Contributing to the important discussions affecting the BC water sector and natural environment next week in Victoria, BC at the BC Water & Waste Association‘s 2025 Annual Conference, will be several members of our water and environmental practices from Vancouver, Victoria, and Vernon.
Sharing their experience and expertise on a variety of projects in the education program on April 28th will be the following:
9:30am – 10:00am | Lecture Theatre Plant Optimization: Considerations for Strategically Taking a Process Offline Presenter: Keith Kohut
2:00pm – 3:00pm | Oak Bay 2 Environmental Regulatory Planning for Flood Mitigation Projects Presenter: Heather Taylor
4:15pm – 4:45pm | Lecture Theatre Foaming: Causes, Impacts, and Solutions for Wastewater and Residuals Treatment Presenter: Cameron Macdonell
4:15pm – 4:45pm | Oak Bay 2 FVH1CIP: Assessing and Improving Functionality of Infiltration-Based Stormwater Systems Presenter: Eric Finney
Located off British Columbia’s northern Pacific Coast, Haida Gwaii is an archipelago consisting of two main islands, Graham Island in the north and Moresby Island in the south, along with approximately 400 smaller islands. The ancestral lands of the Haida Nation, the history of Haida Gwaii dates back thousands of years. Living along coastal waters, historically, Haida People used canoes as their primary mode of transportation.
Today, Highway 16 and Alliford Bay Road form the main transportation route connecting Sandspit in the south to Daajing Giids and Skidegate, Tlell, Port Clements, and Masset in the north. There are no alternate routes between communities for transporting goods or emergency services. These critical roads parallel the coastline and frequently experience coastal erosion as a result of storm events in Hecate Strait.
The BC Ministry of Transportation and Transit retained Associated Engineering to serve as the prime consultant to complete the Haida Gwaii Shoreline Protection Study to identify areas along the road with high erosion potential and present conceptual design options to mitigate impacts to the roadway and keep the residents connected. The study included frequent communication with local governments and the Haida Nation for their input and feedback.
Technical undertakings included comprehensive site reconnaissance, metocean (meteorology and oceanography) condition analysis, spectral wave modelling, shoreline classification, and a spatial assessment of the proximity of infrastructure to the shoreline. Project Manager and Technical Lead, David Forde, tells us, “These efforts informed the development of a vulnerability matrix, which revealed that much of the project area faces medium-to-high vulnerability to coastal erosion.”
The assessment is corroborated by the near-annual repairs undertaken by the Ministry along the highway. Six segments identified as highly vulnerable were selected and conceptual stabilization designs were developed to address these critical areas.
Wherever possible, the proposed concepts emphasize nature-based solutions. Some of the options included rock headlands and self-distributing sand nourishment, in addition to traditional revetments
Due to a balance of the high wave energy, material cost and availability limitations, and importance of preserving natural environment, a hybrid of these options is recommended.
Associated is continuing to work with the Ministry on a separate assignment to refine estimates, review material availability, and further quantify risks. Together with the Ministry and our project partner, DHI Water and Environment, Associated intends to prepare designs to inform coastal erosion protection at pilot sites. We hope these pilot sites will provide valuable ‘lessons-learned’, which can be leveraged in the design and protection of high-vulnerability segments along this critical transportation corridor.
Associated Engineering’s key project members included David Forde, Chloe Sirges, Nicola Van Der Mark, and Josh Holland.
Associated is very proud to announce the news of Marta Green‘s appointment as the first female President in the 55 year history of the BC Ground Water Association! The decision was made at the recent BCGWA Annual General Meeting held in Kamloops, BC. Marta previously held the role of Vice President of the BCGWA for the 2023-2025 term.
As a professional geoscientist, Marta has more than 25 years of environmental consulting experience in western and northern Canada. A graduate of the University of British Columbia’s hydrogeology program, her expertise includes physical hydrogeology, water quality, contaminant hydrogeology, and regional hydrogeological studies.
The BCGWA’s mission is to provide professional and technical leadership in the advancement of the groundwater industry and in the protection, promotion, and responsible development of groundwater resources.
On June 5, 2024, the City of Calgary experienced a catastrophic break in the Bearspaw South Feedermain, the largest pipe in Calgary’s drinking water conveyance system with the capacity to convey over 450 million litres per day. The loss of the feedermain led The City to declare a State of Local Emergency and retain Associated Engineering for emergency response services to repair and reinstate service.
The 1,950 millimetre diameter prestressed concrete cylinder-type pipe conveys water from The City’s Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant to the largest of Calgary’s 35 pressure zones. The Bearspaw South Feedermain also supplies the 33 Avenue NW, Shaganappi, Memorial Drive, Hillhurst, and Nose Creek Pump Stations.
As an immediate response, The City of Calgary initiated their emergency management system to coordinate a response to the Bearspaw South Feedermain break, with the single purpose of maintaining critical water service. Two key requirements to maintain water services were modifications made to pump station operations and restoring critical water services back to normal as quickly as possible by expediting the design and construction of the feedermain repairs. With the Bearspaw South Feedermain out of commission, pump station modifications were needed to move water from the south to the north to service the city; this required analysis of system risks and quick decision-making.
Within hours of the feedermain break, Associated Engineering began providing operational and infrastructure analysis, and corresponding solutions to maintain critical water service. Project Manager and Vice President, Urban Infrastructure, Duane Strayer, explains, “We completed an operational review and provided recommendations, undertook hydraulic transient analyses and site reviews, and produced recommended repair designs, surveys, in-situ forensics investigations (including stray current and soil testing), and construction inspection.”
Parallel to redirecting water, Associated’s team reviewed operational data from the Bearspaw Water Treatment Plant and Shaganappi Pump Station SCADA systems. Within one day, we received and analyzed thousands of information points from The City, and presented initial findings that indicated pump operations were not a contributing factor to the feedermain break.
Associated applied first-hand knowledge of the pump station’s operating pressures and design setpoints for the pressure-reducing valves to bypass flow. The project team developed a plan to reverse flow from the Glendale zone through the Shaganappi Pump Station (designed by Associated), allowing for the return of water to be pumped into the North Hill zone.
Following the resolution of the immediate emergency, The City needed to understand the condition of the rest of the feedermain, to confirm if there were any other vulnerabilities that required immediate attention and provide assurance that the feedermain would continue to provide essential service.
Duane says, “As the ruptured pipe was being repaired, electromagnetic inspections were performed upstream and downstream of the rupture. These inspections detected additional distressed pipe sections downstream of the rupture.” Based on the data collected and subsequent inspections, The City decided to complete additional repairs in three phases.
Associated was also responsible for identifying field coordinates for each repair location in all three repair phases. This was a vital first step as accuracy was paramount, because the contractors were already mobilized on-site and ready to excavate.
Associated’s team provided continuous surveillance of the pipe exposure process. This included verifying the distress noted by the electromagnetic inspection. Data collection followed and included observations and measurements of the in-situ pipe and soil conditions.
Strong collaboration between Associated, City of Calgary, subconsultants, and contractors were key to success
Duane explains, “This information guided the forensic analyses The City tasked Associated Engineering to carry out and was also used to validate the corresponding results from the electromagnetic inspections.” As a result of our on-site attention, coordination, and responsiveness, the contractors sustained their productivity, while valuable forensic data was collected.
In addition to the original rupture, the electromagnetic inspection identified five distressed pipe segments that needed immediate attention. To expedite the repairs, The City retained three contractors to undertake the work on a 24 hours per day, 7 days a week basis. Associated provided construction engineering support for all five segments. In addition, urgent repairs by concrete encasement were needed in 21 locations along the 1,950 millimetre pipe, and planning and design work was expedited in the summer.
Associated was supported by subconsultants, Tronnes Geomatics, Thurber Engineering, and Corrpro Canada, and supported the work of Whissell Contracting, Volker Stevin, LBCO Contracting, and Graham Construction & Engineering, and Xylem (Pure Technologies).
Associated’s key personnel included Duane Strayer, Craig Pass, Jacqueline Le, Lee Hang-Liu, Joe Lisella, Joe White, Timothy Nesher, Nony Cuppen, Chris Hiscott, Eliman Camara, and Jiayu Li.
Last week in Edmonton at the 28th edition of the annual Consulting Engineers of Alberta Showcase Awards Gala, we’re proud to share that Associated Engineering received multiple honours for projects completed in Alberta and Canada-wide! Congratulations to our team members, our clients, and project partners for their efforts and successful demonstrations of technical excellence and teamwork in delivering projects benefiting our local communities.
Award of Excellence in the Studies, Software and Special Services category for the Coast-to-Coast Understanding Infrastructure Maintenance Needs project for Parks Canada
Associated Engineering played a transformative role in modernizing asset management for Parks Canada Agency, who oversee 18,000 assets valued at 28 billion dollars. Leveraging innovative data-driven methodologies and working closely with the agency’s Service Management branch, Associated evaluated hundreds of assets across Park’s diverse portfolio in remote and challenging areas across Canada. Associated developed a custom asset information system which integrates condition, maintenance, energy, climate risk, and code information. The results from this project provides Parks Canada with the integrated information required to better enable decision making and investment planning.
Award of Merit in the Community Outreach and In-House Initiatives category for Building Community Capacity in Duncan First Nation
Duncan First Nation’s care and creative vision, through the Heavy Equipment Operator Training Program, enabled their community members to attain new skills and secure employment, all the while upgrading infrastructure and boosting morale in the community. Associated Engineering collaboratively worked along side Duncan First Nation to assist with funding applications, reports, designs, and construction support services. Together, Duncan First Nation and Associated Engineering set in motion a model that other communities can adopt and adapt to their own needs.
Award of Merit in the Project Management category for Design-Build Innovation and Collaborative Project Management of the West Calgary Ring Road
The delivery of the West Calgary Ring Road project, a vital transportation initiative in Alberta, exemplifies design-build innovation and collaborative project management. Built in two segments, the project includes eight kilometres of the new Stoney Trail, 27 bridges including four service interchanges, as well as the full reconstruction of five kilometers of the TransCanada Highway. As the Owner’s Engineer, Associated Engineering’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and delivering value for money resulted in quantifiable cost savings of over 30 million dollars. Innovative project management strategies helped achieve minimal claims, exceptional safety, and on-time delivery, setting new benchmarks for excellence.
Also, Associated Engineering played a key role as designers on the 99 Avenue Sanitary Trunk Bypass Project that received an Award of Excellence. Learn more about our important contributions and leadership on this infrastructure project in Edmonton, here.
Congratulations to all of the incredibly talented students who showcased their innovative ideas in the latest University of Alberta Capstone Design Competition in Civil and Environmental Engineering! This year’s event was sponsored by Associated Engineering and was held in the Donadeo Innovation Centre for Engineering this past Monday. Chad Maki (General Manager, Alberta North) and Jessica Gagne (Technical Specialist, Bridges) arranged and supported our sponsorship with Dr. Scott Alexander (ATS Associate Lecturer, Faculty of Engineering) and were in attendance to present the winners’ prizes.
Four teams made presentations to the audience on their preferred approach to repurposing Edmonton’s Low Level Bridge, which is nearing the end of its service life. The $1,000 Award of Excellence was won by the team of Kyle Crooymans, Hudson Chang, Renee Penetrante, Beverly Smetaniuk, and Sofi Lester. The 2nd place team received the Award of Merit prize of $500.
