Innovation Summer 2025

CE survey results | New COO | Annual Reporting due

INNOVATION ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS BRITISH COLUMBIA SUMMER 2025

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS Our showcase of registrant projects 2 0 2 4 - 2 0 2 5

100 YEARS OF THE IRON RING

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Innovation Summer 2025

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Summer 2025

Innovation

CONTENTS

COMMENT 4 Viewpoint

NEWS 5 Annual Reporting due 6 AGM & Annual Conference 7 New COO 8 Board report

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Project Highlights View the latest innovations from our registrants in our annual project highlights edition.

FEATURES 14 Iron Ring ceremony 22 Project Highlights

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Ringing in the new On its centennial, the traditional Calling of an Engineer ceremony gets an update.

DEPARTMENTS 10 Continuing Education: survey results 12 Professional Practice 48 In memoriam 49 Discipline and enforcement 52 Display Advertisers’ index

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Digital Innovation Interested in receiving Innovation digitally instead of by mail? You can change your preferences in your online account, under General/Overview/ Communication Preferences. View the digital version by scanning the QR code or by going to egbc.ca/Innovation.

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V I EWPO INT

SUMMER 2025 | volume 29 number 2 INNOVATION

Celebrate the value our ring represents

ENGINEERS AND GEOSCIENTISTS BRITISH COLUMBIA Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC Canada V5C 6N2 Tel: 604.430.8035 | Toll free: 1.888.430.8035

Email: info@egbc.ca | Web: egbc.ca

BOARD 2024/2025 Chair: Mark Porter, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC Vice Chair: Karen Ling, P.Eng. Immediate Past Chair: Michelle Mahovlich, MEng, P.Eng., P.Geo., FCSSE BOARD MEMBERS Bill Chan, CPA, CGA, MBA, ICD.D; Veronica Knott, P.Eng.; Cathy McIntyre, MBA, C.Dir; Matthew Salmon, P.Eng.; T.J. Schmaltz, JD, FCPHR, SHRM-SCP, ICD.D; Malcolm Shield, P.Eng.; Colette Trudeau, MA; Jens Weber, P.Eng.; Dr. Gordon Zhou, P.Eng. EXECUTIVE TEAM Heidi Yang, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.), Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Cho, CPA, CGA, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Alison Dantas, MA, CEC, C.Dir, Chief Operating Officer David Pavan, R.PH., Chief Regulatory Officer and Registrar EDITORIAL ADVISORY GROUP Ryan Bird, P.Eng.; Roozbeh Nemati, PMP, P.Eng.; Ian Rodriguez, EIT; Raya Smertina, P.Eng.; Aman Tanvir, P.Eng.; Stefano Vitucci, P.Eng. Innovation is published quarterly by Engineers and Geoscientists BC. As the official publication of the organization, Innovation is circulated to all registrants of Engineers and Geoscientists BC as well as architects, contractors and industry executives. The views expressed in any article do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Board or Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Sales Representative: Wing-Yee Kwong Tel: 604.681.1811 Email: advertising@egbc.ca For information see: www.egbc.ca/About/Publications/Innovation/How-to-Advertise SUBMISSIONS Innovation does not accept unsolicited articles or photos, but we do welcome article proposals and ideas. Proposals should be of interest and relevant to our readers and recognize the regulatory role of Engineers and Geoscientists BC in ensuring public safety and environmental protection. They should not be a "sales pitch" for a company or organization. Send suggestions to: innovation@egbc.ca . LETTERS Innovation welcomes letters from our readers. All submitted letters may be subject to editing for length, clarity or accuracy. We reserve the right to reject unsuitable letters and we do not publish open letters to third parties. Send letters to: innovation@egbc.ca. REPRINTS & COPIES All material is copyright. For reprint permission or extra copies, contact: innovation@egbc.ca. SUBSCRIPTIONS All registrants with Engineers and Geoscientists BC receive Innovation in print or digital form. Registrants can update their communication preferences for Innovation in their accounts at egbc.ca/account. Send print or digital subscription requests to: innovation@egbc.ca. MANAGING EDITOR Shelley Nicholl Printed in Canada by Mitchell Press Ltd. on recycled paper. ADVERTISING SALES

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Iron Ring, and I was privileged to attend the Camp 5 ceremony where over 1,325 candidates received their ring and took part in a new, updated ceremony that reflected the history as well as the learnings of the last century. For a century, the ring has served as a reminder of our ethical duty, technical precision, and commitment to the public good. I am proud to wear my ring and yet humbled to know I still have much to learn. As I reflect on this symbol and milestone, I also appreciate the engineers and geoscientists who have shaped, and continue to shape, the world around us. Behind every project that is highlighted within this issue of Innovation , there is a story of innovation, collaboration, diligence and protection of the public and environment. The spectrum of projects that our registrants are engaged in is incredible and far reaching. Our registrants play a pivotal role in building and sustaining the fabric of modern life. At Engineers and Geoscientists BC, we are committed to ensuring our regulatory duties continue to support this excellence. Modern regulation for a resilient world is our strategic vision and we are committed to a strong framework of right-touch regulation – oversight that is proportional, fair, and focused on outcomes, while enabling professionals to adapt, grow, and flourish in a rapidly changing world. Let us continue to celebrate not just the symbolism of the ring, but the values it represents: humility, service, and the relentless pursuit of better solutions. We thank all registrants for the work you do and reaffirm our promise to support you – so that your best work continues to shape a safer, more resilient, and more sustainable future.

