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In this issue:
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It is my distinct pleasure to offer congratulations to several AQSA members. Orest
Stachniak was nominated to a CIQS Fellow at the recent CIQS Council
meeting in Toronto. As many of you
know, the prestigious Fellow
designation indicates the member's in-depth knowledge
of our profession and his commitment to it. Orest, Director,
Cost Management, Project Services
Branch for Alberta Infrastructure, has worked diligently As well, Milan Niksic and Choudhary Mureed Ahmed Sahi have both earned their PQS designations, proof of their comprehensive knowledge of construction and construction methods and their ability to provide cost and financial advice at any stage of a building project. Please plan to attend the AQSA Annual General Meeting on Friday, May 13 in Edmonton where we can congratulate these three individuals in person. At their March 16 meeting, CIQS Council members dealt with other matters of interest as well. Parcel
Design of Toronto, selected implementation options before the plan is brought forward for discussion and approval at the CIQS AGM in June. In other business, Ian Duncan, CIQS Past President, was selected to represent Canada at PAQS as a Second Vice-President for two years, First Vice-President for two years and then President for two years. Finally, I encourage you to attend the CIQS AGM from June 11-15 in Jamaica and take an active role in the issues and initiatives Council has undertaken on your behalf. You would earn CPD points for attendance and there are still spaces available. If you are not able to attend, please ensure your vote counts and return your proxy form to AQSA. And take a minute to mark these two dates on your calendars:
These updates illustrate the vigour of our industry and the strength of our Association. There is change in the works, and it is an exciting time for our national association. Chris
Reinert Board Member Profile - Roger Ward Roger Ward, PQS kee(F)ps active in AQSA because he wants our profession to keep evolving. "The institutions - CIQS and CIOB - are the construction profession in Canada. They represent practicing members and guide the profession's evolution," says Roger, a current AQSA board member and active in the chapter since 2003. "These organizations, though, are only as strong as the people who find the time to be active in the institutions' activities." Roger somehow does find the time. Besides his AQSA board duties, he has been the primary driver of AQSA initiatives at Winnipeg's Red River College and Calgary's SAIT to give construction students a foundation of knowledge about quantity surveying and construction management. "It's becoming increasingly difficult to find mentors for young people entering the profession," Roger reflects. "Our professional base has to be broadened and has to involve employers." In addition to his work at the colleges and with AQSA, Roger maintains his private consulting work - and is as involved with the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) as he is with AQSA. |
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April
1-2 2011 April
8 April
14 April
14-16 April
29 May
11-12 May
7-21 May
11 2011 May
13 June
11-15 July
22-27 Do you have other events you'd like to see listed? E-mail us the details. |
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Roger immigrated to Canada from Britain in the late 1960s with his formal British quantity surveying qualification in hand. Once here, he worked with John Laing Ltd., a British contracting firm based in New Westminster, B.C. "That was my introduction to CIQS. My manager at John Laing encouraged me to join. My CIQS membership number was less than 500." He remembers the transition to regional associations under CIQS occurred in the late '70s. Roger recalls there were no professional QS firms then. The vast majority of quantity surveyors were working for contractors, either estimating or working for British companies under the British system of managing the project revenue and change orders. "The profession has evolved a great deal since those days. In some ways, it has become more restrictive. Quantity surveyors have become consultants to architects. Everybody seems to rely on government money or mortgage monitoring," he notes. He also worked for Bechtel Corporation for about five years as a subcontract engineer. By then, Roger had observed that engineering and consulting firms were swinging away from hiring formally qualified quantity surveyors and, instead, were looking to procurement people with no formal education in construction and construction management. Roger's talents took him to Nigeria in the mid '80s, returning to Alberta - and active involvement in AQSA - in 2003. "I've had a good career, with its ups and downs like everybody does. But I feel there is a need to bring the younger generation forward," he says. He