in the wake of disaster—Elliot Lake, Mt. Polley, the De la Concorde overpass. The reality is that this has an impact on public confidence in our professions, and in our ability as a regulator to keep the public safe, with resulting consequences: the public expects more accountability from professionals, and government wants to see regulators proactively carrying out their roles. To that end, it has become increasingly important to have a strategic approach to shaping public perception of our role as a regulator, and as professions. For us to actively tell our story. And, as the renewed brand launches in the next few weeks, you’ll see this unfold. More than just a logo and a name, you’ll see calculated and consistent internal and external messaging and representation of BC engineers and geoscientists in the public eye, shaped by the responses of members. And, just what are we saying? What’s our story? We have a proud tradition, but we have our eye on the future. We are an organization and professions that are inclusive of people of all backgrounds and genders. We are defined by our ethics, our drive for progress and our commitment to the safety and well-being of British Columbians. We are an organization of professionals who use their skills, knowledge and experience to keep the public safe. As engineers and geoscientists, we feel strongly about the work we do, and we have often seen modesty as a virtue. However, when it comes to building greater public understanding and confidence in our professions, the ethical and professional standards to which we hold ourselves, and the value we contribute to the province, perhaps there’s a greater good to be had in tooting your own horn.

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 Email: apeginfo@apeg.bc.ca Internet: apeg.bc.ca Toll free: 1.888.430.8035 APEGBC COUNCIL 2016/2017 P resident B ob S tewart , P.E ng . V ice -P resident D r . E d C asas , P.E ng . I mmediate P ast P resident D r . M ichael W rinch , P.E ng ., FEC, FGC (H on .) COUNCILLORS C.J.A. Andrewes, P.Eng.; S. Cheema, CA, CPA R. Farbridge, P.Eng.; C. Hall, P.Eng./P.Geo. S. Hayes, P.Eng.; K. Laloge, CPA, CA, TEP; S. Martin, P.Eng. C. Moser, P.Eng.; R.B. Nanson, P.Eng. S.R. Rettie, P.Eng., FEC; L. Spence, P.Eng. K. Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng., FEC; J. Turner, P.Ag. (ret); D. Wells, JD ASSOCIATION STAFF A.J. English, P.Eng. C hief E xecutive O fficer and R egistrar T.M.Y. Chong, 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 ystems 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

Reflections on Changing Perceptions of the Professions

Bob Stewart, P.Eng. President

E. Swartz, LLB D irector , L egislation , E thics and C ompliance V. Lai, CGA A ssociate D irector , F inance and A dministration M.A. Rigolo P.Eng., A ssociate D irector , E ngineering A dmissions L. S teele , P.G eo ., A ssociate D irector , P rofessional P ractice

APEGBC EDITORIAL BOARD J. Bracho, P.Eng.; E.A. Brown, P.Eng.; K.C. Chan, P.Eng., CPA; S. Chiu, P.Eng.; T. George, P.Eng.; H. Ghalibafian, P.Eng. G. Grill, P.Eng.; R. Ord, P.Eng.; A.M. Westin, GIT; M.J. Zieleman, EIT

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president@ apeg.bc.ca

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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 industry 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 APEGBC a royalty-free, worldwide licence to publish the material; 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 material for length, clarity and conformity with our editorial guidelines (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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Engineers Must Direct Efforts to Solar-based Power An engineer’s role is to guard against conditions which are dangerous or threatening to the environment. Equally as the medical profession is bound by Hippocratic Oath to do no harm, we the engineers are sworn to guard the environment and public from harm according to our Code of Ethics, Section 2 specifically. I believe that the issue of global warming requires our, the engineers, input into the polemics among politicians, economists, fossil fuel producers, meteorologist, and others. Actually, we are the only ones who can do the real applicable math: Power in = power out @ global temperature. The Sun provides us with about 1 kW/m², totaling about 128 PW to earth surface, which we, for the thermal balance at about 12°C, radiate out into the 3°K black sky. By using fossil fuels we are adding a significant amount of energy. Counting the global yearly production of coal, oil, and gas we can calculate per hour value as about 6.7 PW of added energy. This represents over 5% of solar gain, leading to about a 3°C temperature rise. This is a fact. By the logic, the only legitimate source of power for us is the Sun. The Sun’s power is abundant; it can cover all our energy needs. Any other energy source causes global warming. Therefore, it is essential for livability of our planet that we direct our efforts to replace the fossil fuels with solar based power (radiant, water, wind, hydrogen) immediately and passionately, if it is not too late already. Technology and know- how are already here, we only have to bring the message to our politicians, industry and economists, and also to some of our fellow scientists who still indulge in the developments of other non-solar energy sources. We, the engineers, have to provide the real data to our leaders, in a form simple enough to understand yet strongly enough to break through the apathy avoiding the need for change.

