July 2006 ISSUE
READERS' FORUM
Generational Change Needed
Re: APEGGA’s initiative to attract Aboriginal members.
Your goal is very noble. However, it is naive to think that this program is going
to be able to create interest in math and sciences, mentor students (particularly
when the mentor is from outside the community), create a few scholarships for
Aboriginal youth — and suddenly have a bunch of new Aboriginal engineers.
There are huge obstacles facing many native communities that this initiative
simply does not address.
The biggest obstacle preventing Aboriginal youth from entering a university professional
program is distrust of the “white” school system. Young students
with parents or grandparents who went through the residential school system do
not usually get the message from their families that school is important. Without
support from their families, high school students skip classes and do not put
an effort into learning or studying.
The end result is that many students do not complete high school with university-entry-level prerequisites.
The next obstacle for Aboriginal students is a shortage of good teachers in their communities. The majority of non-Aboriginal teachers are reluctant to work on reserves, particularly very remote ones. The teachers that are available may have to teach subjects that are not their main area, and may be unable to give students the best explanations and encourage a deep interest in those subjects. Turnover of teachers is high.
The result is that students on reserve schools do not receive the same level of education as those in the cities.
The professional workforce is not limited to engineers, geologists and geophysicists, proud though we all are of our professions. The goal should be encouragement into many professions.
It will take many generations to reach. The obstacles need solutions — solutions that have to come from the Aboriginal community or they will be perceived as more interference.
If we can achieve that in one generation, then the next generation of Aboriginal students will be more inclined to enter any professional program.
Shaun Hill, P. Eng.
Calgary
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Dubai Skiing
Dates Confused
Re: Going Skiing? Think Dubai, World Watch, The PEGG, May 2006.
Although I was happy to see a mention of my new home in The PEGG, I should point out that the opening date of Ski Dubai was December 2005, not September 2006. Many expatriates and locals are enjoying the novelty and cool air of this indoor ski slope, and it truly is a great piece of engineering.
Your writer perhaps confused Ski Dubai with another planned development in
the city, Dubai Sunny Mountain Ski Dome. It is planned as part of the Dubailand
development, and will boast many attractions, including an indoor mountain range,
revolving ski slope, “penguinarium,” ice bridge and deluxe hotel.
In a city where summer temperatures can reach 50 C, these indoor ski slopes may
give residents a reason to stay in town — and tourists a reason to visit
in the off-season.
Heather Larson, P.Eng.
Dubai
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Kathmandu Retrofit
Support Needed
Re: Starting with the Children — Alberta Engineers Retrofit School
in Kathmandu Earthquake Zone, The PEGG, April 2004.
A small team of engineers and technologists from Stantec and Janto Engineering,
led by John Alexander, P.Eng., from UMA, continues to volunteer on this project.
We have now looked at two buildings of this boarding school for children from
remote and impoverished areas of the Himalayas.
We propose to develop our preliminary design for the vulnerable four-storey,
reinforced concrete frame dormitory by designing a thin concrete “sandwich” to
enclose the weak, brick-infill partition walls. Additionally, full-height external
shear walls will provide the main stiffening.
One of us plans to travel to Nepal this year to confirm and provide additional on-site information, and meanwhile fundraising is ongoing. An additional volunteer with some time to spare, such as a retired structural engineer, would be most welcome to assist with the design work.
Anyone interested in this or who would like to contribute funding, please contact me at the number or address below.
Andrew Mitchell, P.Eng.
Edmonton
780-437-3688
andrewmgmitchell@shaw.ca
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Bullying Series Needs Employee Perspective
Re: Workplace is No Place for Bullies, The PEGG, May and June 2006.
Your articles address many aspects and actions that an ethical company or employer should consider. They do not, however, address actions a bullied employee should take.
A high number employers, managers and supervisors unfortunately do not share these liberal views or aspirations, and these changes in attitude may take some time.
There are no laws against being a jerk. All the techniques used by bullies are fair game for those wishing to use them unless they tread into the legal area of harassment.
Bullying based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age, mental or physical disability is harassment. If an employee is feeling legally harassed, a good lawyer specializing in employment law should be contacted.
If it is not harassment, the anti-bullying programs you suggested may be of help when they are properly and safely implemented.
It is important to stress that the anti-bullying policies by human resource departments and professionals are just policies, not law. These policies are ethical guidelines that any company with integrity should adhere to.
Your desire to bring this subject to the forefront of management issues to be dealt with is welcome and the right thing to do. Only good things for employers and employees should come from it.
In the meantime, be aware that employers, managers and supervisors can ignore or change policies to suit their needs.
John Dickin, P.Eng.
Red Deer
Editor’s Note: Our anti-bullying series continues in September.
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Members Bike South
For Cancer Survivorship
This fall several members of APEGGA will participate in the second charity bike
ride from Calgary to Austin, explained fully at www.ctapp.org.
The Calgary to Austin Peloton Project will see more than 30 bicycling enthusiasts participate in support of cancer survivorship programs in Alberta. The seven-day excursion will feature riders in groups of six riding relay-style 24 hours a day along a 2,400-mile trek. We’ve scheduled the event for us to arrive in Austin in time to participate in the Lance Armstrong Foundation LiveSTRONG charity bike ride on Oct. 8.
The 2005 event was a phenomenal success with over $250,000 raised for survivorship,
as well as huge awareness of our efforts through the media and with the Lance
Armstrong Foundation.
The members, in addition to me, who are participating include John Ostrom, P.Geol.,
Patrick Murphy, P.Eng., Rob Montgomery, P.Eng., Soren Christiansen, P.Eng., and
Peter Mercier, P.Eng.
I am a cancer survivor myself and I hope this project can inspire other cancer survivors as it has inspired me.
Brian McGregor, P.Eng.
Calgary
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Group Announces
Awards for Seniors
The Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton has just introduced a prestigious
new award to honour the contribution of seniors in our community. The SAGE Awards
recognize and celebrate our outstanding seniors’ wisdom, vision, courage
and leadership that challenge, inspire, engage and empower — both young
and old — in making our community and the world a better place to live,
work and play in.
Engineers and geoscientists have been actively involved in building this community and continue to play pivotal roles in ensuring that Edmonton remains a great place to call home. I ask APEGGA members to consider nominating a friend or colleague for these awards.
The awards will recognize eight seniors aged 60 years or older, in the Greater Edmonton Area. The eight award categories and more information can be found at www.mysage.ca.
The inaugural SAGE Awards Gala will be held Oct. 17 at the Sutton Place Hotel. Mayor Stephen Mandel is the honorary chair.
Please hurry, because close date for nominations is July 15.
Miki Andrejevic
SAGE AWARDS