Mark Porter, P.Eng., Struct.Eng., FEC Board Chair info@egbc.c a

WEBSITE & DIGITAL EDITION www.egbc.ca/About/Publications/Innovation

ISSN 1206-3622 Publications Mail Agreement No 40065271. Registration No 09799. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Innovation , Suite 200 - 4010 Regent Street, Burnaby, BC V5C 6N2.

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REGULATORY NEWS

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Annual Reporting due June 30 – new tools available

to provide transparency and to reinforce trust. This information is also used to deliver appropriate practice advisories to registrants as they are published. The information provided will be reviewed during a individual compliance audit or practice review. Review future CE deadlines The second new feature is the ability for registrants to view their progress and deadlines in all upcoming three year-rolling periods. Previously, progress and deadlines were only displayed for the period that is due in the current year. Many practising registrants, especially newly licensed registrants, were uncertain about their three-year rolling period deadline for Continuing Education (CE) requirements, particularly if they have the 60-CE Hour requirement due in the current year. Annual Reporting During Annual Reporting, registrants must update their personal and professional information and complete annual declarations in their online account between May 1 and June 30 every year. Annual Reporting is mandatory for Practising, Non practising, designated Retired, and Trainee registrants. Only Non-practising Life registrants are exempt. Registrants can scan the QR code to visit the Annual Reporting webpage to learn more about programs and access resources.

Annual Reporting is open until June 30 and registrants have two new features to assist them in completing their requirements. A prompt has been added to remind registrants to review and update their declared areas of practice. Practising registrants can now view their upcoming three-year-rolling period deadlines beyond the current reporting period. In response to commonly identified errors and registrant feedback, Engineers and Geoscientists BC improved its systems and processes for registrants to complete their Annual Reporting. “We appreciate the feedback registrants continue to provide us to help us identify opportunities for improving our processes. Our team is optimistic these new features will help registrants provide more transparency about their practice, while also better understanding their upcoming requirements,” said Stuart Nash, P.Eng., Manager, Individual Audits and Practice at Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Yearly review of practice areas In a recent registrant audit, 25 percent of registrants had areas of practice listed to the public register that were incorrect or not current. It’s a mandatory requirement under the Professional Governance Act that professional and trainee registrants keep their area of practice updated. The added prompt in the Annual Reporting process helps ensure registrants review and confirm their self-declared industry and areas of practice. Engineers and Geoscientists BC displays registrants’ area of practice in the Registrant Directory to allow the public to identify a registrant’s areas of expertise,

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REGULATORY NEWS

Mark your calendar for this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Annual Conference in Vancouver from October 28-30. Following the success of the 2024 AGM and Annual Conference set for October 28-30 AGM, this year’s AGM will again be held on a weekday – Tuesday, October 28 at 2 p.m. – and use a hybrid format allowing registrants to attend virtually. More than 750 registrants attended the 2024 AGM either in person or online.

A registrant survey following the 2024 AGM identified the weekday scheduling and hybrid format contributed directly to the record attendance. The Annual Conference will feature Continuing Education sessions, inspirational keynote speakers and networking opportunities. This year, a new pre-conference workshop will provide additional networking time. As well, the trade show hours have been expanded to allow more time to interact with exhibitors. Registration for the Annual Conference starts June 23. (See ad page 55.) The AGM is an opportunity for registrants to hear from the Board and senior staff about the organization’s strategic progress, All registrants are encouraged to attend and participate in the AGM. Students and members of the public are welcome to attend as observers. At its February 21, 2025, meeting, the Engineers and Geoscientists BC Board discussed possible changes to make the meeting more effective, including: • Shortening the meeting; • Ensuring content focusses on the regulatory mandate and highlights regulatory trends/findings; and • Exploring additional engagement opportunities outside of the AGM for registrant feedback. For more information on the AGM, scan the QR code. key initiatives, and financial standing. It also provides an opportunity for registrants to bring forward motions for the consideration of the Board.

Pria Sandhu, BCSEG Chief Executive Officer

The BC Society of Engineering and Geoscience (BCSEG) is pleased to announce the appointment of Pria Sandhu as Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2025. With over a decade of senior leadership experience, Pria brings dynamic vision to BCSEG—the new independent advocacy body for engineering and geoscience in BC. Through professional development, advocacy, and outreach, BCSEG champions its members while building an inclusive, supportive, and representative professional community.

Become a member and amplify your career, voice and community at: www.bcseg.ca.