Letters to the editor containing your views on topics of interest are encouraged. Opinions expressed in letters are not necessarily endorsed by APEGBC. Letters should be 300 words or less and can be emailed to innovation@apeg.bc.ca. Find information at apeg.bc.ca/Submitting-to-Innovation.

AYEAR can CHANGE EVERYTHING

mel.ubc.ca

—Rudolf E. Marek, P. Eng., Energy

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Response from the Climate Change Advisory Group: The APEGBC Climate Change Advisory Group (CCAG), which acts as an advisory body to APEGBC’s Council, acknowledges the Editorial Board’s policies to provide a forum for all APEGBC members to share their views, but wishes to express respectful disagreement with Mr. Nevin’s views. Mr. Nevin’s statements are at odds with the best available science on the topic. For example, a summary of climate change evidence and causes from the UK National Academy of Sciences and the Canadian Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions are just few of many credible references available to decision makers, policy makers, educators, and individuals seeking authoritative answers on climate change, and they include answers to many frequently asked questions on the topic. The CCAG encourages engineers and geoscientists to stay informed about the evolving scientific evidence on human-induced climate change as well as the potential risks and impacts related to their work. Resources: UK National Academy of Sciences, “ Climate Change Evidence and Causes ”: royalsociety.org/~/media/Royal_Society_ Content/policy/projects/climate-evidence- causes/climate-change-evidence-causes.pdf. Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions: “ Climate Insights 101 ”: pics.uvic.ca/ education/climate-insights-101. v

Your geologists have studied glaciers in the geologic record. Not long ago, North America was covered with thick ice as far south as the present-day Ohio River. Moraines, glacial till, drumlins, polished roches moutonées and scoured valleys were first noted in Europe, then in the Americas. In due course, when glacial features were familiar, geologists found evidence of ice ages millions of years before the Cenozoic, deep in geologic history. If ice ages occurred long ago, climate must have changed to get us into and out of them. Aren’t we now in a period of warming after an ice age that ended about 10,000 years ago—and another one called the Little Ice Age, from 700 to 200 years ago, which devastated agriculture and caused famine in Europe? Please, engineers, design and build for climate change, but think again before you try too hard to mitigate it. You might learn it has little to do with CO 2 in the air. —Dr. Andrew E. Nevin, P.Eng. (Geological) Surrey, BC

Think Again Before You Try Hard to Mitigate Climate Change With reference to the article “Positioning APEGBC and Its Members to Respond to Climate Change” (January/February 2017), I suggest engineers and the association take some advice from your geologists before trying too hard to mitigate “climate change.” It might be bigger than traces of CO 2 . Most of the hullabaloo about global warming is driven by a small number of scientists with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change who estimate minute changes in world-wide temperatures, on the order of 0.02°C, with an assumed error of 0.1°C. They have already revised their nomenclature from “global warming” to “climate change.” Do they understand that earth’s climate has been changing for millions of years? Since long before humans existed and before humans cleared land by burning forests, and then burned firewood, whale oil, coal, petroleum, natural gas, gasoline and diesel?

