INNOVATION November-December 2021

Council Election Results | Advocacy Review Results | Annual General Meeting Summary

INNOVATION ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS BRITISH COLUMBIA NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021

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BRIAN NADJIWON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP MEET THE PRESIDENT

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5 REGULATORY NEWS 12 COMMUNITY 14 PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE 34 DISCIPLINE AND ENFORCEMENT 34 DISPLAY ADVERTISERS' INDEX 38 IN MEMORIAM 39 CONTINUING EDUCATION NEWS / DEPARTMENTS NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 | volume 25 number 6 INNOVAT ION

COVER STORY BC ENGINEER USES VIBRATION

KNOWLEDGE TO INVENT ANTI-TREMOR DEVICE A simple, inexpensive device could help change the lives of those who suffer from essential tremors or Parkinson’s disease.

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PULLING TOXICITY OUT OF MINE WATER While mining activities produce lots of in-demand minerals, there is considerable effort toward making mining more compatible with environmental principles. BQE Water crafted a process that removes selenium to less than two parts per billion, making mine wastewater considerably less toxic. The process, in use at the Kemess project in northwest BC, won Engineers and Geoscientists BC 2021 Environmental Award.

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5 COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS 7 COUNCIL REPORT 8 ANNUAL REGISTRATION RENEWAL 9 ADVOCACY REVIEW RESULTS 22 MEET THE PRESIDENT

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BRIAN NADJIWON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP Brain Nadjiwon wanted to merge his IT knowledge with an education in geoscience. But as a First Nation’s man, he faced many obstacles. And when he passed away last year, an Engineers and Geoscientists BC memorial scholarship bearing his name emerged to help address

ON THE COVER Parkinson's disease or essential

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the challenges faced by First Nations geoscience students.

motion but not voluntary motion. P hoto : K otcha K/S hutterstock . com

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THIS DIGITAL EDITION OF INNOVATION INCLUDES VIDEO EXTRAS. LOOK FOR THIS PLAY ICON, AND CLICK ON IT TO VIEW VIDEO AND OTHER MULTIMEDIA CONTENT. AN INTERNET CONNECTION IS REQUIRED.

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INNOVAT ION NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 | volume 25 number 6

THE YEAR AHEAD: AN IMPORTANT TIME FOR REGULATION IN BC It’s my honour and privilege to assume the role of President of Engineers and Geoscientists BC, and I thank Larry Spence, P.Eng., for his tireless work over the past year leading Council and helping to implement the Professional Governance Act across our professions. This is an exciting and important time for Engineers and

ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS BRITISH COLUMBIA Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC Canada V5C 6N2 Tel: 604.430.8035 Fax: 604.430.8085 Email: info@egbc.ca Web: egbc.ca Toll free: 1.888.430.8035

COUNCIL 2021/2022 President C. Park, P.Eng. Vice President M. Adams, P.Eng. Immediate Past President L. Spence, P.Eng.

COUNCILLORS Emily Lewis, CPA, CMA; Suky Cheema, CPA, CA;

Leslie Hildebrandt, ICD.D, LLB; Michelle Mahovlich, P.Eng./P.Geo.; Jessica Steeves, P.Eng.; Kevin Turner, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.); Dr. Brent Ward, P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.); Jens Weber, P.Eng. David Wells, JD ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS BC EXECUTIVE TEAM Heidi Yang, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Cho, CPA, CGA, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Deesh Olychick, Acting Chief Operating Officer Mark Rigolo, P.Eng., Acting Chief Regulatory Officer and Registrar

Geoscientists BC. Thanks to the effort of so many people—our staff, Council, the hundreds of volunteers who support our work each year, our registrants, and our colleagues in Government—the Act is now in force. This new legislation provides us with the tools we need for modern, progressive regulation, along with a new governance structure that will allow us to protect public safety. It will also help ensure engineers and geoscientists can contribute to the major issues facing society through their professional practice. Addressing gender and racial biases will continue to make our professions more inclusive and welcoming. Diversity in the professions will ensure that we can meet the continued demand for engineering and geoscience professionals as well as bringing a greater breadth of approaches and perspectives to solutions. And our skills as innovators and problem solvers have never been needed more, as we confront climate change and seek new solutions for environmental protection. While many things are changing, our responsibility to regulate the professions and to protect the public remains the same. As President, it will be my job to ensure Council can put the right policies in place to ensure a singular focus on our mandate to protect the public. As self-regulated professionals, engineers and geoscientists are entrusted with a privileged responsibility to ensure the safety of the public is put first. Engineers and Geoscientists BC is already in a strong position as a leading professional regulatory body for engineering and geoscience in Canada, and through our collective efforts our professions will continue to hold public safety paramount as we improve and positively impact society and the environment. To my new and continuing colleagues on Council, thank you in advance for your dedication to this organization as we work together to protect the public interest. To my fellow registrants, I ask that you join me in embracing the new regulatory landscape in BC. While the new Act represents change, it also means that our professions are better equipped to achieve our ultimate goal: to protect the public.

