The eGlance
January 7, 2021
ACEC-Ontario has Launched a New Chapter!
The new Simcoe Chapter will be ACEC-Ontario’s 5th chapter and will cover the general Georgian Triangle area including Bruce, Grey, Dufferin and Simcoe counties. We wish to invite employees from ACEC-Ontario member firms who work in Simcoe County (via physical or remote office).

With this new Chapter comes elections and new executive leadership covering various positions. Elections will be held on February 3, 2021. Interested candidates are to submit their intent to stand for a Chapter Executive position to Laura Korneluk no later than Monday February 1st 2021. Please see further details here. Submit any inquiries or your intent in writing to lkorneluk@acecontario.ca.
Volunteer Spotlight Feature
We are so grateful for all the efforts from our large volunteer base. There are over 140 volunteers that make the work of ACEC-Ontario possible.

This month we would like to give special thank you and kudos to Saad A. Syed, who sits on the ACEC-Ontario Finance and Audit Committee.

What do you get from being a volunteer? In the words of Saad "I've been able to obtain a better understanding of how a non-profit industry advocacy group works from a financial perspective. I have also had the pleasure of connecting with other members and learn from their varied perspectives." Get to know Saad better here, on his member spotlight profile.
ACEC-Ontario Ottawa Chapter Shares Info on New Tree By-law
The purpose of this bulletin is to share information about the City’s new Tree Protection By-law, 2020-240, which comes into effect on January 1, 2021. This by-law replaces the City’s previous Municipal Trees and Natural Areas Protection By-law.

In summary, what's new with the by-law:

  • Two previous by-laws into one
  • Distinctive tree size reduced in the inner urban area
  • Clear tree protection requirements

Read full details here.
ACEC-Ontario is Seeking a Volunteer with Finance Experience
Do you have practical expertise in financial matters? Are you looking to expand your business network and share your experience to give back to the industry?
 
ACEC-Ontario has a vacancy available for our Finance and Audit Committee. If you have financial experience and want to make an impact supporting ACEC-Ontario’s exciting new strategic plan, we would like to hear from you! FAC meets virtually approximately 6 times per year, 2 hours per meeting.

Click here for the job description or contact Laura Korneluk at lkorneluk@acecontario.ca for further details.
Eight New Associates Appointed at JLR
Engineering, architecture, and planning firm J.L. Richards & Associates Limited (JLR) has announced that eight employees have been appointed Associates. The four men and four women appointed hail from several disciplines and markets within the firm, making them well positioned to introduce diverse perspectives into the company’s senior leadership team. 

“An Associate at JLR is a partner of the firm,” explains company President Guy Cormier, P.Eng. “The Associates play an important part in defining the strategic direction of the company and in challenging JLR to develop and grow year after year.”

Read the full release and learn more about these exceptional leaders.
SNC-Lavalin Enters 2021 with Two Contract Extensions from Bruce Power
Candu Energy Inc., a member of the SNC-Lavalin Group, has been awarded one year extensions from Bruce Power on two existing contracts: to continue to provide fuel channel inspection, and tooling maintenance and refurbishment in support of their reactor inspection and maintenance. As part of the extensions, SNC-Lavalin will support Bruce Power in executing three fuel channel inspection outages as part of the station’s regular outage schedule in 2021.

Read news release here.
Feel Good News: TULLOCH Fights Cancer
In December, the TULLOCH team gathered virtually for a TULLOCH Fights Cancer event. The main entertainment of this event was a virtual euchre tournament; with 24 teams participating from nine different offices and six different divisions.

Two very moving stories from BRAVE individuals who shared their personal journeys with cancer. Employees raised over $9,500, which was also matched by TULLOCH to bring the donation total to an even $20,000; donations went to Rethink Breast Cancer.

On a side note, great job to all the member firms that were busy being generous with their time and resources to support a plethora of charities across the province as we've seen on social media. If you have a story of your team doing good deeds any time of the year please share with Michelle West at mwest@acecontario.ca.
Office Hour at the University of Waterloo: Raising the Profile of Consulting Engineering
ACEC-Ontario's Executive Director, Bruce G. Matthews will speak to current University of Waterloo students and alumni on the "Inside the World of Consulting Engineering". During this University of Waterloo event , Bruce Matthews will talk about the breadth and depth of consulting engineering activity in Ontario and in Canada. The discussion will take place on Tuesday, January 12th at 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM.
The ACEC-Ontario MTO Courses Will Take Place in January & February
Given the current climate of COVID-19, ACEC-Ontario has made the decision that ALL 2021 MTO courses will be delivered online in 2021. The format and structure will differ from previous years, please review the details before registering. MTO courses will be held in January and February.