The 99th Avenue Sanitary Trunk Sewer has been a critical component of the City of Edmonton‘s wastewater collection system since the 1970s. The 1.1 kilometre long sanitary trunk sewer is located approximately 30 metres below ground and serves a crucial role in conveying combined sanitary flows from the city’s west end through residential and commercial areas in the West Jasper Place neighbourhood. Over the decades, exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas and natural wear led to significant degradation of the sewer.
EPCOR Utilities manages the City of Edmonton’s wastewater and water systems. Recognizing the urgency of addressing the deteriorating condition of the sewer to prevent potential service disruptions, EPCOR retained Shanghai Construction Group, with Associated on their team, to construct Phase 1 of the project.
The primary objective of the project was to rehabilitate the existing trunk sewer to restore its structural integrity and enhance its capacity to handle future wastewater flows. This included the construction of a new 1.6 kilometre bypass sewer using advanced microtunneling technology, to divert flows during the rehabilitation process, and provide additional capacity for future development.
With the sewer’s location in a densely populated urban area, it was essential to minimize disruptions to the community and ensure the safety of residents and workers. Significant technical challenges included complex geological conditions, deep tunnel alignments, and proximity to existing infrastructure and environmentally sensitive areas. EPCOR and project partners devoted considerable time and resources to developing a comprehensive plan that would address the project’s technical, logistical, and community-related challenges. To minimize community impact, the project was delivered in two stages spanning three years and incorporated proactive community engagement.
One of the most significant challenges of the project was selecting an appropriate alignment for the bypass sewer. We conducted extensive geotechnical investigations to understand the soil conditions along the proposed alignments. This involved drilling numerous boreholes and conducting soil tests to assess the composition and stability of the ground at various depths.
This assessment showed a number of challenging conditions for the tunnelling to traverse. This includes rafted bedrock, sand seams, with boulder fields all within the dense clay till.
Employing advanced construction techniques were critical to addressing technical challenges and the success of the project. One key decision was selecting microtunneling as the preferred construction methodology. Microtunneling allowed for the installation of underground pipelines with minimal surface disruption. This was particularly important for this project, given the depth of the tunnel and the proximity to existing infrastructure. Significant secant structures were constructed in order to reach the depth needed for the installations.
A significant portion of the project was located within the North Saskatchewan River Valley, one of Edmonton’s most environmentally sensitive areas. The river valley is not only a vital ecological corridor, but also a cherished natural asset, providing habitat for wildlife, as well as recreational spaces. The project team implemented rigorous environmental protection measures. Construction activities were carefully planned and executed to minimize disruption to the natural environment, particularly within the river valley. Special attention was given to preserving the integrity of the existing landscape, and the overall ecological balance of the area.
The Sanitary Trunk Bypass not only enhances the resilience of Edmonton’s wastewater system, but also sets a new standard for considerations for long-term resiliency of new infrastructure.
Our team supported our client, Shanghai Construction Group, with the complex design components of the works left which included the hand tunnel connections, manhole structures, and inflow bypass and abandonment plans. With the support of our survey team, a 974 metre microtunnel drive was successfully completed with the boring machine reaching its target within 150 millimetres at the end, which is an amazing achievement.
Associated’s team was led by Jason Lueke and included Chris Lamont, Sam Saunders, Ryan Krausher, Dusanka Stevanovic, Caitlin Lou, and Greg Walker.
Stay tuned for our work as the Design Build Engineering Lead working with Shanghai Construction for the rehabilitation work of the existing tunnel that is currently under construction.
Constructed over a century ago on the Red River between Winnipeg and Lake Winnipeg, the St. Andrews Lock and Dam is the only remaining Caméré moveable dam in the world. In 1990, it was declared a Canadian National Historic Site. Later, the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering recognized the structure as a National Historic Civil Engineering Site.
The location holds significant meaning to the local Indigenous Peoples and is known as Kenosewun, derived from a Cree word meaning “there are many fishes”. The Lockport area is located within Treaty One territory, the homeland of the Red River Métis, and near the former location of St. Peter’s Band Reserve (a predecessor to Peguis First Nation). For residents of the nearby Town of Lockport, the St. Andrews Lock and Dam is a major tourist attraction and a vital highway transportation link.
Following an inspection that concluded the main span of the bridge deck had to be replaced, Public Services and Procurement Canada retained Associated Engineering to complete the work, with a requirement to retain the structure’s historical integrity. Our multi-disciplinary team comprised structural, civil, transportation planning, electrical, geotechnical, and hydrotechnical engineering disciplines, as well as environmental experts, archaeologists, heritage architects, metallurgical specialists, and cost consultants.
We also engaged with many interested stakeholders, including Federal, Provincial, and Municipal government agencies, Indigenous Rights Holders, environmentalists, heritage organizations, and the citizens and businesses of Lockport and Rural Municipalities of St. Andrews and St. Clements.
The work took place during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, with restrictions that prevented in-person meetings and collaboration, which made relationship-building more challenging
The upgrades included broadening and strengthening the structure’s bridge surface, which can now accommodate heavier vehicles. Project Manager, Stephen Chiasson, tells us, “The structural and technical complexity of the project was unique. We needed to analyze the existing structure, considering material properties from a century ago, and how the structure was configured. This understanding was key to developing an appropriate design to rehabilitate, strengthen, and widen the structure.” The bridge also had to remain open throughout the multi-year construction phase for commercial, residential, and pedestrian traffic.
Associated Engineering played a key role in identifying environmental concerns that had not been included in the original scope. For example, the St. Andrews Lock and Dam is the nesting site of threatened bird species. The project team decided to net the key features of the structure known for nesting, which was a major and complex undertaking, and built alternate breeding structures.
After a significant archaeological discovery – the burial grounds of Indigenous ancestors, Associated Engineering brought in an archaeologist with expertise in the significance of the area, who was highly respected by the Indigenous Rights Holders. The project team supported the Federal government in developing a solution in the spirit of collaboration, transparency, and reconciliation.
“Significant improvements were made to safeguard cyclists and pedestrians, including people with disabilities. The railings to assist the visually impaired were developed in consultation with the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.”
Despite the project’s complexity, the work was completed on time and on budget. Throughout the project, the team addressed concerns about bridge closures, environmental impacts, damage to heritage property, and many other issues. Virtual town hall meetings and education initiatives kept the public well informed.
It is estimated that the rehabilitation extends the life of the St. Andrews Lock and Dam another 50 years.
In 2024, the St. Andrews Lock and Dam project was recognized with a Team Achievement Award by Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba, as well as an Award of Merit by the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Manitoba.
Regulatory and environmental requirements for public infrastructure projects have become increasingly complex. At Associated, we respond to these challenges by collaborating with our clients and stakeholders to truly understand issues and complexities, and then developing value-added, effective solutions that address our clients’ goals, respond to the needs of stakeholders and the community, and protect the environment. Two recent projects in Alberta highlight our approach.
Edmonton/Strathcona County Footbridge
This new bridge over the North Saskatchewan River will connect the City of Edmonton and Strathcona County. Associated Engineering was engaged to undertake the concept planning, feasibility, preliminary design, detailed design, construction, and post-construction services, including all environmental assessments and permits.
Sarina Loots, Specialist, Regulatory Advisor, explains, “We knew the project would require major federal, provincial and municipal environmental permits. Thus, we took a proactive approach and started on the assessments, reporting, and communications with regulatory agencies two years before construction began.”
A large fish habitat offsetting area was required (three times the berm footprint, a 3:10 compensation). The in-river berms required a temporary footprint of 7,000 square metres; therefore, the project was required to offset (plant/enhance/build/develop) an area of over 20,000 square metres.
This was due to increased requirements under the Fisheries Act from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and the future expectation that Lake Sturgeon would be listed as threatened or endangered under the Species At Risk Act.
Suitable on-site habitat restoration areas were not available on the scale required. We partnered with Trout Unlimited (now Freshwater Conservation Canada) on offsetting planning and selected a site over 200 metres away from Edmonton.
Habitat within the restoration areas lack woody debris and consisted of simplified homogenous habitat, due to floodplain constriction at road crossings and channel incising. The area was selected due to the anticipated positive impact to bull trout.
“The offsetting included livestock/horse exclusion and several low-tech process-based restoration (LTPBR) treatments to increase the diversity of habitat types.”
The work included the installation of exclusion fence and 40 LTPBR structures, comprised of post-assisted log structures (PALs) and beaver dam analogues (BDAs).
LPTBR work sites are chosen due to the likelihood of the area supporting beavers in the future. The LPTBR techniques are used to promote beaver activity in the affected streams.
PALs and BDAs are hand built, nature-based, beaver mimicry techniques that can restore eroded streams. PALs mimic log jams in the channel and following high-flow events, result in more meandering channels. BDAs mimic beaver dams and result in a pool upstream of the BDA.
DFO was keen on this creative and innovative approach for fish habitat offsetting for a municipal infrastructure project. Edmonton/Strathcona County municipalities received a high-value, cost-effective and efficient offsetting project to fund.
The BDAs and PALs were constructed in summer 2024, and beavers have already moved into the newly installed habitat (BDAs) at Radiant Creek! The hope is that the beaver family will colonize the area and further improve the natural assets that will contribute to build resilience for drought and climate change.
Calgary Stormwater Ponds: Beaver Management Plan
The City of Calgary manages 171 wet stormwater ponds. Associated is frequently involved in pond design, upgrades, and maintenance inspection projects and our environmental specialists directly advise on mitigating environmental risks on storm pond maintenance projects administered by the City’s key maintenance contractor, KBL.
The City asked our environmental team to investigate all possible “coexistence” options for addressing beaver lodge conflicts at storm ponds and deliver a feasibility report to be used for decision support.
Sarina shares, “There is a growing desire to maintain storm ponds and preserve the infrastructure and downstream receiving environment. At the same time, being respectful of regional values around beaver welfare and making scientifically-defensible and informed decisions for beaver management at storm ponds.”
The team gathered information through a facilitated workshop with public interest groups and nearby municipalities, literature reviews, and collaborations and engagement with NGOs. Several options emerged that will be considered in future adaptive management at storm ponds with beaver lodges, two new coexistence options were selected for testing at two ponds planned for maintenance in 2025.
“We are providing ongoing decision support to The City, reporting on the feasibility of key solutions, and developing (adaptive) best management practices that will be tested and validated during upcoming pond maintenance projects.”
Today, many creative solutions are available that typically rely on intentional collaboration between biologists, hydrologists, engineers, and NGO partners. Projects with beaver conflicts should consider the full context of the issue and potential coexistence options for long-term sustainability.
The option of beaver relocation is also being actively studied and advocated by others in Alberta. Beaver relocation projects in Alberta are currently subject to some regulatory challenges and compliance inconsistencies. NGOs and beaver thought-leaders in the province are advocating for this option to be standardized, due to the restoration benefits that beavers provide.
Sarina tells us, “A hypothetical future might involve City of Calgary beavers relocated to a creek to support habitat restoration or a compensation project. If beavers colonize areas with establishedBDAs, they can continue to create ecological value, long after the manual human-maintenance schedule of installed structures.”
