FEBRUARY 2006 ISSUE
checking in
Editor’s Note: Checking In, a regular feature of The PEGG, is designed
to keep you up-to-date on APEGGA’s numerous and varied programs and initiatives.
Consider it a project update and news digest, with website links and PEGG rerences
to help you find out more.
BY FRANCINE MAXWELL
Editorial Assistant
√Council Approves
Compliance Consultants
Very soon there will be three new faces working out of the Calgary APEGGA office,
assisting APEGGA’s Compliance Department in its efforts to enforce the
EGGP Act against non-licensed and unqualified persons and corporations.
In its quest for 100 per cent compliance with licensure requirements, Council approved additional resources to the Compliance Department for the hiring of a professional engineer, a professional geologist and a professional geophysicist on a part-time basis. The new Compliance consultants will be both pro-active and reactive in nature.
Dave Todd, P.Eng., Director, Compliance, says that the goal is to increase APEGGA’s ability to investigate and resolve cases.
“The main function of these positions will be investigative, to go to the actual businesses and talk to them, see if in fact they are in violation of the EGGP Act or not, and create a dialogue.”
The new positions will create an extension of the Edmonton Compliance Department. While initial contact will still originate out of the Edmonton office, further investigations, when required, can continue in a more personal fashion from Calgary.
“The first course of action is to contact the company or person by letter. Sometimes that’s enough to obtain resolution. But that’s rare,” says Mr. Todd. “With more resources available to create a dialogue with cases, we have better management of our gentle persuasion method of ensuring compliance. Legal action is our last resort in most cases.”
Mr. Todd added that the intent of Compliance is not to force doors to close but rather to work with people to obtain the correct licence in order to practice within the EGGP Act.
Further Info
www.apegga.org, under Careers
√APEGGA Celebrates Staff Service
Family and colleagues gathered recently with Jeanne Keaschuk, Senior Coordinator, Outreach Program, to celebrate her 30 years at APEGGA.
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Pictured with Jeanne Keaschuk is Neil Windsor, P.Eng. APEGGA Executive Director and Registrar, who was on hand to present her with a certificate acknowledging her 30 years of service as an APEGGA employee. |
Ms. Keaschuk began in 1975 in the then Career Development department in a secretarial capacity. Her responsibilities included the Resumé Referral program and the Salary Survey. She moved on to become the administrator of Career Development and began working with committees such as Student Liaison in Calgary and Edmonton and Career Counseling
In 1996 Ms. Keaschuk became the student Outreach coordinator and has since become the senior Outreach coordinator.
Along the way she has seen a few changes around the office, including some
of the faces.
“I’ve seen the coming and going of 31 presidents and four executive
directors. In fact, I met our current president, Larry Staples, P.Eng., early
on in my career while he was volunteering on a committee. That has to be some
25 years ago now. So we’ve come full circle, he and I,” says Ms.
Keaschuk.
Ms. Keaschuk said she’s been privileged to have had the career opportunities that APEGGA has afforded her, and to have met and worked with many diverse and interesting people.
“I still enjoy my work and all the challenges and diversity it has, as well as learning the diversity of roles within APEGGA. I feel very privileged to have had the opportunities to advance at APEGGA and to work with the calibre of staff that exists here.”
√Numerous Events to Attend
National Engineering & Geoscience Week, Feb. 24 to March 6, and the annual
APEGGA Science Olympics provide a number of events to attend and enjoy.
The U of A Engineering Students’ Society is hosting a banquet open to all students, faculty members and alumni, as well as interested industry members. The dinner will include keynote speakers and special guests of interest. Find out more by contacting Jonathan Lee or Chris Stinson at negw@ess.ualberta.ca.
In Calgary Fluor Canada invites companies to participate in Canstruction.
This event is the first of its kind in Calgary. Engineering and geoscience professionals
as well as related trades people will construct various structures using canned
food. In the end the cans will be donated to the food bank.
The annual APEGGA Science Olympics provides the general public a chance to come
out and cheer on budding scientists as they compete in various hands-on challenges
utilizing their knowledge of science. There are six such olympics held around
the province.
Related Stories
APEGGA Encourages Members to Celebrate Innovation, Page 7, This Month’s
PEGG.
Special NEGW insert, Feb. 23, Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald
Related Links
www.apegga.org/K12/negw/toc.html
www.apegga.org/K12/olympics/toc.html