Dr. Chih Chao named recipient of the 2024 Richard I. Stessel Waste Management Award

/

On behalf of the A&WMA Ontario Section, a hearty congratulations on being this year’s recipient of the A&WMA’s Richard I. Stessel Waste Management Award!!

The RI Stessel award is presented annually by the global Association for outstanding achievement in the engineering and science of waste management excellence. Dr. Chao’s dedication and expertise in the field of a circular economy, both here and abroad, has been long-standing and far-reaching.

Well earned and well deserved, Dr. Chao.

https://www.awma.org/2024stesselaward

 

HGC Engineering Welcomes Corey Kinart as President (April 2024)

/

HGC Engineering, a leading consulting engineering firm specializing in noise, vibration, and acoustics, is pleased to announce the appointment of Corey Kinart as President. Having joined HGC nearly 25 years ago, Corey has progressed within the firm, becoming an Associate in 2009 and expanding into management and leadership roles.

“I’m truly proud to be one of the professionals at HGC who maintains and continues to deepen the industry-leading expertise and experience we bring to our clients. I’m looking forward to continuing our mission of delivering to our clients clear and practical strategies that address the most complex challenges in noise, vibration, and acoustics”, Corey says.

Corey succeeds Brian Howe, who has served as President of HGC for the past 30 years, having founded the company with partners Bill Gastmeier and Brian Chapnik in 1994. During Brian Howe’s time as President, he has steadily grown the employee-owned company into one of the largest and most respected in its field. Brian remains an integral part of HGC, taking over the role of Board Chair while continuing as a Principal Engineer and leading the vibration and infrastructure group.

“I’m thrilled to have Corey step into the President’s role,” said Brian Howe. “His ability to establish trust with clients and colleagues, and his expertise, strategic vision, and leadership capabilities will continue to propel HGC forward, helping us deliver greater value to our clients. I have full confidence in Corey’s ability to build on the momentum we’ve created over the last three decades.”

Julie Wedzinga Nominated for YWCA Women of Distinction Award (Feb. 2023)

/

Longtime board member, Julie Wedzinga was nominated for a YWCA Women of Distinction Award. Julie is a Professional Engineer, Fellow of Engineers Canada and Manager of the Environmental Affairs department at Stelco, Hamilton.

Dedicated to equality, supporting women in STEM and giving back to her community, Julie has volunteered with the Professional Engineers of Ontario for over 15 years, currently serving as the chapter chair of the 30×30 initiative to increase the percentage of newly licensed female engineers to 30% by the year 2030. She served as a Director for Halton Women’s Place, the only women’s shelter in Halton – dedicated to educating youth and ending violence against women. She is also a Director of the Ontario Section of the Air & Waste Management Association and the first female Chair of the Hamilton Industrial Environmental Association. 

Sarah McQuaig joins Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee (Oct. 2020)

/
Screenshot 2020-10-14 093000.png

The Source Protection Management Committee, Hamilton Region Source Protection Authority Board, and the Halton Region Source Protection Authority Board have endorsed the appointment of Sarah McQuaig as the industrial-commercial representative on the Halton-Hamilton Source Protection Committee (HHSPC).  

The HHSPC warmly welcomes Sarah, who is the Manager, Environment, Health and Safety for Suncor Energy’s Operations & Logistics business area. Her responsibilities include developing, implementing and sustaining environment, health and safety programs for the pipeline, distribution terminal and truck logistics, ethanol manufacturing, sulphur recovery, and rail and marine operations throughout Canada and in the United States. 

With over 20 years of experience, Sarah has extensive knowledge of provincial and federal environmental legislation, as well as programs and policies related to compliance and reporting. Sarah is experienced in collaborating with government, industry and stakeholders on environmental matters. Sarah is a Qualified Environmental Professional, Toxic Substance Reduction Planner, and Applied Science Technologist. Sarah is a member of the Sun-Canadian Pipe Line’s Board of Directors (appointed in January 2020) and is the past-President of the Air & Waste Management Association Ontario Section (2015 to 2020).

Camille Taylor joins WSP (published Sep. 2019)

/
Camille.jpg

As of June 17, 2019, Camille Taylor is now a Team Lead in the Environment division at WSP in Canada, one of the world's leading engineering professional services consulting firms, bringing together approximately 49,000 talented people globally and 9000 in Canada.  

