SUMMER 2015 I can confidently say that APEGA’s much-discussed transformation is beginning to pay dividends. Members and applicants can count themselves as recipients of these benefits, and so too can the public Connie Parenteau, P.Eng. APEGA’s 96th President PROGRESS AND RENEWAL The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta | apega.ca Contents PEG FEATURED PHOTO: SUMMER 2015 PAGE 23›› Progress 10 44 and Renewal 60 FEATURES DEPARTMENTS 10 Meet the President 4 President's Notebook 71 And You Are? 35 Takeaway Learnings 6 CEO’s Message 74 Focal Point 40 Personal Branding — Online 16 Readers’ Forum 80 Member Benefits 44 PROGRESS AND RENEWAL 18-33 Latitude 83 Record • Nominate Now 35 Professional Development • Legislative Review • Appeals, Stamps, Titles 55 Viewfinder • Membership Totals 65 AEF Campaign Connection • Renewing Member Services 59 Rubber-Band Innovators PRINTED IN CANADA SUMMER 2015 PEG | 1 US POSTMASTER: PEG (ISSN 1923-0044) is published quarterly in Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter, by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta, c/o US Agent-Transborder Mail 4708 Caldwell Rd E, Edgewood, WA 98372-9221. $15 of the annual membership dues applies to the yearly subscription of The PEG. Periodicals postage paid at Puyallup, WA, and at additional mailing offices. US POSTMASTER, send address changes to PEG c/o Transborder Mail, PO Box 6016, Federal Way, WA 98063-6016, USA. The publisher has signed an affiliation agreement with the Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency. Please return Canadian undeliverables to: APEGA, 1500 Scotia One, 10060 Jasper Ave., Edmonton, AB T5J 4A2. Publications Mail Sales Product VOLUME 6 | NUMBER 2 | SUMMER 2015 Agreement No. 40062712 (Print) ISSN 1923-0044 (Online) ISSN 1923-0052 Opinions published in The PEG do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policy of the Association or its Council. Editorial inquiries: [email protected]. Advertising inquiries: [email protected]. Editor George Lee [email protected] Administrative Assistant Catherine Hiemstra [email protected] STAFF LEADERSHIP 2014–2015 COUNCIL EXECUTIVE President Connie Parenteau, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) (St. Albert) Chief Executive Officer Mark Flint, P.Eng. President-Elect Dr. Steve Hrudey, P.Eng., FCAE (Canmore) Director, Executive & Government Relations Pat Lobregt, FEC (Hon.), FGC (Hon.) Vice-President Nima Dorjee, P.Eng. (Calgary) Director of Operations Krista Nelson-Marciano, BA Past-President Colin Yeo, P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.) (Calgary) Special Advisor to the CEO Len Shrimpton, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) Councillors Dr. Jeff DiBattista, P.Eng., MBA (Edmonton) REGULATORY Lisa Doig, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) (Calgary) Registrar Carol Moen, P.Eng. Jennifer Enns, P.Eng. (Calgary) George Eynon, P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.) (Calgary) MEMBER SERVICES Dr. Brad Hayes, P.Geol., FGC (Calgary) Director, Member Services Heidi Yang, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) Wenona Irving, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) (Edmonton) COMMUNICATIONS Paul Knowles, P.Eng. (Calgary) Director, Communications Philip Mulder, APR, FEC (Hon.), FGC (Hon.) Craig McFarland, P.Eng. (Calgary) Mahsoo Naderi-Dasoar, P.Eng. (Edmonton) CORPORATE SERVICES John Rhind, P.Geol. (Calgary) Director, Corporate Services D.S. (Pal) Mann, P.Eng. Art Washuta, P.Eng. (Edmonton) Terry Waters, P.Eng. (Calgary) APEGA CONTACT INFO Public Representatives Ross J. Harris, FCA, ICD.D HEAD OFFICE CALGARY OFFICE Robert Lloyd, QC 1500 Scotia One 2200 Scotia Centre Mary Phillips-Rickey, FCA 10060 Jasper Avenue NW 700 Second Street SW Engineers Canada Directors Jim Beckett, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) Edmonton AB T5J 4A2 Calgary AB T2P 2W1 PH 780-426-3990 PH 403-262-7714 Larry Staples, P.Eng., FEC, FGC (Hon.) TOLL FREE 1-800-661-7020 TOLL FREE 1-888-262-3688 Geoscientists Canada President George Eynon, P.Geo., FGC, FEC (Hon.) FAX 780-426-1877 FAX 403-269-2787 www.apega.ca BRANCH CHAIRS [email protected] Calgary Adekunle (Ade) Okusanya, P.Eng., MBA [email protected] Central Alberta Sonny Nagra, P.Eng. [email protected] Edmonton Sadiq A. Pirani, P.Eng. [email protected] Fort McMurray Unokhaso (Uno) Monofi, P.Eng. [email protected] Lakeland Natasha Pounder, P.Eng. [email protected] Lethbridge Adam St. Amant, P.Eng. [email protected] Medicine Hat Said Said Yussuf, P.Eng. [email protected] Peace Region Brian Morrison, P.Eng. [email protected] Vermilion River Dustin Wiltermuth, P.Eng. [email protected] Yellowhead Vacant 2 | PEG SUMMER 2015 Smart. Choice. For 38 years, Nilex’s engineered, technically advanced geosynthetic materials have provided customers with choices and alternatives to conventional construction methods for less money. Smart, environmentally conscious solutions used in road