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REGULATORY NEWS

Alison Dantas appointed new COO

Engineers and Geoscientists BC is pleased to announce the appointment of Alison Dantas, MA, CEC, C.Dir as the organization’s new Chief Operating Officer, effective March 17, 2025. Alison will oversee the organization’s operational functions, including communications, programs and Continuing Education, corporate governance and strategy, government relations, information systems, and privacy. She also monitors corporate business maturity efforts, business resilience functions, and drivers of business performance. Alison is an accomplished executive with over 35 years of experience in the not-for-profit sector, where her roles have spanned government, community organizations and professional associations. Before joining Engineers and Geoscientists BC, Alison served as the CEO of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver, where she championed supports for vulnerable women, girls and children impacted by the justice system. Prior to that, she served as the CEO for several health care associations, including the Canadian Chiropractic Association, the Ontario Association of Naturopathic Doctors and the Association of Ontario Midwives. “After an extensive search, I’m very pleased to be welcoming Alison to the organization,” said Heidi Yang, P.Eng., Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Chief Executive Officer.

Geotechnical Engineering Materials Testing Non-Destructive Testing Mining Geotechnics Offshore Engineering Forensic Engineering Environmental Engineering Expert Witness

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Alison Dantas

“She is a highly accomplished leader who has been instrumental in helping organizations break through barriers to excel. I look forward to her contributions towards our vision of modern regulation for a resilient world.” Alison holds a Master’s Degree from the University of Waterloo in Regional Planning and Resource Development as well as Graduate Certificates from Royal Roads University in Executive Coaching and Change Management and the Chartered Director (C.Dir) designation. Her work and societal contributions have been honoured with several awards, including from the Surrey Board of Trade, Canadian Society of Association Executives, the Peel Institute, and the University of Western States.

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FIND YOUR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY

your network; earn professional development credits; and contribute. Scan the QR code to find the right opportunity for you.

Volunteering with Engineers and Geoscientists BC provides ongoing opportunities to: give back to your profession and industry; build

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BOARD NEWS

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Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s Board of elected registrants and public representatives meets throughout the year. The following are highlights from its February 21 and April 25, 2025, meetings.

BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS: FEBRUARY 21, 2025

The majority of first-time applications are from mature applicants with experience gained abroad. The committee also highlighted process improvements, including measures implemented to avoid implicit bias, and decreased processing and review time for applications deemed low-risk and non-contentious. Other reports The Board received reports from staff and representatives on the following additional topics: • Progress on the organization’s Year 3 projects within its Strategic Plan • The Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Professional Practice Practice Advisory, published November 22, 2024 • The publication of the Diamond Drill Core Logging: Structure Practice Advisory, published December 4, 2024 Appointments • Nomination Committee: Alison McMahon • Investigation Committee: Matthew Hayne, P.Eng.; Karl Williaume, P.Eng.; Leon Plett, P.Eng., Struct.Eng.; Matthew Friderichs, P.Eng.; Avy Woo

The Board reviewed and approved the FY2026 Budget Guidelines, Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s guiding document for drafting its annual budget. The budget for the 2025/2026 fiscal year will be brought to the May 28 Board meeting for approval. Position Statement on Climate Change The Board discussed and endorsed Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s updated Position Statement on Climate Change, subject to non-material changes during editorial and legal review. This document articulates the organization’s regulatory role and reaffirms expectations for registrants in addressing climate change. It also serves as a visioning document guiding the development of the Organizational Climate Change Strategy (OCCS). The OCCS will be presented to the Board for approval in June 2025. Credentials Committee update In 2024, the Credentials Committee processed 7,633 total applications (not including reinstatements), including 2,496 first-time applications for the P.Eng. designation and an additional 160 for first-time P.Geo. designations. Of the first-time P.Eng. applications, 61 percent came from applicants with international education. For first time P.Geo. applicants, that number stood at 43 percent.

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BOARD NEWS

BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS: APRIL 25, 2025 The Audit & Practice Review Committee (APRC) Chair Gordon McDonald, P.Eng., presented highlights of the committee’s work to been submitted to Engineers and Geoscientists BC. Engineers Canada fee

to vote to approve the proposed 2027 Per Capita Assessment Fee (PCAF) be increased from $10 to $11 per registrant at Engineers Canada’s Annual Meeting of Members in 2025.

the Board. Highlights included: • The on-time completion rate for Continuing Education in 2024 was 92 percent. • Permit to Practice registrations have steadily grown at an average rate of 13 percent per year. • A total of 256 firm audits were initiated in FY25 (July 1, 2024, to March 2025), and 168 were closed. • A total of 197 individual audits were initiated in FY25, and 185 were closed. • In 2024, the first firm practice review was initiated from an individual compliance audit Financial update Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s current budget is projected to have a surplus of $1 million to $1.5 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025 (FY2025). Contributing factors include: • Vacancies and delays in recruiting new positions • Projecting a higher volume of candidates for academic exams for other jurisdictions • Anticipating higher legal recovery following the conclusion of disciplinary cases International applications Between July 1 and December 31, 2024, the average time to process applications from internationally educated professionals was 92 days from when all documents have

The Board supported its member representative to Engineers Canada

Scan the QR code to access the full agenda package for these or other Board meetings.

