CEM Newsbreak - Spring 2007
CEM Bestows Honours at 2007 Awards of Excellence in Consulting Engineering
Excellence in engineering was celebrated by members and clients of the Manitoba Consulting Engineering industry at the 8th Annual Manitoba Awards of Excellence in Consulting Engineering, held at the Winnipeg Convention Centre on April 13, 2007. Winners were announced at a gala dinner attended by over 300 guests including a “who’s-who” of the engineering industry, government and Manitoba’s business community.
Hosted by the Consulting Engineers of Manitoba (CEM), this prestigious annual event recognizes the achievements of consulting engineers in Manitoba, their contributions to society, and serves as a prominent showcase of the industry’s outstanding products and services. The CEM Awards were hosted by industry favourite and Master of Ceremonies Mr. Peter Jordan, Gemini-award winning television personality with CBC television. Musical performance throughout the evening was provided by the Walle Larsson Jazz Quartet. Elizabeth Murray, “honourary piper” to Queen Elizabeth II, piped in the dignitaries during their entrance to the Awards ceremonies.
Nineteen projects, ranging in size and complexity, were submitted by consulting engineering firms to compete in one or more of six awards categories: Building Engineering, Infrastructure, Environmental, Industrial, Innovation, and Resource Development. The collection of projects contending for this year’s Awards ranged from large complex assignments to smaller, yet highly specialized engineered solutions. Overall, the projects represented the consulting engineering industry’s value to clients in maximizing sustainability, value in infrastructure upgrade and renewal, and benefits to society through projects that served sectors including mining, transportation, electric power generation, water utilities, scientific research, post-secondary education, and also facilities dedicated to affordable housing and public recreation.
Judging was conducted by a “Blue Ribbon” panel of esteemed independent industry professionals, chaired by the University of Manitoba’s Dean of Graduate Studies, Dr. Jay Doering P. Eng. . The judging panel included Barry MacBride, P. Eng., City of Winnipeg, Dr. Doug Ruth, P. Eng., Dean of Engineering, University of Manitoba, Dr. James Blatz, P. Eng. of the University of Manitoba, Lawrence Ferchoff, P. Eng., past-president of APEGM, Dr. Digvir Jayas, P. Eng. University of Manitoba, Dave Ennis, P. Eng. , Manitoba Director of CCPE, Grant Koropatnick, P. Eng. of APEGM, Malcolm Symonds, P. Eng. , Engineer-in-Residence, University of Manitoba, Tom Moffat, P. Eng. of Manitoba Hydro, and Bill Larkin, P. Eng. of the City of Winnipeg. Each project was subjected to a critical review and was evaluated in seven key areas: innovation, added value, advancement of technology, technical excellence, degree of difficulty, management of risk, and most importantly, benefit to society.
The prestigious CEM Keystone Award, an overall “Best of Event” award, was presented to the project that best demonstrated the standards of excellence in product and service upheld by the Awards of Excellence Program. In addition, an individual honour was bestowed in the Lifetime Achievement Award celebrating the leadership, achievements and contributions of a CEM Professional Engineer throughout their career. The CEM Awards’ title sponsor XL Insurance/Oldfield Kirby Esau presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Alfred Poetker, P. Eng. in recognition of the exceptional leadership, integrity, innovation, diligence and unwavering respect for his fellow engineers and the citizens of Manitoba demonstrated throughout 42 years of practice. The Lifetime Achievement Award Winner also presents the Keystone Award to the best overall project of the CEM Awards in a given year. Mr. Poetker, P. Eng. was selected by CEM to present the Keystone Award in honour of his distinguished record of service to the consulting engineering community. Mr. Peotker presented the Keystone Award to Acres Manitoba Ltd. for their development of a comprehensive field-based data collection program for monitoring the sedimentation and erosion impacts resulting from Manitoba Hydro’s Wuskwatim, Keeyask and Conawapa generating stations.
The CEM Awards of Excellence Program continues to grow and the CEM thanks the Manitoba engineering community for continuing to participate in this showcase and celebration of our industry. Media coverage of the event was provided in the Winnipeg Free Press. The award-winning projects will be showcased further in other public events and locations throughout the next year.
Keystone Award
Acres Manitoba Ltd.
Wuskwatim, Keeyask, and Conawapa Sedimentation and Erosion Physical Environmental Monitoring Program
Lifetime Achievement
Alfred Poetker
Building Engineering
Award of Merit
Crosier Kilgour and Partners
Building for the Future - University of Manitoba Engineering Information Technology Centre
Environmental
Award of Excellence
Acres Manitoba Ltd.
Wuskwatim, Keeyask, and Conawapa Sedimentation and Erosion Physical Environmental Monitoring Program
Industrial
Award of Excellence
Earth Tech (Canada) Inc.
Brandon Generating Station Cooling Tower Biocide System Replacement
Award of Merit
SNC Lavalin Engineering and Constructors Inc.
Dorion Fish Culture Station Renovation
Infrastructure
Award of Excellence
ND Lea Inc.
Red River Floodway Expansion Project Temporary Railway Detour
Award of Merit
KGS Group
The Plaza at the Forks
Innovation
Award of Excellence
UMA Engineering Ltd.
Twin Red River Floodway Bridges on Trans Canada Highway No. 1
Award of Merit
ND Lea Inc.
Pocket Suites Affordable Housing
Resource Development
Award of Excellence
J. R. Cousin Consultants Ltd.
Holland Chlorine Dioxide Disinfection
Award of Merit
KGS Group
Hawthorne Pumping Station
Congratulations to all firms entered in the 2007 CEM Awards Program, in particular to the firms who won Awards of Excellence and Awards of Merit. The CEM would also like to thank its Award Sponsors for 2007:
- Event Title Sponsor: XL Insurance/Oldfield Kirby Esau Inc.
- Award Category Sponsors:
- Winnipeg Construction Association
- University of Manitoba Faculties of Engineering and Science on behalf of the Engineering and Information Technology Centre
- Manitoba Hydro
- ENCON Group Inc.
- Province of Manitoba, Department of Science, Technology, Energy & Mines and the Department of Competitiveness, Training and Trade.
- Province of Manitoba, Department of Infrastructure and Transportation
- Event Supporters:
- Bockstael Construction (1979) Ltd.
- Inland Audio Visual
- Winnipeg Convention Centre
- IPEX
Thanks to everyone involved for making this year’s CEM Awards another success!