Our key personnel on the Edmonton-Strathcona project and environmental tasks are Chris Pyra, Sarina Loots, Erica Graham, Dean Foster, Richard Simpson, Christine Head, Deanna Joly, Jessica Eaton, Krish Purohit, Robert Mitchell, Wallace La, Akinbola George, Arlette Fernandez, and Michael Paulsen.
On the Beaver Management Plan for the City of Calgary, our key personnel are Sarina Loots, Stephanie Findlay, Cole Burns, Keenan Rudichuk, Richard Simpson, Terri France, Krish Purohit, Robert Mitchell, Twyla Kowalczyk, and Anne Godlewski.
Halton Region wished to retrofit its decommissioned filter area at the Acton Wastewater Treatment Plant in Halton Hills, ON to create a new, sustainable administrative building designed with equity, diversity, and inclusion in mind. A growing municipality of about 600,000 in southern Ontario, the Region owns and operates seven wastewater treatment plants, as part of its responsibility to provide wastewater management services for the municipality.
Following the construction of a new stand-alone filter building at the Acton Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Region wished to retrofit the decommissioned filter building, repurposing the filter wing and combining it with the office wing to create a new administrative building. This adaptive reuse approach reduces the embodied carbon footprint by minimizing the need for new construction.
The Region engaged Associated Engineering to provide engineering services for the filter building retrofit and various plant upgrades. As the prime consultant, Associated’s scope of work includes critical elements such as the demolition of the existing process infrastructure, building mechanical services for the retrofitted space, and structural retrofit and backfilling of the existing filter tank, and repurposing of the space as offices.
In addition to the retrofit and facility upgrade, the Region wanted to implement energy-saving options to reduce the facility’s environmental impact. Funding is available for green initiatives to support this goal. Project Manager, Roy Gong, shares, “We proposed and reviewed several options with the Region, and completed a feasibility study to document the viability of potential approaches.”
Some of the green initiatives explored to reduce environmental impact included alternative heat sources, such as a hydronic heating system and geothermal heating. The team also investigated the benefits of upgrading the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.
Mechanical Designer, Yang An, says, “The existing HVAC system for the office area was old and outdated. We determined the most practical way to serve the retrofitted administrative building is to install roof-top units for conditioning the space. We proposed a new HVAC roof-top unit with better energy-efficiency. Variable air volume boxes are being installed for different rooms to tune the air flow and lower energy consumption when the space is unoccupied.”
During preliminary design, the Region requested that we incorporate Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) concepts into our design, aligning with their new EDI policy. The EDI design concepts significantly altered the original design, in particular the changing rooms, locker rooms, and showers. Roy tells us, “Working closely with our architectural subconsultant, we developed solutions to minimize the impact on the overall design and re-work efforts. The Region acknowledged the scope of these changes and accommodated the additional work required.”
This collaborative approach demonstrated Associated’s commitment to delivering a design that meets Halton’s evolving needs and creates a more inclusive and equitable workspace
During detailed design, the Region asked our team to explore solar thermal wall installation, a technology used to capture and use solar energy to preheat the ventilation air for buildings. Yang explains, “Also known as a transpired solar collector, a solar thermal wall is a passive solar heating system designed to reduce the energy required for heating, especially in industrial and commercial buildings.” Our team’s investigations with a local supplier determined the feasibility of this option.
Currently, the team is working towards tender phase. The project team’s flexibility and agility in responding to the Region’s requested changes, combined with strong communication and a collaborative relationship between the Region, our subconsultants (Brown+Storey Architects and Eramosa Engineering), and our in-house team have created a successful teaming environment and the design of a sustainable workspace that fosters equity, diversity, and inclusion.
Today, Jennifer Privé is a Senior Biologist and Manager of the Environmental Sciences team in Vancouver. However, her career in the environmental sciences almost never began; when she was a first-year university student, Jennifer wavered between pursuing a degree in the arts or science. She eventually settled on a major in biology, as it interested her the most, specifically vertebrate biology.
During her studies and early in her career, Jennifer was fortunate to meet and work with some influential people who gave her solid advice. One of these individuals was her supervisor at the time, who was teaching a course at the British Columbia Institute of Technology and suggested environmental science might interest her.
Later, when an opportunity became available, Jennifer took a position at an environmental consulting firm. She shares, “My background in vertebrates and biochemistry turned out to be useful after all dealing with all those fish!”
Early in her career, at the age of 24, Jennifer received a promotion to a management role. She recalls feeling unprepared for the role, so she took courses, learned from others already in the role, and became a keen student of human behaviour.
Three decades later, after working for small firms, large multi-nationals, and as a sole proprietor, Jennifer reflects on the challenges and successes that have shaped who she is now, and admits it is a bit mind boggling. Her constant has been learning something new in every role, and connecting with the people she works with.
Jennifer was actively looking for a change, when she learned about a group manager opportunity with Associated. While she didn’t know much about the company before she joined, except for having previously worked on a successful project with an Associated staff member, the role aligned well with her experience. Jennifer reached out to a friend to learn more and soon after was hired to lead the environmental team in Vancouver.
Jennifer tells us, “I have been involved on many projects and worked with great people, but Associated is like no other firm I’ve ever been at. I’ve worked for three different consulting firms and one large multi-national and none of them had the same cultural philosophy as Associated. When I’m interviewing people I try to describe it and I never quite do it justice; the few times I’ve been close, people have said that sounds too good to be true… but it is true!” Jennifer believes Associated is a very unique firm, as one of a very few medium-sized, employee-owned firms remaining in Canada.
“Our philosophy of focusing on employee development as the core to driving excellent service delivery is unique.”
The common denominator of our project success is the strength of our people. Jennifer believes that managing a project is managing the people delivering it, so being a great communicator and tailoring how you communicate is key to being an excellent consultant.
Reflecting on her own career experiences, Jennifer shares that one’s career goes through three stages. The first ten years is intensive learning. The next ten years is focussed on applying knowledge. And lastly, the following ten years is focussed on teaching others and encouraging continual learning.
Jennifer believes that mentoring is a great opportunity for everyone involved and the best advice comes from people in roles you aspire to be in. She encourages young professionals to seek out role models as mentors.
“Mentors can help build your self awareness, identify your strengths and your opportunities for improvement, provide guidance, and facilitate company support. Young staff need to learn that they control their career, and they need to take initiative.”
Jennifer encourages young professionals to also develop communication skills, including listening, speaking, and writing, in addition to their technical abilities.
In her free time, Jennifer enjoys photography, especially in nature, developing her photography knowledge and skills. She even plans her vacations around her hobby. Jennifer is also currently serving as the Chair of the Discipline Committee for the College of Applied Biology.
Rowan Shields is a Transportation Structural Engineer with over 15 years of civil structural engineering experience in Canada and overseas. Based in our Edmonton office, he was recently involved in the construction of the Valley Line LRT, a new urban light rail line that connects Edmonton’s downtown core to the city’s southeast. Rowan served as both an Engineer-of-Record and a Field Review Engineer for a variety of structures.
Outside of his professional career and family activities, Rowan volunteers his time in various endeavours. He volunteers with Engineers-in-Action, a non-profit organization that builds sustainable rural infrastructure, and assists the group in building footbridges in the developing world.
Since 2016, Rowan has mentored and acted as the Design Engineer-in-Charge for a University of Alberta student group assisting with these projects. His current involvement in building infrastructure in developing countries stems from his past volunteering work with Bridges to Prosperity, that created Engineers-in-Action for student group projects.
Last summer, the team participated in the Transatlantic Cup tournament that also featured men’s and women’s national teams from Great Britain, Ireland, France, the United States, and Colombia. The team advanced to the semi-finals.
As a true builder of vital public infrastructure and high-performance athletic teams, Rowan is demonstrating his commitment to shaping our shared future!
Since joining Associated Engineering in 2020, Lee has served as Manager, Municipal Infrastructure, bringing over 20 years of experience in the public sector and consulting engineering to projects (including the 37 Street SW Storm Trunk Relocation and the Forest Lawn Lift Station) that have helped to improve communities in southern Alberta. During her career, she has successfully managed deliverables through all phases of projects, including preliminary design, detailed design, and construction administration. Through delivering exceptional service to our clients, Lee’s strategic leadership, people skills, and technical expertise have been positively recognized by her colleagues, project partners, and stakeholders.
At the Consulting Engineers of Alberta’s Transportation Connects Alberta Conference earlier this month, the West Calgary Ring Road DB2 – Highway 8 to Old Banff Coach Road Segment project was honoured with a Partnering Award by Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors. The Partnering Awards is a recognition program held annually that celebrates completed contracts that best promotes, adheres to, and optimizes the principles of partnering.
The project team, including Associated Engineering with Tetra Tech (owner’s engineer) and Calgary Safelink Partners (contractor) with Hatch/CIMA+ (design lead), collaborated to address significant challenges and achieve critical milestones. The West Calgary Ring Road DB2 project was a complex undertaking, forming the final phase to the completion of Calgary’s ring road, and work began at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The work involved a range of construction and design challenges, environmental considerations, and safety measures. By prioritizing partnering, innovation, collaboration, and adaptability, the project team successfully overcame significant technical, environmental, and logistical challenges, ensuring the timely delivery of Calgary’s final ring road segment.
This segment of the West Calgary Ring Road, also known as the South project or Design-Build project 2 (DB2), included the construction of five kilometres of new six- and eight-lane freeway, six kilometres of urban crossroads, and several local road connections. The project also included seven new bridges and two bridge-sized culverts. Additionally, 18 overhead sign structures were required for the systems interchange at Stoney Trail/Highway 8 and the interchanges at Old Banff Coach Road, Bow Trail SW, and 17 Avenue SW. The project also involved significant rock excavation, stormwater systems, and extensive utility relocations.
The work spanned from 2020 to 2024 and opened ten months early to traffic in 2023, culminating in a system that enhances regional connectivity and public safety through 101 kilometres of free-flow freeway around the city.
Congratulations to all of the project partners on this incredible achievement and well deserved honour!
Associated Engineering is pleased to announce Duane Strayer, P.Eng. has accepted the role of Vice President, Urban Infrastructure, effective March 1, 2025. In his new role, Duane will provide technical leadership to staff and clients across the country, as we expand our civil infrastructure practice. He will continue to be based in our Calgary office.
A graduate in Civil Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan, Duane joined Associated Engineering in 1998 as a Senior Civil Engineer and Project Manager, specializing in infrastructure design and construction. Duane has been involved on numerous infrastructure projects across Western Canada, from master plans to conceptual, preliminary and detailed design, construction, and commissioning. In addition, he has taken on roles of increasing responsibility, including Group Manager, Infrastructure and most recently as Division Manager, Infrastructure.
During his career with Associated Engineering, Duane has honed his expertise in the design and construction of linear infrastructure, in particular projects in challenging and congested urban environments and the application of trenchless technologies, such as tunneling and directional drilling. In recognition of his 35 years of civil engineering expertise, when The City of Calgary recently experienced a catastrophic failure with the Bearspaw South Feedermain, Duane and his team provided The City with forensic investigation services, as well as design and field services for the rehabilitation of the damaged feedermain and other deteriorated pipelines.
