2019 ISSUE #3

featured:p5 Snow Storage Sitesp6 Environmental

Legislation Changes

p9 Whiteswan Lake Access

Published by the Associated Engineering

Group of companies

Swept path route analysis for extended Stinger Steer automobile carrier improves cross-border freight transportation in OntarioIn 2016, the United States government passed the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act. The Act amended aspects of US Interstate regulations pertaining to the Ontario-Extended Stinger-Steer Auto Carrier, including regulating overall length, front load, and rear load overhang limits.

In response, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation began a Special Vehicle Configuration Permit Program. This would harmonize with the American changes and allow auto configurations to operate beyond dimensions currently permitted in Ontario and Canada. The Ministry saw an opportunity to help auto carriers save both time and money by allowing them to carry additional vehicles per trip.

Operators can now haul more vehicles with fewer trips

The Virginia Transportation Corporation retained Associated Engineering to pursue the first Special Vehicle Configuration Permit issued in Ontario to enable hauling more vehicles with fewer trips between the Oakville-based Ford plant, the Honda plant in Alliston, Ontario, and the US border.

Manager of the Transportation Planning Group, Jeff Suggett, says, “We’ve done truck route assessments for other types of vehicles in the past, however, this one is a different vehicle configuration.”

To complete the analysis, the project team employed the AutoCAD Vehicle Tracking software (an AutoDesk-produced extension). The team also prepared a unique vehicle template as the configuration is new, and there was no stock template available in the AutoCAD Vehicle Tracking software package.

Transportation Technician, Christine Kinahan, conducted the route and vehicle swept path analysis. She tells us, “Historically, we used AutoTURN for such an analysis. However, we had recently transitioned to the AutoCAD Vehicle Tracking software, so we decided to use the new software, which proved to be more cost-effective.”

With the resulting analysis, Associated Engineering delivered the first submissions and received the first approvals for Ontario-Extended Stinger-Steer Auto Carrier Special Vehicle Configuration permits.

Jeff advises, “We can now efficiently complete similar analysis for other clients/operators who wish to obtain similar permits.”

Key personnel from our Niagara-on-the-Lake, Saskatoon, and Lethbridge offices contributed to this project, including Jeff Suggett, Christine Kinahan, Brady Marshall, Brennan Krowchenko, and Breanna Jackson.

Virginia Transportation car carrier exits the Ford plant in Oakville, ON

In this issue of AE Today, we announce the retirement of Kerry Rudd, CEO, after 37 years of service to Associated Engineering. I want to take this opportunity to thank Kerry for his dedication to the company and his leadership in guiding the company’s growth and success over the past 13 years as President & CEO. I also want to thank Kerry and our Board of Directors for entrusting me with the role of President & CEO.

As President & CEO, I am responsible for and committed to delivering our company’s strategy and to the success of every project we undertake.

As I travel across the country, I will be meeting with clients, business owners, and partners to hear about your projects, your communities, and your business. I want to hear how we can

improve our project delivery and service to you. In doing so, we can achieve our vision to develop creative solutions for a healthy, resilient world. Together, we can shape a better world for all of us, and create a meaningful legacy for future generations.

For more information, you can contact me at jobkem@ae.ca.

in this issue1 Swept path route analysis

for extended Stinger Steer automobile carrier improves cross-border freight transportation in Ontario

2 Message from Martin Jobke, President & CEO

Shaping our Shared Future - Louise Parnell

3 Happy retirement, Kerry! Brian Tod retires as Chair,

Board of Directors

4 ViewPoints - Alternative Delivery 101

5 Increased demand for advanced snow storage sites leads to environmentally-friendly solutions

6 Overview of changes to Canada’s environmental legislation

7 Cost-effective deck rehabilitation and seismic retrofit extends the lifespan of the Alexandra Bridge in BC’s Fraser Canyon

8 Eden Valley Water Treatment Plant upgrades help to meet current drinking water guidelines and increase capacity

9 Innovative design helps to establish a safe, permanent roadway to Whiteswan Lake

10 Building Communities11 Employee News12 Ice safety considerations

support responsible operation of Lake Chaparral outdoor skating rinks in southeast Calgary

If you’d like to receive AE Today electronically, write to aetoday@ae.ca

Message from Martin Jobke, President & CEO

Meet members of our staff and learn about what they are doing in their professional and personal lives to help shape a more resilient, sustainable world. In this edition, we hear from Senior Administrative Assistant, Louise Parnell.