As Team Lead, Cami is responsible for developing, managing and expanding the WSP Environment team in Ottawa.  She brings with her strategic management of operational environmental services with a focus on regulatory compliance and technical excellence.  As a licensed professional engineer in Ontario and Quebec, Cami will continue her work as a senior air quality engineer and technical lead on complex environmental projects including environmental assessments, development of technical standards, elaboration and implementation of abatement plans, negotiations of permit conditions, and consultations, engaging with stakeholders from the municipal, provincial and federal governments, industry associations and the members of the public. 

In addition, to her full-time work at WSP, Cami is also teaching a Carbon Accounting and Management course for the University of Waterloo.

Giulia Brutesco joining Canadian Fuels Association (Sep. 2019)

/
image-asset.png

Giulia Brutesco will be joining the Canadian Fuels Association in the new position of Vice President, Policy and Regulatory Affairs, on September 23, 2019. In this new position, Giulia will have responsibility for leading the Canadian Fuels Association policy & regulatory issue management process. This will include overseeing the work of all Association technical Committees, setting priorities, providing leadership and resources, and monitoring results. She will also support the policy/regulatory advocacy needs of our three Regional Divisions. Giulia is a Professional Engineer, with experience in environmental compliance at a large industrial facility and in environmental and safety policy and regulation development, in successively more senior roles at two national Associations. Most recently she was Vice President, Safety and Security at Fertilizer Canada.

Christine Skirth, C.E.T., PMP Celebrates 20 years with Conestoga-Rovers & Associates (Apr. 2015)

/
SkirthChristine_200x250.jpg

Christine Skirth celebrates a highly successful 20-year career at Conestoga-Rovers & Associates (CRA) dedicated to civil, municipal, and environmental engineering.  After receiving her Civil Engineering Technology Diploma from St. Lawrence College in 1985, Christine worked for several engineering firms before settling in at CRA.  Christine has pulled from her C.E.T. and PMP education and training to effectively manage multi-million dollar projects while simultaneously growing and managing the CRA Ottawa office and staff.  She has exceeded client expectations through performance on all aspects of landfill engineering including environmental assessments, feasibility assessments, design and operation, landfill gas collection and utilization, leachate collection and treatment, surface water management, and financial assurance and closure.  As a CRA Principal and Project Director, Christine continues to lead by example in the office and in the field while maintaining a balanced lifestyle at home and abroad.  Around Ottawa, Christine enjoys boating and completing renovations at the cottage.  She stays active on her hockey team and finds time to train for and complete half marathons.  Overseas, Christine and her husband recently fulfilled a long-time goal of trekking to Mt. Everest base camp.

We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Christine Skirth on her 20 years at Conestoga-Rovers & Associates and wish her many more successful and wonderful years to come.

John Georgakopoulos becomes Full Partner at Willms and Shier (Jan. 2013)

/

Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP is pleased to announce the appointment of John Georgakopoulos as Partner, effective January 1, 2013. Prior to becoming an environmental lawyer, John was a senior environmental scientist at Ontario’s Ministry of Environment. While at the MOE, John worked with U.S. state representatives to develop a regional, bi-national toxic air emissions inventory for the Great Lakes region. In 2001 and 2002, John received the MOE’s Emerald Award for superior quality service and environmental protection.

John commenced his environmental law practice at Willms & Shier in 2008. He advises clients on environmental compliance and due diligence, defends environmental prosecutions and orders, and litigates environmental claims. We are pleased to have John as part of our team.

Harvey Watson Joins R.J. Burnside & Associates Limited (Jan. 2013)

/

Harvey Watson, P.Eng., has recently accepted a position with  R.J. Burnside & Associates Limited as the Air Quality Group Leader.  Burnside is a full spectrum consulting engineer and scientist company based across Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta, and Internationally.  Harvey  is looking forward to continuing to use his extensive experience, practical knowledge, and service focus to support his clientele.   www.rjburnside.com

Harvey_Watson.jpg

Ciara De Jong Joins ORTECH Environmental (Jan. 2013)

/

ORTECH Environmental, a division of ORTECH Consulting Inc. is pleased to announce that Ciara De Jong will be joining the ORTECH family as Principal, Compliance and Permitting.  Ciara will lead an already dynamic team of engineers and scientists providing a wide range of air quality and environmental assessment consulting services to the energy, industrial and MUSH sectors.  

Ciara has a Bachelor of Environmental Sciences (Guelph) and Masters in Environmental Studies (York) with extensive experience in the environmental consulting sector, and for the past 5 years, she has been the Manager of the City of Toronto's Environment Office.  She has been involved in the development of sustainable energy policies as well numerous air quality, climate change, energy and risk management projects.  Ciara also has experience in environmental assessments and dispersion modelling and is the current President of the Ontario Section of the Air and Waste Management Association (A&WMA).