building, Mechanically Stabilized Earth walls for grade changes, erosion and sediment control, water management and containment. Nilex. Smart. Choice. nilex.com APEGAMASTER President’s Notebook Everyday Leadership — Pass it On BY CONNIE PARENTEAU, P.ENG., FEC, FGC (HON.) APEGA President My journey to the APEGA presidency piece of advice, the positive reinforcement, began with the perfect career choice the nudge in the right direction, the — a choice that stemmed from the right carefully crafted criticism. suggestion from the right person at the Everyday leaders sometimes fade right time. I was one of perhaps 100 high into the background of your life, but their school students my guidance counsellor impact carries on as you carry on. They would talk to in an average year, but he are empathetic, understanding and selfless. knew who I was and what I might become. They find time, as they go about their He saw things in me that I didn’t know regular business, to recognize the abilities were there, and he made a suggestion that and strengths of others. Sometimes the would, as it turns out, profoundly affect things they notice are latent or well-hidden my life. — it takes that outside observer to make I’ve said this before but it bears them apparent. That’s certainly been my repeating: Being your President is a huge experience. privilege. I get to lead a great organization at a critical time in its history. But I did not THE APEGA CONNECTION get here without the support, influence, and leadership of others. The same holds By now you may be wondering, what true for my other professional and career does any of this have to do with being a accomplishments. Professional Engineer or Geoscientist? Let And it all started with a counsellor me connect it to you and your Association. who was simply doing his job. “There’s North American society has a a panel discussion on engineering propensity for celebrating the individual. happening at the university,” he said. (I make this point in an edition of The PEG “Your math and science marks are strong. that features about 10 photos of me!) Perhaps you should go.” I knew nothing There’s really nothing wrong with this about engineering. In fact, I didn’t even propensity, but we do need to remind understand what it was. So of course I ourselves that individual achievement is had no clue it would turn into an incredible only one element in any success story. career. Still, I acted on my counsellor’s Most of the recipients of our Summit suggestion, and in doing so found my Awards are individuals. Listen to their passion. words and a universal truth emerges: I’m embarrassed to say I can’t no one succeeds without support. Do remember the counsellor’s name. But in recipients heap praise on themselves? a way that’s appropriate. All leadership No. Instead, they inspire us all with their — but especially the everyday kind that’s humility and their willingness to give available to us all — is not centred on the others credit. person doing the leading. It’s centred on At least four Summit Awards directly the recipient of the kind word, the timely connect to the topic of this column, in that 4 | PEG SUMMER 2015 President’s Notebook APEGA they celebrate Members for influencing THE EVERYDAY LIST or helping others. The Outstanding Men- tor Award, the Community Service Award, This is a subject dear to me, so I hope the Excellence in Education Award, and you’ll excuse a bit of corniness. Let the Women in Engineering and Geoscience me offer you an everyday way to be Champion Award — these go to Members an everyday leader, by providing a few with roles particularly suited to everyday suggestions you can use in your own lives leadership. and careers. Our awards are examples of the • Recognize — What positive things have selflessness and service that lie at the core I said about others? of professionalism. A leadership thread, • Empower — How have I helped others after all, runs through our Code of Ethics. I’ll reach their goals? single out the requirement that we “uphold • Demonstrate Self Respect — What have and enhance the honour, dignity and I done to be good to myself? reputation of (our) professions and thus • Express Gratitude Often — Have I said the ability of the professions to serve the thank you to someone? public interest.” To me, this says that our individual THANK YOU reputations affect the overall reputation of our professions. Most of us hope that With the last point in mind, I have to say others describe us in positive terms, even that my high school counsellor was but when they disagree with us. We hope we one of many influences. A parade of other matter, in other words. We hope we’re leaders have played important roles in my having a positive impact on the people personal and professional growth. Among around us — the stranger on the bus, them are my colleagues, students, other the student in our class, the Member-in- professional women, APEGA Councillors Training on our work team.