For over five years, Louise has volunteered for the Honour House Society, including three years as Volunteer Coordinator. As the daughter of an Air Force veteran, Louise was inspired by seeing the contributions of first responders every day, and she was looking for a place to give back.

Honour House is a “home away from home” for first responders, military personnel, veterans, and their families and provides a free place to stay while they are attending appointments or have hospital stays in the Lower Mainland. The restored heritage mansion in New Westminster, BC, has 11 guest suites with ensuite bathrooms and common living areas.

The house is run entirely by volunteers, with only one paid staff member. Louise says, “As volunteers, we do

all the housekeeping, room turnovers, and landscaping, and attend various fundraising events. We are very proud to be launching Honour Ranch later this year, a facility outside of Ashcroft that will provide respite for those suffering from PTSD. I’ve never had a more rewarding position. The gratitude shown by our guests is overwhelming.”

For Louise, volunteering is a way to say thank you and give back to people who put their own lives on the line for others everyday.

Look for this icon to read more about a story on our website!

Louise (front row, second from left) at AE Day of Giving at Honour House

Shaping our Shared Future

ISSUE 3 • 20192

Congratulations to Kerry Rudd, who has retired as CEO after 37 years of service to the company. Kerry passes on the role of CEO to Martin Jobke, who now takes on the role of President & CEO of the Associated Engineering group of companies.

A civil engineering graduate from Southampton University in the UK, Kerry joined Associated Engineering’s Vancouver office in 1982. As a design engineer and project manager, he oversaw the delivery of many transportation and infrastructure projects in BC.

In 1996, Kerry was promoted to Vice President & General Manager of Associated Engineering’s BC operation; in 2005, he was appointed President, and in 2006, he became President & CEO of the Associated Engineering group of companies.

Under Kerry’s leadership, the company grew from 450 to over 1,000 staff in 23 offices across Canada. He led acquisitions and expanded the company’s services to include environmental

science, landscape architecture, ice engineering, disaster planning and recovery, urban planning, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and climate science.

Kerry promoted continuous professional development, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable business management. Through his advocacy, the company fostered development of a Young Professionals Group and the Women in Science and Engineering Retention (WISER) Committee. Kerry also spearheaded our carbon neutral program, and since 2009 we have been a carbon neutral company. Under Kerry’s leadership, the company has been recognized as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for 11 consecutive years.

Throughout his career, Kerry has actively given back to our profession, volunteering with a number of professional and community organizations in various positions, including leadership roles. For his leadership in advancing engineering and technology, in 2010, the Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of BC presented Kerry with a Certificate of Recognition and bestowed him with an honorary membership. In 2016, Kerry received the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies-BC’s Meritorious Achievement Award for his contributions to the engineering profession, the consulting industry, and the community.

In retirement, Kerry will continue to provide leadership as the Chair of our two Boards of Directors, and will dedicate more time to gardening and travelling with his wife, Jackie.

Thank you, Kerry, for your leadership and vision!

Brian Tod retires as Chair, Board of Directors Thank you to, Brian Tod, Q.C., who retires after serving Associated Engineering for 37 years as Counsel, and then as an independent director and Chair of our Senior Board of Directors.

Brian provided corporate legal advice as well as counsel on mergers and acquisitions. As an independent director and Chair of our Board, he served on a number of corporate committees,

providing sage advice on important issues impacting the company. Brian’s wisdom and Board leadership have contributed to the success of the company.

Thank you, Brian for your service and advice to Associated Engineering. Happy retirement and good golfing, Brian!