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n ews Engineers Canada Honours Contributions of Two BC Members

Dr. Jonathan Holzman, P.Eng., who won APEGBC’s 2016 President’s Award in the category of teaching excellence, recently received Engineers Canada’s highest teaching accolade, the Medal for Distinction in Engineering Education. The UBC Okanagan associate professor is known by his students and staff for implementing a number of innovative teaching methods, taking the time to explain practical applications, and using technology for teaching, including live demonstrations involving lasers. Engineers Canada also recognized University of British Columbia undergraduate engineering student Member Recognized by YWCA This May, Catherine Roome, P.Eng., became a YWCA Woman of Distinction, winning the national award in the Public Service category. As president and CEO of BC Safety Authority (BCSA), Roome manages BC’s leading independent risk management organization, sharing technical expertise and overseeing the province’s safety framework through assessment, research, enforcement, education and outreach. She has pursued and received multiple levels of support that resulted in a new and progressive

and APEGBC student member Veronica Knott as the 2017 Gold Medal Student. These two joined six other Canadian engineers that Engineers Canada recognized for their contributions to the profession. Engineers Canada presents the awards annually to highlight professional excellence, as well as the contributions of engineers to their community, and to the safety and well-being of Canadians. Engineers Canada is the national organization of the provincial and territorial associations that regulate the engineering profession in Canada.

Dr. Jonathan Holzman, P.Eng.

safety management system and shifted BCSA to become a knowledge-based and independently managed regulator. Recognized nationally, the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards honour individuals and organizations whose outstanding activities and achievements contribute to the well-being and future of our communities. Photo: : Wendy D Photography

Catherine Roome, P.Eng.

Green Building Awards Acknowledge BC Expert The Canada Green Building Council honoured APEGBC member Advicas Group Consultants Inc. Sustainability Consultant Wendy MacDonald, P.Eng., with its Technical Expertise Volunteer Leadership Award at its 2017 national conference. The award is presented to an individual who has dedicated considerable time and shared their expertise in an advisory capacity towards the advancement of LEED in Canada. In addition, the Vancouver Convention Centre received one of the council’s first-ever Green Building Excellence awards. The convention centre earned the award in the existing building category. Photo: Gordon Bell CC BY-ND 2.0

Society Commemorates Canada’s First Pre-stressed Concrete Bridge The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering celebrated a small, six- decade-old bridge in North Vancouver during the society’s 2017 conference. The Mosquito Creek Bridge, originally completed in 1953, represents the first use of pre-stressed concrete technology on bridge stringers in Canada. The technology is now one of the most widely used bridge-construction methods.

role of the late APEGBC member A.B. Sanderson, P.Eng., as the bridge’s original engineer. The Canadian Society for Civil Engineering’s National History Committee works to increase public and professional awareness of civil engineers and civil engineering as an integral part of Canadian history, heritage and society. Find more information about the Mosquito Creek Bridge at csce.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/civil_may_2017.pdf

A historic plaque commemorates the historic significance of the bridge, located near the intersection of North Vancouver’s Marine Drive and Fell Avenue. The plaque also recognizes the

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Study Highlights BC Labour Market Information Needs Findings from a new study about key occupations that support the Asia recruitment activities for engineers, geoscientists, technologists and technicians. Digging Deeper: Understanding the Pacific Gateway will enhance employers’

GIT Program Information Guide Available Geoscientists Canada recently released its Geoscientists- in-Training (GIT) Program Information Guide. The guide is part of a national initiative to raise awareness of the programs offered by all the professional geoscience associations to assist in preparing individuals for their professional geoscientist (P.Geo.) designation. Geoscientists-In-Training programs support individuals who are accumulating the required work experience to complete their professional qualifications. In employing a geoscientist-in-training, current and prospective employers can be confident that a person is both academically qualified and is gaining supervised experience and on the path to becoming a P.Geo. The 20-page guide provides information and support to university students of geology/earth science, environmental geoscience and geophysics programs, and to geoscience graduates with less than 48 months of eligible work experience, as they work towards their career goal to become a professional geologist or P.Geo. The guide can be found at www.geoscientistscanada.ca. v