does see progress. "It has always disturbed me that, until recently, there was no formal education degree for the construction industry. Engineers are trained as designers, not as managers of money and the other required aspects of the industry," he notes. "I'm very pleased that Red River College now offers a construction degree with a similar degree program starting this fall at SAIT." Roger has some advice for all practicing members: keep involved and keep improving your skills. He finds our level of active membership wanting compared with Europe or the Pacific Rim. For example, he says the Chinese approached the CIOB about 25 years ago when they started to realize the inefficiencies inherent in their construction industry. "They made themselves more efficient. In the Far East, professional membership is seen and treated as a privilege. Here, some people join to get the initial salary and then opt out. What they're really saying is, 'Why should I improve myself?'" Thinking about offering your talents to the AQSA board but not sure what's involved for each position? Here are the highlights of each Board member's duties. President (a two-year commitment; must be a PQS)
Vice-President (must be a PQS)
Past President
Treasurer (must be a PQS)
Registrar (must be a PQS)
Newsletter Director
Marketing and Promotions Director
Education Director
Diary Director
Chapter Representatives (Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg)
Circle Friday, May 13 in your calendar to attend the AQSA Annual General Meeting (AGM). The AGM alternates each year between Calgary and Edmonton. This year, the session will be held in Edmonton, over lunch, with highlights including:
The 2010/2011 AQSA Board is listed below. New Board members will be nominated and elected at the AGM to replace members whose terms have expired. At its first meeting, the 2011/2012 Board will elect the President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Registrar.
The breadth of senior professional expertise and leadership within AQSA is impressive. Following is a list of CIQS Fellows still active in the industry.
Earn CPD points - attend the AGM Haven't decided yet whether to attend either the AQSA AGM or the CIQS AGM? Factor the CPD points you will earn into your decision. CIQS now requires a member to earn a minimum of 50 CPD points annually. You can earn points from participating in a variety of professional activities as follows:
Have
questions? Contact AQSA President Chris
Reinert or go to the "Members
Only" section of the CIQS website and click on the "CPD"
tab. Attention, candidates writing May exams If
you're out of practice writing exams, AQSA Registrar Doug Eastwell has a tip
for you. The stress and pressure of writing exams can lead to costly mistakes. AQSA Registrar Doug Eastwell has seen many examples of a candidate simply not reading the question closely enough to be clear what he or she is answering. So, his advice is simple: take the time to read through each question before you answer it to ensure you understand what's being asked of you - and be sure to answer every part of the question. Best
wishes to everyone writing, and please note that November
exam registration is Thursday, Sept. 1. Pay your dues online - it's easy! The
CIQS/AQSA 2010/11 year - April 1 to March 31 - is drawing to a close so here
are a few helpful reminders to ensure your membership stays current. The good news is that technology now makes invoicing and payments pretty painless: 1. You should have received your electronic dues invoice the first week of March. If you didn't receive it, AQSA likely doesn't have your current e-mail address. Please forward it today if that's the case. 2. Complete your CPD form before you submit your membership renewal. You will be asked to enter the number of CPD points you've earned as part of the renewal process. The form was e-mailed to you in early March or is available under the "Members Only" tab on the CIQS website. Please note: a minimum of 50 points is required for 2011/2012. 3. Submit a copy of your CPD form to AQSA for the files, either by e-mail, fax at (780) 419-7064 or by mail to Box 34062, Kingsway Mall, Edmonton AB T5G 3G4. 4. With invoice and CPD Point Form in hand, what are your payment options? Online payment offers the quickest and easiest solution. Simply log in again to the CIQS "Members Only" tab and follow the payment prompts. "Change is difficult for some but our members are embracing the new technology for invoicing, receipts and membership cards and find it quite efficient and painless," said Lois Metcalfe, CIQS Executive Director. "Our members particularly like the ability to pick up their receipt and membership cards immediately upon payment. If any members have any concerns or difficulty, I encourage them to contact me at execdir@ciqs.org." If you choose to resist 21st century technology, you do have the option of printing out your invoice and sending your cheque, invoice and completed CPD form to AQSA for payment. Remember to leave time for your paperwork to arrive before the March 31 deadline. Once your dues payment has been processed, your membership card and receipt will be e-mailed to you. If you'd rather, you can log into the "Members Only" tab on the CIQS website and print off your card and receipt at your leisure. Please