Chris Hawley, Managing Editor

EDITORIAL ADVISORY GROUP M.I.H. Bhuiyan, P.Eng.; E.A. Brown, P.Eng.; K.C. Chan, P.Eng., CPA; H. Ghalibafian, P.Eng.; G. Grill, P.Eng.; G. Kwong, P.Eng.; R. Ord, P.Eng.; R. Smertina, P.Eng.

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Subscription rates per issue $4.50; six issues yearly $25.00. (Rates do not include tax.)

Innovation is published six times a year by Engineers and Geoscientists British Columbia. As the official publication of the association, Innovation is circulated to members of the engineering and geoscience professions, architects, contractors and industry executives. The views expressed in any article contained herein do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Council or membership of this association. Submission Guidelines: Innovation encourages unsolicited articles and photos. By submitting material to Innovation , you grant Engineers and Geoscientists BC a royalty-free, worldwide licence to publish the material; and you warrant that you have the authority to grant such rights and have obtained waivers of all associated moral rights. Innovation reserves the right to edit material for length, clarity and conformity with our editorial guidelines ( egbc.ca/innovation-editorial ) and is under no obligation to publish any or all submissions or any portion thereof, including credits. All material is copyright. Please contact the Managing Editor for reprint permission.

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

Carol Park, P.Eng., President

president@egbc.ca

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2021 COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS

The online ballot was conducted using systems contracted from Simply Voting Inc., which operates under high-security, TLS 1.2, 256-bit encryption with anti- fraud controls and secure login for eligible voters. This third-party system protects the anonymity of a vote. Election results were not available to Engineers and Geoscientists BC until after the close of the election.

This election completes the transition to the new Council size requirements under the Professional Governance Act . Council also appointed one of its elected members to serve as Vice President. Beginning this year, Council selects a Vice President who can best meet the needs of the Council in any given year. To learn more about the transitional requirements and the composition of Council, visit egbc.ca/Transitional- Requirements .

Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s 2021 Council election opened on September 14, 2021, and closed at noon on October 15, 2021. This year, 15.6 percent of eligible voters (including professional licensees and trainees) cast ballots. The results of the election are as follows:

For more information, visit egbc.ca/Council-Election .

PRESIDENT (1-year term, elected by acclamation)

Carol Park, P.Eng.

ELECTED COUNCILLORS (3-year terms)

APPOINTMENT OF VICE PRESIDENT: MARK ADAMS, P.ENG.

Mark Adams, P.Eng. Jens Weber, P.Eng.

At its inaugural meeting on November 1, 2021, the Council appointed Mark Adams, P.Eng. to serve as Vice President. Mr. Adams has worked in the mining industry for 15 years and is currently the Vice President of Studies & Technology within the global Mining & Metallurgy group at SNC-Lavalin.

IMMEDIATE PAST-PRESIDENT (1-year term)

Larry Spence, P.Eng., will continue on Council for one year in the role of Immediate Past President.

RETURNING COUNCILLORS

Elected Councillors Michelle Mahovlich, P.Eng., P.Geo Jessica Steeves, P.Eng. Kevin Turner, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) Dr. Brent Ward, P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.)

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REGISTRANTS GATHER VIRTUALLY FOR ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING For the second year in a row, registrants gathered virtually for Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on October 30, 2021. More than 300 participants from across BC and elsewhere in the world signed on to hear from President Larry Spence, P.Eng. and CEO Heidi Yang, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) on the organization’s progress and achievements over the past year. The meeting began with an acknowledgment of the traditional lands that we call home. President Spence noted the importance and ongoing responsibility each of us carry for understanding local Indigenous peoples and their cultures, acknowledging the harms and mistakes of the past, and considering how we can each move forward in a spirit of reconciliation. Attorney General David Eby provided greetings on behalf of Government; the Honourable George Chow, P.Eng., Minister of State for Trade and the Honourable Bowinn Ma, P.Eng., Minister of State for Infrastructure were also in attendance. After welcoming guests from engineering and geoscience regulators across the country, the assembly approved the agenda for the meeting as well as the minutes from the 2020 AGM, with trainees (EITs and GITs) joining their colleagues in being able to vote for the first time.