Engineering, Geoscientist, Technologist, and Technicians Labour Market in the Asia Pacific Gateway follows up on the Engineers, Geoscientists, Technologists and Technicians Labour Market Information study released in 2015, which provided a 10-year forecast for important labour market supply and demand information on 31 engineering, geoscience, technology and technical occupations. Digging Deeper focuses on four main areas, including understanding how occupations are dispersed across the disciplines, how the occupations work together in teams, and how new workers enter these occupations. The fourth area explored was the extent to which BC expertise is exported to support projects overseas and how that expertise is valued here at home. Key findings identify a need to improve methodologies and processes used to model labour market changes and information forecasting for engineering, geoscience, technology and technical workers in Canada’s economy. A better understanding of the workers in these occupations was also identified, as well as what employers’ needs and expectations are in the labour market. The research sheds light on the work environment, team structures and professional demands of the occupations in question. This information will help employers strategize how they can recruit and retain workers, and improve business productivity and profitability. Engineering, geoscience, technology and technical occupations are critical to supporting Canada’s Asia Pacific Gateway, a major driver in BC’s economy. While the study applies to BC, the findings are relevant to other jurisdictions in Canada. Digging Deeper is a partnership between the Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table, the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC, the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies - BC, and the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC. The project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Sectoral Initiatives Program. Download Digging Deeper: Understanding the Engineering, Geoscientist, Technologist, and Technicians Labour Market in the Asia Pacific Gateway at apgst.ca/projects/pdfs/Digging-Deeper- Understanding-the-EGTT-in-the-APG.pdf. Read about the 2015 Engineers, Geoscientists, Technologists and Technicians Labour Market Information study at www.lmionline.ca/projects/egtt/.

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Coming Soon: Renewed Brand for the Association in late August As we move closer to launching our renewed brand in the coming weeks, we are getting ready to make a visible shift in our public and member communications. As a regulator, our focus will always remain on safety and protecting the public interest, but the world and our professions are constantly changing and we are seizing the opportunity to actively shape how our professions are perceived to effectively to deliver on that primary focus. Our new brand identity has been developed to represent the professionalism and prestige of our association and our members. At the launch in late August and going forward, you will see a consistent and impactful visual expression of who we are. Our drive is to be a beacon of inclusivity, with a focus on ethics, excellence, and progress. Online, in print, and in person, we will show that BC’s engineering and geoscience professionals are modern and diverse, practising to the highest professional and ethical standards. You may recall that our renewed brand was developed over three years, as a deliverable of the 2014-2017 strategic plan. At the direction of Council, a task force of members and staff worked with an external creative agency to define and bring to life the essence of the association and its members. Consultation was an integral part of this process, including engagement and testing with members, stakeholders, and the public. Members are our best champions and we look forward to revealing and celebrating our new brand with you later this summer. If you’re looking for more information on our work to date, catch up on branding news by reading updates in past issues of Innovation (May/June 2017 – page 10, March/April 2017 – page 8, and September/ October 2014 – page 8) at apeg.bc.ca/Resources/News-and-Publications/Innovation- Magazine/Innovation-Past-Issues. Questions? Contact Maria-Carmen Kelly, Marketing Specialist, at mckelly@apeg.bc.ca or 604.639.8179. Cast Your Vote in the 2017 Council Election Voting for the 2017 Council Election will be conducted electronically, and members and licensees will be emailed access to candidate statements and voting instructions on September 8, 2017. Be sure to verify or update your contact information with APEGBC so that you receive the voter information email for the election. This information will also be available online, and paper ballots and hard copies of the candidate statements can be requested from the APEGBC office. Voting opens September 8 and remains open until 12:00 pm noon, pdt, Friday, October 6, 2017. APEGBCmembers eligible to vote in Council elections include professional members (P.Eng. and P.Geo.) and engineering and geoscience licensees (Eng.L. and Geo.L.). When logging into the APEGBC website to update your information, consider updating your password. Regular password changes help keep your information secure. To update your information or change your password, log onto the member portal at apeg.bc.ca/update-info, or contact the APEGBC office at 604.430.8035 or toll-free 1.888.430.8035.

