The eGlance
October 15, 2020
Codes Canada Issues Clarification on NBC/OBC Part 4 Sentences
The Codes Canada unit of the National Research Council recently issued a clarification regarding an apparent discrepancy between certain sentences in Part 4 of the Ontario Building Code and the related NBC Structural Commentaries. The City of Ottawa had observed that structural engineers appeared to have different interpretations of the requirements of OBC sentences 4.1.8.12.(8) and (9), which relate to the calculation of design base shear for seismic purposes. The City noted that the differing interpretations were resulting in less competitive designs from some firms, leading to projects not being won.
 
The Codes Canada clarification, which can be seen here, indicates that there is no actual conflict between the Code and the Commentary, but that the wording of the Commentary could be a source of confusion. Codes Canada proposes to revise the Commentary for NBC 2020 and provided additional information and an example to clarify the intent of the Code and the guidance in the Commentary.
 
Member firms that offer and provide structural engineering services in areas of Ontario where seismic considerations apply should make themselves aware of this clarification. Kudos to the Building Code Engineer from the City of Ottawa who raised this issue.
Ontario Engineering Project Awards (OEPA) Call For Intent to Submit
Each year since inception we invite our member firms to showcase their efforts by entering projects they have worked on over the year. Let's celebrate your collective achievements at the OEPA Gala next spring, virtually.

The days are getting shorter and our call for intent to submit is getting closer. Please share with us your interest in participating at the ACEC-Ontario OEPA.

Dates of consideration are:

Intent to Submit: October 23rd, 2020
Submission Deadline: December 4th, 2020
Awards Ceremony: April 8th, 2021

Please visit ACECOntario.ca to view requirements. Click here to download the Intent to Submit form.
McIntosh Perry Leadership Announcements
McIntosh Perry is pleased to announce that Hugo Blasutta has joined the Board of Directors as Chair. Mr. Blasutta brings more than 40 years of national and international consulting engineering industry experience to McIntosh Perry’s Board of Directors. His previous executive positions include President and Chief Executive Officer of WSP Canada Inc. and Chief Executive Officer of MMM Group Limited. Read news.

Also appointed to the McIntosh Perry board is Laura Donaldson, Vice President, Transportation Structures. Laura has been with McIntosh Perry since 2010, she has been instrumental in the growth we’ve had as a company during that time.
Jacobs Wins Two 2020 Innovation Leader Impact Awards
Jacobs was named a winner of two 2020 Impact Awards from Innovation Leader, a media and events company that helps the world's largest companies build competitive advantage and foster new growth. Jacobs won the "Best New Initiative Impact Award" for the company's work in developing its Innovation as a Service program to support organizational innovation. Additionally, Innovation Leader named Jacobs Operations Management Director Stephen Taylor as a Most Valuable Player Impact Award recipient for 2020.
Hatch and LTK Plan to Combine
Hatch, a Canadian consulting engineering firm serving the infrastructure, mining and energy sectors, and LTK Engineering Services, an international firm focused solely on passenger rail systems, have confirmed they are in the final stages of negotiating an integration.

The companies see an opportunity for LTK’s nearly 100 years of service to clients in the rail industry to complement Hatch’s experience in transportation, logistics, water and ‘urban solutions.’ LTK’s clients will gain access to integrated services from planning and design to engineering, implementation and maintenance, while Hatch will double its footprint in the U.S. and add specialized technical capabilities. Read article.
JLR Celebrates 1-Year with Acquired Multidisciplinary Engineering Firm Porcupine Engineering Services
It’s been one year since we announced that JLR had acquired multidisciplinary engineering firm Porcupine Engineering Services and expanded our expertise in the mining, brownfield mining, industrial, forestry, and energy sectors.

One year ago they were looking forward to integrating our teams into a bigger, better, and stronger team. Today, JLR can happily say that it's been accomplished. Happy anniversary to their expanded Timmins team!
CA for Rehabilitation of the QEW from Dixie Rd. to Brown's Line
On time, high quality at a reasonable price, and with minimum disruption to the public – these have been the goals of the project team on the contract administered by GHD, between MTO and Toronto Zenith (TZ, the construction contractor) on the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) between Dixie Road and Brown’s Line.
The WalterFedy Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Garth Cressman is the new CEO of WalterFedy and AEC.
 
