INNOVATION March-April 2012

Strata Depreciation Reports • Alternative Complaint Resolution Bylaw • Special Ballot

JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS OF BC

March/April 2012

Exploring BC’s Geothermal Potential

Aquifers and Shale Gas Extraction

The Science of Business Thinking

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content s

March/April 2 012 [ vol .16 no .2]

features 22

Exploring BC’s Geothermal Potential Suzanne Morphet

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Dr Robert Stevens PGeo - Growing BC’s Mining Talent Jean Sorensen

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How Vulnerable are BC’s Shallow Aquifers to Shale Gas Extraction? Dr Richard Jackson PEng and Alan Kohut PEng

news 4

President’s Viewpoint – The APEGBC Voice on Public Issues

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Association Notes – 2011/2012 Project Highlights Call for Submissions; Branches off to a Quick Start in January; Forest Engineering and Geoscience Bursary; Member Ballot to be Taken on Act Amendment Requests

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Member Consultation on Alternative Complaint Resolution Bylaw Proceeds

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Council Report – January 27, 2012

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Industry Input Contributes to Geology Curriculum Review

ON THE COVER: Kinbasket Lake near Valemount, BC. Located in the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” BC has promising geothermal potential. Three geothermal exploration permits for the area straddling Canoe Reach, the northern arm of Kinbasket Lake, were issued in October 2010.

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Strata Depreciation Reports – A Voice for Standardization

34

The Science of Effective Business Thinking

36

Removals for Non-payment of Membership Fee

depar tment s

7 Newsmakers 33 APEGBC Professional Development 38 Membership 41 Professional Services 46 Careers 47 Datebook

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March/April 2012

Volume 16 Number 2

v iewpoint

I often receive correspondence from our members urging APEGBC to take a public position on a particular engineering or geoscience project in BC. Some proposed projects of interest include the Site C Dam, Capital Regional District sewage treatment for Victoria and the Northern Gateway pipeline as well as various mine developments. Of course, our individual members often have differing opinions as to whether a particular project is for or against the public interest. For example, in my hometown of Kamloops, there is currently intense debate about the proposed Ajax mine immediately south of the city. While this project is undoubtedly beneficial for the local economy it may come with some costs in terms of impacts to the environment and aesthetics. So, would it be proper for APEGBC to take a public position supporting or opposing this project? APEGBC regulates the professional practice of engineering and geoscience in the public interest and, subject to this, upholds our members’ interests. We are charged by the people of BC with the duty to protect public safety and the environment. All of the above projects have the involvement of individual engineers and geoscientists providing responsible advice and rational design conforming to legislated regulations. And the best practice of cost benefit analysis fully considers reasonable sustainability and the protection of the environment. Ultimately, the setting of outcomes and regulations are the responsibility of our elected government. I’m pleased to report that APEGBC is a trusted advisor to government in helping to set reasonable and rational legislation in many areas of engineering and geoscience such as the building code, sewage regulation and environmental protection. APEGBC provides broad policy review and advice to help government set appropriate legislation and we encourage government to rely on our members’ reasoned and accountable opinions for specific projects. APEGBC has guidelines for developing broad position papers with the support of committees and task forces that can provide the appropriate expertise to ensure well-researched, factual, balanced and reasonable perspective. Then, extensive consultation with members and external stakeholders ensure that the positions taken represent best practices. So is it proper for APEGBC to take a public stand on engineering and geoscience issues of interest? Yes, APEGBC should continue to advise government and help formulate policy issues and legislation with respect to broad engineering and geoscience works. And, APEGBC should continue to encourage government and the public to rely on the professional expertise and accountability of our registered members for advice on specific projects. But, APEGBC must be perceived to not interfere in the decision-making process of elected government for specific projects.

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

2011/2012 COUNCIL, APEGBC P resident J H ( Jeff) Holm PEng FEC

V ice P resident M (Michael) Isaacson PEng PhD P ast P resident F W (F rank ) D enton PE ng FEC

The APEGBC Voice on Public Issues

Councillors V T (Vic) Baker PEng FEC; M H (Matt) Cameron PEng FEC; E A (Emily) Cheung PEng FEC; J J (John) Clague PGeo PhD; A (Ana) Fernandes Cim Fcsi; H (Herb) Hawson PEng FEC;

D M (Donna) Howes PEng; H G (Harlan) Kelly PEng; J (Joe) Martignago; A J (Andy) Mill PEng StructEng FEC; MI (Mark) Porter PEng StructEng; (Mike) Waberski Bcls; M C (Michael) Wrinch PEng PhD; S (Sheila) Wynn PhD ASSOCIATION STAFF D V Doyle P Eng C hief E xecutive O fficer and R egistrar J Y Sinclair C hief O perating O fficer J Cho CGA D irector , F inance and A dministration P R Mitchell PEng D irector , P rofessional P ractice , S tandards and D evelopment G M Pichler PEng D irector , R egistration G A Thiele LLB D irector , L egislation , E thics and C ompliance MLArchibald A ssociate D irector ,C ommunicationsand S takeholder E ngagement