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CONTINUING EDUCATION

2025 CE SURVEY RESULTS

Registrants share CE preferences in survey :

When it comes to continuing education courses, registrants have said they are looking for online options, more courses on AI, and they would prefer to pay less. Earlier this year, the Programs and Continuing Education (PCE) department at Engineers and Geoscientists BC polled registrants with a 15-question survey for feedback on everything from CE course topics to the platforms they prefer for learning. Almost 1,100 registrants responded. Just over 72 percent of registrant respondents, who varied from one to more than 21 years of registration, said they felt the quality of CE courses offered by Engineers and Geoscientists BC was good to excellent. “While the survey reflects only a small percentage of our registrants, we thoroughly evaluate post-course surveys,” said CE Coordinator Karmila Harder. “By identifying obstacles and knowledge gaps, and understanding what registrants rely on us for, we can refine our offerings to address current challenges.” The last survey was in 2021 and PCE hopes to poll registrants again in three years to continue to follow trendlines and track feedback. Registrants are encouraged to take the short survey next time as it assists PCE in continuing to improve its programs. “One of the top takeaways from this survey was the increased number of registrants preferring online and virtual learning options compared to an in person learning environment,” said Quinton Lam, CE Coordinator. “This makes sense as many of our registrants are in other parts of the province and prefer to have the flexibility and accessibility of online courses.” An emerging trend in the survey was the abundance of write-in requests for CE courses related to AI and Internet-of-Things (IoT). “The interest in the AI wave appears to be driven by the

What CE topics would you like us to offer under each learning category below? (multiple selections)

92%

Technical

63%

Regulatory

60%

Ethical

58%

Communications and leadership

55%

Social responsibility (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion)

Top 3 reasons why you have not attended Engineers and Geoscientists BC CE courses (multiple selections)

48%

The seminars offered are not relevant to my field

46% 37%

The seminars are too costly to attend

I use other resources for my CE

KNOWLEDGE CENTRE The Knowledge Centre hosts more than 100 on-demand recorded and self-directed courses for educational opportunities.

CALL FOR PRESENTERS Are you an expert in your field who would like to contribute to professional practice? Engineers and Geoscientists BC is seeking registrants to present on a variety of topics.

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CONTINUING EDUCATION

more AI courses and online options

massive visible impacts it has made both economically and culturally, in a very short span of time,” said CE Coordinator Jennifer Wu. “People are seeing how these advancements can affect our lives and their abilities to reshape how we work, how we communicate, boost productivity, and gain new knowledge and skills.” Many registrants in the survey were also vocal about the costs of the CE courses — a topic that the CE team is constantly working on. “Our courses operate on a cost-recovery basis, meaning the fees collected for each course are paid to the provider of the course,” Lam explained. “We understand the financial difficulties these courses have with our registrants, so we often try to negotiate the fees with the providers and have them as low as possible.” PCE also looks carefully at development and delivery expenses, which include presenters’ presentation and preparation time, hosting, software subscription or platform fees, and, for in-person events, the cost of the venue expenses. More than 10 courses offered throughout the year are complimentary. While looking for value for registrants, PCE also endeavors to offer a diverse range of CE courses to help registrants meet their regulatory and ethical learning requirements, and to encourage continuous improvement and professional development. PCE also has a mandate to improve – including evaluating and strengthening the quality and relevancy of the courses offered to registrants. “Connecting with registrants regularly through surveys is important to ensure that our offering continues to meet their evolving professional needs and interests,” said CE Coordinator Roa Bakkush. For more information about CE requirements, offerings or being a CE presenter, please scan the QR codes below.

CONTINUING EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS The Continuing Education (CE) Program is mandatory and applies to all registrants with practice rights. Participation in the CE Program is optional for Engineers-in-training, Geoscientists-in-training, Non-Practising, Retired, and Life Non-Practising registrants. By June 30 each year, registrants must complete CE requirements in their online reporting system and then submit their CE declaration in the annual reporting system.

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PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Newly published professional practice guidelines and advisories

New advisory for greenhouse gas emissions regulations for large existing buildings

Outdated riparian guidelines removed New provincial legislation has prompted the removal of the professional practice guidelines Legislated Riparian Assessments in BC . The guidelines were developed under the former Riparian Areas Regulation and were found to be out of date with the current Riparian Area Protection Regulation (RAPR) and industry practice, generally. Registrants should now refer to the RAPR when conducting riparian area assessments. This practice advisory provides guidance for registrants involved with existing Part 3 buildings as per the Vancouver Building By-law and within the City of Vancouver. It outlines professional expectations and obligations in relation to the City of Vancouver’s Annual Greenhouse Gas and Energy Limits By-law No. 13472. The bylaw requires emissions reporting, calls for decreased emissions intensity limits for some building types over time, and targets zero emissions for these buildings before 2040. All buildings subject to the Greenhouse Gas Intensity (GHGI) limits and/or Heat Energy requirements must have their energy and carbon reporting data periodically verified by a qualified third party. The advisory details roles and responsibilities of Engineers and Geoscientists BC registrants, including assisting building owners in complying with the bylaw requirements and with meeting future GHG and energy limits through retrofitting or replacing traditional fuel-burning systems with more efficient or electric systems.

