INNOVATION November-December 2013

Sustainability Guidelines • Geoscience Practice Mobility Agreement • 2013 Annual Conference and AGM

JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS OF BC

noVeMBer/DeceMBer 2013

The Belmont— a Template for sustainable Building Upgrades Greener remote Waste Management Programs

Michael Bapty, P.Eng., FEC APEGBC President

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content s

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2 013 [ VOl .17 nO .6)

features 16

Michael Bapty, P.Eng., FEC – Building a Bridge to the Future robin J. Miller

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Remote First Nations Solid Waste Management Project Provides Greener Solutions Suzanne Morphet The Belmont Poised to Become Template for Aging Residential Building Upgrades Jean Sorensen

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news 4

President’s Viewpoint – Providing Value to our Members and Stakeholders

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association notes – council Shapes three-year Plan for the association; council election and Bylaw amendment Vote results; Science Games registration opens for Students; appointment notice: Melinda Lau; Volunteers Sought for cPD committee; Update your Practice Declaration and cPD hours; Don’t Forget to renew your aPeGBc Membership for 2014

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Bc – ontario agreement improves Geoscience Practice Mobility

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aPeGBc Sustainability Guidelines – changing obligations for Members

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2013 annual General Meeting

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Making connections: Sea to Sky – 2013 annual conference and aGM

ON THE COVER: 2013/2014 aPeGBc President Michael Bapty, P.eng., Fec. Photo: Diana nethercott.

depar tment s

6 Letters 7 Newsmakers 19 APEGBC Professional Development 31 Membership 34 Professional Services 39 OQM List 40 Datebook

Professional development session at the 2013 Annual Conference. 28

Nov emb e r / D e c emb e r 2 0 1 3 3

I N N OVA T I O N

November/December 2013 Volume 17 Number 6

v iewpoint

One challenge of crafting an article for Viewpoint is to present features of interest to a wide body of members, and weave in some ideas to provoke thought and discussion. An initiative underway involving staff and Council is the redrafting of the strategic plan. This was due for review as the focus of some association activities has changed; new tasks have been added for staff, a three-year budget cycle has been approved, and relationships with some of our interest groups have shifted. However it remains that we must continue to attend to our responsibilities under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act . The new plan will continue to provide direction and it should guide Council and staff as the association positions itself to retain relevance, interest, and value in an increasingly complex world. The underlying challenge for Council is to capture an idea expressed by one of our senior staff members: “If we cannot agree on the value proposition, we have nothing to build on.” This was a profound observation. What is the value proposition ? Here it refers to the unique value the association delivers back to our members and other partners and stakeholders: industry, clients, government, and the public at large. We might regard the value of output (professional services per year in the province enabled through the right to practice) divided by the value of input (annual fees plus the value of volunteer services) as an indicator. This ratio is a factor of about 70 times. If this were your business for a day, what would you do to enhance the value added? How would you protect the opportunity to continue to provide this professional service? The truth is that this is your business, and Council and staff are working diligently, not to maintain, but to constantly improve the quality of our practices and the value proposition. APEGBC supports members in delivering quality engineering and geoscience services, with networks of specialists, guidelines, practice reviews, an organizational quality management program, and continuing professional development offerings. We also provide value in the interest of the public by exercising our role of professional regulator. The concept of relevance is tied to value. Howmight the integration of traditional and non-traditional disciplines appear in a decade? This of course will depend upon the mix of technologies that define our lives. One thing is clear, the Canadian demographic shift will continue with higher proportions of the population moving from rural to urban settings. One possible consequence of this might be that a large portion of Canadian cars will be powered by electricity. Our dependence on petroleum-derived products could be substantially reduced, not by carbon taxes or cap-and-trade limitations, but because an aging Canadian population, combined with a higher proportion of citizens living in urban settings, means a reduced travel requirement. We are not in the crystal ball business, but this serves as an example of how we must be aware of the drivers of change. If we strike the correct balance, APEGBC will continue to facilitate the practice of present and future members, including those in emerging disciplines. In order to remain relevant as an association, we must continue to consider social context as well as the application of current technologies and best practices for the benefit of our public and industry partners. We will deliver the value proposition through the quality of our work and professional opinions, offering tangible and practical solutions in a constantly changing physical and social world.

Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC Canada V5C 6N2 Tel: 604.430.8035 Fax: 604.430.8085 E-mail: apeginfo@apeg.bc.ca Internet: www.apeg.bc.ca Toll free: 1.888.430.8035 2013/2014 COUNCIL, APEGBC P resident M.B. Bapty, P.Eng., FEC V ice P resident John Clague, P.Geo., FGC P ast P resident M.D. Isaacson, P.Eng., PhD, FEC, FGC (Hon.) Councillors A.E. Badke, P.Eng.; S.M. Carlson, P.Eng. A. Fernandes, CIM, FCSI; D. Harvey, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC

Providing Value to Our Members and Stakeholders

H. Hawson, P.Eng., FEC; D.M. Howes, P.Eng., FEC H.G. Kelly, P.Eng.; G.D. Kirkham, P.Geo., FGC K. Laloge, CA; A. Mill, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC K.E. Savage, P.Eng., FEC; K. Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng. M. Waberski, BCLS; S. Wynn, PhD

ASSOCIATION STAFF A.J. English, P.Eng. C hief E xecutive O fficer and R egistrar T.M.Y. C hong, P.Eng. C hief R egulatory O fficer and D eputy R egistrar J.Y. Sinclair C hief O perating O fficer M. L. Archibald , D irector , C ommunications and S takeholder E ngagement J. Cho, CGA D irector , F inance and A dministration D. Gamble D irector , I nformation S ervices M. Lau, A cting D irector , C ommunications and S takeholder E ngagement P.R. Mitchell, P.Eng. D irector , P rofessional P ractice , S tandards and D evelopment D. Olychick D irector , M ember S ervices G.M. Pichler, P.Eng. D irector , R egistration E. Swartz, LLB A cting D irector , L egislation , E thics and C ompliance R.M. F ilipiak, P .Eng. A ssociate D irector , A dmissions V. Lai, CGA A ssociate D irector , F inance and A dministration J.J.G. Larocque, P.Eng., LLB A ssociate D irector , P rofessional P ractice

Michael Bapty, P.Eng., FEC President

Michelle Grady, M anaging E ditor

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

president@ apeg.bc.ca

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

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TAKING IT TO THE KIDS: RICHMOND ASKS STUDENTS WHAT THEY WANT, AND THE “INCREDIBLY ENERGY EFIFICENT” RESULT IS SPECTACULAR

Brighouse Elementary

Nic Lehoux / Courtesy Perkins+Will

Early in the design process for Richmond’s new Samuel Brighouse Elementary School, Vancouver architectural firm Perkins + Will went directly to the students who would be using the new school to find out what was most important to them. It turns out that what kids want is good natural light, fresh air – and sustainability. “The design team wanted to ensure that it was a very collaborative design process,” says Tracy Blagdon, Manager of Energy and Sustainability for Richmond School District #38, “and the students were right there in the middle of it. The school district decided early on that it wanted Brighouse to be a teaching tool, to show how environmental stewardship could work, but we also wanted it to be something everyone felt they were a part of. And I think the design team really succeeded: it’s kid-friendly, it fits in the neighbourhood, it’s incredibly energy efficient and sustainable and it’s beautiful.” So beautiful, that Perkins + Will won a Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia Award in Architecture for it in 2012, and so energy efficient, that Richmond School District won BC Hydro’s 2012 Power Smart Excellence Award for New Construction. It’s also so sustainable, it’s one of the lowest carbon-emitting schools in the country. J.S. Tessier, Associate Principal of Integral Group (formerly Cobalt Engineering), says “of all the schools we’ve done in the past, nothing comes close to Brighouse. Most schools have low ceilings, and they’re dark. This one, you walk in and it’s light. And it feels fresh all day. The teachers love it, the students love it – they’re not tired at the end of the day.” One of the secrets to the design’s success, and to its extremely high energy efficiency, says J.S., is the fact that the design team completed an energy-modeling study as part of BC Hydro’s New Construction Program. The study – fully funded by BC Hydro – showed that, by building-in a range of energy-conservation measures, the new Brighouse Elementary could use as much as 30 per cent less electricity than a comparable school. In fact, says J.S., since the school opened in March 2011, “it has been performing much better than predicted.” “In addition to the simple elegance of the building,” says Tracy, “it was designed as a place where students, teachers and neighbours experience sustainability every day. It shows that sustainability is possible even within a limited budget.” To find out more about energy modeling, incentives for energy-efficiency measures and BC Hydro’s New Construction Program, visit bchydro.com/construction or call 1 866 522 4713 .

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l et ter s

Letters to the Editor containing your views on topics of interest or concern to members are encouraged. While we welcome your input, due to space limitations we may be unable to publish all letters received. Opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily endorsed by APEGBC. Letters can be e-mailed to mgrady@apeg.bc.ca.

