The Voice - Winter 2020 - 5

CEO'S MESSAGE

How can we describe this year? Challenging,
complex, disastrous, and devastating are some
of the first that come to mind.
As we've heard ad nauseum, COVID-19
upended our institutions, governments,
businesses, and even the simple things
we took for granted - how we get our
groceries, dropping our kids off at school,
spontaneous get togethers. It was a tough
go, and tragedy hit most of us in some way:
lost jobs, lost time, lost moments with
loved ones. The way we would go forward
was forever changed. Still, despite the
catastrophic waves we faced, we saw many
amazing things. Government and industry
were forced to respond in nimble, specific
ways as never before, job losses opened
pathways to opportunities never before
conceived, and many tried to make the
most of it, becoming closer with their
immediate family members, turning the
volume down on the world outside and
appreciating what was at their front door.
Upheaval always comes with a silver
lining. We discovered resilience, flexibility,
and strength that we never knew we had.
Like most organizations, OSPE had to
make major changes and all our in-person
events were shifted online. While this was
extremely disappointing, we also knew this
was an incredible opportunity, as events
suddenly became accessible to all of our
members across Ontario: no flights or long
car drives needed to attend one of our job
fairs! From the comfort of their homes,
many of our members found that they could
access the full array of OSPE resources as
they shifted priorities. On the downside,
we had planned and prepared the launch
of our Ontario Engineering Academy, a
new way of thinking about career life-long
learning. COVID-19 put a damper on that,
and while we were excited to share some
initiatives, we were unable to reach as far

wide as we would have liked. And one of our
favorite nights, the OPEA gala, where we
deliver our awards, was cancelled.
We were overwhelmed with stories of
engineers helping. We always say that an
engineer's most important skill is their
critical thinking ability and we
saw how they were able to adapt
Like most organizations, OSPE
this analytical mind to retool
had to make major changes and all
PPE processes, hunker down on
vaccine solutions, and develop
our in-person events were shifted
resources like the contact tracing
online. While this was extremely
app that the government uses.
disappointing, we also knew this was
These changes, brought on by the
an incredible opportunity, as events
pandemic, will enhance the rest
suddenly became accessible to all of
of our lives, post-pandemic.
our members across Ontario.
Looking to 2021, we want
to take this spirit of change
and embrace it. We've learned this year
that engineers can band together for the
greater good. Our research has told us
many issues still linger: underrepresented
groups in engineering continue to suffer
at disproportionate rates, right-touch
legislation needs to be implemented for
the good of the profession, mandatory
development protects public safety, and
the wage of engineers needs to rise to
match those of similar professions. OSPE's
goal for the upcoming year is to lock-in on
these issues and find tangible solutions for
the engineering profession; solutions that
improve lives, protect public safety, and
enhance the profession in the eyes of the
public.
We wish everyone the best for the
Sandro Perruzza
holiday season as we eagerly await a
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER,
vaccine. Keep safe, look out for one another,
Ontario Society of Professional Engineers
and keep coming back to OSPE for more
updates on how we plan to work together
to make the profession stronger.

Winter 2021 THE VOICE

5
The Voice - Winter 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Voice - Winter 2020