Happy retirement,

Kerry!

Kerry with his wife, Jackie, and their daughter, Katie

3

ViewPoints - Alternative Delivery 101Helder Afonso, P.Eng., Vice President & General Manager, Alberta North

Alternative delivery is increasingly being adopted in the public and private sectors. Associated Engineering has participated on projects employing various modes of alternative delivery. Our knowledge of alternative delivery comes from our experience in a number of roles, including owner’s engineer, design engineer and environmental support for the contractor, technical advisor to lenders, and engineering for operations, maintenance, and rehabilitation (OMR) contracts.

Alternative delivery is evolving rapidly. As infrastructure needs increase, owners are seeking alternative project delivery models that will result in project efficiency and incorporate innovation to ultimately extract higher value for stakeholders.

Traditional Project DeliveryMost projects are executed through a linear project delivery model that consists of Design, Bid, and Build. In this model, an owner first procures the services of a team to develop a design, which is then advertised for bid. After the bid evaluation process, the owner selects a contractor to construct the asset. Upon completion, the asset is commissioned and turned over to the owner. Design-Bid-Build projects are usually funded by the owner.

What is Alternative Delivery and why has it become a viable method to develop projects?Several alternative delivery models exist and continue to evolve. The most common forms of alternative delivery are:

• Design-Build: design and construction requirements are merged into one contract between the owner and a contractor (or consortium of contractors) who is solely responsible for the design and construction of a project and accountable to the owner. The contractor arranges for engineering and other professional service providers to design the project in collaboration with the contractor. Advantages of Design-Build are the owner has a single point of contact and accountability. The project can be fast-tracked and construction can be phased as the design is being developed, enabling a shorter project schedule.

• Integrated Project Delivery is an alliance of designers, contractors, and the owner with the responsibility to define, design, and construct a project under a single, multi-party agreement that incorporates a waiver of liability between all members of the alliance. The alliance performs under a shared risk/reward model that promotes collaboration between its members to meet a guaranteed maximum price for the project.

• Public-Private Partnerships add a financing mechanism, often consisting of a financial services or investment partner, and operational responsibilities to the Design-Build model. The Public-Private Partnership entity, consisting of a consortium of contractors and financial partner(s), assumes total financial, technical, and operational risk for the project over a concession period - often 30 years. Over this time, the Public-Private Partnership entity is responsible for operating and maintaining the project (asset) and the owner pays for the asset through regular installments to the Public-Private Partnership entity over the duration of the concession.

Owners will have different and often overlapping drivers for adopting alternative delivery as a mechanism for completing projects. Some common drivers are gaining access to financing mechanisms, reducing or sharing risk, accessing expertise, guaranteeing project cost, and shortening the gestation cycle for completing a project.

Throughout Associated Engineering’s 70 year history, we have participated in alternative delivery projects, and we continue to expand our portfolio of alternative delivery projects. We can help owners identify and assess potential alternative delivery models to help realize the project outcomes they desire.

For more information on the mode of delivery that might work best for your projects, contact Helder at afonsoh@ae.ca.

about the authorHelder Afonso is the Vice President & General Manager of our Northern Alberta operation. In this role, Helder is responsible for managing the operation, including business development, project delivery, and staff development. He has more than 30 years of experience in design, construction, and project management.

Port Mann Highway 1 in the Vancouver area was delivered as a design-build project

ISSUE 3 • 20194

Increased demand for advanced snow storage sites leads to environmentally-friendly solutions Traditionally, snow removed from urban streets was deposited in undeveloped lots and fields. As greater awareness of the contaminants (such as debris, oils, and road salt) in snow removed from streets emerged, regulations were developed for more sustainable snow storage solutions.

Municipalities seeking to meet environmental regulations, improve snow clearing operations, and reduce environmental risks, have developed designated snow sites. The facilities can store high volumes of snow, accommodate a large number of haul trucks for snow clearing activities, retain and release the melt water at pre-controlled discharge rates, reduce or manage environmental risks, and provide a cost-effective method of managing collected snow.