Remembering Frank Baumann, P.Eng. Frank Baumann, P.Eng., geotechnical engineer, mountaineer, husband, and father died Friday, November 1, 2013, with his family by his side following an auto accident. On the morning of Thursday, October 24, Frank gave an outstanding avalanche engineering presentation to APEGBC’s DEGIRS community in Whistler, before heading to a jobsite where, on the way, his vehicle went off

the Lillooet river bridge. Frank suffered multiple critical injuries. As the founder of Baumann Engineering, Frank specialized in the management of terrain and slope hazard issues. He was well respected for his snow avalanche and natural hazards assessments, post-event reviews, his many public presentations to outdoor groups, and his fierce devotion to public safety. Frank’s many interests included the Varsity Outdoor Club at UBC, teaching in Squamish and at BCIT, Whistler Volunteer Ski Patrol, Squamish Search and Rescue, and the Kawkawa youth camp at Hope. Frank was equally well known for his willingness and ability to share both his technical knowledge and his sense of humour. Frank is survived by his wife Nadine, daughters Katherine, Julia, and Amy Robinson. He will be sorely missed by many. John Morgan, P.Eng., FEC On behalf of DEGIRS and the Sea to Sky Branch

Steve Hedberg, P.Eng. , President & CEO of BGC Engineering Inc., and Geoff Dickinson, P.Eng. , President of TerrAtlantic Engineering Limited are pleased to announce the merger of their two firms. BGC is a 300 person international consulting firm specializing in geotechnical and water resources engineering and applied earth sciences. TerrAtlantic adds advanced geotechnical testing capabilities to the team and further strengthens BGC’s expertise in geotechnical engineering and in groundwater resources. BGC and TerrAtlantic have successfully partnered on various projects in the last several years and both companies believe that joining forces is the natural next step in their business relationship. “BGC has always been impressed with the caliber of work from TerrAtlantic and we are very pleased to be able to offer an even wider range of services to current and new clients” said Steve Hedberg. TerrAtlantic’s current offices in Fredericton, Saint John and Dartmouth will be complimented by BGC personnel in Halifax and Baddeck, bringing their united Atlantic Canada team to 30 individuals. “ BGC and TerrAtlantic intend to continue their one-to-one contact with clients with no major changes other than the benefits this merger will bring” said Geoff Dickinson, “Client satisfaction is paramount to us and combining our range of services and resources will ensure that we are able to continue to build on our excellent working relationships with Atlantic Canada and worldwide clients” For more information on TerrAtlantic and BGC please go here: www.bgcengineering.ca and www.terratlantic.nb.ca

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newsmaker s

Seismic Retrofit Guidelines Recognized with Two National Engineering Awards The Seismic Retrofit Guidelines have received two Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards from the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies (ACEC) and Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine: an Award of Excellence, and the Engineering a Better Canada Award. Recipients were selected by a panel of 12 independent jurors with varied backgrounds and knowledge of the industry.

Representatives accept two Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards for the Seismic Retrofit Guidelines.

The Engineering a Better Canada Award is given for a project that best showcases how engineering enhances the social, economic, or cultural quality of life of Canadians; while the Consulting Engineering Award of Excellence recognizes that the Seismic Retrofit Guidelines “have received the highest national mark of recognition in engineering.” APEGBC, with the support of UBC’s Civil Engineering department, was engaged by the Ministry of Education in 2004 to assist with the implementation of a seismic upgrade program for BC schools. This included the development of performance-based Seismic Retrofit Guidelines and a unique state-of-the-art, web-based Seismic Performance Analyzer. With these made-in-BC guidelines, structural engineers are able to assess seismic risks for existing buildings and develop appropriate and optimized retrofits. Representatives of the team from APEGBC, UBC, and consultants Ausenco, Bush Bohlman & Partners, Read Jones Christoffersen Ltd., and GENIVAR accepted the honours at an awards ceremony in Ottawa in October.

APEGBC’s Organizational Quality Management Program Recognized with ACE Award This year, APEGBC is the proud

recipient of the Association Cornerstone of Excellence (ACE) Award in the New Program category for its Organizational Quality Management (OQM) program. Presented annually by the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE), the award recognizes innovative and unique association programs with proven success. The APEGBC OQM program is a voluntary

Corinne Atwood, CSAE BC President presents award to APEGBC’s Lina Bowser, Manager of Quality Assurance Programs, and Kelly Dayman, Organizational Quality Management Administrator.

process which offers participating organizations employing professional engineers and geoscientists OQM certification, recognizing adherence to an APEGBC-endorsed quality management program. In September, the Canadian Society for Quality held its 5 th annual Canadian Quality Congress in Calgary. The Congress featured leading experts from academia, industry, and government from around the world who gathered to talk quality and continuous improvement. Impressed by APEGBC’s OQM program, Peter Mitchell, APEGBC Director, Professional Practice, and Marg Latham, Aqua Libra Consulting Ltd. President, were asked by organizers to co-deliver a presentation on the program to attendees. Since its launch in September 2012, over 100 organizations have participated in the program, ranging from sole practitioners to large multinational corporations. The program is self-funded and available to all organizations carrying out professional engineering and/or geoscience.