President Larry Spence and CEO Heidi Yang provided their reports on the organization’s activities during the 2020/2021 fiscal year, with both acknowledging that this has been a milestone year for the organization. Engineers and Geoscientists BC navigated a complex transition to new governing legislation and oversight, the ongoing challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, and senior leadership changes. In addition, it successfully advanced key initiatives, including introducing its inaugural Climate Change Action Plan, harmonizing regulatory processes with other Canadian jurisdictions, and prioritizing equity, diversity, and inclusion within engineering and geoscience. Registrants submitted questions about the regulation of engineering and geoscience firms, regulations for sole practitioners, and plans for additional action to address climate change. Registrants also heard from two of Council’s government appointees. Suky Cheema, CPA, CA, presented the organization’s audited financial statements and reviewed the audit process, and David Wells, JD, provided a report on behalf of Council’s four public appointees on the organization’s progress. Past President Lianna Mah, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) presented a summary of the organization’s review of a 2019 AGM motion that proposed establishing a separate advocacy body for engineering and geoscience in BC. Following a detailed review of Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s current programs and initiatives, Council determined that establishing a separate advocacy body was not in the organization’s best interests at this time. (For more information on this item, and Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s review of restrictions on advocacy activities under the Professional Governance Act , see Page 9). At the conclusion of the meeting, Carol Park, P.Eng. was inducted as Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s President for 2021/2022. She welcomed newly elected and continuing Council members, thanked outgoing councillors for their valued service, and recognized outgoing President Larry Spence for his leadership and guidance during a challenging year for the organization.

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to compensate Council members on a per-meeting basis, and to provide the President with an annual retainer. The timeline for implementing this policy is now being determined and will be confirmed in 2022. SUCCESSFUL ONLINE TECHNICAL EXAM PILOT PROJECT CONTINUES In late 2020, following cancellation of in-person exams due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Engineers and Geoscientists BC launched a pilot for administering online technical examinations. Following the success of its initial online offerings, Engineers and Geoscientists BC partnered with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta and Professional Engineers Ontario to successfully offer exams across 160 engineering and geoscience subjects for more than 900 candidates throughout the Spring and Summer of 2021. With the pilot extended for the duration of 2021, additional engineering and geoscience regulators across Canada are participating in the fall 2021 session, which is currently underway. This pilot will be extended for 2022. VICE PRESIDENT APPOINTED; COUNCILLOR-BRANCH PAIRINGS CONFIRMED At their inaugural meeting on November 1, Council appointed Mark Adams, P.Eng., to serve as Vice President for 2021/2022. Council also confirmed appointments for its Executive, Audit, and Governance Sub-Committees, and established new Councillor- Branch pairings, which establish a formal connection

Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Council of elected registrants and government representatives meets throughout the year to conduct the business of organizational governance. The following are the highlights of its September 24 and November 1, 2021 meetings. 2020/2021 AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS APPROVED At its September meeting, Council received the report of the Audit Sub-committee and approved the organization’s audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2021. The audit was conducted virtually and resulted in no adjustments or control issues. This year, Engineers and Geoscientists BC reported increased revenues due to registrant growth and higher participation in professional development events. Operating expenses also increased, driven primarily by strengthened staff support resulting from increased scopes and programs under the Professional Governance Act , and higher discipline-related legal expenses. These increases were offset by lower expenses for travel, events, and building operation and maintenance related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and office closure. Council also made progress towards its target for its General Operating Fund of six months operating expenses (currently 3.9 months) and will continue to work to achieve this target through incremental increases over the next several years. REMUNERATION POLICY FOR PRESIDENT AND ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS Following a governance review in 2020 conducted by Watson Advisors, Council approved establishing a remuneration policy for its President and elected Councilors. The policy is intended to recognize the significant time commitment associated with these roles, and the need to continue to attract qualified candidates to support the expanded regulatory role of the organization. Remuneration is also important from an equity perspective; while some firms compensate their employees for time taken to participate on Council, other registrants may not have access to the same benefits. Remuneration allows individuals who don’t have the opportunity to participate through their employer to be compensated for their time. Council assigned a subcommittee, comprising four publicly appointed Council members and an outgoing Council member, to establish Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s compensation approach. The subcommittee brought forward a recommendation

between Council and each of Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s fifteen regional branches.

