President's Awards - Award Descriptions

Nomination Procedures | Past Winners| Terms of Reference

The following paragraphs provide examples of Professional Service and Community Service, as used in the award descriptions.

Professional Service

Examples may include:

• being an advocate for the profession.
• served actively with an APEGBC Branch or Division, or as a member or chair of an APEGBC committee
• served actively with  a provincial, national or international technical association or learned society

Greater weight will be given for either a sustained period of professional service or for participation in a number of different activities.

Community Service

Examples may include:

• served as a volunteer with a youth or church group, service organization, community sport or recreation club, or performed other unpaid work beyond the profession.
• served in a position of responsibility with a recognized charitable organization
• served as an elected official on a municipal or regional council or board
• served as a legislative MLA or parliamentary MP

Greater weight will be given for either a sustained period of community service or for participation in a number of different activities.

Note that current members of APEGBC Council are not eligible for a President’s Award.

R A McLACHLAN MEMORIAL AWARD

Background:  This award was established in 1965 in honour of R A McLachlan, PEng.  Mr McLachlan was President of the Association in 1951 and a member of Council in 1940, 1941, 1945, 1950 and 1952.  Mr McLachlan served the Association in many ways and maintained an unflagging interest in its affairs.  He was highly respected by all who knew him, both for his ability as an Professional Engineer and for his personal integrity and fairness.  The R A McLachlan Memorial Award is APEGBC’s premier award for professional engineering.

Eligibility:  PEng or PEng/PGeo; preference will be given to a member in mid-career

Criteria:  The candidate has made  a significant contribution  to professional engineering and has demonstrated outstanding community service.  Professional service may be considered.  The candidate has exhibited concern for public welfare that characterizes the profession at its best.  The candidate is actively engaged in professional work, as opposed to one who has done such work in the past but has gone on to administrative or other non-technical duties.  ,

C J WESTERMAN MEMORIAL AWARD

Background:  This award was established in 1994 in honour of Dr C J Westerman, PGeo.  Dr Westerman was regarded by his peers as an eminent and exemplary member of the geoscience community and APEGBC. In addition to his high standards of professionalism and excellence in practice, Dr. Westerman was instrumental in establishing the licensing and accreditation of Professional Geoscientists in BC. The C J Westerman Memorial Award is APEGBC’s premier award for professional geoscience.

Eligibility:  PGeo or PEng/PGeo; preference will be given to a member in mid-career

Criteria:  The candidate has made a significant contribution to professional geoscience and has demonstrated outstanding community service.  Professional service may be considered.  The candidate has advanced public recognition of professional geoscience in BC and done so with high levels of dedication and integrity.  The candidate should be actively engaged in the practice of geoscience in BC. 

MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Eligibility:  PEng, PGeo or PEng/PGeo

Criteria:  The candidate has achieved distinction and outstanding goals associated with his/her profession.  The achievement may be the result of a single activity or the culmination of a number of activities.  Examples of professional achievements may include the discovery of a new process or procedure, leadership of a team that reaches national or international distinction, or achievement of a goal against considerable odds through determination and personal drive.

D C LAMBERT PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AWARD

Background: The Professional Service Award was renamed the D C Lambert Professional Service award in 2009 in honour of Daniel C. Lambert, P.Eng. and his lifetime of dedicated service to the Association. For nearly 50 years Mr. Lambert has participated on committees, advised successive presidents and Councils, and contributed countless hours of volunteer time to the benefit of his chosen profession.

Eligibility:  PEng, PGeo or PEng/PGeo

Criteria:  The candidate has made a substantial contribution of professional service, through leadership and dedication, to APEGBC or to a provincial, national or international technical association or learned society.  Greater weight will be given for either a sustained period of professional service or for participation in a number of different activities.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

Eligibility:  PEng, PGeo or PEng/PGeo

Criteria:  The candidate has made a substantial contribution of community service, through leadership and dedication, to the well being of his/her community.  The contribution may be in one or more of the fields of social service, church work, politics, education, sport, recreation or the arts.  The contribution may be through either voluntary or paid, elected or appointed service.  Greater weight will be given for either a sustained period of community service or for participation in a number of different activities.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AWARD

Eligibility:  PEng, PGeo or PEng/PGeo; no older than 35 years of age when the award is presented

Criteria:  The candidate has demonstrated exemplary accomplishments in relation to his/her profession, professional service and community service.

AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN ENGINEERING & GEOSCIENCE EDUCATION

Eligibility:  PEng, PGeo or PEng/PGeo faculty member in an undergraduate or graduate engineering or geoscience program that can lead to registration with APEGBC.  In special circumstances, at the discretion of Council, this award may be considered for a non-Engineer or non-Geoscientist who has contributed significantly to the education of engineers or geoscientists in BC.

Criteria:  The candidate is an outstanding educator of engineers or geoscientists, and who, by his/her superior performance, enhances the quality of engineering or geoscience education and the general professions.  The candidate demonstrates teaching effectiveness, service to students, and contributions to education and outreach.

Examples of teaching effectiveness may include:  communication skills; innovative teaching methods; effective use of technology; special efforts in course development; and outstanding teaching evaluations and testimonials by students, faculty and alumni. 

Examples of service to students may include:  mentorship and involvement in programs outside of the classroom; delivery of value-added cooperative and internship programs; support for engineering and geoscience student societies and activities; and promotion of professional associations. 

Examples of contribution to education and outreach may include:  development of curriculum, new techniques for student evaluation or continuing development programs; research on teaching/learning problems or methods; writing of textbooks, codes of practice or guidelines for  practitioners; and assisting associations in accreditation and qualification activities.