We’re pleased to support the Alberta Water & Wastewater Operators Association as they host their milestone 50-year Annual Operators Seminar, begining with tomorrow’s Pre-Seminar Workshops. Once again, several subject matter experts from Associated Engineering’s Water practice have been selected to present in this year’s seminar program over the next several days in Banff, AB.
Monday, March 10th Pre-Seminar Workshop #1 8:30am–12:00pm Water Closet to Water Body: A Guide to Upgrading Aging Wastewater Facilities This workshop will examine the wastewater treatment process for both mechanical wastewater facilities and lagoons Moderators: Sarah Bruce and Rudy Chan Presenters: Daniel du Toit, Sarina Loots, Abu Waraich, Shahab Minaei, Klas Ohman and Garry Drachenberg
Thursday, March 13th 11:15am-12:00pm Session B | Operator Involvement and Leadership: Commissioning at the Glenmore Water Treatment Plant Co-presenter: Anne Bridgman
11:15am-12:00pm Session D | “The Field of Dreams” – Water System Contamination to Recovery Co-presenter: Grant Dixon
1:30pm-2:00pm Session D | Decoding the Pump Curve and Other Pump Basics Presenters: Bailey Ferguson and Bob Hawboldt
3:00pm–3:30pm Session A | Dewatering Technology Upgrade: From Centrifuges to Rotary Presses Co-presenter: Liva Tessier
Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors worked with regulatory agencies to receive a first-of-its-kind approval to implement administrative and engineered controls to re-use impacted soils within the project footprint, thus avoiding the cost of disposal and limiting greenhouse gas emissions from hauling impacts soils and replacing them with clean soils.
Originally constructed in 1971, the Deerfoot Trail has served Calgary well, as it experienced accelerated growth and expansion over the decades, but now exceeded the original expectations of the roadway. Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors and the City of Calgary identified the need to address the volume and capacity issues on this major commuter freeway and key trade corridor, while recognizing the importance of environmental stewardship and sustainable development.
As part of the project planning stage, an environmental evaluation was completed to identify and allocate risks, identify and manage environmental sensitivities, and support the development of procurement documentation and technical requirements. As part of this evaluation, Associated team’s examined soil and groundwater conditions within the project area, which included a Modified Phase I and Limited Phase 2 ESA Environmental Site Assessment.
During this environmental evaluation process, 248 areas of potential contamination were identified within or adjacent to the road right of way. Additionally, there were extensive impacts to the soil from roadway operations. The cost to remove all contaminated soils was projected to be approximately $88 million.
This award-winning innovation can be adapted to future transportation system projects where contamination management may be a concern, and where the import of fill material may not make environmental sense, due to anticipated land use. This applies to both large and small rehabilitation projects or greenfield development projects on lands with known contamination.
Associated Engineering is pleased to announce that Carma Holmes, MBA, P. Eng., LEED AP, has accepted the role of National Leader for our Buildings Practice, effective March 1, 2025.
In her role, Carma will guide the continued growth and development of our Buildings Practice, including structural, mechanical, electrical, and energy staff across the company. Over the past decade, our Buildings Practice has expanded to include Divisions in three of our main offices, extending our reach from BC to Ontario. The practice is also supported by dedicated teams in several other offices across the country.
Carma’s experience over the years has focussed on design and retrofit of municipal and Indigenous community buildings and infrastructure. She has also participated in the design of industrial, institutional, and commercial facilities. Carma is passionate about designing sustainable and resilient facilities. She brings innovative, value-based solutions to our projects and clients, drawing on her collaborative and responsive approach to project delivery.
Carma has been with Associated nearly 25 years, initially joining the Regina office as a Structural Engineer-in-Training in 2000. As her expertise grew, she transitioned into project engineering, project management, and management. In 2016, she moved to the Edmonton office, where she first held the role of Structural Specialist, progressing to Group Manager and then Division Manager for the newly formed Buildings Engineering Division in 2018.
Carma has served as a Director on Associated’s Saskatchewan and Group Boards. She is active with our Discipline Interest Groups, Communities of Practice, and Mentoring Program, and is currently a member of the Technical Development Council. Outside of Associated, she is a past Director of Construction Specifications Canada and a member of the Canadian Green Building Council (CAGBC).
The BC Transportation Consulting Engineers Awards recognizes technical excellence in consulting engineer services provided to improve the province’s transportation infrastructure. Awards are presented across six categories, including: Design and Contract Preparation – Structures; Alternate Transportation; Design and Contract Preparation – Roads; Construction Management and Supervision Services; Specialized Engineering and Project Services; and Transportation Planning Studies.
Next month in Edmonton, the Consulting Engineers of Alberta will be hosting their annual Transportation Connects Alberta Conference that will bring together a wide range of stakeholders and professionals involved in the growth of the province’s transportation infrastructure. Associated Engineering is also once again pleased to be involved in this year’s gathering, as a gold-level sponsor of the two-day event and sharing our experience and expertise through several sessions in the technical program on March 3rd and 4th.
We invite all attendees to hear from our subject matter experts and their work on important projects improving transit, infrastructure containment systems, transportation structures, and traffic efficiency and safety.
Monday, March 3rd
11:00 am – 11:30 pm | Salon 9/10
Navigating Challenges, Building Success: The Capital Line LRT Extension Journey in Edmonton
Kent Eklund
11:30 am – 12:00 pm | Salon 11
Kennedale Integrated Snow Services Site
Li Wang, Tonderai Chakanyuka
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm | Salon 8
Rainbow Road Bridge Replacement in Chestermere
Carter Lautner, Ryan MacPhee
Tuesday, March 4th
10:10 am – 10:40 am | Salon 8
Above It All: Engineering, Fabrication and Construction of Overhead Signs
Last week, an energetic group of Young Professionals representing our Kitchener and Vancouver offices teamed together to participate in a friendly competition at the ninth annual Great Food Sort Challenge, hosted by The Foodbank of Waterloo Region.
Putting their organizing skills to the test in a 50-minute race, our eight-person team excitedly unpacked many pallets of donated food and sorted items into various categories, such as pasta, cereal, and soup cans, etc. We’re proud of their efforts at their first ever participation in the event, as they completed sorting over 1,600 pounds of food, equating to over 1,457 meals that can be served or distributed in the community!
In addition, our team raised over $200 in donations to support the operations of the foodbank. The competition included over 300 people from 25 local businesses that sorted a total of 67,704 pounds of non-perishable food and raised $56,067.
The gravel contractor, R.E. Postill and Sons, was presented with the Sand and Gravel Category Award for the Rosebush Land Improvement Project at Coldstream Ranch in the North Okanagan. The project involved gravel extraction from a 68-hectare site on the ranch in the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR). During and after extraction, the area has been reclaimed with a soil material created by mixing fine sand with saved topsoil and composted manure and planted to provide forage for the ranch’s beef cattle operations. Reclamation greatly improved the agricultural capability by reducing the slope, increasing soil organic matter and water holding capacity, and adding 9.5 hectares of new farmland that is now cultivated.
Associated Environmental had a large role on this long-term project that required great foresight and accurate planning to complete. We are proud of our work and it was exciting to finally see it come together. A number of our agrologists worked on this project from 1995 through to completion. We provided advisory to the ranch and the gravel contractor on the Agricultural Land Commission process and completed annual land balance summaries and reporting to the Commission on the ranch’s behalf. Through this work we have maintained a great relationship with the ranch and have an excellent reference for one of our many projects in the ALR.
During the 30-year life of the Rosebush Land Improvement Project, Postill has extracted, processed, and sold 4.07 million tonnes of gravel and replaced it with clean fill from various job sites around Vernon.
The TRCR originated in the early 1970s in response to a demonstrated need in the British Columbia mining sector for greater government-industry communication in the area of environmental protection and reclamation. Membership is drawn from industry, provincial and federal government agencies, exploration and mining associations, and universities and colleges.
Caledon is a town of approximately 80,000 people located northwest of Toronto in the Regional Municipality of Peel. The town has experienced significant growth in the past 10 years, and their 2024 Official Plan forecasts the town’s population to increase to 300,000 by 2051.
The town’s population growth and associated traffic has impacted its existing bridge infrastructure. The town conducts regular assessments of its bridges to assess their condition and safety. In 2021, the town retained Associated Engineering to assess four pedestrian bridges and two culverts to determine their condition and the need for rehabilitation or replacement. Project Manager, Sarvejit Nagi in our Toronto office, tells us, “After the condition assessment, we identified that Duffy’s Lane Bridge and Mill Lane Bridge on the Caledon Trailway needed maintenance.”
The Caledon Trailway follows a Canadian National Rail line built in 1877 and later abandoned. The 35 kilometre Trailway runs from the hamlet of Terra Cotta to the community of Palgrave in Caledon. Today, the multi-use trail is heavily used by the public for cycling, walking, and horseback riding.
Duffy’s Lane Bridge and Mill Lane Bridge have a length of 12.9 metres and 7.9 metres respectively, and both are 2.17 metres wide with short railings. The Town sought to rehabilitate the structures according to the Ontario Structure Inspection Manual (OSIM) reports and make the bridges structurally safe. In addition, the Town wished to replace two culverts.
“We completed preliminary design and prepared life-cycle costs, which showed that rehabilitating the bridges was more cost effective than replacing them. We subsequently prepared the detailed design for the rehabilitation, as well as applications for permit approvals, and tender documents for four of the structures.”
Without available record drawings, the team conducted surveys to capture dimensions and confirmed the design with field measurements and survey information.
Bridge Engineer, Jim Thomas, says, “We designed higher bridge railings, 1.37 metres tall, to improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians. As well, the bridges were widened to three metres to accommodate maintenance vehicles.”
Bridge Engineer, Shuhao Chen, tells us, “To improve the durability of the bridges, we specified that the timber for main structural members be Spruce-Pine-Fir (SPF), Hemlock Fir, Grade No. 2 or better.” In addition, the team specified that connections use galvanized steel lag bolts with predrilling holes to prevent timber cracking and the deck boards were fastened with GSK RSS Screws, rather than nails.”
The Town awarded the construction contract for Duffy’s Lane and Mill Lane bridges in May 2024 and retained Associated Engineering to conduct contract administration and site inspection. We also reviewed the traffic plan and coordinated the construction with adjacent road construction contractors. The team also worked with the Town to provide notices and detour maps to trail users.
Caledon’s Chief Administrative Officer, Nathan Hyde said, “In improving accessibility from the trailway to local businesses, we are supporting our strategic priority of community vitality and livability, enriching the vibrancy and liveliness of our hamlets and villages.”
Key Associated Engineering staff included Sarvejit Nagi, Shuhao Chen, Jim Thomas, Catherine Du, Hannah Murphy, Don McBrayne, and Navjot Dureja.
The Government of Yukon retained Associated Engineering to provide engineering services for the airfield upgrades at the Erik Nielsen Whitehorse International Airport to reconstruct Runway 14R-32L to extend the runway life. The Airfield Upgrades Project is currently in the fourth year of a five-year program that includes detailed design, tender, and construction services.
Associated Engineering had previously completed an Options Development Report that identified and evaluated six rehabilitation and reconstruction options for runway 14R-32L that also considered potential scheduling synergies with other airside projects. Deputy Project Manager, Derek Blayney, says, “The preferred option was for full reconstruction of the main runway, with a proposed pavement structure that was designed to provide moderate-level frost protection.”