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as soc ia t ion notes

Results of the APEGBC Council Election and Bylaw Amendment Vote The APEGBC Council election and bylaw amendment vote closed at noon on October 11, 2013. A total of 20.9% of eligible voting members and licensees cast a ballot. The results of the vote are as follows: President Michael Bapty, P.Eng., FEC Vice President Herb Hawson, P.Eng., FEC Donna Howes, P.Eng., FEC Harlan Kelly, P.Eng. Kathy Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng. Continuing Government Appointees Ana Fernandes, CIM, FCSI Ken Laloge, CA Mike Waberski, BCLS Dr. Sheila Wynn

Council Shapes Three-year Plan for the Association Developed every three years at the September Planning Session, APEGBC’s strategic plan is created to provide direction and focus to the organization’s activities. The association’s current three-year strategic plan ends June 2014, and Council has been developing a new plan to span July 2014 to June 2017. Council met in late October 2013 to consider key concepts for the new plan. Some changes to the previous vision and mission statements have been proposed, and goals and outcomes for the plan have been developed in alignment with the duties and objects of the Engineers and Geoscientists Act . This discussion was informed by work completed in a number of areas, including 4 relevant focus groups, the 2013 member survey, a communications audit, and strategic analyses by Council and staff. Council will finalize the components of the strategic plan at the end of November 2013, and initiatives to support the plan will be prioritized in January. A supporting budget will be developed between January and March, and the new plan will take effect July 1, 2014. Following Council approval of the new 2014-2017 strategic plan, more information will be made available to APEGBC members.

Dr. John Clague, P.Geo., FGC Immediate Past President Dr. Michael Isaacson, P.Eng., FEC, FGC, (Hon.) Councillors Elected David Harvey, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC

Arnold Badke, P.Eng. Shiloh Carlson, P.Eng. Garth Kirkham, P.Geo., FGC Andy Mill, P.Eng., Struct. Eng., FEC Karen Savage, P.Eng., FEC

Amendments to Association Bylaws The results of the 2013 bylaw amendment ballot are as follows: Total

Infavour Opposed Result

Bylaw 3 (a.1) Nominating Committee— Composition

4,606 3,403 1,203 Passed

Bylaw 3 (j) Ballot

4,589 3,619

970 Passed

Bylaw 10 (c.1) Life Membership or Licensure Bylaw 10 (c.2) Honorary Life Membership or Licensure

4,592 3,531 1,061 Passed

4,598 3,527 1,071 Passed

Bylaw 11 (c) Engineers-in-Training, Geoscientists-in-Training

4,591 3,239 1,352 Passed

Bylaw 18 Alternative Complaint Resolution 4,533 4,194

339 Passed

(l-r) Back row: David Harvey, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC; Arnold Badke, P.Eng.; Ana Fernandes, CIM, FCSI; Mike Waberski, BCLS; Ken Laloge, CA; Herb Hawson, P.Eng., FEC (l-r) Middle row: Harlan Kelly, P.Eng.; Andy Mill, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC; Kathy Tarnai-Lokhorst, P.Eng.; Dr. Sheila Wynn; Karen Savage, P.Eng., FEC; Shiloh Carlson, P.Eng.; Donna Howes, P.Eng., FEC (l-r) Front row: Dr. Michael Isaacson, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.); Mike Bapty, P.Eng., FEC Absent: Dr. John Clague, P.Geo., FGC (Vice President); Garth Kirkham, P.Geo., FGC

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Continuing Professional Development Committee Seeks Volunteers APEGBC’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Committee is seeking new volunteer members. The committee advises on policies, needs, and opportunities for members’ professional development; provides periodic review of the CPD Guideline; and provides oversight and monitoring of the implementation of the CPD program. Interested volunteers, either professional members or members- in-training, should be available for a time commitment of up to six two- hour meetings per year, in addition to occasional input by e-mail. To express your interest, please e-mail olychick@apeg.bc.ca outlining the experience and attributes you would contribute. For more information, contact Deesh Olychick, Director, Member Services, at the above e-mail address, or at (604) 412- 4882 or toll-free at 1-888-430-8035 ext 4882. Update your Practice Declaration and CPD Hours During your annual membership renewal, don’t forget to update your practice declaration and your continuing professional development hours for 2013. Completion of the practice declaration information assists APEGBC in more accurately identifying and serving members and licensees by practice area. Annual declaration of compliance with the Continuing Professional Development Guideline provides APEGBC with a way to demonstrate to the public that its members and licensees are keeping current in their area of practice. To update your practice declaration or to declare your professional development hours for 2013, log on to the APEGBC member portal at https:// secure.apeg.bc.ca/.

Science Games Registration Opens for Students Registration is now open for the 2014 APEGBC Science Games! Students in grades 1-6 across the Lower Mainland are invited to register a team of four to five students and participate in this hands-on science event on March 1 at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre and Museum of Vancouver. There is a $25 registration fee per team. Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event. If your organization would like to sponsor the 2014 Science Games, please contact Chelsea Smith, Communications Coordinator, at csmith@apeg.bc.ca or (604) 412-4892. For more information about the 2014 Science Games, visit: www.apeg.bc.ca/For- Students/Elementary-School-Students/APEGBC-Science-Games.

