The eGlance
November 12, 2020
ACEC-Ontario Cyber Security Webinar: The Threat is Real!
- brought to you by HUB International
The ubiquitous technologies that support of the work of Ontario’s consulting engineering firms also create risks. Unfortunately, there are individuals and organizations out there who seek to profit from accessing your information and disrupting your business. The statistics are staggering – cyber-attacks, in the form of hacking, malware, phishing or social engineering, occur several times per minute. Small businesses are just as likely to be a target as larger firms. And the COVID pandemic has only served to exacerbate the problem.

This webinar is for members-only and will use a recent real-world incident of a cyber-attack on a consulting engineering firm as the basis for presenting key information regarding the prevention, management and recovery from cyber-attacks. A panel comprised of an engineering firm leader, a cyber technology expert, and a cyber insurance expert, will discuss all aspects of cyber security. While prevention and risk mitigation through technology are important, understanding business continuity issues and insurance coverages are equally critical.

If you think your member firm is prepared for a cyber-attack, you’ll want to attend this webinar. If you don’t, you’ll REALLY want to attend this webinar!

Panelists:  
Shayne Giles, President, Dillon Consulting
Jeremy Rasmussen, Chief Technology Officer, Abacode Inc.
Candace Pietras, Managing Director, HUB International

Moderator: Bruce Matthews, Executive Director, ACEC-Ontario

Format: Zoom Webinar

When: Tuesday, December 1, 2020 – 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Incase You Missed It - The Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards
On October 29th, during a virtual broadcast, a total of 23 awards were presented to consulting engineering firms from across Canada, many of them are also ACEC-Ontario member firms. These firms have dedicated their efforts to work on projects that connect communities, improve safety and enhance the quality of life in Canada and around the world. Twenty projects, in a range of categories, were honoured with Awards of Excellence and three received an additional Special Award. 
WSP Named Prime Consultant for TTC's Line 1 Subway Enhancement Program
WSP, one of the world's leading engineering professional services consulting firms, announced today that it has been named the prime consultant on the $30-million Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC) Subway Capacity Enhancement Program for Line 1, after achieving the highest score in a rigorous tendering process.

The consulting work will support the continued development and implementation of the Line 1 Capacity Enhancement Program. It will also support the development and investigation of key elements impacting the Line 2 Capacity Enhancement Program strategy including condition assessment, multi-discipline design, studies, analysis, engineering and program consultant services for transit and industrial facilities, systems and infrastructure. Read full press release.
Beyond the Borders of Ontario - Another Win for the Parsons and Stantec Teams!
The city of Edmonton (Alberta) announced that Marigold Infrastructure Partners (MIP) is the preferred proponent to design, build and partially finance its C$2.6-billion (US$1.98-billion), 14-kilometer (8.7-mile) Valley Line West light rail extension.

The consortium includes Colas Infrastructure Canada GP, Parsons Inc., Standard General Inc., Francl Architecture Inc., Fast + EPP, and Stantec. The contract is expected to be finalized by year-end, with construction starting in 2021 and wrapping up in 2026 or 2027.
OSPE's Diversity and Inclusion Forum - The #EDIAdvantage
The Diversity and Inclusion advantage is simple. Diversity and Inclusion leads to more talent, more innovation, more competitiveness, and more growth.

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.

ACEC-Ontario is a proud supporter and community partner of #EDIAdvantage. Join us on November 26 & 27, 2020.
City of Toronto Launches the George Street Revitalization Project
The City of Toronto and Infrastructure Ontario (IO) have issued a Request for Qualification (RFQ) for the George Street Revitalization project, which will reinvent the northernmost block of George Street (between Dundas Street East and Gerrard Street East).
 
Seaton House men’s shelter, located on George Street, and its adjacent properties will be transformed into a new shared facility, providing a dynamic range of housing, programs and services to meet the unique and complex needs of individuals experiencing homelessness, as well as vulnerable and elderly individuals in the community. The project will result in a long-term care home, a transitional living facility, an emergency shelter, affordable housing, and a community hub serving residents of the site and the local neighbourhood. Read more.
Aercoustics Engineering Promotes Anthony Roppa to Principal
On November 4th, Aercoustics Engineering Ltd., a leader in acoustics, noise and vibration, announced Anthony Roppa as a Principal. Roppa has led Aercoustics’ business development efforts since joining the team in 2013 and in that time, Aercoustics has doubled its employees to 45 and tripled its revenue.

“As we head into the next chapter of our business growth, we decided to expand our senior positions to support it,” said Steve Titus, President & CEO, Aercoustics Engineering Ltd. “Anthony has played an integral part in our success and I’m pleased to recognize him not only for the contribution he has already made to Aercoustics but also for the leadership and vision he continues to bring to the firm.”
Applications for #NEM2021 Now Open!
In these times of great adaptation, nothing is as powerful as practicing how to learn and expanding our perspectives as a community. Lifelong learning is the theme for #NEM2021, they are working on curating the 4-weeks thematically with Engineers Canada for a synched up national NEM. All will be viewable through an online platform this year.

ACEC-Ontario is a proud supporter again this coming year. Applications are now open and more details are to come.
Ontario's Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover Promotes Job Creation by Reducing Taxes on Employers
November 10th - The Ontario government is proposing to give municipalities the flexibility to target property tax relief to small businesses. The province is also considering matching these reductions, which would provide small businesses with as much as $385 million in municipal and provincial property tax relief. This initiative is part of the 2020 Budget, Ontario's Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover.

Details were provided today by Premier Doug Ford, Rod Phillips, Minister of Finance, Prabmeet Sarkaria, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction, and Stan Cho, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Finance.
How Engineering Peer Reviews Can Help Reduce Risk
Mistakes happen. In the best-case scenario, we apologize and move on. But when it comes to mistakes on the job, whether it be in healthcare, education, law or engineering, a mistake can be costly. Various industries have long used peer reviews as a quality control measure to reduce the risk of errors. The process typically involves professionals reviewing each other’s work as a second check. It is meant to check accuracy and review all the requirements.

In academia, a peer review helps prevent the publication of flawed research papers. In the medical profession, an independent autopsy serves as a second check to ensure nothing was overlooked. Read more.
Ontario Officially Opens New Cooksville GO Station
On November 10th The Ontario government officially opened the enhanced Cooksville GO Station, a key transit hub and a base to travel across Peel, Halton and Toronto that will provide customers with easier access to GO Transit, Mississauga's MiWay Transit and the future Hurontario LRT. Transit infrastructure improvements for riders in Peel region are part of the province's commitment to providing a fast, safe and reliable GO Transit service experience across the Greater Golden Horseshoe, connecting more people to jobs.

Details were provided by Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation, Kinga Surma, Associate Minister of Transportation and Kaleed Rasheed, MPP for Mississauga East - Cooksville.
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