Associated Engineering completed the pavement design by assessing each section of the runway, while considering the existing pavement structure and subgrade strengths. Runway 14L-32R was also extended and strengthened, as part of the overall phasing plan to facilitate the reconstruction of Runway 14R-32L.
“To minimize the impact on airport operations, we first proposed extending the existing smaller parallel runway to facilitate the reconstruction of the main runway. The runway was extended to accommodate Boeing 737-sized aircrafts that typically use the airport.”
We coordinated with the airlines to confirm that the proposed runway length was suitable for their operations. By completing this work, we have also provided the Government of Yukon with a long-term parallel runway that allows greater flexibility for future maintenance works and during snow-clearing operations.
Associated’s key personnel on this project are Steven Bartsch, Derek Blayney, Dave Anderson, Sang-Hyun Chung, Kerri Hildebrandt, Erin Hamel, Cam McCrea, Christa Luckasavitch, Jaryd Nachtegaele, and Matt Henderson.
Over the past two decades, the Timberlea Neighbourhood in Fort McMurray has been subject to flooding during heavy rainfall events. These storm events overwhelm the sanitary sewer system, causing the sewer to surcharge and backup, resulting in basement flooding. In 2014, the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo developed a Wastewater Master Plan (WWMP) for Fort McMurray with a focus to prioritize resolving this problem. The Municipality defined the Confederation Way Sanitary Sewer Upgrade capital project to address areas prone to sewer surcharging.
Project Manager, Owen Mierke, tells us, “The scope of the project sought to address sewer back-up and failing infrastructure, and accommodate future growth. The first phase of the project addressed localized basement flooding, while the second phase delivered larger system upgrades.”
Phase 1 traverses through the existing Timberlea neighbourhoods, along the top of the bank, and terminates at the existing trunk sewer in the north boulevard of Confederation Way.
Phase 2 extends from Phase 1 and includes replacing an existing 450 millimetre gravity trunk sewer with a 750 millimetre gravity trunk sewer, a siphon inlet control structure, upgrading an existing double-barrel (500 millimetre and 300 millimetre) siphon with a triple-barrel (650 millimetre, 650 millimetre, and 550 millimetre) siphon, metering chambers, a flow control structure, and a rock trap structure at the wastewater treatment plant.
Using an integrated design approach, the project team collaborated with the Municipality, geotechnical specialists, trenchless contractors, residents, regulatory agencies, general contractors, and multiple stakeholders to develop an innovative design that addressed the complex geotechnical issues and built-up environment. Associated Engineering implemented a tailored project management plan to help address the project’s many challenges.
“Risk management, an integrated project delivery approach, contractor pre-qualification, proactive communication, and extensive stakeholder engagement with the residents and municipal stakeholders contributed to public acceptance and the success of the project.”
The 2016 Fort McMurray wildfire had a large impact on this project, affecting the scheduled completion and transportation and construction logistics. The Municipality had to minimize traffic disruptions on the wildfire rebuild haul routes for Stone Creek, within the residential neighbourhood of Timberlea, in which wildfire destroyed 379 structures, and was located beside the project site. Owen tells us, “Offloading of materials and equipment was restricted to single-lane temporary closures, as total closure would have impacted the contractor’s completion of wildfire restoration works.”
Extending from the Timberlea Neighbourhood to the wastewater treatment plant two kilometres away, with 100+ metre elevation difference, the Confederation Way Sanitary Sewer upgrade traversed unstable slopes; crossed several pipelines, shallow utilities, and two interchanges; and passed through the built-up residential neighbourhood and a busy wastewater treatment plant site that never shuts down. Using trenchless technologies, including horizontal directional drilling (HDD), microtunnelling, and pilot-tube auger boring, minimized impact on the environment, residential neighbourhoods, and the public.
Substantially completed in 2023, the $40 million Confederation Way Sanitary Sewer Bypass (Phase 2) project provides the Timberlea Neighbourhood with additional sewer capacity, supporting growth and reducing risks associated with basement flooding due to sewer back-up. In addition to providing a resilient sanitary sewer trunk, the Municipality received the added benefit of modern flow control and metering, regulating flows to the treatment plant and easing plant operations. The project demonstrates an integrated design and construction approach and proactive and open stakeholder engagement to implement infrastructure that benefits the community.
2024 has been another great year at Associated Engineering. I want to thank our staff for your incredible efforts. Because of your commitment and innovation, Associated Engineering was recognized as a Best Managed Company for the 16th consecutive year! We also received local and national awards for many of our projects, across all our disciplines, including an ACEC-Canada / Canadian Consulting Engineer Award of Excellence for the City of Calgary Valuation of Natural Assets project. Congratulations!
The work we do wouldn’t be possible without our clients – thank you for your continued trust in us, and for the opportunity to collaborate to create sustainable and resilient solutions.
At Associated Engineering, we not only want to create an environment that cultivates creativity and innovation, but also support a fun and collaborative workplace. Aligned with this goal, we hosted our latest AE Olympics in Kelowna BC in April, bringing together over 300 staff and guests at this bi-annual event that we’ve held for 26 years. Our first hockey tournaments were held in the 1970s. The modern AE Olympics started in 1998, and now feature dozens of social and sporting events, which foster camaraderie, relationship building, and networking.
As 2024 draws to a close, from my family to yours, we wish our staff and their families, our clients, and our project partners a safe and very merry holiday season and a happy new year.
A high-traffic route located west of Prince Albert in central Saskatchewan, Highway 3 had a record of collisions and fatalities. Recognizing the need to prevent future tragedies, the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways selected Associated Engineering to assess highway safety, recommend safety upgrades, and complete the design and construction to twin Highway 3. The Ministry’s vision was to transform the corridor into a four-lane highway from Highway 2 to the Shell River bridge, a total distance of 7.5 kilometres.
Project Manager, Shawn Fehr, tells us, “Compared to a typical one-year timeline, we completed the Preliminary Design Report for the Highway 3 twinning in only one month.”
A major challenge was that the highway twinning had to be constructed within its existing right-of way.
“A standard twinned highway design was not feasible as widening the highway would have a major impact on the adjacent residential and businesses properties, and land acquisitions would create significant delays.”
A significant achievement on this project was the research conducted to identify, recommend, and adopt design standards from Alberta and British Columbia, which had not previously been used for Saskatchewan highways. These included standards for a flush median cross section with concrete median barriers, and a protected left-turn intersection at four locations.
To confirm the recommended design, the team completed a LIDAR survey, GIS mapping, traffic modelling (PTV Vistro), and cross-section modelling (Civil 3D). In addition, we used video-based data collection, the latest traffic monitoring and assessment technology, to provide traffic counts and identify near-miss collisions at intersections. We also developed renderings using Infraworks 3D and conducted video fly-throughs.
“Working within the restrictions of the existing right-of-way, we significantly improved safety through controlled access and protected “T” intersections to reduce collisions with left-turning vehicles, as well as a concrete median barrier instead of the depressed median, typical for most twinned highways.”
For the benefit of both the community and highway travellers/commuters, the design ensured access for adjacent landowners, while limiting direct access to Highway 3.
The preliminary design began in Spring 2021. Once the design was finalized, we worked with the utility companies through the winter of 2021-2022 to minimize the impact of relocations on the road construction work. The team also led communications with the public, including a website with project information and updates, along with the opportunity for visitors to submit questions and comments.
The Ministry wished to start construction in Fall 2021 and complete the improvements by the end of 2022 – an extremely ambitious timeline. Our fast-track approach facilitated design, construction, and opening of the upgraded highway to traffic in Fall 2022.
With an effective safety design permanently in place for this major highway corridor, the municipality can now proceed with complementary, sustainable urban planning, and commercial-industrial development.
The Highway 3 Twinning Project was completed on time, to the satisfaction of all stakeholders, and fully met the expectations of the Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways, enhancing safety for travellers and the public on this busy highway.
At the highway opening, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe remarked, “With the significant growth across our industries, this is an important infrastructure investment….it’s also an important investment into the safety of the thousands of people who travel it every day.”
Climate change is affecting people, infrastructure, and ecosystems across Canada. Although the impacts are currently most pronounced in coastal regions, people and infrastructure everywhere are at risk. Many communities and infrastructure built in floodplains are at increased risk of flooding due to the projected effects of climate change and other non-stationary factors such as wildfires, dams, and other anthropogenic changes. In response to these risks, both the Canadian federal and provincial governments are mobilizing to identify and respond to flood hazards.
The goal of flood hazard mapping is to provide the first step towards tangible improvements to public safety. Real improvement comes from planning, analyzing, and developing adaptation and mitigation projects that are successfully implemented in communities.
Once a hazard has been identified, we often conduct flood risk assessments that evaluate the path of a potential flood and quantify the damages expected to people, infrastructure, and assets (such as houses, parks, or culturally significant places). This information helps secure funding for adaptation and mitigation projects by providing a quantifiable return on investment, and helps decision-makers prioritize adaptation or mitigation projects or areas.
Custom-built GIS tools are a key part of identifying flood hazards and determining adaptation and mitigation strategies
To facilitate flood hazard and flood risk assessments, Associated Engineering uses custom-built GIS tools to identify flood hazards. With the development of new, custom-built processes, work that was previously labour and time intensive can now be completed more efficiently. This allows our team to focus on collaborating with our clients to discuss risks and mitigation strategies, and design solutions that provide tangible improvements to public safety and flood risk reduction.
These tools have been used successfully on projects, and more are in active development to expand our suite of modelling and mapping tools. Additionally, our team is working on a research assignment to further optimize flood hazard mapping and make analysis more efficient and effective.
Automation in GIS data processing, including the tools discussed below, allows our team to more efficiently identify flood hazards so that we can focus on implementing solutions.
The Tools
Our team developed these automated, GIS data-processing tools to support flood mapping for 165 kilometres of rivers in BC, as part of the Flood Hazard Identification and Mapping Program. The visuals shown are not final; final mapping will be available online within one year of project completion. The tools address the challenges of providing large-scale, high-detail flood mapping. Some of these tools include:
Survey Processing and DEM Development: Linearizing, interpolating, and overlaying bathymetric survey with LiDAR to create a representative surface for use in hydraulic modelling. These automated methods help preserve data and expedite the processing time.
Model Results Extraction and Processing: Automated comparison and combination of result surfaces allows for robust analysis of multi-hazard scenarios.
Automated Generation and Review of Legal Flood Maps: Application of required freeboard and preparation of flood construction levels using a data-driven methodology.
About the Authors:
Andromeda MacIsaac, P.Eng. is Water Resources Engineer in our Vancouver office. She has 11 years of experience in hydrology, hydraulics, hydrologic/hydraulic modelling, and integrated water resources management. Her expertise includes modelling, analysis, and design of minor and major surface water systems and related hydraulic structures, including flood-plain mapping, existing system capacity analysis, fish passage structures, bridge sizing, stormwater best management practices, inflow/infiltration, and scour protection.