Project Manager, Sean Nicoll from our Grande Prairie office, tells us, “Design of snow storage sites have advanced significantly. Originally, snow sites were dedicated fields with little or no drainage controls. Design of snow storage sites evolved to include exposed compacted clay liners and melt water ponds, and then to partial or complete hard-surfaced snow pads. Today, modern snow storage facilities have hard surface snow pads with geosynthetic-liners and baffled ponds designed to remove sediment and debris.”

Today’s snow storage sites also address operational requirements and environmental risks. For example, some sites have electronic key card access to track or bill users. Depending on the release locations, site operational controls can include lift stations and forcemains to pump

site effluent to acceptable discharge locations or based on the capacity of the regulated flow discharge receiving body for flow and chemical concentrations.

Sean says, “Climate change can also impact the design of snow sites. Severe winter storms can increase snow volumes, resulting in more snow clearing activities. Increased rainfall events can accelerate snow melt and the volume of melt water, resulting in faster melt rate of the piles.”

Associated Engineering has designed and constructed a number of major snow sites for the City of Edmonton, including the Southeast Snow Site (1 million cubic metres), Southwest Snow Site (1.25 million cubic metres), and Horse Hills Snow Site (2 million cubic metres). We are currently administering the construction of the Tower Road Snow Site (1 million cubic metres).

We have also designed a number of large-scale snow sites for the City of Saskatoon (1 million cubic metre Snow Storage Site), Fort McMurray (1 million cubic metres Tower Road Site), and several others in Alberta, British Columbia, Sasktachewan, and the Yukon. Recognizing our leadership and experience, Communities of Tomorrow, which comprises 15 Saskatchewan municipalities, commissioned Associated Engineering to develop the Saskatchewan Snow Dump Management Guidelines.

For more information on design and construction of snow storage facilities, contact Sean at nicolls@ae.ca.

City of Edmonton’s Horse Hills Snow Site,

during construction

Climate change can increase volume of

snow, as well as the rate and volume

of snow melt

5

Overview of changes to Canada’s environmental legislation Recent media coverage focussed on Bill C-69, which enacts the Impact Assessment Act and the Canadian Energy Regulator Act, along with Bill C-48, the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act.

Another tabled piece of legislation that received less attention was Bill C-68, which amends the Fisheries Act. All three bills received royal accent in June 2019, amending the Canadian Navigable Water Act (formerly the Navigation Protection Act), the Impact Assessment Act (formerly the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA)), and the Fisheries Act.

Additional regulations will come into effect, as required. The new Acts will affect Associated and our work with our clients, including energy projects, projects involving water or waterbodies, and work in National Parks.

While the list of designated projects is similar, thresholds and activities do vary in places. Noteworthy changes to the Impact Assessment Act include: increased regulation in National Parks; modified environmental review process on federal lands; increased regulation of energy, including renewable energy; and increased water management regulations.

The assessment process must now consider both positive and negative consequences on economic, environment, social, health, and public interest decision factors, as well as directly related alternatives (where technically and economically feasible). Other factors considered in the process include traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples and impacts on Indigenous rights; the Government of Canada’s ability to meet its environmental obligations and its commitments

with respect to climate change; and any study or plan that is in respect of a region related to the project.

For the Fisheries Act, key changes include a return to HADD (harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat); broader definition of fish; increase in the types of watercourses regulated; development of Codes of Practice (CoP) and standards; designated projects list; and a Public Registry.

In the short term, existing approvals may no longer be valid; check with your environmental team. Also, self-assessment criteria (permit exclusions) are no longer valid. Currently, almost all projects with work in/near water will require a request for review, though additional CoP’s are expected in the future. Lastly, more projects may require authorizations.

For the Canadian Navigable Waters Act, some of the changes include: all projects on navigable waterbodies, scheduled or not, will require a Public Notice. Major works, including bridges, or maintenance with temporary works for over 30 days require approval, even on non-scheduled waterways. Finally, approvals for Scheduled waterways effectively stay the same.

