Happy New year
From the Staff of AOLS
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All the staff at the AOLS office would like to wish our members and friends a very happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!
We look forward to working with you and to seeing you at our events and webinars in 2021!
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Virtual Annual General Meeting 2021
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We are excited about our upcoming Annual General Meeting. We are using a new registration system that has delayed us getting the notices out. We expect registrations to open the third week of January. Attached is a draft overview of the meeting. We are still working with exhibitors and expect to have sessions on the 23rd as well, which will add to the CPD opportunities. Additional details will be included on the registration site. As a reminder, there will still be a fee ($200 per member) but we believe we have lined up a quality program that will be well worth your investment. Please protect the space in your calendar.
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By-Law 2020-02
Survey Review Department Plan Submission Fees
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As a reminder by-law 2020-02 (Survey Review Department Plans Submission Fees) is now active. This allows you to order unique numbers that can be used once each on a plan. You will no longer have to request mylar copies, which should speed up access and reduce mailing costs. Existing hard copy stickers are still available if you choose.
Be it hereby enacted that, effective January 1st, 2021:
- By-Laws 94-4 and 2012-3 are hereby rescinded.
- A Plan Submission Form (see Fig. 1) or a digital reproduction of a Plan Submission Form including the unique number that is to be purchased from the Survey Review Department of the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors is to be placed on one print of every deposited or registered plan, and on every original plan of a Surveyor's Real Property Report and/or Plan of Survey.
- The fee for either Submission Form shall be $19.00 per sticker, plus Harmonized Sales Tax (HST).
- Any increase in the Submission Form fee shall require approval by ratification of a by-law
Figure 1
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Call for Committee/Task Force Members
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The AOLS relies significantly on the volunteer time of committee/task force members to move the profession forward in meeting its mandate of protecting the public.
This can only occur with committee and task force members with the right skills and knowledge volunteering. Last year we were able to place all members that applied. Council wants to ensure the committee and task force members have the right abilities and are aware of the expected commitment prior to volunteering.
Attached is an overview of our current committees and task forces with brief description, indication of efforts expected, and skills/knowledge required. I would ask that you consider participating if you are already not on a committee or task force or if you would like to change assignments. Although it does require effort, your involvement will ultimately reward you with gained knowledge, abilities and connections.
If interested in participating, please complete the attached survey. Results will only be made available to Council and will only be used in selecting new members for committees and task forces. Should you feel uncomfortable filling in this survey, you can also direct the same information directly to the Executive Director ( executivedirector@aols.org). Results will be kept on file and used to fill vacancies as required.
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Thank you for joining us in our new season.
Note: Our meeting room is open at 4pm MST for general discussion if you would like to join
We now have a new invite link that will be used for all the courses this year. The link is below.
Eclipse College's Meeting
Please join my meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone.
You can also dial in using your phone.
Canada: +1 (647) 497-9373
Access Code: 110-986-173
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Date
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Session
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Presenter
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Jan 6
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RPAS, Logistics of Aerial Mapping
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Andrew Clark
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Jan 13
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3D Point Cloud Processing
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Dr. Robert Radovanovic
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Jan 20
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Water Boundaries - Principles & Issues
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Dr. Brian Ballantyne
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Jan 27
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Roads, Rails,& Rights of Ways
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Michael Thompson
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What's My Name Contest
A contest to name the AOLS character for the
Get Kids into Survey (GKiS) Transportation Poster
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The Public Awareness Committee and Geomatics Recruitment Liaison Committee have joined forces to reach out to Generation Z students in high Schools. A company in the UK connected to the geomatics industry has launched a global campaign to get kids interested in the land surveying/geomatics profession. AOLS is the only Canadian survey organization participating in the program.
AOLS has sponsored a transportation poster created by GET KIDS into SURVEY (getkidsintosurvey.com) to promote land surveying to students, teachers, and parents. GKiS requires a cartoon character representing the AOLS to be embedded in the poster and appear occasionally in the GKiS comic. The about-to-be-famous "Kid Surveyor" character needs a name. Create a name and WIN an AGM registration refund. The winner and character name will be announced at the AGM.
The character's name must be gender-neutral and appeal to children aged 9 to 16.
ELIGIBILITY TO ENTER THE CONTEST
AGM-registered member of the AOLS
NAME SELECTION
The winning name will be selected by members of PAC and GRLC. The winner will be announced by the AOLS Executive Director at the AGM. The winner's registration fee will be refunded after the AGM. Only one name per member.
ENTRY
Good luck! See you online at our AGM, February 24-26. See the contest flyer attached.