APEGBC Staff Appointment APEGBC is pleased to announce the appointment of Melinda Lau to the position of Acting Director, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement. As Acting Director, Ms. Lau will oversee the association’s internal and external communications programs. In addition, she is responsible for APEGBC’s media relations, student programs, career awareness, awards, and sustainability programs and branches. Ms. Lau first joined APEGBC in 2004, and was most recently Publications Specialist and Managing Editor of Innovation magazine. She possesses a background in publication and corporate communications. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University.

Melinda Lau Acting Director, Communications and Stakeholder Engagement

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as soc ia t ion notes Renew your APEGBC Membership for 2014

All APEGBC members and licensees should have received their 2014 annual membership renewal notice by e-mail at the end of October. Paper copies followed in mid-November for those who indicated a preference to submit their completed renewals in hard copy. Under the Engineers and Geoscientists Act , the deadline to renew your membership is January 1, 2014. After this date, a $75 late fee will be levied on late payments, and on March 1, 2014, anyone who has not yet paid their annual fee will be struck from the register. How do I renew my membership? Members and licensees may renew their membership online, by mail, or by fax. The January 1, 2014, payment deadline also applies to any members submitting their 2014 annual fee invoice to their employer for payment. The fastest and most convenient way to renew your membership is online, through the APEGBC member portal at www.apeg.bc.ca/renewal. It also allows you to update your contact information, complete the practice declaration, apply for non- practising or reduced fee status if eligible, declare compliance with the APEGBC CPD guideline, make a contribution to the APEGBC Foundation or Benevolent Fund, join a division, and print an official income tax receipt. How do I discontinue my membership? Members or licensees who do not wish to maintain membership with APEGBC are advised to resign prior to the January 1, 2014, deadline. This can be done online through the member portal or

by contacting APEGBC by mail or e-mail. Members and licensees who neither resign nor renew their membership will be removed from the member register on March 1, 2014, and will be liable for the 2014 member fees. How do I reinstate my membership following resignation or removal for non-payment? Please be aware that if you wish to re-apply for membership, you will be subject to the Return to Practice Policy for Professional Members or the Reinstatement Policy for Members-in-Training. In addition, you will have to pay the outstanding annual fee, a $75 late fee, and any associated administrative fees before being reinstated. More information can be found on our website at www.apeg.bc.ca. Do you offer assistance to members who can’t afford to pay their membership fees? Fee reduction – APEGBC’s reduced fee policy allows access to reduced annual fees based on an active income threshold or a medical condition that renders the member or licensee unfit for work. Requests for reduction of annual fees will be based on a formal application through the online renewal process or on the detachable form on the back of the fee renewal invoice. Fee deferral – Members who wish to defer 2014 renewal fees due to hardship are required to make a confidential application for deferral or waiver of annual fees to the Director of Registration and Licensing. Please refer to www.apeg.bc.ca/go/deferfees/.

Who can I contact for membership renewal assistance or information? Billing amounts and balance outstanding (604) 412-4859 • billing@apeg.bc.ca Online payment support (604) 412-4887 • support@apeg.bc.ca Changes in status or registration (604) 412-4856 • register@apeg.bc.ca

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regu la tor y note s

BC-Ontario Agreement Improves Geoscience Practice Mobility APEGBC and the Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO) have signed an agreement that will support improved labour mobility for geoscience professionals in both provinces. Implementation of the agreement on a two-year pilot basis will take effect January 1, 2014. Furthermore, 84.7% of survey respondents indicated that the ability to carry out short-term assignments in other jurisdictions would be beneficial to their practice. In addition to reducing the regulatory burden for both geoscientists and regulators alike, the agreement has positive implications for public protection. Now, a single organization—the geoscientist’s home association— will have disciplinary responsibility for that individual,

The Professional Geoscience Mobility Agreement allows geoscience professionals registered in one of the signatory provinces to perform short-term work (defined as 45 days or less per year) in the other without the need to hold a licence in that province. Currently, a geoscientist must hold a separate licence for every jurisdiction in which they practice, regardless of the length of time spent working there. APEGBC and APGO have legislated authority through provincial statute to enter into this type of agreement. Owing to the temporary and spontaneous nature of many geoscience projects, the concept o f incidental practice has long been of particular interest to geoscientists in the mineral exploration and oil and gas industries. The Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia (AME BC) has expressed its support for the agreement and recognizes the value-added for its members. “This important agreement will enable AME BC members to move freely between jurisdictions and implement best practices in geoscience wherever they operate.” Under APEGBC’s current legal framework, and in accordance with the Agreement on Internal Trade, anyone who is registered as a professional geoscientist elsewhere in Canada is qualified, with very few exceptions, to be registered with APEGBC. Establishing incidental practice rights further facilitates mobility for short-term geoscience practice and may provide an economic benefit by helping to address regional skilled labour shortages in the mining,