Changes to environmental legislation could affect projects which include water or waterbodies, works in National Parks, or energy projects

For more information, please contact Richard Simpson at simpsonr@ae.ca.

Wetland assessment for the West Calgary Ring Road

As consultants, we will consider changes to these environmental legislation in our project planning process

ISSUE 3 • 20196

The iconic 481 metre long Alexandra Bridge is the longest bridge in the Fraser Canyon. Located near Spuzzum, BC, on the Trans-Canada Highway, the Alexandra Bridge was originally built in the early 1960s. The structure stretches across the Fraser River via a 257 metre riveted steel arch main span and multiple steel girder approach spans with concrete decks.

In 2009, the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure retained Associated Engineering to carry out a detailed assessment of the bridge’s condition and provide renewal options. Our assessment concluded the bridge required rehabilitation and did not meet current seismic standards. However, the topography would make replacing the bridge extremely challenging.

Shane Cook, Assessment Lead, says, “The objective of the project was to extend the bridge’s service life, and improve its functionality and seismic resilience by carrying out a major rehabilitation and a seismic retrofit of the existing structure.”

The scope of the renewal project consisted of a seismic evaluation, arch stability analysis, load rating, as well as the detailed design and engineering and contract administration (Ministry Representative) services during construction. The main scope of the construction work consisted of concrete deck rehabilitation and widening; expansion joint replacements and re-articulation of the structure through installation of link decks; isolated steel girder strengthening work; creation of jacking locations and replacement of steel bearings with laminated elastomeric bearings; abutment modifications and approach works; deck drainage reconfiguration; partial painting; and concrete substructure repairs.

Katrin Habel, current Project Manager and Engineer-of-Record, tells us, “The existing structure had substandard railings and the narrow sidewalks were under-used. During the renewal work, the deck cross-section was widened to create wider shoulders. Railings were

installed to current standards, allowing safer passage of vehicles across the structure.”

The design took advantage of synergies to incorporate cost-effective solutions. The seismic upgrade was achieved by replacing the existing deteriorated steel bearings with laminated elastomeric bearings and installing link decks. Alfred Kao, Project Manager for the initial phases of the project and Quality Assurance Lead, says, “The installation of link decks not only created a robust seismic load path, but increased durability by eliminating several deck joints. The deck cantilevers and parapets improved roadway safety and significantly enhanced the protection of the steel structure from salt spray, moisture, and solar radiation.”

Use of laminated elastomeric bearings and the installation of the link decks helped improve seismic resiliency

Jason Dowling, Bridge and Seismic Engineer, explains, “This approach avoided any costly retrofitting of the lightly reinforced substructure with its poor seismic detailing.”

The rehabilitation work also needed to accommodate several constraints, notably traffic management during construction, active railway below the approach spans, and limited space for access and laydown areas. We designed the rehabilitation work to accommodate two-stage construction of the overlay to allow for single lane alternating traffic at all times.

During construction, areas of the structure were found to be corroded to such a degree that additional assessment and strengthening repairs were required. The extent of the required additional work merited a second phase of the project, which is currently under construction.

Alexandra Bridge viewed from the north

Cost-effective deck rehabilitation and seismic retrofit extends the lifespan of the Alexandra Bridge in BC’s Fraser Canyon

7

Eden Valley Water Treatment Plant upgrades help to meet current drinking water guidelines and increase capacityApproximately 30 kilometres west of the Town of Longview, AB on Highway 40 lies the community of Eden Valley, part of the Bearspaw First Nation and a member of the Stoney Nakoda Nation. The community has a population of about 800, and receives its drinking water from the Highwood River. Water is treated in a direct filtration facility which was built in 2005. A water distribution system serves about half of the community, with the remaining residents receiving water transported by trucks and delivered to household cisterns.

