Winners of 2009 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards announced

At a gala dinner at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel in Ottawa last night, the 2009 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards were handed out.

From 60 engineering projects entered from across Canada, 12 were selected by a distinguished jury of professional engineers from business, government and academia.

The annual awards have been held for 41 years and are Canada’s highest mark of recognition for projects by Canadian consulting engineering firms.

The program is held jointly by the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies (ACEC)/L’Association des firmes d’ingénieurs-conseils (AFIC) and Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine.

For full details and to see the projects, visit www.canadianconsultingengineer.com, and click on Digital Edition.

Two special awards, and 10 awards of excellence, were given.

    SCHREYER AWARD

    Given for the most technically innovative project:

    – South Interlake Recreation Centre in Warren, Manitoba, by Tower Engineering Group Limited Partnership of Winnipeg.   The centre’s ingenious engineering combines innovative technologies in the earth sciences, building structure, HVAC and refrigeration fields to achieve outstanding energy savings. The building has already proved that it uses less than half the energy of a conventional ice arena.

   TREE FOR LIFE AWARD

 Given for outstanding environmental stewardship:

    – In-Situ Bioremedial Technologies, by AMEC Earth & Environmental of Winnipeg, Manitoba.   To treat ground contamination on a Federated Co-operatives Limited agricultural and petroleum site in Gladstone, Manitoba, AMEC developed “breakthrough” methods that are also cost-effective. They used one of the contaminants — nitrates, to treat the second — hydrocarbons — and in doing so reduced both by up to 98%.

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

   Buildings:

   – École de technologie supérieure, Résidences universitaires, phase III,  Montreal. ,   Bouthillette Parizeau & Teknika HBA

– CÉROM, Centre de recherche sur les grains, Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil, Quebec., DESSAU

– Walmart, Burlington, Ont. ,  Stantec Consulting

– Vancouver Convention Centre Expansion, B.C., Glotman Simpson Consulting Engineers

Transportation:

 – William R. Bennett Bridge, Kelowna, B.C.,   Buckland & Taylor Ltd.

Water Resources:

– Eagle Lake Membrane Filtration Facility, West Vancouver, B.C.. Dayton & Knight Ltd.

– E.L. Smith Water Treatment Plant Upgrade, Edmonton, Alta., Associated Engineering

 Natural Resources, Energy:

 – Irving Renewable Energy for Cavendish Farms, New Annan, P.E.I.,  Stantec Consulting

 – Locks 1 and 2, Small Hydro on Welland Canal, Niagara Falls, Ont.,  Hatch

Studies and Special Projects:

 – Low-Temperature District Energy-Sharing System, Whistler, B.C., Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd. & DEC Design Mechanical Consultants Ltd.

2009 BEAUBIEN AWARD

The Beaubien Award is given by ACEC/AFIC to individuals for exceptional service to the association and the consulting engineering industry. The winner this year is Jacques Lamarre. With over 40 years of experience as an engineer and senior executive responsible for managing and implementing large industrial, infrastructure and power projects in Canada and worldwide, Jacques Lamarre is one of the most respected leaders of the consulting engineering community within Quebec, Canada and internationally.

He began his career in 1967 with the engineering firm Lavalin where he held a series of senior executive positions overseeing and managing some of the company’s most highly visible and prestigious projects in Canada and internationally. Mr. Lamarre served as President and Chief Executive Officer of SNC-Lavalin from 1996 until his retirement earlier this year. During his 13 years in charge, SNC-Lavalin grew into one of the world’s leading engineering-construction firms with over 20,000 employees and revenues exceeding $7.0 billion.

Mr Lamarre holds many honours in recognition of both his technical accomplishments and his business acumen and is an Officer of the Order of Canada.

BACKGROUND

The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies/L’Association des firmes d’ingénieurs-conseils (AFIC) in Ottawa is Canada’s national association of consulting firms that provide engineering and other technology-based intellectual services. www.acec.ca

Canadian Consulting Engineer is a bi-monthly magazine for engineers in private practice. It is a division of BIG Magazines LP of Toronto.