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Upcoming webinars

Mandatory: Regulatory Learning Module for 2024-2025 Practising registrants must complete this mandatory Regulatory Learning module in the current reporting year (July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025). The course is available on-demand. This year’s module is focused on duty to report. The duty to report requires registrants who become aware of unsafe, illegal, or unethical practices, or risks of significant harm to the environment or to the health or safety of the public or a group of people, to make a report to Engineers and Geoscientists BC. This requirement promotes public safety and builds and reinforces public confidence in the professions of engineering and geoscience.

Guidelines and advisories

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PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

Professional practice inquiries

What is the purpose of authenticating documents and what methods can I use to authenticate a document?

Authenticating engineering and geoscience documents serves as a safeguard for maintaining the integrity and accountability of work prepared by, or directly supervised by, engineering and geoscience professionals. A document is appropriately authenticated when a registrant applies their professional seal, along with their signature and date, to a professional work product. Authentication is a requirement of the Engineers and Geoscientists BC Bylaws. It is important to recognize that authentication is neither a mark of warranty, nor is it a guarantee of accuracy. Instead, it should be considered a “mark of reliance” indicating that others can rely on the fact that the opinions, judgements, or designs in the authenticated documents were provided by a registrant who is held to high standards of knowledge, skill, and ethical conduct. In addition to reliance, authentication also offers a layer of accountability, enabling clients, regulatory bodies, and others to be sure of a document’s origin and confirm its legitimacy. To this end, registrants must not allow another person to apply their manual seal, handwritten signature (or likeness thereof), or personal digital certificate (including any associated passwords or PIN) under any circumstance. In many jurisdictions, laws and regulations (also known as demand-side legislation) require authentication of engineering and geoscience documents that are used for decision-making in projects for regulatory submissions. Registrants must comply with these requirements to uphold public safety and environmental protection, and to meet legal requirements. Demand side legislation is not the only factor to consider when trying to determine whether authentication is required. Registrants must determine which documents should be authenticated, even when jurisdictional laws and regulations do not explicitly require that they do so. When determining whether to authenticate a document, registrants should ask themselves the following three questions: 1. Does the document contain information resulting from the practice of professional engineering or professional geoscience? 2. Is the document complete for its intended purpose? 3. Will the document be relied upon by others (whether for bidding, permitting, construction, implementation, use, or other reliance)?

If the answer to all three questions is yes, then the document must be authenticated. Engineers and Geoscientists BC Bylaws allow authentication to be completed either manually or digitally. To manually authenticate a document, the document must be printed, the manual seal applied, and a handwritten signature and date added prior to issuance of the physical document. It is also acceptable to have an image of the seal digitally applied to a document, however the minimum requirement is a live signature applied by the registrant named on the seal. This requirement can be met by printing the document and applying a handwritten ink signature, or by a signature created using a touch screen or electronic pen in a manner that requires a unique gesture for each instance. Digital authentication requires that registrants apply a digital seal, signature, and date, in conjunction with an approved digital certificate technology. At this point in time, Notarius is the only digital certificate provider that meets the requirements outlined in Section 3.6.6 of the Guide to the Standard for the Authentication of Documents . This same guide contains detailed information about appropriate methodologies for both manual and digital authentication and should be referenced for further clarity. It is also important to note that all authenticated documents require a valid Permit to Practice number to be applied by a Responsible Registrant of the firm, or by an individual employed by or under contract with the firm who is authorized to do so. The Permit to Practice number may be applied by type, handwriting, electronic means, rubber stamp or any other method that results in a visible and legible Permit to Practice number on the document. Finally, as authentication indicates a document can be relied upon, the act of authentication allows the registrant to take a moment to pause and consider whether they have met their professional and ethical responsibility in relation to the work contained within the authenticated document. For further inquiries and questions, please contact practiceadvisor@egbc.ca . Kendra Zammit, MSc., P.Geo. Practice Advisor

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RINGING IN THE NEW By Brian MacIver Photos by Wendy D Photography IRON RING MARKS 100 YEARS On the centennial of The Calling of An Engineer ceremony, the Seven Wardens Corporation refreshes the Iron Ring tradition with a more modern ceremony.

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Innovation

T he Iron Ring – a symbol worn by Canadian engineers around the world – serves as a reminder of the responsibilities engineering professionals have towards the public, their clients, and the profession itself. It is intended to be worn on the bearer’s working hand, where it serves as a constant reminder of the engineer’s obligations. These include not passing on bad materials or workmanship, supporting colleagues, protecting society, and upholding the highest values, ethics, and morals. The traditional ceremony to receive the ring, called the Iron Ring Ceremony or the Calling of an Engineer, marks its 100th anniversary this year. “[The ring] means a lot to me from when I first got it to this very day,” said Leonard Shara, P.Eng., Chief Warden of the Corporation of the Seven Wardens Corporation, the national non-profit responsible for the administration, maintenance and preservation of the Iron Ring ceremony. He received his ring more than 40 years ago. “It’s wonderful to see everyone receiving their ring when they recite the obligation at the ceremonies. That’s why I love going to them and it never gets old. It’s the best part of the job.” But in recent years, prospective Iron Ring recipients and wearers raised concerns over the ceremony’s use of gendered and religious language. Rudyard Kipling, the author of the Calling of an Engineer ceremony, has been heavily criticized for his imperialist and racist views.