Chloe Sirges, E.I.T.is a Water Resources Engineer in our Vancouver office. Her water resources experience includes hydraulic modelling, flood-risk assessment and mitigation, site inspection, bridge scour condition assessments, and coastal work. Chloe is proficient in GIS data processing and flood-plain mapping
The path to Associated Engineering’s Creative Leader role was a winding one for Michael Tolboom. He shares, “I left high school with a love for chemistry, and thought for sure that the University of Alberta’s Organic Chemistry Specialization program was my ticket to happiness and a future career. But there was so much calculus. I took a year off, learned to play guitar, and got back into illustration, after a decade of teachers telling me not to doodle in the margins.”
Back at the University of Alberta, but this time in the Visual Communication Design program in the Faculty of Fine Arts, Michael found a much more inspiring, calculus-free environment, with classes in layout, photography, typography, and even stage lighting design. A chance visit to University newspaper The Gateway led to an ongoing commitment for a comic strip (Moe), which later became the first syndicated strip in the Canadian University Press system. One of the strip’s fans, Stephen Dodd, offered Michael his first job in the design world, at boutique graphic design firm Black Type White Paper (BTWP) in Edmonton.
Michael admits, “Stephen and I were learning everything the hard way, on our own. The design world changed so fast in the 1990’s, with the production techniques taught at university being made obsolete by computers. Fortunately, the design theory I’d learned still held!”
As BTWP (later renamed Transcena) grew and expanded to the UK, it exposed Michael to diverse graphic projects: identity design, book covers, publishing and layout for the Edmonton Symphony magazine, layout for the APEGA newsletter of the day, and site design for the Alberta Government in the early days of the world wide web. Associated Engineering was a web client, and when Transcena wound down in 2008, Michael made a call to Associated Engineering’s Vice President, Business Development, Lianna Mah, pitching a dedicated in-house design role for the growing firm.
He recalls, “I had seen stories in AE Today about people celebrating 25, 30, 35-year anniversaries with the firm, and thought that was a very good sign for the company culture. Coming to AE was the best decision I could have made – Lianna was great to work with as a client, and she’s been even better as a colleague over the last 16 years.”
In his current role as Creative Leader, Michael advocates for good visual design in both internal communications and external project and proposal work.
“Graphic design is visual problem solving – a specific solution that interprets and presents information to a specific audience. Designers have this toolkit, this knowledge of how humans explore an image, read type, and conceptualize information, that we use to make the mysterious sensible.”
At Associated Engineering, that toolkit gets put to use in projects ranging from process graphics, to client reports, to murals and signage, to the whole spectrum of staff communications.
“It’s always rewarding to share what I’ve learned on my own journey as a design professional. The best designs are often invisible, but I relish the challenge of presenting the excellent work of our engineers and scientists in a way that supports our reputation as an innovative firm.”
Internally, Michael enjoyed developing the visual design for the company’s Strategic Plan documents, and collaborating with our Climate Risk Team to develop our 16-part climate change awareness training videos, along with a poster series on climate change in Canada.
“I have a couple of quotes on my desktop to remind me of the twin wolves of graphic design. ‘We can’t become the hands of unethical men… the worst of what we create will outlive us.’ reminds me of the designer’s responsibility. The other quote, ‘When it looks right to the person who’s paying you, it’s perfect’, reminds me that sometimes you’ve just got to put down the stylus.”
Michael is currently Vice President of the Edmonton Chapter of DesCan, Canada’s Society for leading, supporting and advancing professional design communications. He loves cooking as a path to relaxation, plays a variety of instruments (poorly) in his home studio to have fun, and enjoys travelling with Maria, his wife of 20 years.
He is also one of the hosts of the AE Live podcast and a long-time participating fundraiser in Associated’s annual Movember campaign.
Richard Annett is a Senior Structural Engineer based in our Whitehorse office. He has over 30 years of consulting engineering experience on a wide variety of structural and civil projects in Canada and overseas. His structural expertise encompasses a variety of building materials, including timber, masonry, steel, and concrete.
Later, Richard moved to Lusaka, Zambia where he spent six years learning about engineering in developing countries. His next move took him to Papua New Guinea to work as a deputy project manager on an European Union-funded road paving project. Richard then returned to the UK to complete a masters degree in construction management. After his studies, Richard moved to South Wales where he focused on a personal project: designing a deep water, floating wind turbine, with hydrogen as the energy source. He subsequently patented the device.
After working in many hot climates, Richard decided that relocating to a cold climate would be an interesting challenge. In 2012, Richard joined Associated Engineering, and moved to our Whitehorse office. With the company, Richard has worked on projects across the Yukon and Northwest Territories, including design, structural assessments, and rehabilitation of commercial, industrial, municipal, institutional, and residential buildings.
Outside of work, Richard has volunteered with the Yukon Science Institute and helped organize lectures and “bridge breaks”. He also assisted with adjudicating school science projects and the Yukon Quest raft race from Whitehorse to Dawson.
Notwithstanding his professional achievements, Richard tells us his biggest accomplishment is building his house, off the grid in a boreal forest. Living in a cold climate without the convenience of municipal services comes with unique challenges. Richard shares that six kilowatts of solar energy that is more than enough in the summer is insufficient for three months of deep winter, and thus a generator is required. A two kilowatt wind turbine helps to keep the batteries topped up over the winter months. Other low power adaptations are needed, such as high efficiency pumps; heat pumps are being used. Super insulated 600 millimetre thick walls keeps the energy demand low and a grey water system helps minimize water deliveries.
For his contributions to the community and his profession, and living life off the grid in the North, Richard is shaping our shared future.
Rural road safety is an issue of growing concern at major highway intersections. Associated Engineering has been the road safety auditor and/or road designer for safety improvements at numerous highway intersections with a pattern of serious and fatal collisions in Western Canada. Monique Beaudry and Laurel Richl will discuss solutions that were implemented and how well they are working, the types of countermeasures that are applicable to the rural highway context, the role of local enforcement and public engagement, and opportunities for strategic analysis at a system-wide level. Examples of our projects include the implementation of Saskatchewan’s first Restricted Crossing U-Turn, addressing the problem of habituation when introducing a new highway bypass, and other innovative solutions to improve safety.
Our presenters:
Monique Beaudry, P.Eng., RPP is Associated Engineering’s National Discipline Lead, Transportation Planning. She has significant traffic safety experience, including collision database management, systemic safety reviews, in-service safety reviews, road safety audits, and innovative safety projects. Monique particularly enjoys the many firsts she has been involved in, such as Saskatchewan’s recently constructed Restricted Crossing U-Turn.
Laurel Richl, M.A.Sc., P.Eng., PTOE, RSP2I is a Senior Transportation Engineer in Associated’s Vancouver office. She brings a unique mix of road safety, traffic engineering, planning and design experience that helps her look at projects more holistically from start to finish. Laurel is a road safety auditor and has completed in-service road safety reviews and road safety audits throughout Canada. She is a member of the TAC Geometric Design and Road Safety Committees.
Today, at the No-Dig North Conference in Niagara Falls, ON, the North American Society for Trenchless Technology Canadian Chapters announced the 99 Avenue Sanitary Trunk Bypass project as the winner of the New Installation Project of the Year Award! An independent review panel of industry professionals evaluated all of the award submissions for their level of difficulty/project-specific challenges, innovation/unique application of the technology, advancement of the technology, and technical excellence.
The 99 Avenue Sanitary Trunk Bypass project is a hallmark of modern infrastructure development, addressing the urgent need for the rehabilitation of a critical 1.1 kilometre sanitary trunk sewer in Edmonton, AB. Spanning over three years, this two-stage project demonstrated EPCOR‘s commitment to innovation, environmental stewardship, and community engagement. The project involved the construction of a 1.6 kilometre bypass sewer using advanced microtunneling technology, allowing for the safe rehabilitation of the aging trunk sewer. The project team overcame significant technical challenges, including complex geological conditions, deep tunnel alignments, and proximity to existing infrastructure, all while minimizing community disruption and maintaining strict environmental standards.
The successful completion of the 99 Avenue Sanitary Trunk Bypass project not only enhances the resilience of Edmonton’s wastewater system, but also sets a new standard for urban infrastructure projects across North America. This project is a testament to EPCOR’s leadership in infrastructure development and their dedication to improving the quality of life for the residents of Edmonton.
Congratulations to the members of the award-winning team, representing Associated Engineering, EPCOR, Shanghai Construction Group (Canada), and Stantec!
Yesterday, at the Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba 2024 Awards Ceremony and Recognition Lunch, our project team on the St. Andrews Lock and Dam Bridge Deck Replacement project was presented with the Team Achievement Award in recognition of the project’s ingenuity, impact, complexity, and ability to meet the client’s needs! This award honours a group who demonstrates excellence in, and major contributions to, the concept, design, and implementation of an engineering or geoscience work.
Project Mananger, Stephen Chiasson, along with Associated Engineering’s team members (Justine Meyers, Alex Lyon, Tracey Kucheravy, and Scott Arran) and two client representatives from Public Services and Procurement Canada were in attendance to accept the team award.
Public Services and Procurement Canada retained Associated Engineering to provide full engineering services for the planning, development, and implementation of the deck replacement and rehabilitation measures for the historic St. Andrews Lock and Dam facility, located in Lockport, Manitoba. Following a comprehensive detailed inspection in 2017, it was determined that existing bridge deck on the main truss spans was past its useful life and needed replacement. As part of the bridge deck replacement, Public Services and Procurement Canada also wanted to make functional upgrades to the bridge deck, rehabilitate the structure to extend its useful life span, as well as make accessibility upgrades to the facility.
Associated Engineering completed the rehabilitation and strengthening design for the St. Andrews Lock and Dam traffic bridge in Winter 2021, with construction commencing in Summer 2021. The scope of the assignment included the replacement of the bridge deck with a wider deck – incorporating proper driving lanes, as well as a divided sidewalk. It also included the general rehabilitation of the bridge so that the structure could carry full legal highway loading.
Congratulations to all of our team members, client partners, and subconsultants (Donald Luxton & Associates, WSP Canada, Hanscomb, Pinchin, TREK Geotechnical, Vista Environmental, and Joro Consultants)!
Tonight at the ACEC-Canada/Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards gala in Ottawa, ON, our team’s work on The City of Calgary’s Natural Assets Valuation project was presented with an Award of Excellence! Nadeer Lalji (Vice President & General Manager, Alberta South) and Twyla Kowalczyk (Manager, Strategic Advisory Services & Discipline Lead, Climate Resilience) accepted the award on behalf of Associated Engineering.
The City of Calgary’s Natural Assets Valuation project reveals the significant value of natural assets, such as forests, riparian areas, and waterbodies, and the services they supply. The study provides The City of Calgary with the information required to support decision-making and planning for land-use and natural asset management, protecting the environment and mitigating the effects of climate change. This transformational project paves the way for integrating built and natural asset management – a model for other communities.
We’re looking forward to next week’s No-Dig North, taking place in Niagara Falls, ON! Once again, we’re proud to be a supporting sponsor of Canada’s premiere conference for underground infrastructure professionals. In addition, several of our staff are involved in this year’s conference program.
Monday, October 28 | 8:00am-4:00pm EST| Room 223 | Good Practice Course: Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) | Speaker: Jason Lueke
The HDD Good Practices Guidelines course provides an in-depth overview of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) and covers six topics: (1) operation and application; (2) equipment and materials; (3) planning, including surface and geological investigations, utility surveys, bore planning, and regulations and permitting; (4) job site safety; (5) risk reduction, troubleshooting and mitigation; and (6) design.