Garth began his career at WalterFedy back in the early 2000s. Fresh out of school and eager to make an impact, he quickly demonstrated an aptitude for mechanical engineering design and leadership. In 2007, Garth changed direction and took on a project management role with a local construction firm. When he returned to WalterFedy in 2014, he brought with him a wealth of experience, an MBA, and a determination to give back to the company that kickstarted his career.
Member Discussion Groups - How can ACEC-Ontario help you?
ACEC-Ontario has a new Strategic Plan with a new mission and vision for the association. We are moving forward with our plans we want to engage further with specific sectors of our member firms, to garner a better understanding what ACEC-Ontario can do to help your firm flourish.

We are holding virtual meetings with two particular segments of our membership to understand their needs for 2021 and beyond, and how we can support those needs with programming and services.

ACEC-Ontario’s Executive Director, Bruce G. Matthews, will be holding two discussion sessions. The first is geared towards smaller firms and the second is for those firms who conduct the majority of their business with private sector clients. Read more and register at the links below:

Member firms with 15 or fewer employees.
When: Tuesday, October 20, 2020
Time: 9:00 AM Eastern

Member firms serving primarily private sector clients.
When: Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Time: 9:00 AM Eastern
The Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards Are Almost Here
Consulting engineering firms make important contributions to the quality of life of Canadians and people around the world.  The impact and benefits to society of the work conducted by consulting engineering firms is long-lasting and often immeasurable.

The Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards, co-sponsored by ACEC-Canada and Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine, celebrates these contributions. The industry's highest honours, the CCE Awards are presented to projects that exemplify excellence in projects by Canadian consulting engineering firms.

The 2020 awards will be a virtual awards celebration, which will be aired on Thursday, October 29th at 7pm ET.
 
To view the event, visit www.acec.ca/view2020cceawards. 
OSPE's Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Forum is Going Virtual!
Innovation and competitiveness are the results of organizations that promote diversity and foster inclusion. Strategic sectors of the economy, such as advanced manufacturing, agri-business and nutraceuticals, logistics and warehousing, and creative industries, depend on our ability to work together to foster new ideas, recruit new talent, and leverage new skills.

The Diversity and Inclusion advantage is simple. Diversity and Inclusion leads to more talent, more innovation, more competitiveness, and more growth.

ACEC-Ontario is a proud supporter and community partner of #EDIAdvantage. Will we see you there on November 26 & 27?
ODACC 2020 Annual Report
The adjudication and prompt payment provisions of Ontario’s Construction Act came into force one year ago, on October 1, 2019.
 
Section 14.(1) of Ontario Regulation 306/18 requires ODACC to issue and make public its annual report no later than ninety days after the end of each fiscal year. ODACC’s fiscal year ended on July 31, 2020. ODACC has published its first annual report. The report covers the first ten months since the adjudication and prompt payment provisions of the Construction Act came into force. 
Face Coverings Now Mandatory in Many Ontario Workplaces
On October 2, 2020, the Government of Ontario amended O. Reg 364/20 to require the wearing of masks and face coverings in many Ontario workplaces.

The amendment requires that “the person responsible for a business or organization that is open shall ensure that any person in the indoor area of the premises of the business or organization, or in a vehicle that is operating as part of the business or organization, wears a mask or face covering in a manner that covers their mouth, nose and chin during any period when they are in the indoor area…” The Regulation establishes a number of exemptions... Read more.
Ontario Investment Helps Complete Boundary Bridge Project
The Ontario government has reached a milestone in its support of communities through smart investments in local infrastructure.

The new Boundary Bridge (also known as Hawkins Bay Bridge), in the Municipality of Tweed, is one of the first projects to be completed under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP). ICIP is a 10-year, $30-billion federal, provincial and municipal fund that provides support to help communities repair and build priority infrastructure.

"We've been doing whatever we can to get local priority projects done swiftly," said Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure. "Projects like this improve the quality of life of residents and contribute significantly to our government's made-in-Ontario plan for growth, renewal and long-term recovery." Read article.
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