Jeff Holm PEng FEC President

R M F ilipiak P Eng A ssociate D irector , A dmissions D Gamble A ssociate D irector , I nformation S ervices J J G Larocque PEng LLB A ssociate D irector , P rofessional P ractice D Olychick A ssociate D irector , M ember S ervices

Melinda Lau M anaging E ditor

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

Advertising material should reach the publication by the 5th of the preceding month (eg, January 5 for the Jan/Feb issue).

Advertising Contact: Gillian Cobban Tel: (604) 929-6733 Fax: (604) 929-6753 E-mail: advertising@apeg.bc.ca

president@ apeg.bc.ca

Design/Production: Fusion FX Design & Marketing Inc Printed in Canada by Mitchell Press Ltd on recycled paper

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 HST). 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.

ISSN 1206-3622 Publications Mail Agreement No 40065271. Registration No 09799.

Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Innovation, Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC V5C 6N2.

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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l et ter s

Sober Second Thought In April all voting members of APEGBC will receive an electronic ballot regarding a motion to urge retention of a member’s right to vote on proposed bylaws. This is the result of a petition signed by 70 members including 19 past presidents, all of whom have been active in your association and hold protection of the public as paramount. Many feel that elimination of members’ voting rights is wrong on several counts. It: • Eliminates the “sober second thought” otherwise provided directly by the voting membership as well as the indirect pressure on Council and staff who know that their recommendations will be reviewed by the members. • Ignores the unique dual role of our association in regulating our professions in the public interest while at the same time being responsible for protecting the interests of its members and licensees. • Is professionally insulting, suggesting to the membership that Act became law 92 years ago. Apart from occasional reviews and amendments, the Act has not been brought into line with changing public policies since 1920. In 2009 I chaired APEGBC’s appointed Legislative Review Task Force to recommend legislative changes. Based on extensive work carried out by several APEGBC committees, our reviews covered existing practices of similar self-regulatory associations. Public trust is a guiding principle of the amendments. An open and transparent manner is vital to balance public interest and advance our profession. I am aware that some members are concerned with the proposal to change the current method of approving bylaws/regulations that govern public interest. The proposed amendments would preserve the membership’s right to vote on governance issues. At the same time, the they are not to be trusted–only Council has any true concern for Public Trust is a Guiding Principle I recommend that APEGBC members support the legislative amendments proposed by Council. The first Engineers and Geoscientists

Letters to the editor containing your views on topics of interest are encouraged. Opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily endorsed by APEGBC. Letters can be e-mailed to mlau@apeg.bc.ca.

public safety! No member votes against a proposed bylaw in hopes of enabling them to do shoddy, unprofessional work. Regulatory and practice bylaws are core APEGBC issues and letting members have a voice on core issues is not a unique model. The BC Society Act requires a special resolution passed by 75% of the members to change a bylaw. The BC Business Corporations Act suggests a two-thirds to three-quarters majority of the members to change a bylaw. The dual goals of APEGBC, its dependence on volunteers and the widely diverse disciplines involved require an even more open and participatory governance model than a publicly traded corporation. This issue has only been put on the back burner for now, future Councils need to know your opinion. Vote “Yes” in April to ensure you retain your right to responsibly participate in your profession. Dennis McJunkin PEng FEC Delta, BC elected council would have authority to introduce regulations on issues concerning public interest and professional practice. Granting such authority to Council would be timely and effective. APEGBC’s existing inflexible system, focused more on members’ interests than on the public interest, is ill-matched with current national professional regulation. The privilege of self-regulation and the public trust is harmed by APEGBC’s failure to address public interest issues in a timely manner. We should not risk isolation among national engineering and geosciences groups by continuing to support our inflexible structure. The proposed amendments, if adopted, will advance APEGBC’s mandate. Our processes will be brought into line with provincial policies that promote innovation as well as national and international professional mobility. Roy Wares PEng FEC Vancouver, BC

Braun Geotechnical Ltd. is pleased to  announce that  Stuart Hrysio, P.Eng ., has  become a principal of the company.  Mr. Hrysio brings over 12 years of  Geotechnical and Materials Engineering  experience to the company, and has been  a key team member in numerous major  development and infrastructure projects.   Some recent BC projects have included  Clearbrook Interchange, South Fraser  Perimeter Road, Roberts Bank Rail  Corridor, and the Sea to Sky Highway  Improvement.  Braun Geotechnical is a privately owned  engineering firm providing specialist  geotechnical assessment and engineering  solutions in the fields of pavement design,  residential commercial and industrial  development, municipal and provincial  infrastructure, and natural hazards.  