Tuesday, October 29 | 11:15am-11:40am EST | Room 221 | Chippewas of Nawash New Raw Water Intake Design and Construction | Speaker: Chris Lamont
The Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation (CNUFN) Water Treatment Plant and Distribution System projects are multi-year projects with the objectives of constructing a new water treatment plant (WTP) and distribution system upgrades to provide clean drinking water to the community and remove the present boil water advisory. The Water Treatment Plant project includes the construction of a new greenfield site WTP, and a raw water intake located within the Georgian Bay of Lake Huron, Ontario. The focus of this paper is on the design and installation of the raw water intake pipeline shore approach by horizontal directional drilling (HDD). The intake pipeline shore approach was a 380 m long HDD installation of a product bundle consisting of one DN350 HDPE DR7.3 raw water pipe and two redundant DN125 HDPE DR7.3 casing pipes to provide a chlorine line for zebra mussel colonization control. This paper discusses some of the challenges associated with the construction of shore approach installations by HDD and considerations for designers including the importance of offshore geotechnical information, marine drill exit practices, and buoyancy control for product sinking and pullback.
Tuesday, October 29 | 1:35pm-2:00pm EST| Room 223 | Design Constraints and Construction Challenges for a 235m Microtunnel Crossing of a Highway and Creek | Speaker: Thomas Siuda
This paper will discuss the design constraints and construction challenges for the 235m trenchless crossing of Highway 400 and Dyments Creek as part of the Dunlop Street Trunk Sanitary Sewer Relocation project in the City of Barrie. The project was designed by Associated Engineering and construction was completed by Erritt Construction Ltd. The trenchless crossing was completed using microtunnel methodology featuring a pipe/tunnel size of 900mm inside diameter (1200mm outside diameter) along the 235m drive with limited cover under the highway and creek. Upstream and downstream connections along with site constraints resulted in minimal tunnel alignment and shaft staging location options, which led to constrained staging areas and limited tunnel cover. The limited cover under the highway and creek constrained the pipe/tunnel size to a 900mm inside diameter tunnel. This posed an expected challenge, as 900mm MT machines do not have pressure sensors at the face or access to the face of the machine for maintenance should unexpected ground conditions and/or boulders be within the alignment. Additionally, an unexpected challenge resulted from the change in soil material from silty sands to clays. Silty sands were expected for the entire alignment and thus the change required quick modifications on site for the equipment and bentonite viscosities. The paper will expand on the design solutions for the challenging sewer alignment options along with expected and unforeseen construction challenges and how they were overcome.
Wednesday, October 30 | 1:35pm-2:00pm EST | Room 221 | Mill Creek Combined Sewer Replacement – Design and Construction Challenges | Speaker: Chris Lamont
The Mill Creek combined sewer trunk conveys wastewater and rainwater from south Edmonton to the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant. As it is a combined system, high intensity rain fall can impact the normal operation of the system and can result in combined sewer overflows into the Millcreek Ravine. In addition, other primary sanitary trunks were inspected and assessed as high priority areas for rehabilitation due to the deteriorating condition of the existing combined sewer running within the Millcreek Ravine. The first phase of the project constitutes the design and build up a 13m×4m×4m energy dissipation chamber ~10m below the upstream existing 2100mm tunnel elevation with an access and a drop manhole structure directing the wastewater through the new, 30m deep, 2100mm ID tunnel. This part of the project successfully completed with the construction of secant pile working shaft adjacent to elementary school kids play area, construction of liner plate retrieval shaft within a compact working space in the community park and 2100mm ID concrete pipe with HDPE liner installed by Microtunnelling through sandstone and clay shale. Hand tunnel connections were completed through sandstone and clay till to connect to the new trunk on the upstream and downstream, bypassing existing overflow structures in the Millcreek Ravine.
During the past five years, the City of Lethbridge and surrounding area in Southern Alberta have experienced flooding, extreme heat, out-of-season snowstorms, and extreme storms. City residents are increasingly aware of climate risk, especially drought. Climate change threats include public health and well-being, economic, physical (built) infrastructure, and environmental impacts.
The City of Lethbridge had previously completed multiple initiatives and plans that considered environmental sustainability and climate change, including a Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment (focussed on City assets), Municipal Development Plan, Energy Conservation Master Plan, Lethbridge City Council Action Plan, and Department Adaptation Planning.
The City sought to expand on the previously completed climate-risk assessment to consider community-wide risks and provide a holistic understanding of risks posed to Lethbridge and the greater community. As well, there was a desire to quantify the economic cost of climate change if no adaptation occurs and to gather diverse perspectives to better qualitatively understand how climate hazards will impact Lethbridge.
The Climate Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan is focussed actions the City can take to adapt, while also recognizing that external organizations and residents have a role in improving resilience.
The City assembled a multi-disciplinary team, including engineering, municipal operations, and management, along with community and climate planners, who helped to ensure social equity was meaningfully incorporated. The team began by reviewing existing municipal climate and related plans to identify opportunities to align corporate initiatives with adaptation, and develop a vision and principles to guide long-term decision making.
We worked with a subconsultant (All One Sky Foundation) to complete a cost of inaction economic analysis which showed that Lethbridge at-large is already experiencing costs due to climate impacts. The community is projected to see an annual total cost of $77.2 million by 2025 if no adaptation occurs. Compared with 2025, projected costs are roughly three times higher by 2055 and nine times higher by 2085. Avoiding climate adaptation has a cost.
The Lethbridge Climate Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan helps the City to align their past efforts to find efficiencies, such as cost savings, opportunities, and co-benefits. Project Manager and Technical Lead, Twyla Kowalcyzk, explains, “The Climate Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan helps demonstrate that the City is taking meaningful action to ensure community safety in the face of climate risks. Public engagement also supported increased local understanding of climate hazards and how individuals can improve their own resilience.”
Climate risks are complex and there are many potential impacts. Given this complexity, it is important to have clarity on the highest risks in order to focus efforts and investment. Gaining support and direction from Lethbridge City Council is key for climate adaptation, for example, building internal buy-in and securing budget/resources.
Twyla says, “Clarifying what the highest climate impacts are and what initiatives can reduce risk helps to prioritize adaptation actions and allocate resources to the most impactful efforts. This approach also helps to show alignment with existing initiatives/processes and climate.”
The project team completed extensive community and stakeholder engagement. Jeff Zukiwsky, Senior Strategic Advisor, tells us, “We held workshops to develop a vision and principles for the Climate Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan to inform the risk assessment, as well as adaptation actions. Nine workshops were held with 74 stakeholders and resulted in 660 hours of participant time spent in meetings. Two public surveys gathered 169 resident comments on the Vision + Principles and 258 comments on the actions.”
City staff, external stakeholders, and residents-at-large emphasized the importance of supporting vulnerable populations. Makenzie MacKay, Resilience & Sustainability Advisor, says, “Our project team had to consider vulnerability and equity across different neighbourhoods and demographics throughout the project. We worked with stakeholders to find meaningful ways to incorporate insights into final deliverables. Several adaptation actions focus specifically on supporting vulnerable populations.”
Associated supported the City in working with the Kainai Ecosystem Protection Association (KEPA) and help them to understand the role that the City can play in supporting KEPA’s work, as it relates to the Climate Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan. We learned about Indigenous observations of climate hazards in the Lethbridge area and heard specific stories about the risks and impacts to vulnerable populations such as Elders. The Climate Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan includes a land acknowledgement and a list of Indigenous organizations to partner with, in alignment with feedback from the Kainai Ecosystem Protection Association.
The final report brought all of this information into one cohesive, easily digestible package. The Climate Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan gives a clear direction for the City based on data, technical best practices, and community perspectives and priorities. The plan is pragmatic and public-facing – a resource to guide Lethbridge through its climate adaptation journey.
The City of Port Moody has a population of approximately 33,500 residents (2021) and is a member municipality of the Metro Vancouver Regional District in British Columbia. St. Johns Street is the main traffic corridor through Port Moody and originally had narrow sidewalks and no provisions for cyclists. The City sought to integrate active transportation facilities for all ages and abilities along this constrained corridor.
Public engagement confirmed the need for better walking and cycling infrastructure, the need to maintain access to local properties and businesses, as well as the importance of trees and landscaping to the community.
Associated Engineering served as the lead consultant for this active transportation project, led by our Vancouver-based transportation planning and traffic engineering group, with support from our infrastructure group and Red Deer-based landscape architecture staff. Our services included corridor and active transportation planning, traffic analysis, safety review, a HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) lane utilization study, stakeholder and public engagement, concept development, preliminary and detailed design, and tender and construction services, including contract administration and site inspection.
Associated undertook a conceptual and functional multi-modal transportation planning and engineering study along St. Johns Street from Ioco Road to Albert Street. Project Manager, Ana Varhaug, tells us, “We explored the potential removal of the existing HOV lanes, and repurposing the space for active modes. One of the challenges was that HOV-lane removal is unprecedented and required buy-in from TransLink, as St. Johns is part of their Major Road Network.”
Our transportation planning and traffic engineering team developed decision criteria based on HOV-lane warrants, traffic operations, and transit performance data and developed a rationale for replacing the HOV lanes with active transportation facilities.
This evidence-based approach was able to concisely demonstrate that the existing HOV lanes are under-utilized and identified how the HOV-lane removal benefits sustainable transportation modes, thus supporting TransLink mode split objectives and the City of Port Moody’s Master Transportation Plan.
Associated supported the City in collaborating with TransLink to address their requirements. Monique Beaudry, National Discipline Lead, Transportation Planning, tells us, “As part of this work, we completed a review of the study corridor including traffic forecasting, traffic micro-simulation modelling and analysis using Vistro, and a safety assessment. As well, we developed initial concepts and prepared an HOV Lane Removal Report for stakeholder review.”
In Phase Two of the project, Associated’s team developed conceptual options for active transportation facilities on the study corridor. The preferred solution was selected through an options evaluation process and in consultation with key stakeholders and the public. Associated helped to facilitate the engagement meetings and provided engagement materials.
The project was endorsed by Port Moody’s City Council and proceeded to preliminary and detailed design and construction of active transportation infrastructure for all ages and abilities from the Barnet Highway to Moody Street, approximately 1.3 kilometres in length.
Associated prepared the detailed design, including the addition of bike lanes and multi-use pathways, widening of existing sidewalks, the addition of rain gardens into curb bulges, raised crosswalks, retaining wall design, streetlighting, landscaping (including streetscaping), and signage and pavement markings.
Associated delivered tender period services, and conducted site inspections and contract administration duties. Civil Engineer, Artem Zaporozhets, explains, “Construction was completed in August 2024, providing users with safer and more accessible active transportation connections and improved transit access.”
Subconsultants supporting the project delivery included Evolve Traffic Solutions (traffic modelling), Braun (geotechnical), Diamondhead (arborist), and AES (electrical).
Associated’s key personnel on the project include Ana Varhaug, Monique Beaudry, Breanna Jackson, Artem Zaporozhets, Chris Cheng, Alex Hackney, and Jason Bennett.
