2016 Newsletter
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2016 NEWSLETTER 2016 Chapter Executive CHAIR’S MESSAGE Chair Sharon Barr, P.Eng. On behalf of the Ottawa Chapter Executive, I am pleased to present this summary Vice-Chair of the chapter’s accomplishments and activities for 2016. Based on the number of Kathryn Sutherland, P.Eng. members, the Ottawa Chapter is the largest in the province (over 8500 members), Past Chair and our public and private sector members take pride in the commitment and John Hazel, P.Eng. dedication of professional engineers who serve and protect the public. The Ottawa Treasurer Chapter welcomed newly licensed Engineers at three ceremonies this year Joe Podrebarac, P.Eng. (February, June and December). Secretary Each year the Ottawa Chapter implements a program to deliver on the core Sushanth Sankaran, P.Eng. directives of PEO: to facilitate communication between PEO Council and its members; to provide a forum for discussion of local engineering matters, Directors: professional development and social outreach; and to promote public awareness of Ingrid G. de Buda, P.Eng. the engineering profession. Sucha Mann, P.Eng. David Grant, P.Eng. The 2016 chapter business plan focused on three key operational priorities: Gareth Wood, P.Eng. 1. Representing the interests of the Ottawa Chapter through PEO forums such John Kizas, P.Eng. as the AGM, Regional Congresses and Chapter Leaders Conference, and Tapan Das, P.Eng. collaborating with neighbouring PEO Chapters. Sawsan Abdul-Majid, 2. Furthering progress toward advancing the professional status and welfare of P.Eng. all members, and promoting public awareness of the engineering Frank Akujobi, P.Eng. profession. This includes supporting PEO’s new Practice Evaluation and Damien Letendre, P.Eng. Knowledge (PEAK) program. The PEAK program will help to ensure PEO effectively carries out its role as the regulator of the profession Operational Priorities commensurate with safeguarding the public interest. 3. Partnering with other professional associations, such as the Ontario Society 1) To align Chapter activities of Professional Engineers (OSPE), to offer networking opportunities and a with PEO HQ priorities, broad variety of events, such as the Sustainability Workshop, Technical supporting strategic and Tours, and keynote speakers (Engineering Change Lab, LRT, Elliott Lake tactical initiatives; Enquiry). This year, we engaged with engineering students throughout the 2) To organize core activities National Capital, from both University of Ottawa and Carleton University as and provide networking well as several school and community outreach events to celebrate National opportunities for members; Engineering Month in March. In October of this year, the Ottawa Chapter 3) To serve and communicate celebrated the year anniversary of the Entrepreneurship program. with PEO members and their families. Chapter activities are made possible through the dedicated efforts of a remarkable team of volunteers. I would like to express my gratitude to these enthusiastic volunteers, and to the hard-working members of the Executive Committee. I thank you all for your support and commitment to the profession and to the Chapter. Sharon Barr, P.Eng., Chapter Chair 2016 OTTAWA CHAPTER – PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS ONTARIO Mailing Address: M-004, 1554 Carling Ave, Nepean, Ontario K1Z 7M4 [email protected] www.ottawa.peo.on.ca - Page 1- CHAPTER OPERATIONAL PRIORITY 1 To align Chapter activities with PEO HQ priorities, supporting strategic and tactical initiatives 56th PEO Ottawa Chapter New Members Nights Annual General Meeting (AGM) The Ottawa Chapter formally welcomed a total of 65 The 56th PEO Ottawa Chapter Annual General Meeting licence holders in 2016 in three separate ceremonies. (AGM) was held on Wednesday, February 24th, 2016 at Sala San Marco on Preston Street. Approximately 100 people attended the AGM, including seven new members who received their licence certificates. The first ceremony was held in conjunction with our 56th annual AGM on February 24th, 2016 at Sala San Marco on Preston Street. The keynote speaker for the evening The keynote speaker for the evening was Mark Abbott was Mark Abbott who spoke on the subject of the who spoke on the subject of the "Engineering Change "Engineering Change Lab Animator". Seven out of 15 Lab Animator". Having obtained a Mechanical licence holders attended this ceremony. Engineering degree along with his Professional Engineering designation, Mark now supports the strategy and execution of all activities and projects of the ECL initiative after a numbers of years in consulting. 