News
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Reviewing Ikea’s geothermal chiller
In 2011, furniture retailer Ikea commissioned and implemented a frictionless magnetic levitation (maglev) centrifugal chiller to heat and air-condition a major distribution centre in Brossard, Que., by means of geothermal energy. The system achieved unprecedented energy efficiency for the facility,…
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ACEC-Canada asks federal government for industry support
The Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Canada (ACEC-Canada) has written to the prime minister and several cabinet ministers with specific recommendations for how the consulting engineering community can retain its capacity to help the federal government mitigate the COVID-19…
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PM Springfest rescheduled
Given ongoing developments with the COVID-19 crisis, the organizers of PM Springfest—an annual event for buildings’ engineers, property and facility managers, developers, owners and operations and maintenance (O&M) staff—have rescheduled the show from early April to early June. Admission for…
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CCA recommends keeping construction operational
The Canadian Construction Association (CCA), which represents more than 20,000 member firms across the country, is recommending construction and related manufacturing activities remain operational, for the time being, during the global COVID-19 pandemic. The association points out, as part of…
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ASHRAE addresses COVID-19 crisis with infection control course
On Apr. 7, ASHRAE will offer a timely online course focusing on the role of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in infection control for health-care facilities. “Although COVID-19 is not considered an airborne contagion, it appears it can be…
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As Ontario closes non-essential workplaces, essential construction continues
To further contain the spread of COVID-19, the government of Ontario has ordered the mandatory closure of all non-essential workplaces effective today at 11:59 p.m. ET. The closure will be in effect for 14 days, with the possibility of further…
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Crisis management expert shares business advice during COVID-19
Now is not the time for half measures. Suzanne Bernier, an internationally recognized crisis expert, is calling for businesses to be more proactive in combating the spread of COVID-19. To “flatten the curve” and prevent health-care systems from being overloaded…
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Mary-Ann Bell nominated for SNC-Lavalin board
As part of an ongoing leadership renewal process to support its strategic objectives, consulting engineering firm SNC-Lavalin has nominated Mary-Ann Bell, an industrial engineer by background, to join its board of directors. Bell is currently a corporate director for the…
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Building Lasting Change conference postponed
The Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) has postponed its 2020 Building Lasting Change (BLC) conference due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The event was planned to take place in Toronto in early June. CaGBC made the decision earlier this week,…
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UPDATE: 2020 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards timeline
As engineering firms navigate an unprecedented business environment due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine and ACEC-Canada are supporting them by temporarily suspending the Stage 2 and 3 deadlines for the 2020 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards. This change…
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ACEC-BC president up for Women of Distinction Award
Caroline Andrewes, P.Eng., president and CEO of the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – British Columbia (ACEC-BC) is among the nominees for the YWCA Metro Vancouver’s national 2020 Women of Distinction Awards, in the non-profit category. Andrewes has worked with…
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CMPX 2020 postponed
The Canadian Mechanical & Plumbing Exposition (CMPX), originally scheduled for Mar. 25-27, 2020, has been postponed following the World Health Organization (WHO’s) declaration of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. “Just 10 days ago, we were confident the show would…
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University of Manitoba engineering faculty named after Gerry and Barb Price
University of Manitoba’s faculty of engineering has a new name, following a recent $20 million donation from Gerry and Barb Price. Going forward, in recognition of their generosity, it will be known as the Price Faculty of Engineering. Gerry is…
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New Brunswick introduces legislation to standardize building codes
New legislation was introduced yesterday to put modern building code standards in place across New Brunswick. Dubbed the Building Code Administration Act, the legislation is designed to help ensure the same safety standards are met throughout the province, in alignment…
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Quebec outlines 10-year infrastructure plan
Yesterday, Quebec’s provincial government presented its second Quebec Infrastructure Plan (QIP), representing a record $130.5-billion investment over the next 10 years, up $15.1 billion over the first QIP. Looking ahead from 2020 through 2030, the government outlined four key priorities:…