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Century-old Iron Ring ceremony modernized

Calling history The origin of the Iron Ring dates to one of the deadliest engineering accidents in Canadian history: the collapse of the Quebec Bridge. On August 29, 1907, the south section of the clear span cantilever bridge collapsed. The accident killed 76 workers, including 33 Mohawk workers. The loss of Mohawk workers was especially devastating to the Kahnawà:ke community (near Montreal) from where they all hailed. Shara explained the bridge collapse was the fault of American engineers. “Those American engineers never visited the site, not in the design stage, not during construction, and certainly not afterwards,” Shara shared. The accident shook the Canadian engineering community to its core.

As the Iron Ring ceremony approached its centennial, a significant transformation was launched to bring the revered tradition into the modern era. The Seven Wardens Corporation spent more than two years collecting feedback and developing a new, modern ceremony. Kipling “was a product of his time, and was very respected at the time,” said Michelle Mahovlich, P.Eng., P.Geo., Chief Warden of Camp 23. As camp warden, she oversees and administers the Iron Ring ceremony in Victoria. “But now, we are trying to modernize the ceremony.” In 2025, recipients will experience a new ceremony for the first time in 100 years, marking a pivotal moment in the history of the Iron Ring.

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At the Vancouver Iron Ring Ceremony March 31, a recent graduate, at left, gets a warm congratulatory hug from his mom after receiving his ring. At right, Chief Warden Camp 5 Neil K. Hemrajani Singh, P.Eng., strikes the anvil to begin the ceremony. Below, Queen Elizabeth Theatre was packed with about 1,400 ring candidates and guests, totalling about 2,800 people – the largest Camp 5 ceremony so far.

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engineers who have taken the obligation have stopped wearing their rings or have moved the ring to their non working hand in protest. These issues came to a head in 2020. Wardens from Camp 5 in Vancouver, which encompasses UBC, SFU and the BCIT, were removed following several years of sexist and inappropriate comments made before, during, and after the ceremony. The 2020 Camp 5 ceremony was administered by the national corporation and Chief Warden Shara. Out of that scandal came a grassroots effort called “Retool the Ring” whose members aimed to rethink the entire proceeding and to bring to light issues shrouded by the ceremony’s historic privacy and solemnity. Beyond replacing Kipling’s poem and rethinking the ceremony, Retool the Ring opened a larger discussion on the role engineers play in society. In 2023, the group published an academic paper in Frontiers in Education , an online, not-for-profit academic journal, in which they noted “the ongoing discourse about the words, history and symbols associated with iron ring ritual is also a discussion of what engineering is and how the field and practice ought to be represented.” In that paper, the group pointed to the Greater Winnipeg Water District aqueduct. The aqueduct, which spans 154 km, is widely regarded as a modern feat of Canadian

“The past president of the Canadian Society of Engineers, nowadays known as Engineers Canada, came up with the notion in a speech to a whole bunch of his colleagues that we need some kind of esprit de corps, camaraderie, fellowship that would embrace all Canadian engineering graduates into something better than themselves.” The notion of a ceremony asking new engineers to take on the responsibilities that come with the profession quickly took form, and Kipling, an English poet and writer who enjoyed fame in his lifetime, was asked to write out the proceedings. “Almost within days, [Kipling] responded and delivered the original ceremony and the design of the ring, which we have to this day,” Shara said. Over the next century, hundreds of thousands of engineers listened and repeated Kipling’s words as they joined the ranks of their Canadian peers. Barring a few minor word changes in the 1990s to include women and tone down overt religious references, little has changed with the proceeding, despite many protests. Push to modernize Media reports and comments from change proponents highlight how some engineers have felt uneasy about Kipling’s ceremony as far back as the 1980s. Some

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Innovation

The passing of the ring, left, from a current obligant to the new obligant is part of the ritual of the Iron Ring Ceremony. At right, new engineering graduates, from left, Aleah Jordan, SFU, Cameron Taylor, UBC, and Chris Vahi, BCIT, recite the obligation.