TEL: 604‐513‐4190  WWW.BRAUNGEO.COM 

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Enhanc e t h e Qua l i t y o f Wood - Fr ame Re s i den t i a l Cons t r uc t i on

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The Building Enclosure Design Guide – Wood-Frame Multi-Unit Residential Buildings is the industry’s most widely accepted reference guide on building enclosures. It’s an invaluable resource for builders, designers, architects, engineers and educators in British Columbia and in other jurisdictions across North America.

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Innovation Magazine (APEG BC) Homeowner Protection Office

newsmaker s

Geology Conference Highlights Global Professional Practice The fourth international Professional Geology Conference

(4IPGC), “Earth Science – Global Practice,” was held at the Renaissance Vancouver Hotel January 22- 24, 2012. The Australian Institute of Geoscientists joined as a convener with the American Institute of Professional Geologists, the European Federation of Geologists and host institution, Geoscientists Canada. A total of 137 registered delegates representing over 17 nations attended throughout the event, as well as additional drop-in delegates from the Association for Mineral Exploration BC’s Mineral Roundup. As many as 200 different guests attended parts of 4IPGC. The Technical Committee chaired by Peter Friz PGeo coordinated eight sessions, and 39 presentations discussed various aspects of the profession and its status around the world. During the conference Geoscientists Canada signed co-operation agreements with two other national professional geoscience organizations: Spain’s Ilustre Colegio Oficial de Geólogos and Italy’s Consiglio Nazionale dei Geologi.

Levelton Consultants Ltd. Levelton Consultants Ltd. is pleased to announce the appointments of Nick Davis, P.Eng. as President and Alex Schutte, B.Sc., EP as Vice President, effective April 2, 2012.

Nick received a diploma in Civil Engineering from BCIT and a degree in Geological Engineering from UBC. After joining Levelton in 1986, he has successfully filled a variety of roles: project engineer, project manager and regional manager. Alex has a degree from McGill University in Meteorology and Environmental Sciences. Since joining Levelton in 1995, Alex has taken on technical, managerial and operational roles in the organization. Levelton promotes the development of strong leadership and business management skills among its employees, and strives to provide opportunity for advancement. Congratulations Nick and Alex for rising to the pinnacle of the Levelton organization.

Local Civil Engineering Professor Made Royal Society Fellow

Dr Nemkumar Banthia PEng

(pictured left) was recently inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (RSC)— the highest honour a scholar can

achieve in the arts, humanities and sciences in Canada. The award was conferred at a ceremony held in Ottawa where Dr Banthia was cited for his contributions to education and advancement of knowledge, and for leading-edge research in the specific areas of infrastructure rehabilitation, structural strengthening using advanced composite materials and construction materials with a minimal carbon footprint. Dr Banthia is a professor of civil engineering and Senior Canada Research Chair with the University of British Columbia.

About Levelton We are an employee-owned Western Canadian firm with 45 years of experience delivering comprehensive and integrated services to clients. With nine offices in BC and Alberta, we specialize in engineering and scientific services in four practice areas: materials engineering, environment and energy, geotechnical, and building science .

www.levelton.com

M a r ch/A p r i l 2 012 Announcement Ad size: 4.625 x 4.875

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as soc ia t ion notes

Branches Off to a Quick Start in January APEGBC’s branches play a vital role in the professional community. They are a touch point for communication and interaction between the Association and members in their home regions of the province. Here is a snapshot of branch activities during the months of January and February. Career Awareness Members of the Central Interior Branch visited five elementary schools from January to the end of February, reaching 150 students. The Sea to Sky Branch also spent time on career awareness, visiting with 35 students. These visits allow members to connect with youth, raising awareness about engineering and geoscience as a career choice. Branch Events Presentations with breakfast/lunch/dinner meetings are popular branch activities, providing members with a casual forum for networking and professional development. Presentations were held on the following topics: the Ajax mine project currently underway near Kamloops, (South Central Branch), Mechatronics (Fraser Valley Branch), Canfor Pulp Mill Upgrades (Central Interior Branch), Sustainability at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver Branch). The Victoria Branch hosted a Robbie Burns Night supper with presentations on engineering in Scotland. Other branch meetings included a Vice President’s dinner in February organized by the Richmond/Delta Branch, and two EIT/GIT information nights hosted by the South Central Branch and Burnaby/New Westminster Branches respectively. Branch-hosted tours are also popular events and included visits to the Canada Line, Armtec, landfill disposal sites, Vernon’s new library, the HeliOne facility, and the Enviromental Testing Chamber at the National Research Council of Canada’s Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation. These tours were organized by the Richmond/Delta, Sea to Sky, Vancouver, Okanagan, Vancouver Island, and Tri-City Branches. To find out more about branch events in your area, visit www.apeg.bc.ca/branches/.