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The Hans Klinkenberg Memorial Scholarship Fund
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The Hans Klinkenberg Memorial Scholarship Fund provides scholarships to students in the geomatics sciences at technical institutes and community colleges in Canada. Students may apply prior to February 15 of each year as outlined in the description and application form available on the CIG website. Awards are presented annually in amounts ranging from $500 to $2000. Submissions are judged on the basis of scholastic achievement, recommendations and the personal statement requested. Winners receive the financial award, a certificate of award and a one-year student membership in the Canadian Institute of Geomatics.
Further information on the Hans Klinkenberg Memorial Fund and the application form may be found on the CIG website.
The next application deadline - February 15, 2021. This scholarship is dedicated to students in the geomatics sciences at technical institutes and community colleges in Canada.
Recipients
- 2020 - Marie-Lise Roux
- 2019 - Serianna Schroh
- 2018 - Meghan McLellan
For complete list visit...
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Potential Changes to the Ontario Professional Foresters Act, 2000 and Regulations
From OPFA
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The Ontario Professional Foresters Association (OPFA) wishes to complete a scoped review of the Professional Foresters Act, 2000 (PFA). The aim of the review is to improve the clarity of the Professional Foresters Act, 2000 and its regulation.
- Clarifying the scope of practice to better reflect the practice of professional forestry in Ontario.
- Further clarifying, for those who wish to practice professional forestry, that they are required to become a registrant of the OPFA (either as a Full Member or an Associate Member with a defined scope of practice).
- Improving the OPFA's authority to address complaints raised in relation to poor or unauthorized practices along with increasing the suite of tools to address complaints.
- Ensuring employers, clients of forestry services, Indigenous organizations and the public can obtain professional forestry advice and services that meet their needs while protecting the broader public interest.
- Requiring competency training about Indigenous Peoples rights and forestry for all registrants of the OPFA.
- Providing assurance to the government that it can confidently rely on registered professional foresters to manage forestry activities while protecting the public interest.
- Enabling the enhanced use of a "Professional Reliance'' model in the future to support reduction in administrative burden.
- Improving public confidence that Ontario's forests are well managed by Registered Professional Foresters who are held to a high standard and accountable for the forests they manage while being regulated by the OPFA.
What potential changes to the Professional Foresters Act are the OPFA considering recommending to the Ontario Government?
Scope of Practice
The proposed revision to the "Scope of Practice" for professional forestry is to better define what professional forestry is and reduce the overlap with other occupations. The revised scope would enable the OPFA to improve the governance of its members and engage non-members on pathways to compliance.
Regulation Changes
The OPFA wishes to reduce the list of excluded professions, trades and occupations currently identified under the act that can practice professional forestry which at the present includes:
- Natural resource technician and technologist
- Forest management plan approver certified under the "Managed Forest Tax Improvement Program"
- Certified tree marker
- Biologist
- Certified arborist
- Landscape architect
- Professional planner
- Certified Ontario or Canadian land surveyor
- Botanist
- Zoologist
- Professional engineer
- Certified property appraisers
- Agronomist
- Ecologist
Private Landowners
The Professional Foresters Act does not apply to the management or manipulation of forests if they are performed personally by individuals on land which they own. Any potential proposed changes will not be intended to add new requirements to the ability of woodlot owners to practice forestry on their own land, or to choose who they use as forestry service providers. If a woodlot owner requires professional forestry services, the changes to the Act would provide confidence to the woodlot owner that services being provided are regulated under the Professional Foresters Act. This could be a major advantage to the landowner.
While responsibility for any proposed changes remains with the Government, we are asking for your thoughts, support, concerns and or suggestions which will be shared with the MNRF. As a Provincial Regulator we believe that you will have an interest in any changes to excluded professions, trades and occupations currently named in the Ontario Professional Foresters Act. Note that we are proposing the continued exemption of all regulated professionals in Ontario. We understand that you may want to consult with members of your organization. We do however ask that you send a single response that represents the input from your organization including your council, members, and employees.
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Do you have suggestions for the AOLS In Sight content?
If you have come across some information that you think will be of interest to other members, please let us know by emailing cgambier@aols.org. Your suggestions are always welcome!
   
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AOLS in Social Media
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The AOLS Group on LinkedIn has reached
Join up to network with peers, students and recruiters:
"Like" the AOLS page and follow us on Facebook: 
Follow us on Twitter:
Subscribe to our channel on YouTube:
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Donate to the
Educational Foundation
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Donate to the Educational Foundation here!
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In Sight Archive
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AOLS In Sight Archive is available on our website: check out past newsletter issues under the Media section.
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Other Organizations' Newsletters
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Four Point Learning
Case Commentaries on Property Title and Boundary Law
Professional Surveyors Canada:
Click here for the archives page for the latest Horizon and e-communiqué.
Stay informed about what is happening in your national surveyor community!
Click on the logo to go to the PSC website:
Esri Canada
(October 2020)
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