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R E G U L A T O R Y N E W S

ANNUAL REGISTRATION RENEWAL IS NOW OPEN It’s time to renew your registration for 2022. Here’s what you need to know to complete your renewal. HOW DO I RENEW? Individual registrants can renew their registration beginning November 15, 2021, and must renew by December 31, 2021. For 2022, individual registrant fees will increase by $10 to $460. The fees for non-practicing registrants will be reduced to $115 (i.e., 25 percent of the fee for practicing registrants). To learn more, visit egbc.ca/Fees . When the renewal period opens, registrants can renew their registration by signing into their Engineers and Geoscience BC account at egbc.ca/Account , using their six-digit User ID number and password and pay their fees electronically. The December 31, 2021, renewal deadline also applies to registrants who submit their 2022 annual renewal invoice

to their employers for payment. Please allow enough time for employers to process renewals. Registrants who have not paid their annual fee by December 31, 2021, will be subject to late fees, and those who have not renewed by January 31, 2022, will be struck off the register. WHAT IF I WANT TO RESIGN? If you wish to resign your license with Engineers and Geoscientists BC, be sure to do so before December 31, 2021, to avoid being liable for renewal fees. Resignation can be completed by signing into your Engineers and Geoscientists BC account, or by contacting Engineers and Geoscientists BC directly. Resigned registrants can reapply for registration according to the organization’s Reinstatement of Status procedure. Engineer- in-training and geoscientists-in-training who reapply must comply with the Reinstatement Policy. Any outstanding annual registration fees, late fees, and associated administrative fees must also be paid before a registrant can be reinstated.

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decades, helping many registrants facing hardships to overcome short-term cash flow difficulties. While several options were considered, including establishing a new and fully independent charitable entity, the Society’s Directors determined it would not be feasible to operate independently from Engineers and Geoscientists BC. The Society stopped accepting donations as of October 3, 2021, and will cease the disbursement of grants effective April 1, 2022. MOTION TO ESTABLISH A SEPARATE ADVOCACY BODY With the review of non-regulatory programs completed, Council considered the question of establishing a separate advocacy body. Council considered the need to maintain its organizational capacity during this period of significant transition to new legislation, the need to maintain our strong culture of volunteerism, and the significant challenges of planning for an organizational restructure that may tax the organization beyond its capacity. With these considerations in mind and, given the relatively small impact to the programs currently in place, Council determined that further considering and potentially establishing a separate advocacy body at this time was not in the organization’s interests. Council directed that staff report back to Council (no earlier than fall 2022) with an assessment of whether the question of a separate advocacy body A detailed report outlining the review of advocacy programs at Engineers and Geoscientists BC was presented at the organization’s Annual General Meeting on October 30, 2021, and is available at egbc.ca/agm . should be revisited. MORE INFORMATION

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REVIEW OF PROFESSIONAL GOVERNANCE ACT ADVOCACY RESTRICTIONS COMPLETED The introduction of the Professional Governance Act (PGA) in February 2021 was a significant change for Engineers and Geoscientists BC and its registrants. In addition to a new regulatory framework and oversight body (the Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance), the PGA also introduced a restriction on certain advocacy activities for the regulators under its authority. The intent of these restrictions is to ensure that regulatory bodies focus on activities that support their regulatory mandate, and avoid activities focused on the interests of registrants. In line with this direction, the Office of the Superintendent of Professional Governance provided a framework to guide regulatory bodies in evaluating their programs and activities. The framework also provided for certain exceptions by acknowledging that some activities support organizational sustainability—such as those that provide

net revenue or support activities that encourage volunteerism. Engineers and Geoscientists BC Council and staff undertook a detailed review of more than 20 programs and activities against this framework and also considered a registrant motion at the 2019 Annual General Meeting proposing that Council consider establishing a separate advocacy body. PROGRAM UPDATES AND CHANGES The review determined that Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s core operations and most other programs can continue, while some require modest changes to come into compliance with the PGA. Three programs were identified to be outside of our mandate under the PGA. Two online directories that allowed registrants to advertise their services or availability for employment have been closed, and the Benevolent Fund Society, which provided financial grants to registrants in need, will be dissolved. The Benevolent Fund Society has been an important program at Engineers and Geoscientists BC over the past several

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INNOVATION’S PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS EDITION IS COMING SOON Each year, Innovation invites BC’s professional engineers and geoscientists to submit photographs and project descriptions of recent work, for consideration for the magazine’s popular Project Highlights Edition, planned for the May/June 2022 edition. Registrants or companies may submit photographs of projects undertaken in 2021, inside or outside BC, involving Engineers and Geoscientists BC registrants. Readers are encouraged to watch for an email announcement early in 2022 that will provide submission criteria, deadline dates, and other important information. The submission time frame is expected to launch in early January 2022, and close about eight weeks later. For more information, visit egbc.ca/Innovation .