Join us July 16, 2025 (5:30-6:30pm PT) in-person or online

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Innovation Summer 2025

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engineering. However, as aqueduct construction began in 1914, the original Ojibwa village of Shoal Lake 40 First Nation was displaced and moved to a man-made island. Shoal Lake 40 First Nation and the nearby Iskatewizaagegan #39 Independent First Nation suffered irreparable harm in the process. Retool the Ring and other proponents of updating the Calling of an Engineer ceremony emphasized the need for more inclusivity, especially towards women, as well as Indigenous populations who have played major roles in engineering projects across the country. Kimberley Brown, P.Eng., is a member of the Lax Kw’alaams Band in the Tsimshian territory spanning BC’s northwest coast. She received her iron ring in 2019. A graduate of UBC, she remembers reflecting on how many of her cohort had parents or grandparents bestow their rings to them; only an obligated engineer may present a new obligant with their ring. “My grandfather wouldn’t have been able to attend university as an Indigenous person in his youth,” she said. “It highlighted why there are so few senior Indigenous engineers. Those opportunities were not available to them at the time. It also highlighted how much engineering is knowing someone in the business.” Brown explained that it was friends’ parents or family members who helped them get co-op jobs, as the network-based opportunities were limited for Indigenous engineering students. In November 2022, two-and-a-half years after the Camp 5 Wardens were removed from their posts, the Corporation of the Seven Wardens announced a national effort to review the ceremony. Barry Levine, P.Eng., is one of the seven wardens of the national corporation. He led the two-year “listening tour” the corporation undertook to better understand the issues being raised. “We collected a lot of information from recent candidates, past candidates, from wardens, from engineering educators and deans, and then these groups [like Retool],” Levine said. “We really wanted to understand what is it that you don’t like about it? What do you like about it? What are the pros and cons and what do we need to focus on?” A work in progress The result of that work has been a new ceremony that honours the values of the original ritual. Kipling and his ceremony were “a product of his time,” Levine said. “We weren’t going to apologize for that, but what we did say, though, is that times have changed.” The corporation commissioned two new poems – one in English and the other in French – to replace Kipling’s words. Meanwhile, a diverse group representing various segments of Canadians reviewed the ceremony and

Engineers and Geoscientists BC CEO Heidi Yang, P.Eng., from left, Michelle Mahovlich, P.Eng., P.Geo., Chief Warden of Camp 23, and Camp 23 Warden Tim Rutley, P.Eng., attend the ceremony in Victoria April 27. Rutley, at 91, is the sole remaining member of the original Camp 23 formed in 1989. P hoto : S ubmitted

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proposed changes. This group included: • Marie-Célie Agnant, author and poet, originally from Haiti, resident of Québec since 1970 • Tom Deer and Joe Deom, representatives from the Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Community, south of Montreal • Chris Hadfield, engineer, author and retired astronaut • Dan Levert, engineer and author • Titilope Sonuga, engineer and poet, Poet Laureate of Edmonton Much of the ceremony’s symbolic items, including the hammer, anvil, and chain will be kept, but the context around them will significantly differ from past ceremonies. Among the most substantial changes are a refocusing on the impacts of the Quebec Bridge collapse and how that tragedy serves as a reminder of the importance of ethical practices in engineering, as well as on the history of Canadian engineering. A land acknowledgement and words from the Mohawk community have also been officially added to the proceedings. “There’s a lot of meaning and significance and tradition,” Shara shared about the new ceremony. “The words that are used today, whether it’s from the Mohawk community, from the land acknowledgement, from the local chief warden, words from poets that we have commissioned, words from Chris Hadfield, words of encouragement in general, plus the oath of obligation make for, we think, a very meaningful ceremony.” Having listened to community feedback and seeing the benefits the new ceremony already is bringing, Shara said “there will always be openings on an annual basis for improvements, modification, and suggestions. This is an open, living, dynamic thing now, and there’s a standing committee on ritual review, so the ceremony will constantly be looked at.” The ceremony modernization makes “a Canadian tradition even more Canadian,” Mahovlich said, “which, in this kind of climate that we’re in right now, is maybe a good thing.”

Engineers and Geoscientists BC Board

member Matthew Salmon,

P.Eng., and CEO Heidi Yang, P.Eng., attend the Iron Ring ceremony in Kelowna on March 22. P hoto : S ubmitted

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Scan the QR code to find out more about The Calling of An Engineer and to view the video from the Coporation of the Seven Wardens.

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Innovation Summer 2025

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PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS 2 0 2 4 - 2 0 2 5

OUR ANNUAL PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS EDITION

SHOWCASES THE INNOVATIVE AND SUSTAINABLE PROJECTS INVOLVING OUR REGISTRANTS.

IRONWORKERS MEMORIAL SECOND NARROWS CROSSING The Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing (also known as the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge) connects the two shores of the Burrard Inlet in Vancouver. At over 60 years old, weighing 20,000 tons, and facilitating 125,000 trips per day, it was crucial to assess the bridge’s condition. Partnering with Associated Engineering (AE), Thurber Engineering Ltd. has been involved in the assessment of the bridge since 2021. Over this time, the team has conducted coating condition assessments for recoating the bridge beams, utilized drones to map surface delamination, performed continuous corrosion potential measurements of reinforced steel using a wheeled electrode, and used ground penetrating radar to estimate concrete thickness and identify faults. Thurber has supported AE in developing rehabilitation options throughout the project to sustainably extend the service life of this crucial infrastructure. Company: Thurber Engineering Ltd. Participants: Thurber: Mark Byram, P.Eng.; Oleksandr Lisoivan, P.Eng.; Alex Minett, AScT. Associated Engineering: Jason Dowling, P.Eng.; Katrin Habel, P.Eng. P hoto : J essica C hami

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Innovation Summer 2025

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PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS | 2024-2025

Landfill engineering and project teams at the City of Vancouver implemented an innovative approach to capture as much landfill gas as early as possible in the Phase 5 area of the Vancouver landfill in Delta. Gas well pads were built at a higher elevation and the infrastructure extended at strategic locations prior to placing the final lifts of garbage and soil ahead of the closure stage. The design had to anticipate the differential settlement of the area while maintaining an active gas-collection system. VANCOUVER LANDFILL EARLY GAS CAPTURE AND AIRSPACE RECOVERY Company: City of Vancouver