regardless of whether a complaint occurs in BC or Ontario, eliminating the need for multiple discipline processes to assure public protection in both jurisdictions. APEGBC and APGO have also received feedback from government, business, and other stakeholders that is enthusiastically supportive of enhanced seamless mobility; however several geoscience regulators have advised caution in implementing short-term unlicensed practice. It is for this reason that the two provincial bodies are moving ahead to implement the agreement on a two-year pilot basis. Professional geoscientists and limited licensees who are members of APGO and who wish to take advantage of the incidental practice agreement when it comes into effect January 1, 2014, may resign their APEGBC membership online in lieu of paying 2014 fees. Geoscience members and licensees of APEGBC and APGO who wish to take advantage of short-term practice under the terms of the agreement must keep records of their incidental practice for auditing purposes. On a yearly basis, they will also be asked to report their incidental practice for statistical purposes. Full information on the agreement may be found on the regulators’ websites. APGO members: www.apgo.net/mobility_apegbc.html APEGBC members: www.apeg.bc.ca/For-Members/ Professional-Practice/Professional-Geoscience- Mobility-Agreement

natural resource, and energy sectors. Mobility is essential for experts in a given field. SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd., an environmental consulting firm, agrees. “This [agreement] provides an important cross-pollination of skills between offices and provinces that can only strengthen the practice of geoscience in each province and Canada-wide,” said Richard Johnson, Director and Chief Operating Officer. Consultation with geoscience members of both associations prior to the signing of the agreement indicated strong support, with a majority of members surveyed indicating that they already practice in more than one province or territory in Canada.

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pra t i ce ma t ter s

APEGBC Sustainability Guidelines – Changing Obligations for Members S ustainability has become an important issue for engineers and geoscientists in BC, across Canada, and internationally. APEGBC members have a responsibility and significant role to play in the development of a sustainable society through their professional practice. In an effort to reflect changing practice, and for the association 2. Integrate Sustainability into Professional Practice Integrate sustainability considerations into professional practice, reflecting our Code of Ethics’ requirements to maintain public safety, health, and welfare, and to protect the environment. Members must consider the combined environmental, social, and economic aspects that take into account the direct and indi- rect impacts over the full project life-cycle. 3. Collaborate with Peers and Experts from Concept to Completion

to provide relevant and helpful resources for professional engineers and geoscientists, the APEGBC Sustainability Committee undertook an extensive review and consultation period to update APEGBC’s former Sustainability Guidelines, originally adopted in 1995. APEGBC Council approved revisions to the APEGBC Sustainability Guidelines at their November 30, 2012, meeting. The guidelines will come into effect for members in January 2014. The guidelines’ primary directive is that members must discuss with their clients or employers the opportunity to incorporate sustainability into the project or work. Sustainable options would only be presented if the client or employer wishes to proceed. If the client or employer declines, the member’s obligation is complete. Below are the five guideline statements that form the APEGBC Sustainability Guidelines. Further elaboration is available online at www.apeg.bc.ca/sustainability. Within the scope of professional practice, members and licensees have a responsibility to: 1. Maintain a Current Knowledge of Sustainability Maintain a level of competence on matters of sustainability related to the member’s area of expertise, and seek additional expertise as necessary. The knowledge, concepts, and opportuni- ties for sustainable solutions are rapidly evolving and members should strive to keep skills up-to-date, and advance the under- standing of sustainability in their field of practice.

Collaborate with peers and experts at key stages, particularly across disciplines, to identify appropriate alternatives and new opportunities for more sustainable results. 4. Develop and Prepare Clear Justifications to Implement Sustainable Solutions Discuss opportunities and document decisions made related to the integration of environmental, social, and economic metrics. These discussions should occur early enough to enable the client or employer to make informed decisions about how to implement an appropriate level of sustainability considerations in the task or solution. 5. Assess Sustainability Performance and Identify Opportunities for Improvement Identify opportunities to improve knowledge and professional practice related to sustainability, where best practice is to assess actual performance of implemented solutions against the original design goals and metrics. Training and educational seminars and webinars on the revised guidelines will be organized by the Sustainability Committee and APEGBC, and offered throughout the province as continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities. An audio recording of the Sustainability Guidelines presentation that took place at the 2013 Annual Conference will be made available online in the near future.

APEGBC resources are available to assist members in integrating sustainability considerations into their professional practice:

Meeting the Client’s Needs - Environmental Social & Economic Criteria Seminar – March 7, 2014 The APEGBC Sustainability Guidelines

Examples of past Sustainability Award projects can be viewed online at www.apeg.bc.ca/ sustainability. Questions? Comments? Formore information, contact us at sustainability @apeg.bc.ca.

are available online at www.apeg.bc.ca/ sustainability.

