OSPE - The Voice - June 2020 - 11

ADVOCACY IN ACTION

As we look back on 20 years, past
OSPE presidents comment on the
highlights of their tenure:
When I joined OSPE there were
remaining various unresolved differences
between PEO and OSPE regarding the
roles of the organizations and also the
financial viability of OSPE. [...] We set the
foundation for OSPE to enhance it's role
as the voice of the engineering profession
in Ontario. Equally important was OSPE
operated with a sound financial basis,
reliant on the delivery of membership
value in order to earn membership
revenues, combined with other revenue
sources from projects, affinity programs
and educational programs.
- Michael Monette, P.Eng.

Congratulations to all engineers and nonengineers engaged in raising the profile
of the engineering profession through
advocacy. It has been a privilege and an
honour to serve as an OSPE member since
it's inception. It's has been a wonderful
journey. Wishing OSPE many more years
of continuous success.
- Alourdes Sully, P.Eng.

It was a privilege to serve as Chair and
President of OSPE and to advance the
interests of the engineering
community.
- John Schindler, P.Eng.

ON THE WEB

To read the full statements from our
past presidents, visit the Society Notes
blog at www.ospe.on.ca/about_us/
ospe-news/blog/

"I was first elected to the OSPE board in
2002 when we were essentially a startup!
All of our focus was on the sustainability
of an advocacy and member services
association for Ontario engineers in the
long term. I am so pleased to see OSPE
now celebrating its 20th anniversary and
thank all of its Boards and staff, past and
present for their dedication in achieving
this milestone!"
- Annette Bergeron, P.Eng.

"The Professional Engineers Act
provided an essential system to
licence engineers and regulate
the practice of engineering, and
played a big role in the education of
engineers. However, it was deficient
in helping to strengthen engineering
business-consulting and
manufacturing engineering being
just two examples. We owe a great
thanks to those in our engineering
practice world and our province in
identifying the need for a change."
- Robert Goodings, P.Eng.

We were faced with formidable
challenges in the early days but we
soldiered on. Two decades later we
can say with confidence and pride
that we are indeed THE VOICE of the
engineering profession in Ontario. We
have set the bar for Member Services
as well, and the other provinces will
look to us as a model to follow suit. We,
together with our members will keep
on growing with determination.
- Daniel Young, P.Eng.

I am really pleased with the results
of that [2015-2019] strategic plan -
OSPE surpassed all of the targets we
had originally set out. As a woman in
engineering, I'm most proud of OSPE's
participation and leadership with the
Women in Engineering Mentorship
Program, the Breaking Barriers
Project, and especially the creation
of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Committee which reflects the shift
in priority of STEM leaders towards
greater inclusion and diversity.
What I am most thrilled about is
that the culmination of all this work
by OSPE resulted in the creation of
P.Eng. Day in Ontario. In 2018, sitting
in Queen's Park and listening to the
MPPs share story after story of the
amazing work that engineers do in
their communities, I was so proud of
being an engineer and representing
OSPE on that historic day.
- Karen Chan, P.Eng.

I spent a lot of time meeting
with the Ontario government
Energy Ministry staff to persuade
them to incorporate a number
of policy changes that OSPE's
Energy Task Force recommended
in two major research reports
in 2011 and 2012. One of the
recommendations saved Ontario
electricity consumers in excess of
$180 million per year and reduced
emissions in excess of 1.6 million
tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
- Paul Acchione, P.Eng.

It was a privilege to serve as Chair and President of OSPE and to advance the
interests of the engineering community.
- John Schindler, P.Eng.

Summer 2020 THE VOICE

11
http://www.ospe.on.ca/about_us/ospe-news/blog/
OSPE - The Voice - June 2020

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