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REGISTRANTS COMPLETE ANNUAL INFORMATION

requirements at the same time that they complete their information reporting.

registrants had completed their reports; the number steadily increasing over the next three months. In recognition that this was a new requirement and awareness was still growing, Council waived the $100 late reporting fee, which would normally be applied after June 30. On October 1, a total of 1,643 registrants who had not completed their reporting requirement were requirement by December 31, 2021 will have their registration cancelled. Beginning in 2022, registrants will also declare their compliance with new mandatory Continuing Education suspended. Registrants who do not take action to complete this

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS Under the Professional Governance Act (PGA), registrants are required to verify certain practice-related information annually and keep their contact information current. This requirement came into force for the first time in 2021 and ensures Engineers and Geoscientists BC can stay in touch with registrants on important regulatory issues. Registrants were required to report their information by completing a simple, four- step questionnaire in their Engineers and Geoscientists BC online account by June 30. At the first deadline, 68 percent of

For additional information on reporting requirements, visit egbc.ca/Annual-Reporting .

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S C I E N C E G A M E S 2022

SCIENCE GAMES 2022 REGISTRATION NOW OPEN Engineers and Geoscientists BC is celebrating all things science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and inspiring future generations of engineers and geoscientists at our 11 th annual Science Games. This online program will take place over Zoom and encourage students in Grades 1-6 to explore the principles and theories of science while providing a fun and engaging environment to grow their confidence and abilities. Through fun, interactive activities and weekly challenges, a collective pod of students will experience STEM through the eyes of their engineering or geoscience mentors. Diving deep into the world of innovation, participants will connect with other like-minded students and work together to create solutions to weekly challenges.

The three-week science journey begins in February 2022 and is now open for registration, at egbc.ca/Science-Games . Every week, students will be sent an email with the week's theme, a list of suggested materials, and mini activities to prepare for the Saturday live session. All activities will use materials that are easily accessible from home, school, or a local dollar store. Participants will also receive a materials package which includes any items that are not easily accessible. The live event sessions will be on February 26, March 5, and March 12. “Meet an Expert” sessions are also returning in 2022 and will provide Science Games participants with the opportunity to meet industry professionals in different disciplines of engineering and geoscience. Each expert will host a Q&A session and talk about their work as an engineer or geoscientist. To learn more about Science Games, or to register, visit egbc.ca/Science-Games .

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HELP SCIENCE GAMES PARTICIPANTS BY VOLUNTEERING AS A MENTOR Engineers and Geoscientists BC is also looking for passionate engineers and geoscientists who are interested in being part of the Science Games experience. Volunteers will mentor a group of students and lead them through a four-week science journey through Zoom. As a Science Games mentor, you will showcase all the fun and cool aspects of your role as an engineer or geoscientist, and encourage students to build confidence and interest in science. For more information, or to register as a volunteer, visit egbc.ca/2022-Science-Games-Mentor .

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These guidelines, and other professional practice guidelines and practice-related resources, are provided at egbc.ca/Guidelines .

NEWLY PUBLISHED PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES egbc.ca/Guidelines F ire P rotection E ngineering S ervices for B uilding P rojects The Professional Practice Guidelines – Fire Protection Engineering Services for Building Projects , first issued in 2013 and now updated to version 2.0, outlines the professional services related to Fire Protection Engineering that engineering professionals should generally provide for building projects governed by Part 3 of the BC Building Code and the Vancouver Building By-law, as well as other regulatory requirements. This revision provides additional clarity on Fire Protection Engineering services for existing buildings, Letters of Assurance, Alternative Solutions, and conformance to the BC Fire Code and the Vancouver Fire By-law. S eismic A ssessment and S eismic D esign of D ikes in BC The Professional Practice Guidelines – Seismic Assessment and Seismic Design of Dikes in British Columbia were developed to guide professional practice related to seismic assessment and seismic design of dikes in BC. This 2021 publication is the initial version of these guidelines which provide professional practice considerations when implementing the Seismic Design Guidelines for Dikes, 2nd Edition published by the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE GUIDELINES IN DEVELOPMENT

M anufacturing / I ndustrial E ngineering These in-development guidelines will provide an overview of roles and responsibilities for professionals in the product, process, consulting, and quality assurance sectors of the manufacturing industry. For more information, contact Allison DenToom, P.Eng., at adentoom@egbc.ca .

S ustainability These in-development guidelines are revisions of the 2016 version of the Sustainability Professional Practice Guidelines , intended to better integrate current knowledge of sustainability in professional practice. For more information, contact Harshan Radhakrishnan, P.Eng., at hradhakrishnan@egbc.ca .

S ecurity E ngineering for S oftware P rojects

These in-development guidelines will build on the security-related aspects of the existing Professional Practice Guidelines – Development of Safety Critical Software and will provide broad guidance regarding security considerations when engineers are involved on software projects. For more information, contact Dan Rankin, P.Eng., at drankin@egbc.ca .

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These webinars, and other professional practice-related webinars, are provided at egbc.ca/Events .