This special pictorial feature, published annually in the July/August issue of Innovation, showcases the diverse activities of BC’s professional engineers and geoscientists both at home and abroad. Submissions relating to all engineering and geoscience disciplines are encouraged. Members or companies may submit photographs of projects undertaken during the past 12 months, within or outside BC, employing APEGBC members. Photographs may be original colour prints or high-resolution digital image files. Before submitting your project for consideration, please view the details on submission requirements, including specifications for digital images, at www.apeg.bc.ca/go/pictorial/. Photos must be accompanied by a caption of no more than 150 words in MS Word format that describes the project and identifies the owners and professionals involved. Members are also encouraged to describe the innovative or sustainability aspects of their particular project. Members working for large companies are recommended to coordinate their project submissions to avoid multiple or duplicate submissions. The deadline for photographs, complete with captions, is Friday, May 11, 2012. Please direct all submissions to Innovation at the Association office in Burnaby by mail, or by e-mail at pictorial@apeg.bc.ca. Questions about the pictorial feature may be directed to Melinda Lau, Managing Editor at (604) 412-4866. 2011/2012 Project Highlights: Call for Submissions Deep Bay Marine Field Station

Forest Engineering and Geoscience Bursary The Division of Engineers and Geoscientists in the Resource Sector (DEGIRS) is pleased to offer a $2,000 bursary aimed at advancing engineering and geoscience education and practices in BC. The bursary is intended to provide financial assistance to students in an accredited post-secondary or post-graduate

For additional information please contact David Holland PEng RFP at dholland@ dwbconsulting.ca. DEGIRS aims to advance all aspects of engineering and geosciences in the resource sector, partly by providing opportunities and venues in which to share information and resources. The division works to guide the development and maintenance of standards of practice for professional engineers and geoscientists working in the resource sector, and to promote high standards of practice in this area. More information on DEGIRS and its activities is available at www.degirs.com.

program at a degree-granting institute in BC. Studies should relate directly to professional engineering and/or geosciences/ geotechnique in the resource sector. The deadline to receive applications is June 30, 2012 . Bursary application guidelines are available at www.apeg.bc.ca/ students/scholarships/degirsbursary.html.

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Member Ballot to be taken on Act Amendment Requests In September 2011, APEGBC Council made a formal request to the provincial government for legislative amendments to modernize the Engineers and Geoscientists Act. The proposed amendments would address current regulatory challenges, reflect the best practices of regulators, and enable APEGBC to work more effectively in the public interest. In total, 35 amendments were requested—12 of which were identified as priority. On January 3, APEGBC received a petition from 70 members calling for a ballot regarding this request to government to amend the Act . Background The 35 proposed Act amendments submitted to the provincial

would not be subject to a member vote, but would still undergo a full consultation process before being submitted to the Minister of Advanced Education. All legislation must receive Royal Assent before it becomes law and must be approved by the Lieutenant Governor in Council (government). Petition for Special Ballot In early January, APEGBC received a petition calling for a member ballot regarding the request to government to amend the Engineers and Geoscientists Act . Signed by 70 members, the petition called for a member ballot to be held on the following motion:

government in September address current regulatory challenges, reflect the best practices of regulators, and enable APEGBC to work more effectively in the public interest. The amendments were identified, developed and reviewed by over 100 members and public appointees serving on several APEGBC task forces and committees—including the Professional Renewal Task Force, the Registration, Investigation, Discipline, Professional Practice, and Governance committees, the Registration Task Force, and the Legislative Review Task Force. Council also engaged in an extensive consultation process with members and other stakeholders to obtain input on the proposed changes including discussion with practice committees, member surveys, town hall meetings with branches throughout the province, AGM presentations, and many meetings with other associations and government. Further Developments Following the submission of the request to government in September, a motion was put forward at the 2011 Annual General Meeting in Kelowna asking Council to reconsider the amendment request that would enable Council to make bylaws related to the public interest without requiring member ratification. The motion was defeated by the members present at the meeting. Members of Council, branch representatives, and staff have continued to seek feedback on the requested legislative amendments. In late December, APEGBC’s Executive Committee made the decision to pursue additional consultation on the issue of Council setting public interest bylaws and withdrew this request from the list of priority amendments previously submitted to the government. Recently, Council adopted a policy that structures member consultation into the bylaw development process. After a need for a bylaw revision is identified, Council will advise members of the proposed change and rationale, and will seek member feedback to inform the process and to identify specific concerns that can be considered in the drafting of the bylaw. In the future, should government enable APEGBC Council to approve public interest bylaws without requiring member ratification, any bylaws approved by Council

“That Council re-consider the request to Government to enact amendments to the Engineers and Geoscientists Act, and withdraw the request for amendments that would allow Council to make changes to the Bylaws of the Association without the approval of 2/3 of the votes cast by ballot as required by the Act.”

