National Engineering Month (NEM) is fast approaching, taking place this March. This month-long event will cover four themes, you can view the details here. Community leaders and educators will come together to discuss a range of topics raising the profile of the impact of engineering in our daily lives.

Our own Bruce G. Matthews, Executive Director, sat down with the NEM team to discuss a variety of topics including why it's important that there is public awareness about the work our member firms do. Read the Q&A style interview here.

The winner has the opportunity to register for the FIDIC Future Leaders Management Certificate (FLMC) – Fall 2021 (starts January 2022) and will receive up to $5,000 to attend the 2022 FIDIC Conference. There, they will attend sessions geared towards young professionals in the industry while sharing their experiences with young professionals from around the world. Click here to see full details.

View the Intent to Nominate Application Form here.

The federal government recently awarded a base contract to Framework Design Partners—a joint venture (JV) between engineering and design firms Stantec, Dialog and Merrick & Company—for the renewal of its science and research facilities across Canada.

“This team of design partners has previously collaborated on 25 projects and brings an extensive pool of resources to achieve Canada’s goals,” says Leonard Castro, executive vice-president (EVP) of buildings for Stantec. Read full article.

Associated Engineering has come a long way in 75 years. From three people working in a one-room office in downtown Edmonton, they have grown to over 1,000 staff in 21 offices across Canada. They’ve designed roads and sewers, connected communities, and brought safe drinking water to remote areas and major centres across Canada, the US, Central America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

A new Chief Architect has taken the helm at engineering, architecture, and planning firm J.L. Richards & Associates Limited (JLR). Long-time employee and accomplished Senior Architect Raimondo Cuda, OAA, AIBC, MRAIC has now taken on the role.

Cuda has been with JLR for over 20 years. He began his career as an Architectural Designer, later becoming a Senior Architect, Associate, and Manager in JLR’s Sudbury Office. He has extensive experience in architectural design for commercial, industrial, administrative, institutional, and education projects, as well as specialized expertise in renovations, retrofits, building additions and technically sophisticated projects. Cuda’s architectural style is influenced by the works of famed Italian architect Renzo Piano.

Interested in what other provinces are doing with Transportation and Infrastructure, check out this event held by the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies British Columbia, in partnership with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and TransLink. The 2021 Transportation Conference is a four day virtual conference showcasing the future direction and trends surrounding BC’s transportation sector.

Earlier in January, the Ontario Good Roads Association (OGRA) has calculated the harsh reality the Provinces’ municipalities are facing when it comes to infrastructure management, and the desperate need for funding to keep the roads and bridges we use and rely on everyday, to a tune of 34.7 billion dollars.

Using 443 municipal asset management plans (there are 444 municipalities in Ontario), OGRA’s Dr. James Smith has calculated using Monte Carlo simulations Ontario roads – curb to curb need more than 34 billion in funding to help sustain healthy roads. “This really paints a stark picture of the reality municipalities are facing.” said Scott Butler, OGRA, Executive Director. “Our roads not only good for business, take our children to school and work, connect communities, but now during the pandemic, they are a safe gathering place for us.” continued Mr. Butler. Read full press release here.

Upgrading Centre Block to meet modern seismic standards is one of the first orders of business facing the Centre Block Rehabilitation Project, the biggest heritage restoration in Canada’s history.

Fantastic work by WSP in Canada, HOK and the CENTRUS Team on modernizing the Centre Block of Parliament.