J oint P rofessional P ractice G uidelines - E ncapsulated M ass T imber C onstruction up to 12 S toreys : February 1, 2022 P rofessional P ractice G uidelines : S eismic A ssessment and S eismic D esign of D ikes in BC: January 26, 2022 UPCOMING PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE WEBINARS egbc.ca/Events FREQUENT PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE INQUIRIES How should a firm’s Permit to Practice number be applied to engineering or geoscience documents? One important change that emerged from recent changes in the regulatory landscape is the introduction and use of Permit to Practice numbers for firms. Under the Regulation of Firms program, all firms that engage in the practice of professional engineering or geoscience are now required to have a Permit to Practice issued by Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Firms that apply and are accepted under the program will be issued a Permit to Practice and will receive a seven-digit Permit to Practice number that provides proof of registration. This number must be applied to all engineering or geoscience documentation that is authenticated (i.e., signed, sealed, and dated) on behalf of the firm. A document that does not have this number applied is essentially unauthenticated. The Permit to Practice number must be visible and legible, but beyond that, Engineers and Geoscientists BC does not have specific requirements for where it should be applied to a document. Permit to Practice numbers may be applied by stamp, by hand, digitally, or they may be provided on standard documentation templates (i.e., on title blocks of design drawings) for the firm. Engineers and Geoscientists BC does not supply stamps or seals for this purpose, but firms may develop or purchase their own. The permit number may only be applied by a Responsible Registrant of the firm or by a professional registrant who has been authorized by a Responsible Registrant of the firm. For example, one firm may require that the Responsible Registrant review all documents prior to applying the permit number. Another firm, however, may grant authority to other individuals within the firm to apply the number on behalf of the firm. Each firm must determine and document the processes and procedures for permit number application that best supports their work and the registrants under their employment and must ensure appropriate training is provided.

ARCHIVED WEBINARS egbc.ca/Online-Learning/Products

C ontinuing E ducation P lanning and R eporting : Recorded October 7, 2021 D ocumented C hecks of E ngineering and G eoscience W ork : Recorded September 9, 2021 A uthentication of D ocuments ( formerly “U se of S eal ”): Recorded September 22, 2021

It is understood that firms are still developing their Professional Practice Management Plan, and that these documented processes are being established. The Permit to Practice number is required as part of authentication of engineering or geoscience documentation during this transition period. The minimum requirement is that the Permit to Practice number be applied once per document. For Letters of Assurance, authentication is required on every page, but the permit to practice number is only required to be applied once to each Letter of Assurance. For additional guidance on permit numbers and Letters of Assurance, please review the Practice Advisory on Permit to Practice Requirements for Letters of Assurance. Registrants should note that in a drawing set, each drawing must show the permit to practice number. If any document is submitted to an authority having jurisdiction without a permit to practice number, Engineers and Geoscientists BC recommends that a new document be requested that includes the Permit to Practice number. For additional guidance on application of permit numbers, please refer to the Regulation of Firms Permit to Practice Manual (Section 6.10.2), and the Regulation of Firms Bulletin on Permit to Practice Usage. These and other documents related to the Regulation of Firms are

provided at egbc.ca/Firms . For additional guidance on authentication of documents, please refer to the Guide to the Standard for the Authentication of Documents. Kelly Dayman, P.L.Eng. Associate Director, Regulation of Firms, Engineers and Geoscientists BC

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Essential tremor affects an estimated four percent of adults, mostly over age 40, while Parkinson’s disease affects another one percent of the population over age 60. Both can cause hand tremors that make it difficult to do the simplest tasks. But that may change soon, thanks to Dr. Hadi Mohammadi, P.Eng. ROBIN J. MILLER A UBC OKANAGAN ENGINEER’S SIMPLE, INEXPENSIVE WRISTBAND DEVICE COULD SOON IMPROVE THE LIVES OF MILLIONS

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I t’s often said that travel broadens the mind. It can also change lives. Born in Iran, Hadi Mohammadi, P.Eng., was about to complete his Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology when he decided to take a sabbatical year in Canada. Here, he met scientists and scholars who showed him a whole other side of engineering that so caught his interest, he signed up for a second Ph.D. before he’d even finished his first, this time in biomedical engineering at the University of Western Ontario. “That was the beginning of my journey in Canada,” said Mohammadi. From Western, he went on to a post- doctoral fellowship shared between the University of Calgary and Harvard