In accordance with section 12(7) of the Engineers and Geoscientists Act, the Association is required to take a vote of the members by ballot upon the written request of 25 or more members. This vote will take place via electronic ballot and will cost approximately $15,000 to conduct. Voting will commence April 18 and close at noon on May 17, 2012 . Members will be notified via e-mail on April 18 that voting has opened, and will be provided with additional information at that time. A link will also be available on the home page of the APEGBC website at www. apeg.bc.ca. Paper ballots may be requested by phone at (604) 430-8035 or toll free 1-888-430-8035, by e-mail at apeginfo@apeg.bc.ca, or by mail at APEGBC, 200-4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC, V5C 6N2. For more information on APEGBC’s request for legislative amendments to the Act , visit www.apeg.bc.ca/actmodernization/.

NOTICE OF MEMBER BALLOT Voting opens: April 18, 2012 Voting closes: Noon, May 17, 2012 Ballot Question:

“That Council re-consider the request to Government to enact amendments to the Engineers and Geoscien- tists Act, and withdraw the request for amendments that would allow Council to make changes to the By- laws of the Association without the approval of 2/3 of the votes cast by ballot as required by the Act”

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r egu la tor y notes

Member Consultation on Alternative Complaint Resolution Bylaw Proceeds

I n 2008, the Engineers and Geoscientists Act (Act) was amended to permit “alternative complaint resolution” (ACR) of discipline cases. While the Act amendments envisaged and authorized an ACR bylaw and some mediations of disciplinary matters have been conducted using the ACR provisions in the Act as a framework, as yet no bylaw exists. In late 2011, APEGBC’s Discipline Committee submitted a draft ACR bylaw to Council for consideration. Council approved the bylaw in principle and directed staff to consult with members and other stakeholders on the bylaw and its wording. The proposed ACR bylaw will address common issues and considerations that are not covered by the Act . These include the form of ACR (mediation, negotiation, other), the Association’s involvement in the mediation, payment for the process, and publication of any consent order negotiated as a result of ACR. The Association’s proposed ACR bylaw is in keeping with those of other self-regulatory organizations. APEGBC has found that the mediation process has been very successful as an efficient and effective means of resolving discipline cases and protecting the public interest, and a number of APEGBC discipline cases have been successfully resolved at mediations over the past few years. The Act already contains much of the framework and rules for ACR. What the bylaw addresses are common issues and considerations that are not covered by the Act . These are: • The form of the ACR (mediation, negotiation, other, any combination of these) • The Association’s involvement in the mediation

(otherwise there is no one to present the “prosecution’s case”)

• Payment for the ACR process • Publication of the consent order.

Alternative Complaint Resolution Benefits

APEGBC has significantly reduced discipline related legal expenses through the use of mediation and forecasts a continued decline in the 2011/2012 fiscal year (Figure 1). In addition to reductions in legal expenses, there are a number of other benefits to ACR, including: • Flexibility of procedure – The process is determined and controlled by the parties to the dispute • Opportunity for all parties to be heard and considered • Lower costs • Less complexity (“less is more”) • Parties’ choice of neutral third party (and therefore expertise in area of dispute) to assist negotiations • Likelihood and speed of resolution • Practical solutions tailored to parties’ interests and needs (not rights and wants, as they may perceive them) • Durability of agreements • Preservation of relationships. Mediation as Complaint Resolution – What it is and How it Works The following is abridged from “Mediation – The Continuing Story” by J Marc MacEwing in the January 2012 Shapiro Hankinson & Knutson newsletter.

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!

LEADERSHIP IN SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE EDMONTON, JUNE 6-9, 2012 CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING 2012 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

HONORARY CHAIR: THE HONORABLE ED STELMACH

PLENARY KEYNOTE: DR. MICHAEL PERCY

• Grand Opening Reception at the Art Gallery of Alberta • Annual General Conference • Specialty Conferences in Structural, Transportation, and Environmental Engineering • 1st International Conference on Sustaining Public Infrastructure • 125th Anniversary CSCE/EIC Awards Gala and Banquet • Trade Show Exhibition

International Infrastructure Super-Session

• Historical Site Dedication, Technical Tours, Social Events and Companions’ Program

For further information and to register, visit: www.csce2012.ca

1887 125

FOUNDED FONDÉE EN

YEARS ANNÉES

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APEGBC Discipline Legal Expenses