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2013 Annual General Meeting Members connect in person and online for 94 th AGM a gm

and divisions; volunteers who serve other professional associations; past presidents of the association; deans and faculty members for educational institutions; and those who serve as staff for other associations across the country. The assembly applauded the contributions of these individuals. AGM business proceeded with the ap- proval of the 2012 Annual General Meeting minutes. President Isaacson then invited Chief Scrutineer Paul Blanchard, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), to report on the 2013/2014 Council election and bylaw amendment vote (see page 8 for more detail). Mr. Blanchard reviewed the voting process used for the ballots. He then an- nounced the newly elected members of the 2013/2014 APEGBC Council as well as the results of the bylaw vote, which saw the amendment of five bylaws and the creation of one new bylaw (see page 8). Immediately following, President Isaacson and Chief Executive Officer and Registrar Ann English, P.Eng., presented their respective annual reports. These re- ports provided a high-level summary of APEGBC’s accomplishments and activities during the past year.

Councillor Ana Fernandes, CIM, FCSI, chair of the Audit Committee, provided an overview of the auditing process. She reported on the results of the audit and affirmed the Committee’s view that the financial statements and notes contained in the 2012/2013 Annual Report were a fair and accurate representation of the financial dealings of the association over the year ending June 30, 2013. The assembly then passed a motion to appoint Pricewater- house Coopers LLP, Chartered Accoun- tants, as APEGBC’s auditors for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2014. At the conclusion of the preceding item, the assembly then took a moment to acknowledge members of the associa- tion who had passed away during the previous year. Vice President Michael Bapty, P.Eng., FEC, read aloud the names of the departed. Next, Councillor Donna Howes, P.Eng., FEC, gave a presentation on the report of the Women in Engineering and Geoscientists Task Force. After a 20-minute break, the meeting was then opened to debate on motions submitted by APEGBC members. Motions Submitted by Members The AGM is the forum in which members and licensees may bring motions forward for debate, and provide advice to Council on current issues. The following motions were debated: Motion 1. That Council consider the forming of a working committee with the task of developing policy and guidelines to incorporate archaeological impact studies for members engaged in certain projects involving ground altering activities. This is to bring engineering practice into compliance with BC’s Heritage Conservation Act. Moved by Bill Wai-Kwong Chu, P.Eng., and seconded by Yiu D. Chan, P.Eng. The motion was carried. Motion 2. That Council consider formal- izing a policy that neither the president nor any other elected members of the Council are able to be remunerated for their service and that the president, past president, and elected members of Coun- cil continue to be volunteer positions.

On Saturday, October 26, 115 members and licensees and 40 guests attended the 94 th annual APEGBC General Meeting, held in Whistler, BC. Another 36 members live streamed the meeting over the Internet, in a first for the association. The meeting was chaired by 2012/2013 APEGBC President Dr. Michael Isaacson, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), and opened with greetings sent on behalf of Premier Christy Clark and the provincial government, wish- ing APEGBC delegates a successful meeting. After reviewing the role and respon- sibilities of Council, President Isaacson introduced Registered Parliamentarian Eli Mina, who reviewed the meeting rules and voting procedures. A motion to approve the rules was passed by the assembly. President Isaacson acknowledged the dedication of the many individuals who contributed to the professions throughout the year, supporting APEGBC and its members’ commitment to excellence. He expressed his thanks to committee, task force, and joint practice board volunteers; those who support Engineers Canada or Geoscientists Canada as volunteers or board members; volunteers for branches

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Moved by John Haythorne, P.Eng., FEC, and seconded by Paul Blanchard, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.). The motion was carried. Following the motions session, President Isaascon introduced the

incoming president for the 2013/2014 Council year, Mr. Michael Bapty, P.Eng., FEC. The newly appointed President Bapty then presented the Gold Foil Life Member disc to now Past President

Michael Isaacson, thanking him for his committed work on behalf of APEGBC during his past year in office.

new s

(l) Alina Cheng, P.Eng., accepts the APEGBC 2013 Editorial Board Award. (r) Bryan W. Robinson, P.Eng., accepts the APEGBC Mentor of the Year Award.

APEGBC Honours Members with Mentoring and Editorial Board Awards APEGBC’s newMentor of the Year Award recognizes excellence amongst mentors in the engineering and geoscience community in British Columbia. Outstanding mentors from any of the different disciplines are eligible for this award.

Author Alina Cheng, P.Eng., received the APEGBC 2013 Editorial Board Award for her article “Vancouver’s Pedestrian Safety Study and Action Plan” in the November/December 2012 issue of Innovation . The article provides an overview of the City of Vancouver’s first ever city-wide pedestrian safety study, which includes information about traffic and pedestrian collisions in Vancouver, and highlights the City’s collaborative efforts to improve pedestrian safety.

Bryan W. Robinson, P.Eng., has been a dedicated member of the APEGBC mentoring program for the past five years, giving much of his spare time to provide guidance and advice to his mentee.