In 2016, a feasibility study of the Eden Valley water system recommended expansion of the existing system to include a new raw water reservoir and a new treatment train at the existing water treatment plant to provide redundancy and to meet the future needs of the community for a 20-year horizon. Indigenous Services Canada provided funding to move forward with the $8 million project.

Project Manager, Andrew Robertshaw, says, “Historical growth rates for the community were used to develop population projections for the 20-year horizon, resulting in an assumed annual growth rate of 2.4% and a design population of 1,257. Water demands were projected based on an average water consumption rate of 314 litres per capita per day, using a maximum day demand peaking factor of 2.5 times the average daily demand.”

A raw water storage reservoir was needed to store raw water off-stream from the Highwood River during periods of high turbidity. The project team determined 90 days of storage would be sufficient, resulting in the need for 44,000 cubic metres of additional raw water storage to supplement the existing raw water storage pond

with 6,100 cubic metres of available storage capacity. In 2018, the new aerated raw water reservoir was constructed near the water treatment plant.

The design capacity of the treatment system needed to meet the maximum day demand with one redundant filter. The existing direct filtration treatment system has two filters. Also, the surface water treatment system was designed to achieve a minimun disinfection to achieve 5.5 log reduction of Giardia and Cryptosporidium oocysts and 4 log reduction of viruses.

The system was designed to achieve the treatment requirements using a treatment process comprising direct filtration, ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, and chlorine disinfection. The existing system included direct filtration and chlorine disinfection, so only UV disinfection was needed to meet the proposed treatment requirements.

To achieve the required treatment capacity for the 20-year horizon, a new treatment train was added, comprising two filters. Process Engineer, Anne Bridgman, says, “With the addition of the new treatment train, the duty capacity of the system was increased from 468 cubic metres per day to 1,256 cubic metres per day (based on one redundant filter).” A new building was added to the existing water treatment plant to house the new treatment train, as well as a chemical storage room, emergency shower, and washroom.

The water distribution upgrades improve fire protection for the community

The upgrades to the water distribution system included new service connections to six residences and the gas station; 270 metres of 150 millimetre watermain; 1,865 metres of 200 millimetre watermain; and 14 fire hydrants. The upgrades increase hydrant coverage for fire protection in the community; include installation of manholes that can accommodate strap-on water meters in key locations to locate significant water losses; and expand the distribution system toward the long-term objective of connecting all residents in the community. The improvements to the water distribution were completed in Fall 2018 and Spring 2019.

Exterior view of the Eden Valley Water Treatment Plant

ISSUE 3 • 20198

Whelan Bay Access nears completion

Whiteswan Lake is located approximately 100 kilometres northeast of Prince Albert, SK, and is a popular location for boating, fishing, hiking, and camping. It is accessed via provincial Highway 913, the sole method of reaching the nearby resort community of Whelan Bay. Nearly 200 residences are located in the community and it is the home of the provincial Whiteswan Lake Recreational Site.

Whiteswan Lake is a closed basin. In recent years, the lake has experienced unprecedented high water levels, which compromised the existing roadway. Flooding necessitating emergency maintenance and closures, leaving the community inaccessible by road.

As a result, a permanent roadway solution was urgently needed. In Fall 2017, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure retained Associated Engineering to identify options for improving the existing access or, alternately, constructing a portion of new roadway.

Faced with a remote and rugged terrain and the need to fast-track design and construction, our project team employed a unique combination

of technology and tools not typically used for designing remote-access roads.

Project Manager, Jeff Horan, tells us, “We used LiDAR survey to create a full basin model, simulated flooding impact using GIS, developed an optimized earthwork design model, and evaluated a number of routing options.”

The team used tablet devices for field data collection and public consultation. Field Inspectors also used them for construction administration which reduced the need for paper, resulting in a nearly paperless construction project. We also created a tablet-based solution for viewing the information and routing options that provided stakeholders with the opportunity to view the proposed route in real-time on-site on their devices.