0 $50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000 $250,000 $300,000 $350,000

FiscalYear Legal Fees

FY 07/08

FY 08/09 FY 09/10

FY 10/11 *FY 11/12 Estimated

Figure 1

amendments or refinements, will be brought before Council at its May 2012 meeting for approval of the final wording. Any Council-approved bylaw would be submitted to the membership for ratification with the Council election package in Fall 2012. The proposed Alternative Complaint Resolution bylaw in its entirety along with APEGBC’s Bylaw Consultation Policy and background information on mediation can be found online at www.apeg.bc.ca/about/acr_bylaw.html. v

How does it work? The parties exchange mediation briefs in advance of the mediation session. The session usually consists of an initial plenary meeting of all parties during which preliminary statements are given, followed by breakout of the parties for initial consultations with the mediator. In many instances, particularly if there is a risk of the process becoming confrontational, the parties may remain separated throughout the whole mediation. Is it fair? The mediation briefs delivered by the parties summarize their arguments concerning the issues and merits of the claims and defences in the dispute. However, once the preliminary comments have been presented at the mediation session, the process can become one of “horse trading” of offers and counter offers in the cause of a business resolution. While that may not be a bad thing if it works, since the goal after all is to settle, it can pressure parties to compromise beyond what their perception of their liability exposures would justify. Is it likely to succeed? Most civil disputes settle, and most mediations are successful in reaching settlement, although they sometimes require more than one session or additional negotiation following mediation, often with the assistance of the mediator. However, even good faith and the attractions of an early end to a dispute do not always result in a successful result at mediation. Member Input Sought To support stronger member participation and understanding of the regulatory process, Council has approved a Bylaw Consultation Policy that establishes a consistent approach to gaining member feedback on proposed bylaws prior to a vote by the membership. APEGBC welcomes member input and feedback on the proposed ACR bylaw. An online survey was distributed to the membership in the March 2012 issue of Connections and is available at www.apeg.bc.ca/about/acr_bylaw.html. Comments may also be submitted at this time to bylaws@ apeg.bc.ca. It is anticipated that following receipt and review of the stakeholder input, the proposed ACR bylaw, with any further

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counc i l repor t

JANUARY 27, 2012 Council Approves 2012/2013 Budget Guidelines The schedule and guidelines for the 2012/2013 fiscal year budget development were approved by Council at their January meeting. The guidelines were developed by the Executive Committee, which acts as the Finance Committee of Council. The 2012/2013 Budget Guidelines state: 1. The Sustainable Financial Management Policy will be the foundation for guiding budget preparation. 2. Apply the APEGBC Strategic Plan, Council Work Plan and Balanced Score Card to budget development. 3. Strive to minimize any annual professional member fee increase for 2013. 4. Evaluate the budget and progress of the Professional Renewal Program and move to early completion (2013- 2014) without increased funding. 5. Review departmental opportunities for process efficiencies and consider value for money report recommendations. 6. Retain the 1.5 months General Operating Fund Reserve and assess the requirements for the Property, Equipment and Systems Replacement Fund. 7. Staffing levels will be determined by authorized program improvements, growth and membership count. 8. Departmental budgets will be presented on a direct cost basis. 9. Final 2012/2013 budget approval should be sought at the Council meeting in May 2012. Special Ballot to be Undertaken on Legislative Amendments In September 2011, APEGBC made a formal request to the provincial government for legislative amendments to modernize the Engineers and Geoscientists Act (reported in Innovation (May/June, July/August, and September/October 2010). Following the submission of the request to government, concern was expressed by some members regarding a proposed amendment that would enable Council to make bylaws related to the public interest without requiring member ratification. Members of Council, branch representatives and staff continued to seek feedback on the requested amendments, and in late December, APEGBC’s Executive Committee made the decision to pursue additional consultation on the issue of Council setting public interest bylaws and withdrew this request from the list of priority amendments. On January 3, the President received a petition signed by 70 members. This petition requested a member ballot be held to consider the following motion: That Council re-consider the request to Government to enact amendments to the Engineers and Geoscientists Act, and withdraw the request for amendments that would allow Council to make changes to the Bylaws of the Association without the approval of 2/3 of the votes cast by ballot as required by the Act. APEGBC’s Council of elected members and government appointees regularly meet throughout the year to conduct the business of the Association. The following are highlights from the January 27, 2012 meeting of APEGBC Council.

In accordance with section 12(7) of the Engineers and Geo- scientists Act the Association is required to take a vote of the members by ballot upon the written request of 25 or more members. Voting will commence via electronic ballot on April 18 and close at noon on May 17, 2012. For more background and information on the ballot, see page 9 of this issue.