note: CIQS no longer prints and mails membership cards. SAIT construction degree course launches in September
SAIT Polytechnic's new Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Project Management, the third of its kind in Canada, prepares students for leadership roles in the Canadian and global construction industries and their membership of professional institutions. Addressing the increasing demand for professionals in the construction industry, the program will provide participants with structured management and leadership techniques that will provide the basis for broader management decisions as well as on-site leadership in construction operations. Graduates will have a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities in the construction industry, and of how their roles relate to other industry professionals including architects, engineers, real estate managers, vendors and facility managers. They would be actively engaged in managing the safe, timely and cost effective delivery of a broad range of projects. There will also be significant opportunities for graduates to pursue a variety of career opportunities such as consulting, general contracting, facility management, project development and service providers to the industry.
Consider attending some of the following events. They are a great way to keep abreast of current developments and earn CPD points. 2nd Annual Green Buildings: Managing the Legal Issues - Toronto - April 12 National Existing Buildings Symposium - Toronto - April 13-14 LEED Canada for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance -Calgary - April 14 Alberta Sustainable Building Symposium - Edmonton - May 10, 2011 Alberta Sustainable Building Symposium - Calgary - May 11, 2011 LEED Canada Core Concepts and Strategies - Edmonton - May 11 LEED Canada for New Construction 2009 - Calgary - May 13 LEED for Homes workshop - Calgary - June 1 Canada
Green Building Council Green Associate Study Course - LEED Canada for New Construction 2009 - Edmonton - June 9 Greenbuild 2011 - Toronto - Oct. 4-7 LEED for Homes workshop - Edmonton - Oct. 26 The Contractor's Toolbox for Projects Seeking LEED (Saskatoon Construction Association) - Saskatoon - May 3
Planning begun for 2012 college presentation The
construction industry isn't always a matter of drawings, construction teams,
girders and concrete. The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has an excellent definition of the industry as the "Built Environment, from greenfield through the life cycle of a project, to the greenfield again." Annual face-to-face meetings with construction management students at Winnipeg's Red River College are getting a whole new generation "in the know" about our profession. The most recent student exchange, organized by AQSA in partnership with the CIOB, took place Feb. 9 at Red River College with about 40 students participating. "We want young people entering the construction industry to understand that a degree or diploma is key to their career - and membership in a professional association like AQSA is key to the advancement of their career," said organizer Roger Ward. With the 2011 presentation wrapped up, Roger has begun work for the 2012 event. He's submitted a request to the Hon. Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Spruce Grove, for someone from her department to speak to the announced $1 billion+ repairs slated for the Parliament Buildings. The outcome of this request will be given in the next Cost Connections. The topic for the 2011 presentation was, "From Idea to Tender Documents." Martin Maykut, a Vice-President with Qualico Developments, gave a very informative insight into the complex administration of multiple housing projects. The second project was the remediation of the Giant Mine in Yellowknife, a former 50-year-old gold mine. The project has just reached the construction stage. The estimated cost is $600 million and will take eight years in a series of contracts.
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Do you have a short submission you would like included? |
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on
behalf of CIQS and AQSA as he has advanced his career over many years.
by
CIQS Council to develop a marketing and promotions strategy for CIQS,
presented a preliminary strategy. The presentation prompted some excellent
discussion. The completed marketing and promotions strategy will be
presented in April, giving Council members time to discuss 
Do
you know a young person in Alberta interested in climbing the management
ladder in the global construction industry? 