Innovation Fall 2024

IN MEMORIAM

RUSS FRASER, P.ENG. (RETIRED)

On May 23, BC lost a good engineer when Russ Fraser, P.Eng. (Retired) passed away. Russ was born in 1934 into a pioneering Vancouver family that cherished its Scottish roots. His mother instilled in him a strong sense of right and wrong. He graduated from UBC in 1957 with his BASc in Civil Engineering. At UBC he cut his teeth in politics, being elected president of the Engineering Undergraduate Society. In his professional career, Russ founded a materials testing company where he was noted for his commitment to integrity, responsibility, and honesty in his engineering services. He was particularly devoted to the enhancement of professional engineering and in 1979 was elected president of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC (now Engineers and Geoscientists BC). He entered civic politics and was elected chair of the Vancouver Parks Board where he was instrumental in creating mini parks around the city. Setting his sights on provincial politics, he was elected in 1983 to serve as MLA for the riding of Vancouver South, where he was re elected three times. In 1990, Russ broke new ground by being the first (and only) professional engineer to be appointed to the highest legal position in BC: Attorney General. Russ often said, “It is never the wrong time to do the right thing.” His credo was tested when, as Attorney General, he was faced with whether or not to proceed with a

Russ Fraser

criminal indictment which would not reflect well on his party’s standing in the Legislature. Russ chose to do the right thing: enforcing the law. Russ will be missed by many, but particularly the BC engineering community. Submitted by: Ralph G. M. Sultan, P.Eng. (Retired); Ernest A. Portfors, P.Eng. (Non-Practising); Ed G. Hauptmann, P.Eng.

IN MEMORIAM

Engineers and Geoscientists BC announces with regret the passing of the following registrants.

Mr. Richard William Nichols, P.Eng. (Non-Practising)

Mr. Russell Gordon Fraser, P.Eng. (Non-Practising)

Dr. Uldis Jansons, P.Eng. (Non-Practising)

Mr. Jad Kamal McDonald, P.L.Eng.

Mr. Kenneth Nelson Pleasance, P.Eng. (Retired)

Mr. Christophe Desage, P.Eng.

Mr. William Estey Wotherspoon, P.Eng. (Retired)

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Fall 2024

Innovation