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CaGBC updates zero-carbon building standard
Today, the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) launched Version 2 of its Zero Carbon Building (ZCB) Standard. The update is intended to accelerate the adoption of ZCB practices, help Canada meet its climate-change targets and spur both innovation and job…
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Canadian universities receive ASHRAE grants for undergrad engineering projects
ASHRAE has announced a total of US$153,000 in undergraduate program equipment grants to fund 34 projects around the world, including three at Canadian universities. For the 2020-21 society year, 92 applications—the largest number in the program’s history—were submitted from all…
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Engineers Canada celebrates International Women’s Day and National Engineering Month
To acknowledge its commitment to International Women’s Day, while also celebrating March as National Engineering Month, Engineers Canada participated in both the #EachforEqual global social media campaign and the #NEM2020 national campaign. As this year’s theme for International Women’s Day…
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JLR acquires LCI
J.L. Richards & Associates (JLR) has acquired LCI Engineering to further diversify its services for the industrial market. Both firms are based in Ottawa. Founded in 1994, LCI is a mechanical and electrical engineering firm with a 40-person staff and…
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Canadian Consulting Engineer helps celebrate Women In Construction
Canadian Consulting Engineer joins sister publications On-Site, Rock to Road and Crane & Hoist Canada in celebrating women in the construction industry with a special new website, sponsored by John Deere. Launched last week, in time for International Women’s Day, the site features…
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Samuel De Champlain Bridge engineers honoured for use of precast concrete
The Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI) has presented a 2020 Design Award to SNC-Lavalin, T.Y. Lin International, Systra International Bridge Technologies (Systra IBT) and Infrastructure Canada for their work on Montreal’s new Samuel De Champlain Bridge. The project was carried out…
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Study suggests substantial, stubborn gender pay gap persists across Canada
Women continue to earn less money than men—with a substantial and stubborn compensation gap between the genders, according to new Canadian research. Based on self-reported numbers, the study commissioned by ADP Canada found women earned an average pre-tax salary of…
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Engineering firms honoured among Canada’s Best Managed Companies
A plethora of engineering firms, from across the country, are among the winners of Deloitte’s 2020 Canada’s Best Managed Companies awards program. Now in its 27th year, the program recognizes excellence in privately owned organizations with annual revenues of $25…
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Teams shortlisted for Union Station enhancement project
Infrastructure Ontario (IO) has invited a shortlist of four teams to respond to a request for proposals (RFP) for a project set to enhance Toronto’s Union Station with an expansion of its Government of Ontario (GO) rail facilities. The teams…
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CAWIC plans tour of Con Cast Pipe plant
The Canadian Association of Women in Construction (CAWIC) is organizing industry tours of Con Cast Pipe’s plant in Oakville, Ont., on Mar. 11. The plant, comprising 80,000 sf of manufacturing space and 9,000 sf of auxiliary space, serves the municipal…
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Concordia’s CICIEM works with engineering firms to modernize construction
The Centre for Innovation in Construction and Infrastructure Engineering and Management (CICIEM), launched at Montreal’s Concordia University in June 2019, is looking for collaboration opportunities with Canada’s engineering firms to help automate and digitize the construction industry. “Here at Concordia,…
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HDR leads technical advisory team for Ontario Line subway
Infrastructure Ontario (IO) and Metrolinx have selected a team led by HDR to serve as a technical advisor for the approximately $10.9-billion, nearly 16-km Ontario Line subway in Toronto. With 15 proposed stations from Ontario Place and Exhibition Place to…
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Pomerleau moves B.C. office from Surrey to downtown Vancouver
Construction company Pomerleau has opened a new office in downtown Vancouver, replacing its earlier location in nearby Surrey, B.C. The move brings the company closer to many of its partners and clients. “I am very proud of this new location,”…
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Scholarships honour engineer who championed wood construction
During the Ontario Forest Industries Association’s (OFIA’s) 77th annual meeting and conference on Feb. 26, the Canadian Wood Council (CWC) recognized recipients of its 2019 Catherine Lalonde Memorial Scholarships. Established 14 years ago, the scholarships are awarded to graduate students…
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Hatch discusses digital project delivery during PDAC convention
This morning, at the start of the second day of the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada’s (PDAC’s) 2020 mineral exploration and mining convention, Hatch—a consulting engineering firm specializing in projects for that industry—hosted a panel discussion about digital project…
