OACETT AGM and Conference 2016 Highlights

A warm welcome
The Welcome Night barbecue on Thursday, June 2, took place at the Hamilton Art Gallery where members were able to re-connect with their colleagues from across the province while enjoying some impressive works of art. Speakers at the event included Kathy Lerette, C.E.T., vice-president, utility operations at Horizon Utilities, and Tony Thoma, dean, engineering technology, media and entertainment at Mohawk College. Local industry leader Lerette emphasized the value of continuing professional development, the benefits of employing certified engineering technicians and technologists, and the importance of attracting more women to the profession. Representing Mohawk College’s highly regarded engineering technology program, Thoma underscored the link between collaboration and innovation and the value of college/industry partnerships.

OACETT Council 2015-2017
Back row L to R: André Sherman, O.A.A., C.E.T., representative from the Ontario Association of Architects; Steve Barnes, C.E.T., PASB councillor, Toronto; and Shawn Wessel, A.Sc.T., rcji, PASB councillor, Eastern.
Third  row L to R: Dr. Misheck Mwaba, PhD, P.Eng., representative from the Heads of Technology; Bruce Elliott, C.E.T., IETO councillor, Northern; Cam Johnston, C.E.T., rcca, IETO councillor, Horseshoe; Andy Dryland, C.E.T., PASB councillor, Northern; and Ken Browne, C.E.T., PASB councillor, Horseshoe.
Second row L to R: Christopher van Dop, C.E.T., IETO councillor, Western; David Crowder, C.E.T., IETO councillor, Toronto; Shervin Reyhani, C.E.T., PASB councillor, Western; Rosanna Baggs, C.E.T., IETO councillor, Eastern; Mark Gatenby, C.E.T., PASB councillor, Central; and Kathiravel Karunananthan, C.E.T., IETO councillor, central.
Front row L to R: Vince Le Faive, C.E.T., CBET (c), vice-president, IETO; Stephen Morley, C.E.T., past-president; Kim Pickett, C.E.T., vice-president, PASB; Bob van den Berg, C.E.T., president; and Greg Miller, C.E.T., president-elect.

Conference day one
The first conference day kicked off with greetings from Ontario Minister of Labour, the Honourable Kevin Flynn. Minister Flynn delivered heartfelt remarks on the importance of workplace safety, noting that a safe and healthy workplace is a productive workplace, and commended OACETT members for their commitment to upholding rigorous safety standards and earning the public’s trust.

Next up, OACETT’s Administration Board reported on key accomplishments in finance and administration, professional affairs and services, IETO activities, government relations initiatives, steering committee and working group projects, and the overall strategic advancement of the Association. Particular focus was placed upon the implementation of mandatory CPD, removal of the one-year Canadian work experience requirement, the incorporation of Technology Professionals Canada, the awarding of the first Licensed Engineering Technologist (LET) designation, the development of a technology road map and the vendor selection process for a new IT system for the Association.

As part of this year’s very well-received Technical Program, three OACETT members delivered technical presentations related to their areas of expertise:  Hargurdeep Singh, associate (“Cost-optimization of Fused Deposition Modelling Additive Manufactured Parts”); Robert Henderson, C.Tech. (“Intelligent Rail Systems and Signal Design”); and Neal Smith, C.E.T. (“The Gore Road Solution: Bringing the Corridor Back into a Community”). The tech talk continued over the lunch hour, when Mohawk College students Sebastian Blais and Taylor Woods relayed their experiences with lean optimization at Sherwin Williams.

Members also had ample opportunity to explore the Technical Program’s poster presentation exhibit, featuring impressive displays from ten presenters who were on hand to discuss a variety of innovative and interesting projects. The Technical Program Peer Review Committee is to be commended for their hard word in assembling an outstanding program. 

President’s Dinner and Fellow OACETT presentation
Following the afternoon’s regional meetings, the Hamilton Chapter’s Paul Wardell, C.Tech. bagpiped delegates into the President’s Dinner where recognition was given to some distinguished industry members. Five longstanding OACETT members and leaders in engineering technology were awarded the highest honour the Association bestows: the Fellow OACETT designation. Each of this year’s recipients – Harry Baker, C.E.T., Fellow OACETT, Robin Dunn, C.E.T., Fellow OACETT, Alex Lunycz, C.E.T., Fellow OACETT, Trevor Onken, C.E.T., Fellow OACETT and Cedric Smith, C.E.T., Fellow OACETT – delivered moving remarks about how they have been enriched through their involvement in their Association and contribution to their profession over the years. Through their fine work and mentorship these gentlemen have set an example and created new opportunities for all OACETT members.

Also recognized during the President’s Dinner was Sam DiGiandomenico who is embarking on retirement after many years of major contribution to both OACETT and Technology Accreditation Canada (TAC). He served as OACETT’s director of IETO and registrar for 14 years, where he  elevated and upheld the rigorous standards of certification, enhanced OACETT’s reputation as a regulator and advanced the engineering technology profession as a whole, before taking the helm at TAC as executive director in January 2015. Paying tribute to Sam were Nuzhat Jafri, Office of the Fairness Commissioner executive director; Peter Portlock, TAC Board chair ; and Stephen Morley, C.E.T., OACETT past-president. They spoke of his leadership, accomplishments and friendship, and the legacy of integrity and achievement he will leave through his work with both organizations.

L to R: Harry Baker, C.E.T., Fellow OACETT; Robin Dunn, C.E.T., Fellow OACETT; Cedric Smith, C.E.T., Fellow OACETT; Trevor Onken, C.E.T., Fellow OACETT; and Alex Lunycz, C.E.T., Fellow OACETT.

Annual general meeting
Members were updated on the progress and the finances of the Association at Saturday morning’s annual general meeting. They learned that OACETT membership recently exceeded the 25,000 milestone; that the percentage of certified members is increasing; that investments are sound, generating operating surpluses; and that financially OACETT has had another very good year. After a presentation by Past-President Stephen Morley, C.E.T., members voted to approve the recent revisions to By-law 19. Chair of the Carole and George Fletcher Foundation Board of Trustees, David Tsang, A.Sc.T. reported that, with the generous support of OACETT members in the past year, the foundation has been able to award the $1,000 bursary at each of the 25 Ontario colleges and that all colleges are now either fully or partially funded towards the desired $40,000 endowment. He explained that the foundation’s continual mission is to explore new revenue streams and opportunities to reach and exceed the $1,000,000 endowment in order to be able to increase the current bursary value of $1,000 to offset rising education costs and inflation. He encouraged all members to invest in the future of their profession by making a donation. 

Thank you to our volunteers
President Bob van den Berg, C.E.T. thanked the Hamilton Chapter for hosting the event and making everyone feel so welcome and he acknowledged the efforts of the volunteers from all chapters whose participation at the AGM and ongoing activities at the chapter level drive the Association’s progress and enable us to implement our strategic priorities with success.

Thank you to our sponsors

Gold Sponsor:



Silver Sponsor:


Bronze Sponsors:
 




Delegate Bag Sponsor:


Lunch Sponsors:


Hospitality Sponsors:



Welcome Night Sponsors:



Coffee Break Sponsors:




VIEW PHOTO GALLERY.

VIEW VIDEOS OF TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS, THE EXCELLENCE IN EXECUTION WORKSHOP AND FELLOW OACETT DESIGNATION AWARD CEREMONY.