New Procedure for Submitting Motions for the 2017 Annual General Meeting Changes to the rules that govern the Annual General Meeting (AGM) are being introduced this year to allow members to learn more about proposed motions in advance, before engaging in debate or voting on the motions at the meeting. Under the revised meeting rules: a) members should submit motions for consideration at the meeting 30 days in advance of the AGM (by 5:00 pm on Thursday, September 21, 2017), and b) members can only submit motions on the day of the AGM if two-thirds of those in attendance support their introduction. These changes are intended to support sound decision making— allowing the advance publication of motions so that members have time to inform themselves on a given topic prior to debating it at the meeting, and enabling members to decide whether they have enough information to immediately consider the topic being raised in a motion. Advanced submission also allows time to address any procedural issues with proposed motions in anticipation of presentation at the AGM. To submit a motion, download the Proposed AGM Motion Form at apeg. bc.ca/agm and email the completed form to Sarah Wray, executive assistant to Council, at swray@apeg. bc.ca by 5:00 PM, September 21, 2017. Motions may be proposed by professional members (P.Eng. or P.Geo.) or licensees (Eng.L. or Geo.L.). A motion’s mover and seconder must both be present at the AGM to introduce their motion. Motions will be published to members in early October. The AGM will be held at 8:30 AM on Saturday, October 21, 2017, in Whistler, BC. For more information, visit apeg.bc.ca/agm.

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Certified Professional Program Following the past success of the Certified Professional (CP) Program course, APEGBC and the Architectural Institute of BC (AIBC) worked together to offer the course again this year from January to April 2017. The CP Program provides an alternative to the conventional building permit and inspection process used by the cities of Vancouver and Surrey, and other municipalities. Through the program, participating municipalities can issue a building permit on the certification of a recognized registered professional engineer or architect—the CP. The 2017 CP Program course focused on advanced code knowledge, with emphasis on Part 3 and relevant associated provisions of the BC Building Code and the Vancouver Building Bylaw , as well as topics closely related to CP practice. A two-day tutorial and intense two-day final exams followed the course. The Advanced Code Knowledge course was also offered along with the CP course for the first time this year. The 2017 CP Program course was fully enrolled, with 10 registrants in the Advanced Code Knowledge course and 24 in the full CP Program course. Of the 13 candidates who successfully completed the full CP Program, four engineering professionals and three architects were granted the specialist certified professional (CP) designation. Three engineers- in-training also successfully completed the program, and will have the CP designation conferred when they achieve professional engineer (P.Eng.) status. The 13 successful candidates are: Ron Bijok, Architect AIBC; Edward Chow, EIT; Richard Dohmeier, Architect AIBC; Mercedes Duifhuis, EIT; Gloria Grill, P.Eng.; David Chih Wai Ho, P.Eng.; John Wesley Lim, P.Eng.; Agata Malczyk, Architect AIBC; Mary McMains, Intern Architect, AIBC; Jon Milloy, P. Eng,; Sunny Nam, Architectural Technologist AIBC; Juraj Novota, P.Eng.; and Mark Olsthoorn, EIT. APEGBC and AIBC express their gratitude to the course lecturers, as well as the members of the exam committee who assisted in the development and marking of the final exams. Due to the proposed publication of the BC Building Code 2017 tentatively scheduled for January 2018, APEGBC and AIBC plan to offer the next CP Program course in 2019. However due to its popularity, the Advanced Code Knowledge part of the course will be offered again in early 2018.

Questions and Misconceptions

I often speak with members who have questions about APEGBC. In some cases, these questions are actually common misconceptions about APEGBC’s role and its practices. For example, members sometimes comment that APEGBC’s fees are high. In fact, at $380.00 (+ tax) our annual dues are amongst the lowest of all of professional regulators in the province (lawyers pay $3,875.57, accountants pay $930, and registered nurses pay $527.36). They are also in line with the fees of our similarly- sized sister associations, including Alberta ($360), Ontario ($399 – PEO and OSPE), Saskatchewan ($450) and Manitoba ($390). We’ve kept our member dues the same for five years. In addition, Council has approved the current budget with no member dues increase confirmed in the coming year, and no increase expected over the next three years. The budget is published on the website at apeg. bc.ca/About-Us/Governance/ Responsible-Financial-Management. Some other misconceptions that I hear are: APEGBC must always act in members’ interests. The association exists under an Act of the BC Legislature. Before anything else, we must uphold the primary mandate of this Act, and that is to protect the public interest with respect to the practice of professional engineering and geoscience. Members can change the Act. Only the BC Legislature can change the Engineers and Geoscientists Act . Members can change bylaws with a two-thirds majority ratification vote, but even this vote is subject to ratification by government. Council meetings are closed to the public . Council meetings are open to the public. The schedule is posted on