Medical School and worked in the oil and gas industry before winning a faculty position at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan (UBCO) campus. “It was a great opportunity for me,” Mohammadi said. “On this campus, I found a platform to make all my wishes come true. I’d had ideas before, ideas I knew had potential, but not the space, the infrastructure, the access to top- notch colleagues and the most talented national and international students, that I needed to make them real.” Mohammadi’s primary focus at his UBCO Heart Valve Performance Laboratory (HVPL) is the next generation of prosthetic heart valves. In 2019, his lab developed a heart valve made out of nanocomposite biomaterial that can be

inserted using small incisions instead of opening the patient’s chest. While transcatheter heart valves are not new, existing versions all use animal tissue, which are not as durable as HVPL’s synthetic heart valve, and can lead to a number of issues, including coronary obstruction and kidney damage. An even more recent HVPL invention is a mechanical bileaflet heart valve—a pair of semi-circular leaflets that pivot on hinges to replicate the way a real heart valve works in ensuring consistent, one-way blood flow. The valve’s curving design helps lessen the risk of both blood clots and backflow, two problems associated with the artificial valves now in use. But because his first Ph.D. was about vibration in mechanical systems, Mohammadi is also using his lab to connect his interests by exploring how low-frequency, high-amplitude mechanical vibration can be absorbed and isolated in mechanical systems and medical devices. And this second focus has also led to a number of significant breakthroughs, including a quick, inexpensive test that can help oil and gas companies prevent pipeline spills simply by using a small machine to tap on above-ground pipes and measuring the resulting vibrations. A healthy pipeline vibrates differently than one that is rusted or cracked and in danger of spilling oil or gas. The same tap test can also be used on people to identify areas of diminished bone density, critical to identifying and treating a number of bone conditions, including osteoporosis. This past summer, Mohammadi announced his latest invention, a device that lessens hand tremors in people living with essential tremor—a neurological disorder that causes involuntary and rhythmic trembling, usually in the hands—or with Parkinson’s disease, which often starts with a slow, continuous tremor in one hand.

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This past summer, Mohammadi announced his latest invention, a device that lessens hand tremors in people living with essential tremor—a neurological disorder that causes involuntary and rhythmic trembling, usually in the hands—or with Parkinson’s disease, which often starts with a slow, continuous tremor in one hand.

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Like a well-tuned suspension system absorbs bumps and lumps in the road, Mohammadi’s simple wristband tremor attenuator absorbs hand vibrations, to the point where almost 95 percent of tremor is attenuated—a huge and potentially life-changing improvement for millions of people.

Like a well-tuned suspension system absorbs bumps and lumps in the road, Mohammadi’s simple wristband tremor attenuator absorbs hand vibrations, to the point where almost 95 percent of tremor is attenuated—a huge and potentially life-changing improvement for millions of people. The wristband includes two miniature see-saw magnets that, said Mohammadi, “work against tremors with just enough force that they stop involuntary motion but not voluntary motion.” The result is that, just by wearing the device, without having to push a button or set a switch, the person can button up a shirt, eat soup, hit a tennis ball, or diaper a baby as they normally would. Their movements are smoother and more controlled than without the band on, and, said Mohammadi, “smoother and more controlled than with other tremor attenuators currently on the market” that work on spring- or liquid-based systems. “The magnetic system is the key. When the person’s hand or arm begins to tremble, the magnets are actuated immediately and the mechanical waves created by the actuators cancel out the shaking.” An additional plus, the device is able to adapt to changing conditions, providing only the amount of force required for each situation. “There is a difference in vibrations when you’re holding a full coffee cup, a half- full coffee cup, or an empty cup,” said Mohammadi, “and the device adjusts itself to each new condition.” There are also many other applications for the same concept down the road, said Mohammadi. “A mechanical system like this could be used for controlling motion on boats, or to eliminate the vibration when a ball hits a tennis racquet, which would really help players with their wrists. The cartilage in a player’s wrist can be liquidized if they’re not using a quality racquet. There’s also archery where reducing vibration would make a bow and arrow more accurate.” But he still sees the hand tremor attenuator as perhaps the best use of his invention. “This is a genius idea,” said Mohammadi, knowing it may sound like he’s bragging, but far too happy and excited with the results to care. “It’s an idea I had for a while, and it is turning out exactly the way I thought it would. The device is lightweight,

“Essential tremor is not a dangerous condition,” said Mohammadi, “but is often confused with Parkinson’s,” which is a nervous system disorder that will become disabling over time. “Both can result in unwanted shaking in the hands that will affect the person’s normal life. I compare it to driving a car. Vibration in a car can be very uncomfortable for the people in it, which is why the car has a suspension system. Here, the body causes the vibration, and that vibration will have an impact on virtually everything the person wants or needs to do, like drink a cup of coffee, write a note or do other simple things. People often feel embarrassed, and can become depressed and isolated.”