94th PEO Annual General Meeting The 94th PEO Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on Friday, April 29 and Saturday, April 30, 2016 at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto. Our Chair Sharon Barr and Vice Chair Kathryn Sutherland were invited delegates representing the Ottawa Chapter. The theme of the meeting was ‘Step by Step’, advancing and regulating engineering practice in the public interest. The keynote speaker was Jesse Brown, journalist and publisher of Canadaland. His topic of discussion was: ‘seizing the momentum generated by the new “Internet The second ceremony was held on June 29th, 2016 at of things”’. The Order of Honour Gala was held on the Carleton University. The keynote speaker for the evening of Friday, April 29. Follow this link on PEO’s evening was Richard Holder who spoke on the subject of website for more information on the 2016 recipients: the "City of Ottawa’s Confederation Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project". Fifteen out of 22 licence holders http://www.peo.on.ca/index.php/ci_id/29540/la_id/1.htm attended this ceremony. OTTAWA CHAPTER – PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS ONTARIO Mailing Address: M-004, 1554 Carling Ave, Nepean, Ontario K1Z 7M4 [email protected] www.ottawa.peo.on.ca - Page 2- The third and final ceremony of the year was held on Finally, the LAP Committee and PEO HQ conducted a December 8th, 2016 at the RA Center, Clark Hall. The webinar on licensing requirements for internationally keynote speaker for the evening was Todd Storms, B.A., trained engineers at the request of WorldSkills.org. M.A., LL.B of the firm Templeman Menninga LLP We would encourage our members to take part in this Barristers and Solicitors, speaking on the subject of the valuable and important experience. Should our 2012 Elliot Lake Algoma Mall Collapse, and the effects experienced engineers wish to sign up, please find this the recommendations stemming from the Elliot Lake link on the PEO HQ website and join Inquiry could have on the engineering profession should http://www.peo.on.ca/index.php/ci_id/25664/la_id/1.htm. they be implemented. Nineteen out of 28 licence holders attended this ceremony. Many thanks to all our volunteers assisting in 2016 and we hope to see you all again for the 2017 program. Chapter By-Law Amendments The 2016 Committee Members were Ingrid de Buda, David Grant and Joe Podrebarac. There were no by-law amendments ratified at the 2016 AGM. The committee proposed the amendment of two clauses. Following is the original clause, the proposed amendment and the rationale for the change: Section 12 of the Bylaws currently reads: These By-Laws may be amended by a two- thirds majority vote of a quorum of the Executive Committee subject to ratification by majority of Chapter members attending the next Annual Chapter Licensure Assistance Program General Meeting. The amendment when passed, shall be forwarded to the Secretary of the Association of Professional Engineers of the Ottawa PEO hosted the annual guides appreciation night Province of Ontario. on March 16th, 2016 at the Fox and Feather pub on Elgin street, where both EITs and guides could informally This will be amended to read: discuss progress and any future enhancements to the These By-Laws may be amended by a two- program. thirds majority vote of a quorum of the Executive Committee subject to ratification by majority of The LAP program for 2016 commenced with our annual Chapter members attending the next Annual discussion on the licensing process on March 17th, 2016 General Meeting. The amendment when at the RA Centre. Tracey Caruana from PEO HQ passed, shall be forwarded to the Association of provided this engaging discussion, the aim of which was Professional Engineers of the Province of to inform potential EITs of licensing requirements, but Ontario. also to recruit guides to support the mentoring portion of the program. Rationale: Removing "the Secretary of" allows the Executive to send the copy of any amendment to just the The mentoring portion of the LAP program kicked off on Chapter Manager or any other Headquarter delegate, June 28th, 2016 with the LAP training session at the RA rather than the Secretary who does not wish to receive Centre. This session saw the matching of 14 these. mentors/EIT pairs, including Mr. Jean Labbe, who commendably took on two EITs this year. Section 7(e) currently reads: Such a membership-based nomination shall be In 2016 the Chapter has successfully allocated a Monitor accomplished by submitting a written nomination to an Ottawa-based company to assess the professional to the Chapter Secretary, signed by a minimum experience of one of their personnel. The Chapter would of three members and bearing the signature of like to also show its gratitude to Mr. Simon Sunatori for the nominee, which signifies willingness to stand undertaking this challenging but very important role. for election. OTTAWA CHAPTER – PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS ONTARIO Mailing Address: M-004, 1554 Carling Ave, Nepean, Ontario K1Z 7M4 [email protected] www.ottawa.peo.on.ca - Page 3- This will be amended to read: We had also organized the following monthly Such a membership-based nomination shall be meetings/events: accomplished by submitting a written nomination to the Chapter Secretary, signed by a minimum 1) November 29th, 2016 – speakers: Mr. David Mann, of three members and bearing the signature of CEO inBay Technologies Inc.; Mr.