Ann English, P.Eng., CEO and Registrar

our website and the meetings are conducted in our offices in Burnaby. There is usually a brief closed session, but we have a transparency policy that restricts what matters can be considered there. (View the policy at apeg.bc.ca/About-Us/Our- Team/Council/Council-Resources- and-Forms) Staff make the nominations for Council candidates. This work is conducted by the Nominating Committee, which is chaired by the Past President. The committee comprises representatives from the branches, and members appointed by Council. APEGBC has low voter turnout for elections. Although we continue to strive for greater participation, APEGBC actually has slightly higher voter turnout than other engineering and geoscience regulators. Our typical turnout is between 18 and 30%; in 2016, we received 19%. By comparison, in 2016, Manitoba received 18%, Alberta received 15%, and Ontario received 10%. If you are interested in learning more about how APEGBC functions, I encourage you to attend a Council meeting. If you have any questions of your own about the association, please contact me, the President, a Council member, or a member of staff. Ann English, P.Eng., is the CEO and Registrar of APEGBC. You can reach her at aenglish@apeg.bc.ca, or President Bob Stewart, P.Eng., at president@apeg.bc.ca.

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

The actions taken by Council are noted below each motion. Motion 1. That Council consider developing a proactive guideline that will require all members to take into consideration options to achieve net zero emissions in their professional practice. The Climate Change Advisory Group recommended and Council agreed that the following current work being carried out under the direction of the CCAG should continue: 1. The development and revision of relevant professional practice guidelines, delivery of relevant continuing professional development events, relevant conference offerings and other events; 2 . The highlighting of members’ employers who are developing net zero approaches in their practice; and 3 . The consideration of APEGBC working towards net zero emissions with the initial step being to undertake an audit of APEGBC office energy use and carbon emissions. Motion 2. That Council consider reporting the results of membership voting by branch, which then would be aggregated to the total returns. Council approved publishing voter turnout by branch periodically during the election period as a pilot for the 2017/2018 election. Motion 3. That, in the interest of improved openness and transparency with the membership and the public, Council consider implementing a policy of publishing, both in Innovation and by broadcasting to the membership by email, any received written request signed by 25 members [pursuant to section 12(7) of the Engineers and Geoscientists Act] at the earliest possible opportunity. Council decided that it will endeavour to publish as many petitions as possible, but retain the ability to exercise discretion in determining of whether to publicize 25 member petitions. v

JUNE 16, 2017 Council Considers Improvements to Bylaw Consultation Policy The association’s current Policy on Bylaw Consultation was implemented in 2011 to establish a consistent process for member and stakeholder engagement on proposed changes to association bylaws. The policy establishes the scale of consultation to be undertaken based on the level of impact anticipated by a proposed bylaw change. The Governance Committee recently reviewed the policy and proposed revised wording to update the document for the approval of Council. Council passed a motion to refer the matter back to the Governance Committee to clarify which parts of the process are subject to approval by Council vs. the Executive Committee, as well as to clarify the order of operations for bylaw policy processes. Volunteer Guidelines Approved for Use In response to volunteer feedback, volunteer guidelines were created to provide support and clarify expectations around volunteer roles. The content of the guidelines was approved by Council in June 2016, and at their June 2017 meeting, Council approved the Volunteer Guidelines Policy to implement the guideline document. Changes to AGM Motion Submission Outlined in Draft Rules for 2017 Council approved the draft 2017 Annual General Meeting Rules. These draft rules establish process and conduct for the 2017 AGM, and will be brought forward for ratification by members at the start of the meeting. Different to the previous year, the 2017 rules require submission of motions 30 days in advance of the meeting; however, members can submit a motion on the day of the AGM if two-thirds of those in attendance support the introduction of the motion. This change has been recommended by the Governance Committee to support sound decision making—allowing for the advance publication of motions so that members have time to inform themselves on a topic prior to debating it as a motion at the AGM. More information on the AGM motion process for 2017 is available on page 10. Summary of Action Taken on 2016 AGM Motions The following motions were brought forward by members for Council’s consideration at the 2016 annual general meeting of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia held October 22, 2016, in Victoria, BC. APEGBC’s Council of elected members and government representatives meets throughout the year to conduct the business of association governance.

