The eGlance
December 10, 2020
Last call for Ontario Engineering Project Awards Intent to Submit
We've extended our deadlines this year to help member firms deal with the current landscape. The Intent to Submit deadline is December 31st. For full details & submission forms/criteria please visit the website.

Each year we highlight the importance of the consulting engineering profession in Ontario by awarding outstanding projects submitted by member firms. Through the awards process, ACEC-Ontario member firms demonstrate the impact their knowledge, skill and expertise have made provincially, nationally and internationally.

Let's join together with ACEC-Ontario member firms and our industry at the Ontario Engineering Project Awards in May 2021.
There's a New Member In Town - Building Innovation Inc.
ACEC-Ontario is pleased to welcome a new member firm, Building Innovation Inc. Founded in 1997, Building Innovation, initially addressed the growing demand for improving energy efficiency of mechanical and electrical systems in existing buildings. 

The firm quickly developed a strong reputation for innovative designs and depth of knowledge in mechanical design, and digital controls, and began expanding its service offering to clients using traditional design-bid-build approaches. Today, they provide a complete range of assessment, design, and commissioning services.
ACEC-Ontario is Seeking a Volunteer with Finance Experience
Do you have practical expertise in financial matters? Are you looking to expand your business network and share your experience to give back to the industry?
 
ACEC-Ontario has a vacancy available for our Finance and Audit Committee. If you have financial experience and want to make an impact supporting ACEC-Ontario’s exciting new strategic plan, we would like to hear from you! FAC meets virtually approximately 6 times per year, 2 hours per meeting.

Click here for the job description or contact Laura Korneluk at lkorneluk@acecontario.ca for further details.
ACEC-Ontario Niagara Chapter 2020 AGM Announcements
On December 4th, the Niagara Chapter held their 2020 AGM virtually. They are pleased to announce the proposed slate of candidates elected include:

  • Danielle Anders, M.A.Sc., P.Eng., from GM BluePlan Engineering Ltd., Niagara Chapter Chair
  •  Vince Grande, P.Eng., from R.V. Anderson Associates Limited, Niagara Chapter Vice-Chair
  • James Burn, LET, C.E.T., GISP, EP, from GM BluePlan Engineering Ltd., Niagara Chapter Secretary/Treasurer

The 2020 Engineering Award of Merit recipients were also honoured. Recognition is given to projects undertaken by Niagara Chapter firms that exhibit engineering excellence, improve or enhance the quality of community life, and support sustainable growth through their uniqueness, ingenuity, and creativity. This year we are pleased to recognize three projects;

Grimsby WWTP Grit System Upgrades
  • Consultant – Associated Engineering (Ont.) Ltd.
  • Client – Regional Municipality of Niagara

King Street Storm Sewer Investigation and Remediation
  • Consultant – GM BluePlan Engineering Ltd.
  • Client – Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake

Bender Hill Sewage Pumping Station
  • Consultant – GM BluePlan Engineering Ltd.
  • Client – Regional Municipality of Niagara
WSP to Acquire Golder
WSP is pleased to announce that they have entered into an agreement to acquire Golder Associates, a leading global engineering and consulting firm with over 60 years of experience in providing earth science and environmental services.

The acquisition, which is aligned with their 2019-2021 Global Strategic Plan, ideally positions WSP’s strategic Environment platform to capitalize on Environmental, Social & Governance (“ESG”) trends.

“Together we will create the leading global environmental consulting firm with approximately 14,000 of our 54,000 professionals dedicated to accelerating the world’s green transition. The combination ideally positions WSP to capitalize on the rapidly growing ESG trends driving demand for environmental services and sustainable infrastructure development”, commented Alexandre L’Heureux, President and Chief Executive Officer of WSP. 

The acquisition is expected to be completed in the first half of the second quarter of 2021.
IBI Group Announces Asset Acquisition of Cole Engineering Group
On December 1st, IBI Group Inc, announced that it has completed the purchase of the assets of southern Ontario-based Cole Engineering Group Ltd.

Founded in 2003, Cole provides a complementary fit for IBI as one of the largest independent civil engineering firms in Ontario, offering consulting and advisory services in the water, transportation, urban development and environmental sectors. Cole’s geographic reach and fulsome capabilities across the water sector include demand modelling and planning; design and construction management for water infrastructure facilities, pipelines and tunnels; as well as operations and maintenance. Read more.
The ACEC-Ontario MTO Courses Will Take Place in January & February
Given the current climate of COVID-19, ACEC-Ontario has made the decision that ALL 2021 MTO courses will be delivered online in 2021. The format and structure will differ from previous years, please review the details before registering. MTO courses will be held in January and February.

Click here for Road Construction Contract Administration Recertification Course , Highway Construction Inspection and Contract Administration details.

We hope to see you there, virtually!
2021 OGRA Conference
The OGRA Conference is being held on February 21-25, 2021. The agenda is based on what will help you solve issues and bring back new ideas to your community, bringing the best and brightest minds from Ontario and beyond are here to inspire and spark change. They will also be hosting a virtual tradeshow with corporate members where attendees can make an appointment or just drop in.
ACEC-Canada: Fall Economic Statement
Federal Government offers more support for businesses, commits to $100-billion in stimulus  

On November 30, the Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Finance, tabled the long-awaited Fall Economic Statement 2020 in the House of Commons. The statement provides a comprehensive overview of Canada’s fiscal position and presents new details on COVID-related relief measures. It also reaffirms the government’s commitment from the Speech from the Throne to continue supporting the economy and the hardest-hit businesses through this crisis. Minister Freeland indicated her government would pursue these activities while laying the groundwork for the post-pandemic stimulus and their long-term priorities, such as pharmacare, national affordable child care, and addressing climate change.

ACEC offers this high-level review of selected highlights of potential interest to our members from the documents provided by Finance Canada. View here.
Remote Desktop: You're Opening the Floodgates for Hackers
Further to the recent ACEC-Ontario webinar on cyber security, speaker Jeremy Rasmussen from Abacode, shares information on remote desktop security.

Once is a fluke. Twice a pattern. But when you see something dozens of times, it’s a bona fide trend. Abacode has seen Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP, IANA port 3389) used in dozens of successful attacks against businesses. When we get called in to perform Digital Forensics and Incident Response (DFIR), there’s a good chance RDP was the initial entry point for the attackers – ranking up there with phishing and Business Email Compromise (BEC). In fact, Abacode partner Coveware says that RDP was a factor in nearly two-thirds of targeted ransomware campaigns last year. Read article.
MEA Appoints New Board of Directors at 2020 Virtual AGM
The Municipal Engineers Association (MEA) recently held its first ever virtual Annual General Meeting (AGM) on November 26, 2020. As part of AGM business, a new Board was elected. View the new Board here.

MEA is a non-profit association representing the interests of over 970 professional engineers in Ontario who are employed in the municipal engineering and public works sectors at Ontario municipalities, Provincial agencies as well as consulting engineering firms acting as the engineer-of-record for Ontario municipalities.
Does your firm have an interesting article or news that you want the Ontario Engineering world to know about? Please have 'your people' talk to 'our people", email us at mwest@acecontario.ca.
Association of Consulting Engineering Companies | Ontario acecontario.ca
Association of Consulting Engineering Companies | Ontario | acecontario.ca