November 2005 ISSUE
Newsmakers
Diamond Woman Wins Edmonton Award
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| A Cut Above |
COMPILED BY FRANCINE MAXWELL
Editorial Assistant
A consumer survey of the general public and business peers has landed Pamela Strand, P.Geol., the Consumers’ Choice Award for Edmonton’s Business Woman of the Year.
Ms. Strand, the president and CEO of Shear Minerals Ltd., was presented with her award at a Sept. 19 gala.
She received a plaque naming her the top consumer choice in her category, as well as permission to use the Consumers’ Choice Award logo with any advertising and promotions throughout the coming year.
Suncor Energy Foundation
Makes Record Donation
The largest cash donation ever made by Suncor also happens to be the largest cash donation ever received by NAIT.
To address a skilled worker shortage, Suncor Energy, through the Suncor Energy Foundation, has donated $3 million. The money will create the NAIT Suncor Energy Centre for Piping Technologies.
It will also support 10 scholarships each year for five years for students participating in this training. The scholarships will focus primarily on aboriginal, immigrant and female students, who are currently underrepresented in the skilled trades workforce.
The donation was made during the Building on Demand campaign, which NAIT launched recently. Building on Demand is designed to help with the costs of constructing 11 new training centres, which will focus on apprenticeship technologies and business.
Also making donations were Spartan Controls and Waiward Steel, along with the Ironworkers Local 720.
Behr Moves Up To Vice-President At Terra Energy
John Behr, P.Geoph., has been promoted from his position as chief geophysicist to vice-president of exploration at Terra Energy Corporation.
Mr. Behr has more than 20 years of experience in geophysics, working for such companies as Shell Canada, Rio Alto Exploration, El Paso and Dominion Exploration. His expertise lies in structural and stratigraphic interpretation, and he’s also known for originating novel geophysical methods. Mr. Behr is responsible for finding major strikes in the Viking, Cadotte and Mississippian formations.
Bowley Named Colonia CEO
Executive vice-president and CEO of Colonia Corporation is the new title of George P. Bowley, P.Geol.
Mr. Bowley brings with him more than 28 years of geological experience working for such companies as PanCanadian Petroleum (now EnCana), Canadian Superior Oil Ltd., General American Oils Ltd., Geocrude Energy Inc. and Canada Northwest Energy Limited. He has also held senior executive positions within Cube Energy Corp., Monterey Energy Corp. and International Sovereign Energy Corp.
Mr. Bowley, a University of Alberta graduate, will retain a director position with the corporation.
Five Permit Holders Recognized for Growth
Imaging Dynamics, zed.i solution inc., Dynetek Industries Ltd., CSI Wireless Inc. and Matrikon Inc. have all been recognized as being in the top 50 Fastest Growing Companies, by Deloitte Canada. This is the second consecutive time CSI Wireless Inc. has been recognized in the listing.
In addition to making the top 50, CSI received the GrowthWorks Leadership Award for leadership and innovation in the telecommunications/wireless sector.
Deloitte annually recognizes technology companies with growth sustained at or over 32 per cent over two consecutive years. Individual recognition is also given to companies that have achieved excellence, in Deloitte’s estimation, in such areas as business performance, intellectual property, and management and growth.
CIM Awards APEGGA Members
Two APEGGA members were awarded recently by the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum for their commitments and contributions to the industry.
Edwin Fraser, P.Eng., was awarded the CIM Distinguished Service Medal. The gold medal, which CIM calls its highest award, recognized Mr. Fraser’s continuing contribution to CIM branch, district and national efforts, promoting the minerals and energy industries to the public, and helping spread knowledge and fellowship among CIM members.
Mr. Fraser, a Queen’s University graduate in geological engineering, has been a project engineer, a mine geologist, a coal exploration geologist and a geological engineer. He remains active within the volunteer ranks of CIM, and is also a job search and placement consultant with Calgary’s Resource Professionals Inc.
Paul R. Clark, P.Eng., was awarded the CIM Coal Award, which is given to CIM members who have made outstanding contributions to the coal industry in Canada and who have been long-standing, active participants in the Coal and Oil Sands Division of CIM. Mr. Clark was recognized for his commitment to the development of clean coal technology.
A career in mining of more than 30 years has seen Mr. Clark hold senior positions in engineering, operations and consulting. He is a fellow of the CIM, a director of the Alberta Chamber of Resources, a director of the Science Alberta Foundation, and TransAlta Corporation’s technical representative on the Canadian Clean Power Coalition. He is also a trustee for Alberta Energy Research Institute’s EnergyINet.
Former Councillor Joins Canoro Board
John Boyd, P.Geoph., has been appointed to the board of directors of the Canadian-based international oil and gas company Canoro Resources Ltd.
Mr. Boyd, president of Boyd Exploration Consultants Ltd. and a former APEGGA Councillor, brings with him more than 25 years of experience in exploration. He is a past president of the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists and a former director of Paloma Petroleum Ltd.