APPOINTMENTS APEGBC/ABCFP Joint Practice Board Dr. David Wilford, P.Geo., FGC Editorial Board Dr. Thomas George, P.Eng., Chair Karen Chan, P.Eng. Geoscience Committee Gilles Dessureau, P.Geo.

Scrutineers for 2017/2018 Council Election John Watson, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) Kathleen Kompauer, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) Ken Williams, P.Eng., FEC

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f ea t u r e s

FUNDING HOMEGROWN INNOVATION Robin J. Miller

With government R&D funding, Guy Dumont, P.Eng. and his team were able to develop the Kenek02, which allows a mobile app to test for signs of easily preventable but deadly illnesses.

Have a great idea for a new technology, product or process, but lack the funding or expertise to commercialize it? Help is here—but maybe not where you think.

Money! It’s the single largest stumbling block to innovation and yet, in many ways, it is surprisingly easy to get—provided you have a truly useful idea and you know where to look. (Hint: it isn’t Dragon’s Den .) In general, private investors look for projects that guarantee a safe return on their investment: they are less interested in ground-breaking technologies and more in iterations of what has already been proven in the marketplace. And they have virtually no interest at all in simple improvements to existing processes or procedures that may revolutionize one company’s way of working At both the federal and provincial levels, substantial funding for R&D and innovation is being deployed says David Lisk, vice president of the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP), “to help build the innovation-based economy and support the creation of sustainable companies.” The NRC’s IRAP specifically supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of up to 500 employees “interested in growing through commercializing innovative ideas,” says Lisk. “We come in but never make it as a commercial product. That’s where government funding comes in.

early in the life of the SME and provide advice and funding to help them throughout the lifecycle from idea to product launch.” Other government funding programs (either direct or at arm’s length) are aimed at varying aspects and stages of industrial R&D. Some support universities and university researchers in doing fundamental and applied research; others support industry— established companies, as well as startups and entrepreneurs—to investigate, test, develop, and commercialize ideas. Still others support collaborations between universities and industry partners, allowing industry to access some of the best facilities and researchers in the world for a fraction of the usual price, and universities to train their students to solve real-world issues. Dan Blondal, P.Eng., has taken advantage of a number of government funding programs since he co-founded Vancouver’s Nano One Materials Corp. in 2011. Blondal saw an opportunity to improve the way raw lithium is currently processed and transformed into energy storage—a potentially huge improvement for a world that is increasingly reliant on lithium ion batteries in smartphones, Teslas and a multitude of other applications.

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To complete the necessary research, Nano One received help from Mitacs, a national, non-profit organization that functions as an R&D version of eHarmony. Mitacs matches private-sector companies that have ideas for processes or products, or are looking for solutions to specific problems, with graduate students or postdoctoral researchers for mutual benefit. Evaluations “tell us that 92 percent of our partner companies would recommend our programs,” says Mitacs business development specialist Nolan Beise, largely, he thinks, because “we approve projects in four to six weeks” and because “academics don’t speak ‘business’ and business people don’t speak ‘academics.’ We are in the middle, making the connections and helping them communicate.” Nano One also applied for and received IRAP funding to “ensure