Implementation of Organizational Quality Management Program Approved

At their January meeting APEGBC Council endorsed the imple- mentation of the Organizational Quality Management (OQM) Pro- gram, OQM Manual and Quality Management Guidelines following the successful completion of a pilot program in 2010/2011. This self-funded, voluntary program recognizes the significant influence that companies employing engineers and geoscientists have on the practice of the professions, and aims to improve quality man- agement at an organizational level. Strong support was received from stakeholders who participated in reviewing the manual and guidelines. As implementation begins, feedback will continue to be participating in the program will implement or adapt in-house policies and procedures that provide direct support to their member employees in meeting the seven quality management requirements under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act and bylaws. Participating organizations will have a number of options available to them in order to achieve certification and will be identified on the APEGBC website and through various APEGBC publications as having achieved OQM Certification. Council applauded the work of the multi-organizational OQM Committee for their guidance in achieving this milestone. In the coming months, APEGBC staff will be visiting organiza- tions throughout BC to promote the program. Full implementa- tion is scheduled to commence in the 2012/2013 fiscal year. Shop Drawing Guidelines Approved The APEGBC Guidelines for Shop Drawings have been up- dated to reflect current practice. Revisions also ensured the guidelines are more generic in nature so they are applicable to all types of shop drawings, not just those related to building projects. Council approved the guidelines on January 27. They will be published after receiving final legal and editorial review. The Canadian Framework for Licensure The CEO/Executive Director Group of Engineers Canada’s constituent members is working to develop a Canadian Framework for Licensure in order to create consistency and enhance equity, fairness and timeliness of service across the provincial/territorial engineering regulatory associations. The group has identified 12 essential elements of the regulated engineering profession in Canada, which will initially be developed collaboratively by engineering regulators with extensive consultation to identify best practices. APEGBC Council has directed that feedback on each element be sought from appropriate committees (ie, CPD, Registration). To date, APEGBC Council has reviewed and provided feed- back to Engineers Canada on four elements of the framework. After incorporating this feedback and feedback from other con- stituent associations, Engineers Canada provided the following three elements back to Council for their consideration and final endorsement: 1) accountability of engineering organizations; 2) negotiating international recognition agreements; and 3) con- tinuing professional development. These revised elements were endorsed by APEGBC Council at their January 27 meeting. considered to ensure continual program improvements. In order to achieve OQM Certification, companies

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c ounc i l repor t

Revisions to the APEGBC Sustainability Guidelines: Enhanced Member Engagement and Consultation The chair of the Sustainability Committee, Chad Larson PEng, advised that the project to update the 1995 APEGBC Guide- lines on Sustainability is broadening its consultation with members regarding drafted revisions to the guidelines. The plan for engagement includes presentations and webinars to provide information to members along with development of an online survey to seek feedback and commentary. Updated Communications and Outreach Strategy Approved Council approved an updated Communications and Outreach Strategy for the Association. The strategy considers the As- sociation’s five key audiences (internal stakeholders, external stakeholders, the public, media and government) along with the tools and tactics used to communicate the policy deci- sions of Council to these groups such as increased emphasis on consultation, two-way communication and recognition of social media tools.

President’s Awards Eligibility Criteria Expands to Limited Licensees

The APEGBC President’s Awards Terms of Reference were revised to recognize a recommendation of the Limited License Renewal Task Force that Limited Licensees also be eligible for these awards. Additional revisions were made to formal- ize the practice that current APEGBC staff are not eligible for these awards. This practice aligns with other regulatory bodies across the country. Election Policy Revised The APEGBC Council Election Policy was updated to specify that the FEC (Fellow of Engineers Canada) designation will be published along with professional designations of APEGBC, and to clarify how late submissions will be addressed. Revisions to Council Governance Policies The Council Governance Policies set out the guiding principles for APEGBC Council including governance principles, job descriptions for Council, and the CEO and Registrar, code of conduct, conflict of interest, and Council support structure. Council approved updates to two policies to bring them in line with the current job description and title for the CEO and Registrar that was approved by Council in September 2010.

Building Envelope Committee becomes Building Enclosure Committee

The Building Envelope Committee was renamed the Building Enclosure Committee to recognize the current scope of the committee’s practice, which considers not only water ingress prevention but also energy and sustainability issues. This aligns with current industry practice in referring to “building enclosure” rather than “building envelope.” Council approved the updated Terms of Reference.