An optimized roadway design was subsequently completed in this rugged, fully treed landscape, while considering environmental constraints, climate impacts, topography, geotechnical and stakeholders’ issues. Jeff explains, “The new roadway provides access at a much better location and will be more cost-effective to operate and maintain in the long-term.”

Associated Engineering completed all aspects of construction management including survey, quality control, environmental, quantity control, stakeholder communication, and project management to build this new roadway, and to decommission the existing road located within Whiteswan Lake flood waters.

The new 1.1 kilometre long roadway was completed in Fall 2018, ahead of schedule and under budget, providing a stable and safe long-term access to the community of Whelan Bay.

Mapping of route selection minimized the impact on wetlands and sensitive areas

Innovative design helps

to establish a safe,

permanent roadway to Whiteswan

Lake

9

Building Communities

Young Professionals raise $1,200 for CANstruction EdmontonOur Young Professionals teamed up with Pikachu to “catch” all the cans and help end hunger. Our team was awarded the Structural Ingenuity prize! Thanks to team members Michael Brodzikowski (Captain), Arsalan Syed, Brett Wynnyk, Elaine Mukarakate, Roland Bergantinos, Harvin Dhillon, Heather Chisholm, Helen Tran, Job Choa, Laurel Richards, Linda Chacko, Mohammed Nazief, Naomi Roy, Tamara Soltykevych, Ryan Morgan, Cailee McOrmond, and Marie Rudiak.

Supporting the Children’s Water Festival in NiagaraAssociated Engineering was an Activity Centre sponsor at the Niagara Children’s Water Festival, held at the Ball’s Falls Conservation Area. The three-day event had local Grade 3 and 4 classes cycling through 35 educational stations, providing a valuable learning experience to over 3,600 students.

Two of our Niagara-on-the-Lake staff members, Nathan Sherwood and Christine Kinahan, had a frontline experience at the festival. Nathan managed our “Agent H2O” booth, teaching kids what not to flush down the toilet, and Christine oversaw the “Go with the Flow” obstacle course that helped kids understand the basics of wastewater treatment and how we use water throughout the community.

Donating to the Okanagan Science Centre in VernonAssociated Environmental participated in the Okanagan Science Centre’s Mad Science Corporate Challenge. Our team of Paul Hague, Rebekka Lindskoog, Lawrence Bird, and Peter Singh competed against other teams in various fun events. We also provided a $300 donation to support the Science Centre.

$600 raised for BC Children’s Hospital on Jeans DayStaff in our Vancouver office once again gave generously by purchasing a Jeans Day button and wearing denim for a day!

Earth Day Spring Cleaning events in CalgaryThe Eco-Action Committee in Calgary organized a clothing and toy swap in support of Earth Day. Jennifer Li created and managed the events that offered the opportunity to exchange used clothing and toys. The remaining items were donated to the Women in Need Society. A bin full of electronic items was sent to E-Waste.

Over $52,000 raised for Ride to Conquer Cancer in Alberta and British Columbia Dozens of riders in our Alberta and BC operations participated in this year’s Ride to Conquer Cancer in support of the Alberta Cancer Foundation and BC Cancer Foundation. Funds raised go to cancer research and care. Special thanks to our team captains, Ryan Jalowica, Lorna Taylor, and Ryan Bowley!

Edmonton team with completed “Pikachu”

Paul Hague (right) in the Jenga competition

Team Alberta

Team BC

Collected donations

ISSUE 3 • 201910

Employee News

Marion Houlbrook, AScT has been appointed Manager, Environmental Management in our Vernon office. She has over 20 years of experience in contaminated sites management, including site remediation, risk assessments, and soil and groundwater investigations.

Francois Atkinson, AScT has been appointed Regional BIM Manager for the BC Operation. Based in our Vancouver office, he has over 25 years of experience encompassing municipal, commercial, and residential building projects. Francois is responsible for BIM leadership, including project delivery, as well as implementing and maintaining standards.

Quinn Crosina, M.A.Sc., P.Eng. has been appointed Group Manager, Water, in our Vancouver office. Quinn is a Water Process Engineer with 15 years of experience in water infrastructure planning and design projects, as well as climate change vulnerability assessments.