Click here for Road Construction Contract Administration Recertification Course , Highway Construction Inspection and Contract Administration details.
Managing the Post COVID-19 Employee Relationship with Employees
What are progressive / smart employers doing now to be ready to manage the employee relationship post COVID-19?

Unquestionably this global pandemic has forced employers into designing work arrangements never done before or in many cases, never even thought of before. One big question post COVID-19 is going to be employees asking WHY they cannot continue to work from home in many cases. This will be especially hard for employers to defend if the employee has been doing their job fully and properly. (new pandemic work from home studies are confirming that worker productivity is actually up!!)

Work from home is not at all a new concept, but the management thinking around this will need to be new. Here’s what you need to consider. Read full article.

Don't forget, as a member firm of ACEC-Ontario you have access (included in your membership) to TwoGreySuits HR resources and guidance. Invaluable when you need HR advice.
Environmental and Clean Tech Products Sector Grew at twice the pace as the total economy in 2019
The gross domestic product (GDP) generated by the environmental and clean technology products sector grew 3.5% from 2018 to 2019—twice the pace in real (volume) terms compared with the total Canadian economy (+1.6%).

In nominal terms, the value of the environmental and clean technology products sector in Canada reached $70.5 billion in 2019, accounting for 3.0% of Canadian GDP.

The share of environmental and clean technology products out of total GDP has remained relatively stable since the start of the time series in 2007. The share of the three top main contributors to the sector—the provinces of Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia—has also remained stable. In 2019, Ontario (36.1%) accounted for over one-third of the total value of environmental and clean technology products, while Quebec (28.6%) accounted for over one-quarter and British Columbia (14.4%) for one-seventh. Read more.
Top 10 Canadian Construction Trends to Watch in 2021
After a turbulent 2020, which forced the industry to adapt on the fly to a series of new on-site safety protocols and an abruptly altered building market, contractors are facing volatility in the year ahead, with growth predicted in some segments of the market and decline in others. Much of this applies to the engineering industry as well.
 
1. Rhetoric or reality: Will infrastructure investment dollars flow in time?
Billions of dollars have been earmarked through Infrastructure Canada’s Investing in Canada Plan, yet there are still billions that are uncommitted since 2018. Read full trend details.

2. Improved hygiene standards are here to stay
While COVID-19 has been devastating in so many ways, one positive outcome is the increased hygiene on job sites across Canada.

3. Private sector stalls
Investor confidence has taken a beating in the commercial sector, as some businesses promise to significantly reduce their footprints.
New Data Shows the Types of Workplaces Where COVID-19 Outbreaks Have Been Reported in Toronto
Previously Toronto Public Health grouped all workplaces together but going forward it will put them into 11 different categories – bars and restaurants, event venues and religious facilities, non-institutional medical health services, personal care service settings, recreational fitness facilities, retail settings, farms, food processing plants, offices, warehouses, construction and manufacturing settings and other workplaces.

The data released on Monday afternoon shows that of the 302 workplace outbreaks reported during the pandemic, nearly half (132) fell into a broad category made up of offices, warehouses, shipping and distribution facilities, manufacturing facilities and construction sites. Read full article.
OPG Incorporates Sustainability Targets into Corporate Financing
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) has become the first company in the Canadian power and utilities sector to incorporate sustainability targets into its corporate financing needs and the first Canadian energy company to secure a sustainability linked loan.

“OPG has shown sustained leadership in climate change action, and has pledged to act as a catalyst for efficient, economy-wide decarbonization and economic renewal while protecting the environment going forward, with clear and ambitious goals set out in the company’s Climate Change Plan,” said OPG president and CEO Ken Hartwick in a statement. “Incorporating sustainability targets into financing is a natural next step as we work toward those goals.” Read full article.
Does your firm have news that you want to share with the Ontario engineering community? Please send stories to Michelle West at mwest@acecontario.ca.
Association of Consulting Engineering Companies | Ontario acecontario.ca
Association of Consulting Engineering Companies | Ontario | acecontario.ca