Participants: City of Vancouver: Lynn Belanger, P.Eng.; Jerry Sobejko, P.Eng.; Brandon Nguyen, P.Eng.; Hanna Musslick; Ainie Gan, EIT; Rod Zedan, P.Eng.; Luv Raj Singh; Javier Nava Avendano, P.Eng. Sperling Hansen Associates Inc.: Cris Ciuperca, P.Eng.; Ikechukwu Joel; Gabriel Betlen, EIT. SCS Engineers: Ted Massart. P hoto : S ubmitted by the C ity of V ancouver

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MILL CREEK FLOOD PROTECTION - DIVERSION STRUCTURE

largest and most complex capital project, primarily due to the diversion structure and its complicated geometry needed to hydraulically model, study and analyze, as well as its impact on managing water behaviour during floods. Company: CIMA+ Participants: Ali Taleb, P.Eng.; Ali Malekian, Ph.D., P.Eng.; Hossein Fayyazi, P.Eng.; Ali Norouzi Zarmehri; Jesica Ferguson, P.Eng.; Zhe Su. P hoto : S ubmitted by CIMA+ C anada

During the 2010s, the City of Kelowna experienced multiple floods in the Mill Creek area due to high water levels in spring. Climate change doubled the 200 year flows from 12 m³/s to 24.3 m³/s, overwhelming existing flood control structures. The project improved the city’s flooding issues, enhanced public and staff safety, and reduced the risk of damages to properties and businesses. The objectives included improving the hydraulics of a diversion structure, increasing the amount of water diverted towards Mission Creek, managing debris, and improving the upstream pass for spawning fish that had been previously blocked by the original structure. This project was the city’s Prism Engineering provided engineering and related project management services for the implementation of a heat recovery system at Hope Recreation Centre, following a Low Carbon Electrification study. Completed in 2024, this project can achieve annual energy cost savings of $25,200 and reduce carbon emissions by 88.7 tons. Previously, the facility relied on an ammonia plant to make ice and natural gas boilers to heat the pools, wasting heat and producing GHG emissions. Additionally, the ammonia posed safety concerns the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) aimed to eliminate. The ammonia ice plant was replaced with

HOPE RECREATION CENTRE HEAT RECOVERY SYSTEM

a CO2 plant that circulates glycol under the ice slab, capturing waste heat for under-slab, lap pool, and hydronic heating across the facility. These necessary equipment replacements enhance energy efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Company: Prism Engineering Participants: Iram Green, P.Eng.; Stephen Kooiman, MASc, P.Eng.; Tim Aske, P.Eng. P hoto : S ubmitted by P rism E ngineering

Innovation Summer 2025

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PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS | 2024-2025

SUSTAINABLE LITHIUM REFINING

NORAM Electrolysis Systems Inc. (NESI) was commissioned and has delivered a lithium chloride electrolysis plant to Vulcan Energy Resources Limited in Frankfurt, Germany. This electrolysis plant uses renewable energy to convert lithium from geothermal brines to battery-grade, high-purity lithium hydroxide for use in electric vehicles. The lithium produced from this facility represents the first time lithium hydroxide has been produced in Europe from European sources. NESI’s electrolysis technologies offer a sustainable way to refine lithium hydroxide without the production of liquid effluents, which greatly improves the environmental footprint of the process allowing low carbon lithium production at scale to support the electrification of mobility.

Company: NORAM Electrolysis Systems Inc. Participants: Jeremy Moulson, P.Eng.; Robert Lion, P.Eng.; James Smith; Luke Glynn; Wes French. P hoto : C ourtesy of E mbassy of C anada to G ermany

BIODEGRADABLE GEOBAG FOR WASTEWATER OR STORMWATER Keystone Environmental Ltd., supported by CN Rail, developed a biodegradable geobag that has proven to be effective in dewatering performance. It has a faster dewatering rate compared to its synthetic counterpart, while facilitating a more sustainable waste disposal practice at CN wastewater treatment plants across North America. When full, the biodegradable geobags are accepted at industrial waste sites, including thermal recycling facilities and landfills that had previously rejected synthetic geobags. The biodegradable geobag and industrial sludge is now diverted from the landfills, thermally treated, and directed to mine reclamation sites. The research and development of the project spanned over 7 years, starting with a feasibility study, going through material selection (including cost-effective sourcing), and pilot-testing multiple materials and different layering configurations. The biodegradable geobag is currently registered as a patent under CN in Canada and patent

application is in progress in the U.S. Company: Keystone Environmental Ltd.

Participants: Keystone Environmental Ltd.: Christina Chan, P.Eng.; Jill Lam, EIT. CN Rail: Seble Afework, P.Eng (ON).; Oskar Pula, P.Ag. Envirogreen Technologies Ltd.: David Isopo. Layfield Geosynthetics. P hoto : S ubmitted by Keystone Environmental Ltd.

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Innovation