Matt Henney, P.Eng. has been appointed Specialist, Project Delivery, in our Vancouver office. In this role, he will provide senior process mechanical design services for water supply and treatment projects. He will also support water and wastewater proposal and project delivery efforts.

José Bicudo, Ph.D., P.Eng. has returned to Associated Engineering joining our Vancouver office as National Technical Specialist, Water Resource Recovery. He has almost 30 years of experience in system planning, facility design and operations, effluent receiving environment assessments, biosolids management and resource recovery.

Rebekka Lindskoog, R.P. Bio. has been appointed Manager, Northern Environment in our Vernon office. She is a Senior Environmental Scientist with over 20 years of experience. In her new role, she will oversee our environmental operations in the Northwest Territories and the Yukon.

Jeremy Fyke, Ph.D. has been appointed Manager, Climate Services, in our Vernon office. As a Climate Science and Modelling Specialist, he has over 15 years of experience. His team offers a multi-disciplinary approach to climate change adaptation on infrastructure projects across Canada.

Paul Hague, B.Sc., R.P.F. has been appointed Operations Manager of Associated Environmental. He has 20 years of experience as an environmental professional, including leading the Water and Earth Sciences group for the past eight years. In his new role, Paul will continue to manage complex, multi-disciplinary projects.

Farai Mudede, M.Eng. has joined our Edmonton office as a Civil Designer. He has almost ten years of experience in planning and designing roads, and infrastructure, as well as construction monitoring.

Carl Oleinyk, B.Sc., LEED AP, has joined our Edmonton office as a Senior Project Manager. He has over 30 years of experience in the construction industry. Carl’s project experience includes institutional, commercial, residential, and industrial buildings and facilities.

11

Ice safety considerations support responsible operation of Lake Chaparral outdoor skating rinks in southeast Calgary Located along the southern edge of the City of Calgary, the residential neighbourhood of Chaparral has a population of approximately 12,000 residents and comprises three sub-sections, one of which is Lake Chaparral.

During the winter months, the Lake Chaparral Residents’ Association is responsible for building and maintaining outdoor skating rinks on the frozen lakes in their community. Local residents use the ice rinks for recreational skating and ice hockey.

The Association engaged Associated Engineering subsidiary, NOR•EX Engineering to help them better understand ice safety and mitigate risks associated with the operation of skating areas on the frozen lake ice.

The NOR•EX Engineering team developed an Ice Safety Management Plan to identify and mitigate risks for personnel working on the ice cover. We reviewed equipment specifications and provided guidance on the minimum ice thickness requirements for large equipment and work crews, ice safety training, as well as templates to record ice thickness measurements for ice inspections.

Ice Engineering Specialist, Al Fitzgerald, tells us, “Some of the challenges we faced included the level of confidence regarding ice safety that the

work crews had, as well as the variations in the ice thickness throughout the area of the lake.”

As the climate changes, unpredictable winters and temperature fluctuations can create challenges for communities as they may not be able to rely on their traditional cold winter temperatures. These changes in temperature are becoming more common and thus require a more fulsome understanding of ice safety principles and best practices. Educating workers in ice safety principles and best practices allowed the community of Lake Chaparral to safely manage their ice cover successfully.

Ice Safety Management Plans and training help mitigate risks for communities responsible for operating public outdoor ice rinks

As part of the quality assurance program, our team visited the site to verify ice thickness and ice integrity using Ground Penetrating Radar, an electronic device that measures ice thickness. With the combination of the technology and the ice engineering expertise provided by NOR•EX Engineering, the Lake Chaparral Residents’ Association successfully maintained the ice sheets and safely operated large pieces of equipment on the ice cover.

Our key personnel involved on this project included Al Fitzgerald, Ben Strokappe, and Oz Podolski.

Frozen lake surface used as an ice hockey rink

Ben Strokappe (left) with Association’s

maintenance supervisor

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