Innovation September-October 2023

2023 ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS BC AWARDS RECIPIENTS

THE MCLACHLAN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN ENGINEERING ANGUS ENGLISH, P.ENG.

THE WESTERMAN AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN GEOSCIENCE BRENT WARD, PhD, P.GEO., FGC, FEC (HON) Dr. Brent Ward, P.Geo., FGC,

As the Vice President, Water & Wastewater at WSP Canada Inc., Angus English, P.Eng., has close to 40 years experience in infrastructure revitalization, replacement and upgrading for the public and private sector. Throughout his career, he has made countless contributions to the improvement of public safety. "I still recall some of the very first projects I was involved in

FEC (Hon) has made geoscience accessible and understandable for many students over the past 25 years as a professor in SFU's earth sciences department. He has also been active in educating the public about geoscience, a collaborator in research, and involved in the industry as a volunteer. Brent has built a legacy of mentoring undergrads, who have

gone on to successful professional careers. He has also contributed many years of dedicated service to advancing the geoscience field— all of which contributed to receiving the Westerman Award. "It is a great honour to receive the Westerman Award and be considered equivalent to the impressive list of previous award winners," Brent said. "Many of the very influential geoscientists in BC are on that list, as well as many friends and colleagues. It is heady company." Brent began his career in the early 1990s conducting surficial geology mapping throughout the Yukon and the Northwest Territories, and, more recently, in BC. He is a field-based quaternary geologist whose research interests include sedimentology, stratigraphy, paleoenvironmental reconstructions, surficial mapping, drift prospecting and landslides. Brent has been a member of the Canadian Geoscience Standards Committee (CGSC) since 2005. At Engineers and Geoscientists BC, he was on the Board from 2019-2022, a member of the Geoscience Subcommittee from 2000-2020, a member of the Dam Site Characterization Assessments Working Group from 2015-2017, as well as serving on several other committees and working groups. At SFU, Brent is co-director of the Centre for Natural Hazards Research and was the Earth Science Department chair for six years. He is a primary author of the Professional Practice Guideline: Site Characterization for Dam Foundations in BC , that was developed following the release of the Report on Mount Polley Tailings Storage Facility Breach in 2015. Brent was also an invaluable participant in creating Geoscience Knowledge and Experience Requirements for Professional Registration in Canada , which is a comprehensive guide used by geoscience regulatory bodies across Canada. Brent was also instrumental in creating the Geoscientist in Training Program Information Guide booklet, which helps geoscience students and recent graduates navigate the registration process in Canada.

right after graduation," he explains, "a 1,200-seat grandstand and a 160-acre (65-hectare) sewage lagoon, and the realization that it left in me about the importance that my work had on public health and safety." He adds, "The past 30 years in BC has included involvement in many water and sewerage projects for the Metro Vancouver Region and the Lower Mainland municipalities, most of which go unseen by the public. After all this time, I still really enjoy project work and two relatively recent projects that I was proud to be part of are the Douglas Trunk Sewer, the longest micro-tunnel in glacial till in Metro Vancouver, and the Johnson Street Bridge replacement in Victoria." Angus also has mentored young engineers with experienced advice. He notes, "While the project work is fulfilling, perhaps the most rewarding aspect of my career is knowing that I have had a part in coaching and mentoring an incredible group of young engineers that are changing the world for the better." Volunteering is another area where Angus has had an impact. His commitment with the United Way goes back to 2003 and he is now part of a group of business leaders driving workplace campaigns. Angus joined the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies (ACEC-BC) in 2005, and in 2020, Angus was appointed to the Board of Directors of Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Foundation. Angus says, "I feel humbled to have been selected for the McLachlan Award. Throughout my career I have benefited from coaching and mentoring by many engineers that I admire to this day and I have benefited from the unwavering support of my family and colleagues and I know that this has had a positive and lasting impact on the engineer that I have become."

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