Innovation-March_April 2013

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Risk to public infrastructure was also an issue with serious implications for human safety. “One of these situations occurred past Whistler at Rutherford Creek because of a large flood. It has an alluvial fan which is made up of sand, gravel and boulders, which eroded the bridge abutment, and four cars shot off the bridge,” he describes. Recognizing these areas as sensitive landforms became key to identifying hazards and implementing remedial construction activities. And, in some areas, it became as easy as spotting older trees with no butt flare as sediment, over decades, had buried the tree butts leaving only straight trunks. According to Dave Ripmeester, RPF, with West Fraser’s Pacific Inland Resources Division in Smithers, Wilford’s useful research and practical advice has been put into practice during building on alluvial fans. “He was willing to offer research and constructive operational guidance when we were going across fans,” says Ripmeester. “He has always made himself available to input into operational matters.” He has also consulted with the BC Oil and Gas Commission on its development of the Northeast Water Tool, which will help potential licensees and government

determine whether drawing water for fracking will impact streams and rivers. This collaboration with Allan Chapman, P.Geo., of the Oil and Gas Commission, and Geoscience BC is part of the growing cooperation that is occurring in resource development today. “Dave is an individual who sees the value in collaborating to support the enhancement of hydrology knowledge, who strives to bring folks together to solve problems,” says Chapman, who has knownWilford for two decades. “He has a terrific ability to take complex issues of hydrology or water science and translate them into forms that are understandable to an array of audiences, from academic researchers to the general public.” Meeting Needs in the Community Wilford’s contributions to his community have been no less significant than those to his profession. He has been a peer member of the Forest Service’s Critical Incident Stress Management Program, which started in the early 1990s when crews called to suppress a fire started by a motor vehicle accident played a role in recovering the deceased, leaving them emotionally traumatized. At about the same time, Wilford was part of a crew of four who stumbled across a young grizzly bear, and which resulted in the severe mauling of a member of the party. The event—as with the firefighters—left everyone in shock. He looked into the Critical Incident Stress Management Program and shortly afterward volunteered as a peer counselor for the program. Twenty years later, Wilford is one of the program’s senior peers. He was also involved with forming the Bulkley Valley Hospice Society. For years Smithers had a loose group of locals caring for the dying. Following a training session in 1990, discussion identified a need for a society. Ten months later a society was born with Wilford chairing the first formal meeting in 1992. “We don’t have a free- standing hospice, but our volunteers sit with clients in the local hospital and in their homes. The society has an office and equipment, including four electric hospital beds that clients can use free of charge,” he notes. Today, it also has a paid coordinator, three individuals working in bereavement support, and 20 trained volunteers, including an equipment delivery crew. “It is tremendously rewarding work,” says Wilford, whether it is spending time with individuals who are dying and have few family supports or whether it is providing respite time at the person’s home for family members. The C. J. Westerman Memorial Award has surprised Wilford. “I was shocked,” he confesses, upon hearing he was the 2012 recipient. “This is a huge award and when I look at the list of past recipients, I do not think of myself as being in the league of those individuals,” explains Wilford. He admits he’s also a bit embarrassed to be singled out when “the work I have done is as a team player.” “It really was a bunch of teams,” he says. “And, I think highly of all the members who I had the privilege of working with.” v

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