“As a start-up,” says Bamber, “we had to use these programs because you just don’t have enough cash to build the technology and build a business around that technology. It takes time and focus to do them, but you need to persevere and then persevere some more. Commercialization is hard and it takes time, especially with a product like ours. Most investors like light and fluffy projects, like apps, while we are working on industrial technology development, which is capital- intensive with a longer development cycle. But we are getting there.” One good sign: this past February, the company announced $19 million in new venture capital funding for commercialization of the technology. “We have been fortunate to find partners with the vision, appetite, and confidence to be first movers.” While MineSense and Nano One are just reaching commercialization, other BC companies that have received significant government R&D

the technology would scale up,” says Blondal. “That first major IRAP grant enabled us to work in collaboration with incubator NORAM Engineering and Constructors Ltd., their subsidiary BC Research, and Simon Fraser University’s ultra-advanced 4D LABS,” which in turn owes its existence to a $7-million- plus infrastructure investment from the Canada Foundation for Innovation. It also “gave us the credibility to take our story out to stakeholders and investors,” he says. Now, with help from those investors, NORAM, and two more

support—such as Hootsuite—are international success stories. Less well known but potentially just as valuable (at least in world health terms) is the Kenek 02, now available commercially in Canada. Developed by UBC’s Electrical and Computer Engineering professor Guy Dumont, P.Eng., working with a team at BC Children’s Hospital, the Kenek 02 is a Health Canada-approved, clinically accurate pulse oximeter that connects a person’s finger to a mobile device so

Private investors want a safe return on investment, but government investors are less risk-averse. That means great opportunities for BC engineers and geoscientists with ideas to pursue or challenges to overcome.

government funding programs—Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and the Automotive Supplier Innovation Program—Nano One has completed construction of a $6-million pilot plant to “prove the production viability of the new process in a full-scale commercial facility.” Government funding, Blondal says, “helped de-risk the scale up from bench to pilot to full operation and what we believe will be successful commercialization, and not just for electric cars.” Blondal has also received IRAP funding for Nano One’s next big project: to develop commercially viable cobalt-free cathode materials called high-voltage spinels. Andrew Bamber, P.Eng., founder and CTO of MineSense Technologies Ltd. in Vancouver, also credits several government funders with helping him take “part of my PhD—which included the idea of applying a pre-concentration methodology to improve how mining companies sense and extract low-grade ore—and commercialize it.” In 2009, Bamber began “looking for a postdoc with some skills in that area” to further explore his idea, and eventually connected with Mitacs to help him find and fund the right researcher. More Mitacs internships followed, along with several Engage Grants from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), which help pay for short-term university/industrial partner R&D collaborations up to a maximum of $25,000 over six months. Bamber also took advantage “in the very early days” of the Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) Tax Credit, which helps cover salaries, wages, materials, and overhead, and later on of both IRAP and SDTC funding.

that an app can test for signs of easily preventable but often deadly illnesses such as pneumonia, sepsis, and pre-eclampsia. Useful here in this country, and a game-changer in poorer countries. “Hundreds of thousands of women and babies die every year around the world from pre-eclampsia alone—99 percent of them in the developing world,” Dumont says. “Our health care system gives good care to patients, but not more than 10 percent of all people on the planet receive our level of care. Instead of working for the 10 percent already receiving good care, why not work for the 90 percent who do not?” The Kenek, he says, “is a low-cost, effective technology for the developing world,” especially in remote regions where access to hospitals is limited. With government R&D funding that included a five-year NSERC Discovery Grant, Dumont was able to bring the oximeter to the stage where Tom Walker, a former medical device company executive who retired to Vancouver from Ontario, heard about it and its life-saving potential. He came out of retirement to found Lionsgate Technologies as a way to attract private investors (including Google) and transfer Dumont’s technology to market. “Discovery funding gives you the flexibility to pursue any idea you want, even risky ideas like this one, that may never reach the stage where they can become a collaboration with industry,” says Dumont. “But if you don’t do that basic research, if you do not take risks, you will never lead in anything.” His advice: industry and investors “should have continuous watch over what’s going on in academia.” Industry should also feel free to approach academia with their own ideas, says University of Victoria engineering assistant

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