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p rof i l e

Robin J. Miller Building a Bridge to the Future Michael Bapty, P.Eng., FEC

Diana Nethercott

A few minutes talking to Michael Bapty, P.Eng., FEC, and it becomes clear that this is a man who plays well with others. “From the time I first graduated as an engineer,” says Michael, “being part of an environment of pro- fessionals has been very important to me. There’s nothing else quite as good as bouncing ideas off people with like interests, achievements, and experiences.” It was that love of collegiality and community that prompted Michael to put his name in for APEGBC President, and one of the strengths he believes he will bring to the position over the next year as he assumes his role as president for 2013/2014. “Being president is not really a job,” he says. Rather, “I see myself as a bridge, a bridge to members, staff, government, and to the public.” With experience gained as a three-time APEGBC Councillor, Vice President in 2012/2013, as well as member of five different committees (most recently the Value for Money Review Steering Committee), not to mention the 40-plus years of experience as an “engineering puzzle- and problem-solver”, Michael understands the value of working with, and listening to, his peers.

“I will be there to hear everyone’s ideas and requests,” he says. “This is how we will advance as an organization and deal with the changes and challenges that we know are coming.” Challenges Ahead Michael sees the unusual weather that Canada and other countries worldwide have recently been experiencing as one of the greatest challenges facing engineers and geoscientists today. “Alberta, for example, has been having floods where there were no floods for decades. Those floods, plus many other events, now mean we have to build extra costs into our proposals for major projects. Budgets are going to be stretched to provide for extra care and diligence, to cope with the possibility of unusual weather.” As an association, Michael says that APEGBC needs to continue developing policies and guidelines that reflect changing environmental conditions and the need for even more durability in engineering and geoscience projects to protect public safety.

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“ I want us to be a socially responsive, interactive group that is relevant. ”

Goals for the Next Year Michael says his first major goal as President for 2013/2014 is modernity. “I want APEGBC to be just slightly ahead of our time,” he says, referencing ABBA lyrics in a 70s Panasonic commercial. “I want us to be a socially responsive, interactive group that is relevant . We started a strategic planning review last year to consider where the association is now and how we can prepare for change in the future so that we continue to be relevant and provide good value,” he says. “I would like to complete the reworking of our strategic plan. I see that as a major contribution.” The Manufacturing Environment in Canada One topic that Michael believes should be of interest to APEGBC members, but may not yet be on everyone’s radar, is the effect that a combination of high domestic wages and stringent Canadian standards and codes are having on manufacturing in Canada. “The purchase costs of manufactured products are always an issue for corporate buyers and, until demonstrated otherwise by Professional Background After taking his B.Sc. (Mathematics, Chemistry) at the University of Victoria and B.A.Sc. (Mining Engineering) at the University of British Columbia, Michael worked for Cominco Ltd., beginning at the Sullivan Mine in Kimberley. After 18 years with Cominco, he left to form his own consulting engineering and exploration management company, Bapty Research Ltd. Since 1986, the company— founded in Cranbrook but now located in Duncan, on Vancouver Island—has completed projects across Canada as well as in Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Peru, and Ecuador. These projects have helped clients evaluate and construct base metal and industrial mineral facilities, and complete research and development for new processes or products. Michael received the APEGBC Professional Service Award in 1999 and became a Fellow (FEC) of Engineers Canada in 2009. More about the New President

Professional Philosophy “Typically, engineers love to create things,” says Michael. “Give us a piece of paper and a soft lead pencil, and we’re happy. That goes for me, too. And I feel that you have to follow your ideas. If you’re gifted with an idea, and have the resources to work on it, you should follow it as far as you can. Even if it leads nowhere, it will be a wonderful experience.” Personally Speaking Michael and his wife, Tanis, who helps him run Bapty Research Ltd. have three sons and four grandchildren scattered across the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. Michael loves to garden, to oversee a 22-acre family farm on Salt Spring Island in part established by his grandfather in 1906, and to spend a few weeks per year on a family- owned silver claim in Northern BC. “It’s incredibly beautiful but, at 5,000 feet up, also incredibly challenging. You can only get there by helicopter.”

adverse operating cost and availability ratios, the lowest price usually closes a sale,” he says. “Canadian engineers and geoscientists are coming up with great solutions to technical problems,” continues Michael, “but the international community has considerable capability for reverse engineering. Often our solutions are being duplicated in places that are able to offer lower costs. The cruel reality facing many of our manufacturers is that if their work is not manufactured under licence with an off-shore supplier, they run the risk of finding their own products in the market, with no compensation or offsetting benefit. The good news here though is that some clients, at least, are beginning to recognize the benefits of ‘made in Canada’ quality, and we are seeing some revival of domestic production.”

Getting in touch with the President Correspondence directed to APEGBC’s President can be addressed to president@apeg.bc.ca or President Michael Bapty, P.Eng. c/o APEGBC, 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC V5C 6N2.

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