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about 120 grams or four ounces. It’s very effective and it’s not costly—the prototype actually cost less than $50.” As soon as it was announced, “and the news got out about the device, I starting getting so many phone calls, emails. It really pushed a button for people from all over and all sorts of ages, 45 to 85. They told me ‘we need this, we want this technology, please give it to us now.’ They are not happy with the way they have to live and are desperately searching for solutions.” The next step, Mohammadi said, includes extensive clinical trials and further refinement of the device’s design. “It’s a bit bulky right now and the look of anything you wear is important. No one wants to look like a dork. So we’re working on making it attractive and comfortable so people will actually want to wear it.” His best estimate right now is that the hand tremor attenuator will make it to market in less than two years. “Sometimes,” said Mohammadi, “you can solve a huge problem through an effective engineering design. Sometimes, your solution can change the world. I think what we’ve done with this project might change the world for people with Parkinson’s and essential tremor and the people who live with them. It’s a very simple idea, but it has that kind of potential. My heart was so touched by all those calls and emails I received from people who are suffering now, and I feel that this is maybe my payback. With this invention, I am paying back some of what I have gained from this country, from Canada. It makes me feel like a proud Canadian.”

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CAROL PARK, P.ENG.: ENGINEERING THAT IMPROVES PATIENT SAFETY AND CARE

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R eflecting back on her early life, Carol Park, P.Eng., Executive Director of Lower Mainland Biomedical Engineering and Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s new president, points to the encouragement of a female friend as a catalyst in her decision to pursue an engineering degree.

“When it came time to think about what I was going to do after high school, a friend who was a year ahead of me went into engineering at Queen’s University. We were both living near Kingston, Ontario, and she said to me: ‘Carol, you’re good at math and science. This program is really challenging—you’d probably like it.’”

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strategic thinker, very curious, and definitely ready for challenges and opportunities that are ahead. How would you describe your personal leadership style? I see myself as an inclusive, shared leadership style person. The people I work with are very smart and very educated. I really encourage them to work with me to take on the leadership they can within their scope and their ability given where they may be. It’s important that they share in the leadership of what they do. What do you do for fun? I have three kids who are now in their young adult phase—between 19 to 24. I get a lot of enjoyment spending time with them and my husband. I also have two dogs and two cats who bring a lot of joy. I love spending time outdoors. My husband and I like to spend time at our place on Hornby Island, hiking and enjoying the outdoors, and I love to garden. I like good movies and attending local film festivals each year. I also belong to some book clubs that have lots to do with just catching up, sipping wine, and having dessert. I’ve really found my passion in that area.” Carol holds a master's degree in clinical engineering from UBC, and a master's degree in Leadership and Training from Royal Roads University. She’s served on Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Council, Standing Awards Advisory Group, Interview Panel, ASTTBC Joint Committee, and the Audit Sub-Committee.

After graduating from the engineering chemistry program at Queen’s, Carol continued to seek out her path in the engineering profession. “I knew didn’t want to work for a big company. I wanted to get involved in the helping professions.” Fast forward a couple of decades and Carol gained extensive volunteer experience at Engineers and

Geoscientists BC and became a veteran in the biomedical engineering field. “I found out about clinical engineering, which is a field of biomedical engineering. It led me to UBC, and that’s how I got involved in the work I do now, working in the healthcare system from a technology perspective and trying to improve patient safety and patient care.

What do you value most about your work in the engineering profession? It’s the times when work I’ve done has directly impacted patient safety and patient care. One example was investigating a challenging incident where a medical device wasn’t functioning as it should have. It took a lot of effort to delve into this with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and technical folks to figure out what the problem was. And, there was an international product recall based on our findings. It’s motivating and rewarding to feel like we’re having an impact on the healthcare setting and making it a safer place. After several years of preparation, the Professional Governance Act has recently come into force. What do you think registrants need to know about transitioning to the new Act ? The most important thing to know is that the intent of the Act is to improve the regulation of our professions in a way that strengthens our support of safety for the public and the environment. Those have always been our reasons for being, but the Act itself and the changes it brings help us do that much more effectively and thoroughly.

What do you see as the most important issues facing the engineering and geoscience professions?

The climate crisis and our role as scientists in addressing it. It is such a pressing and critical issue and a big risk for our society, our kids, and the way that we live. Also, continuing to attract and welcome diverse people into our professions. The range of views and insights a diverse group of people are able to bring really allows us to improve the effectiveness of the solutions we come up with. In what ways do you hope to see Engineers and Geoscientists BC develop in your time as president? When I think of the work that has gone on, there has been lots of change. I hope to see continued successful implementation of the Professional Governance Act , especially in newer areas like the regulation of firms. That is going to be critical. There have also been senior leadership changes, and that makes for a really important time. I imagine I’ll see the organization flourish under what I see as the capable leadership of our new CEO, Heidi Yang. She’s a very

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