E.I.C. Honors APEGGA Members As National Engineering Week Starts

The Engineering Institute of Canada (E.I.C.), as part of the launch of National Engineering Week in Ottawa on March 2, awarded Robert (Bob) Blair, Eng., the Julian C. Smith Medal in recognition of achievement in the development of Canada.

The former CEO of Nova Corp. was one of several APEGGA members honored at the E.I.C. Awards Banquet, which featured a keynote address by Syncrude CEO Eric Newell, P.Eng., Honorary Chair of National Engineering Week 1998.

Under Mr. Blair's leadership, Nova. Corp. became one of Alberta's most respected industrial conglomerates. His contributions earlier have been recognized with APEGGA's Frank Spragins Award in 1983 and by his appointment as a Companion of the Order of Canada. Mr. Blair has been involved in many community-related interests, including ones related to First Nations and Metis issues. He currently is chairman emeritus of Nova Corp., a professor of environmental design at The University of Calgary, as well as chair of both Agri Pulp Management, and Blair Industries, a compressor manufacturing and leasing company.

In his speech, Mr. Newell urged the engineering community to become even more involved in ensuring high educational standards, while also continuing to alert young people to the career opportunities that arise from science and math literacy. He noted recent successes demonstrated by Alberta Grade 12 students in placing third and fifth respectively, in math and science, in an international comparison of 24 countries and provinces.

This,ö he said, speaks highly of educators, but it also reflects, I think, the excellent work our engineering and science community has done in Alberta.

And Mr. Newell stressed: The best legacy we can create is to leave the profession in good hands . . . hands that are ready to meet the considerable challenges of a new millennium.

He further called upon engineers and their technical societies to take a leadership role by encouraging a dialogue that promotes education and debate over society's use of our natural resources.

It's highly relevant to all Canadians and is an issue that demands the thoughtful discourse (engineers) can provide.

Other APEGGA members, in addition to Mr. Blair, among those honored by E.I.C. were:

Victor Mulligan, P.Eng., of Golder Associates, a resident of Oakville, ON, who received the K.Y. Lo Medal recognizing significant engineering contributions at the international level.

Ken Putt, P.Eng., industrial technology adviser with the Petroleum Services Association of Canada in Calgary, who was presented with the Canadian Pacific Railway Engineering Medal awarded for his many years of leadership and service to E.I.C. and its member societies at the regional and local levels.

Three members of APEGGA were among 13 new Fellows of the Engineering Institute of Canada. They are:

C.O. (Chuck) Brawner, P.Eng., president of C.O. Brawner Engineering Ltd. of Vancouver, B.C.;

David E. Reid, P.Eng., vice-president of engineering and construction, TransCanada Pipelines Ltd., of Calgary; and

Maja Veljkovic, P.Eng., team leader, Upgrading Research Program, Syncrude Canada Ltd. in Edmonton, who is also president of the Canadian Society for Chemical Engineering.

E.I.C. fellowships are awarded annually to a select number of engineers to recognize their exceptional contributions to engineering in Canada.