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BY VIC JANZ, P.ENG.
Member at Large
The Medicine Hat Branch of APEGGA includes Brooks and the
surrounding area to the borders of Saskatchewan and the United
States. The area continues to be active in promoting engineering,
geology and geophysics within the community, and providing
opportunities for members to learn, grow and remain in contact
with their Association.
Activities in 2002 began with a President's Visit in January,
hosted at the Canadian Forces Base Suffield. The evening was
an opportunity for members in the area to meet the outgoing
and incoming APEGGA presidents, welcome new area APEGGA inductees,
and recap the past year for the Medicine Hat Branch with the
annual general meeting. The event was enhanced by a delicious
buffalo steak meal prepared by the base's chefs.
A number of events during the year promoted branch member
participation and learning opportunities. A presentation by
the City of Medicine Hat's Economic Development Department
was held in the spring. This event highlighted that Medicine
Hat has reached the 50,000 mark in population, an important
benchmark in planning services and future growth.
In keeping with tradition, the eighth annual APEGGA/ASET Golf
Tournament was held during the summer. As usual, both groups
enjoyed a good time.
A joint plant tour of the Wittke Waste Management facility
was held in late October. Members from the branch co-hosted
a Family Science Olympics with Praxis in October during National
Science & Technology Week. This event attracted children
and adults from around the city to interactive science displays
designed to enhance both interest in and an understanding
of science principles. The branch also hosted a family BBQ
with Rocketry demonstrations and Star gazing at the local
observatory. This new type of event was extremely popular
attracting our highest member turnout for the year.
This year the branch co-hosted several activities with other
organizations as a means to expand networking possibilities
and help with the workload and costs of events.
Community Development
Growth within the area continues, both within industry and
the city infrastructure. The Goodyear tire plant has undertaken
an expansion to increase product lines. Plans continue for
a future Encana/Canadian Fertilizers Co-Generation facility.
A City of Medicine Hat/Cancarb co-generation facility is on
line.
A project to twin the Allowance Avenue Overpass, which spans
the Canadian Pacific Rail system near the city center, is
the city's major expansion project for 2002/2003. A second
overpass to twin the existing two-lane overpass is well underway
as part of an overall project to twin the entire north-south
corridor within the city.
When the overpass is completed, only a short stretch in the
city's north side will remain to be twinned. If the 23rd Street
connector is twinned in the future, an entire four-lane ring
will be in place from Highway 1 through the city and back
out to Highway 1 on the south side.
Within our region, water supply is an important topic. The
tiny community of Walsh with 70 water users and the hamlet
of Seven Persons with 300 people struggle with water supply
and quality issues. Both communities are under county control,
and county officials are struggling to provide cost effective
solutions.
There is plenty of activity in this corner of the province,
and the year 2003 promises to provide many more challenges.
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