APPOINTMENTS INTERNAL APEGBC/ABCFP Joint Practice Board Jeremy Araki PEng Building Codes Committee

Editorial Board Cassandra Hall PGeo/EIT Bruce Thomson PGeo FEC (Hon) Mentoring Committee Keith Recsky PEng

Ian Graham PEng John Buscemi EIT Consulting Practice Committee Sean Liaw PEng Discipline Committee Upul Atukorala PEng

EXTERNAL City of Vancouver Urban Design Panel Geoff McDonell PEng David Grigg PEng

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i ns igh t

Industry Input Contributes to Geology Curriculum Review

Francis H M Jones PEng

T he diversity of career options in the geoscience professions has increased dramatically since the days when geology and civil engineering were the principle academic disciplines available to students. Have the degree options offered at universities in British Columbia kept up with corresponding changing needs of the geoscience industries? The University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences (EOS) recently considered this question as part of UBC’s Carl Wieman Science Education Initiative 1 (CWSEI), which aims to improve the delivery of undergraduate science education. One aspect of the initiative involves review of curricula, including asking whether degree programs are aligned with the needs of the professions.

To address this issue, hiring practices and needs were investigated by interviewing 64 individuals representing 49 different companies at the Mineral Exploration Roundup tradeshow held in Vancouver in January 2010. Industry sectors represented include mineral exploration and mining, geochemistry labs, engineering, environmental, geophysics, and others (drilling, satellite imaging, etc). All interviewees were asked the same set of questions about themselves, their companies, hiring practices and, most importantly, desirable skills, knowledge and attributes of new hires. Career options at the time were clearly diverse because companies claimed to be hiring into 15 specific professions. The top four were geological engineering, geology, environmental science and geophysics.

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Speaking to industry representatives to compare hiring practices and needs across many companies involved in BC’s geoscience sector has been informative. These kinds of data should help ensure that BC’s degree granting institutions continue to respond to the needs of the professions as they develop and administer degree programs that produce geoscience professionals who are in high demand provincially, nationally, and internationally. The complete report from this study can be found online at https://circle.ubc.ca/handle/2429/37246. v Francis Jones PEng MSc is Acting Director of the Science Education Initiative in UBC’s Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences, where his work involves implementing persistent evidence-based improvements to teaching practices and courses. 1 www.cwsei.ubc.ca/ and www.eos.ubc.ca/research/cwsei/ 2 oraweb.aucc.ca/showdcu.html (February 8, 2012).

Based on interview results, three consistent themes emerged regarding industry needs and hiring preferences. The results were not surprising; however, they do represent a set of consistent messages coming from diverse individuals in a wide range of companies. First, most interviewees preferred seeing a recent graduate with a degree that was clearly defined, rather than a loosely specified earth science degree. The national and provincial context for this message from industry is interesting. A database of university programs in Canada at the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada 2 (AUCC) reveals that nationally, 13 institutions offer degrees with “geology” in the title, but none are in BC. Twenty-two institutions offer “Earth Science” degrees or similar, four of them in BC. Students also seem to want a “geology”-focused degree option. Demand has been consistent since 1999, with 32 ± 8 students graduating each year from EOS with a general majors or geology honors degree. Also, a recent poll of undergraduate earth science students at UBC indicated that overwhelmingly they would prefer a “geology” degree rather than an “earth and ocean sciences” degree. This preference of industry and students is complemented by changes under way at UBC. In particular, a BSc Major in Geology degree is being implemented for September 2012, with course content and sequencing being informed by current APEGBC recommendations. Also, many geoscience courses are being upgraded as part of the CWSEI. This is resulting in curricula and teaching practices that are significantly more student-centric, and based on clearly articulated knowledge, skills and attitudinal learning goals, many of which are consistent with what we learned by interviewing industry representatives about preferred qualifications or experiences. These desirable characteristics constitute the second theme emerging from interviews. Many employers indicated a need for focused employees with discipline-specific experience and training. It was surprising, however, that few participants in the survey explicitly identified the benefits of breadth in education that a major research university can provide. Interviewees recognized that fundamental technical knowledge is adequately addressed by most degrees. In addition, 20 generic skills were identified, with the top six, in order of preference, being field work, computer literacy, an application (not theoretical) orientation, writing, communications, and team work. Additional experiences considered most attractive to employers included work-related or co-op jobs and exchange programs. Research experience and an official minor component to a degree were considered less important. The third theme was a recurring set of desirable non-academic attributes or attitudes. These include interest in and enthusiasm for doing field work; cooperative and self-directed attitudes about work; realistic expectations for advancement; and an understanding of how companies and industry work. The consistency of this third message has helped confirm the importance of incorporating desirable non-academic attributes into specifications of degree program outcomes. As UBC’s renewed BSc Majors in Geology is refined, these attributes are being incorporated into newly articulated program learning outcomes with the expectation that instructors will incorporate opportunities to practice these skills into their courses. In this way, instructors, students and industry will be better able to identify where students practice each desirable technical, professional, and attitudinal skill.

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