Community leaders and residents across Alberta have become more aware of the social, environmental, and economic impacts of the changing climate. In recent years, we have seen the direct and indirect effects of climate hazards that cause many impacts on communities, including its residents, businesses, property, built and natural infrastructure, and economic well-being. The floods in Calgary and High River; wildfires in Slave Lake, Fort McMurray, and Jasper; and the early snowstorm in Calgary had devastating social, environmental, psychological, and economic impacts.
The Government of Alberta recognized the need for practicing professionals within government and public services within municipalities across Alberta to have a basic awareness and understanding of climate change, so governments at all levels can effectively consider and incorporate climate change into policy, planning, and delivery of infrastructure projects.
Project Manager, Juliana Tang, tells us, “The program was targeted to professionals across multiple sectors. The core training concentrated on climate science, risk identification, risk management, economics, and communication, with a deeper dive into four focussed areas: infrastructure, community planning, watershed management, and agriculture.”
Associated Engineering led this project with support from 13 subject matter experts (SME), who developed and delivered the training program. They included technical and experienced professionals, including practicing engineers, scientists, researchers, analysts, and educators from professional organizations, government, and academia. Each of the SMEs were selected for their local, national, and international expertise, bringing 15 to 30 years of experience in their respective fields.
A Technical Steering Committee was created to help guide the content development of the training program. This Steering Committee featured SMEs from four key Alberta governmental departments: Transportation, Infrastructure, Agriculture, and Municipal Affairs.
Associated Engineering facilitated carefully planned workshops and meetings to engage key people for their input and feedback. Juliana says, “The success of this program was due in part to the project management team’s ability to manage expectations, clearly identify the key objectives to avoid miscommunication and out-of-scope content, and maintain the goal of delivering basic awareness training.”
Through this program, over 300 professionals across Alberta have been trained since early 2022 and over 50 new university graduates placed in climate-change adaptation-related projects. This placement program allowed young professionals to obtain valuable climate change adaptation work experience.
This work was done in collaboration with the University of Alberta for job placements. Juliana shares, “Many of these young professionals were offered opportunities to continue work in climate change adaptation and become future leaders in this field.”
All of the training information, resources, and recordings are accessible online through the ClimateWest.ca website. This knowledge transfer and sharing process engages all professionals across disciplines and at multiple levels so that they are better informed during the decision-making process.
Today, this information is shared with other municipalities within and outside of Alberta.
Associated Engineering is proud to be a supporting sponsor of the 2024 Pacific Workshop on Nature-based Coastal Solutions, hosted in Vancouver by the Pacific Chapter of the Nature-based Coastal Solutions Community of Practice from October 8th to 10th!
Water Resources Engineer, Eric Finney, will be presenting a case study titled “Colquitz Park: Applying Green Shores Principles in an Estuarine Environment in Southern Vancouver Island” during the third day of the conference (October 10th) in Session 7 beginning at 1:00pm.
Colquitz Park lies on the left bank of the Colquitz River which discharges into a shallow basin (Portage Inlet) in Saanich, BC. The shoreline has experienced significant erosion and loss of riparian habitat due to encroachment of residential areas and regular mowing. The District of Saanich desired that the park be restored using nature-based solutions, whilst aiming for Green Shores for Shoreline Development (GSSD) accreditation. Objectives included to stabilize the shoreline, improve the riparian habitat, identify climate-related risks and solutions, and provide guidance to recreational activities.
Recognizing that riverine flows in the urbanized Colquitz River would play a significant role in erosion processes, our project team, led by Associated Engineering with support from DHI, focussed on modelling this channel. We conducted a frequency analysis on available flow data and adjusted these values for an assumed return period based on an analysis of projected climate change effects. We then developed a HEC-RAS 2D model of the channel and the basin considering various tidally-influenced boundary conditions that reflected different sea level rise scenarios.
The modelled results were used to develop several restoration concepts for review by the client. These concepts incorporated specific nature-based solutions intended to embody green shores principles, with the goal of gold level certification. Techniques implemented include strategic vegetation selection and placement, redesigning existing storm outfalls to include more natural features, main channel regrading, restraining public access to designated areas, and inclusion of limited erosion protection through adding channel roughness. The hydraulic model also represents a value-added feature of the project which can serve as a backbone for future flood mapping for the client.
Implementation of the design is planned for the summer of 2025, with final assessment of Green Shore certification occurring shortly thereafter.
Located in southern Saskatchewan, Kahkewistahaw First Nation envisioned developing land as a legacy for future generations. Leaders conceived a commercial development on their 16-hectare urban reserve in Saskatoon to attract and support First Nation businesses and entrepreneurs, diversify the Kahkewistahaw economy, and provide permanent jobs for their people. However, a number of complex challenges stood in the path of development.
Located close to Saskatoon’s John G. Diefenbaker Airport, strict zoning regulations governed development of the land. Building height restrictions to ensure safe runway approaches would need to be relaxed, but regulatory approval of new airport zoning regulations could take up to five years, delaying development.
The Kahkewistahaw First Nation retained Associated Engineering to provide project management, land-use planning, and engineering expertise to develop the land and help realize Kahkewistahaw’s vision for a business park near Saskatoon’s airport.
Project Manager, Bill Delainey, tells us, “Associated Engineering participated alongside leaders and members of the Nation to develop a project vision, learn the Nation’s goals, understand the limitations of the site, and agree on what could be built. In collaboration with the Nation, the team undertook site and infrastructure planning, including developing complex approaches to overcome regulatory aviation restrictions and infrastructure issues.”
City of Saskatoon infrastructure was needed to service the site, in particular, a stormwater pond, which was projected to take years for the city to design and construct. Furthermore, Associated Engineering determined that the neighbourhood pond could not service an area in the northeast corner of the site. As well, to comply with Transport Canada regulations, the stormwater ponds had to drain within 48 hours.
In addition, the project had to meet the expectations of the First Sovereign Indigenous Nations (FSIN), which had purchased land on the site and were anxious to construct their new headquarters.
As lead consultant, Associated Engineering led communication and collaboration efforts with stakeholders to facilitate the approvals required for the project to proceed, as well as undertaking project management, planning, design, and construction administration. Our team engaged in consultation and negotiation with the City of Saskatoon, the Airport Authority, NavCanada, and Transport Canada, along with contractors, utilities, and other stakeholders, all the while keeping Kahkewistahaw fully informed and in control.
“To address the lack of municipal stormwater infrastructure, we designed an interim stormwater system that can easily be converted to eventually connect to the city’s permanent stormwater system, once constructed in the future. Advanced modelling was conducted to inform the design, and facilitate a successful transition to a future, permanent infrastructure network.”
The temporary ditch system can be filled-in without affecting any paved surfaces or buildings. The site was divided to store some of the stormwater by directing it to the northeast. A portion of the land was allocated to build a stormwater retention pond so that the area to be developed would be drained by ditches into the pond.
The Kahkewistahaw Landing Business Park opened in November 2022, delivered on time and within the Nation’s $4 million budget. Kahkewistahaw First Nation realized their dream for a business park that provides economic development opportunities, offering jobs and long-term economic security for their people.
For Lee Hang-Liu, Manager, Municipal Infrastructure in our Calgary office, her introduction to engineering did not come immediately after high school. She recalls, “I had completed my first two years of university focussed on biology and I didn’t feel that it was the right path for me. But I was passionate about taking care of the environment and fortunately learned through friends about the environmental engineering program, and the rest is history.”
While earning a Bachelor’s of Science in Engineering with a minor in Environmental Engineering, Lee completed a year-long internship with a small firm in Calgary. She shares, “I was assigned to work at a decommissioned refinery in Balzac, Alberta. It was definitely not a glamorous role, but being in the field by myself really taught me how to be independent, how to ask good questions, not to be shy, and how to be a professional.”
Lee shares that she has been very lucky to work with many individuals in the industry who were very good engineers and had the patience and willingness to guide her. “They assigned me challenging projects, let me solve problems, and helped me learn from my mistakes. I am grateful that they trusted in my abilities and invested their time to help me become a good engineer.”
After eight years in consulting engineering as a project engineer and completing increasingly complex projects, Lee’s leadership potential was recognized and her career shifted from technical project management to supporting executives and leading her own teams. Later, Lee worked for the City of Calgary and many of her projects were with Associated Engineering. One special project she notes was the Forest Lawn Lift Station that included The City of Calgary operations, Calgary’s Artist in Residence (Sans Façons), and Associated. The project later won an Honorable Mention at the Mayor’s Urban Design Awards.
“It was a very collaborative experience and we successfully integrated a functional art element into the operations of the lift station.”
Lee says, “After having so many positive experiences working with Associated on a wide range of complex projects, I knew that if I wanted to make a change back to consulting, Associated was the best company for me. Not only are Associated’s team members extremely smart and technically competent, they are also very kind, collaborative, and very fun to work with!”
Since joining Associated four years ago, Lee has been involved on many interesting and complex projects executed under difficult circumstances, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and emergency response work on critical infrastructure. Lee tells us, “The resiliency of our staff in responding to these challenges is a highlight for me. It gives me great pride and confidence working with professionals who are so well regarded in our industry and can apply their expertise under challenging circumstances.”
Lee is proud of her team’s wins in several competitive proposals for major linear infrastructure projects in the Calgary region. When Lee first started at Associated, she had to learn about the company’s past projects and capabilities. As she got more exposure and completed work as a project manager, Lee explains that it became easier to draft proposals that presented strong methodologies and showcased Associated’s multi-disciplinary teams with a proven track record.
Lee says, “I really enjoy writing and when I get to collaborate with smart people, it makes writing proposals an enjoyable experience. Looking back, I credit some influential English teachers in both junior high school and high school, who fostered my love for reading and writing, as well as sparking my interest in protecting the environment.”
Lee tells us that she has really enjoyed her time with the Associated team in Calgary – there is no shortage of interesting work and opportunities to collaborate with different people across the organization. This includes her participation in Associated’s Learning Culture Committee and Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
“The things I value most about the people who I work with are how dedicated my teammates are to doing good work and how they will step up to help each other when times are tough. I believe that being kind and approachable sets the stage for productive conversations and problem solving during times of conflict.”
As a mentor, Lee shares, “I think it is vitally important to support young staff to help them navigate the engineering industry. I believe it starts with technical mentoring so they understand the engineering process through the planning, design, and construction stages. Mentors have a responsibility to build the core competencies required for them to obtain their professional designations. Over time, this relationship should evolve so the young staff can see how they can adapt to follow other engineering career paths. Being flexible is very important to success!”
Photo credit: Marcelo Woo
Outside of work, Lee is dedicated to practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art that focusses on grappling and submissions. Lee says, “I’ve been training for almost eight years now and I am a purple belt. My husband is a black belt and both my sons train so it is a family affair. I enjoy the mental and physical challenges the sport offers. I’ve learned about being resilient, making mistakes, and building the will to keep trying and improving.” Lee also finds fulfillment in coaching kids and women’s Jiu-Jitsu classes and helping students build confidence.
“For the kids, it brings me so much joy to see their happy faces and watch their confidence grow as they learn new skills. This is an intimidating sport for anyone, let alone a woman. I want to help them see that they can be strong and courageous.”
Maggi Jones is the Business Support Team Lead for our Ontario operation. She leads our administrative team, ensuring effective administrative support for project delivery and client satisfaction. Maggi strives to foster a collaborative environment where administrative staff feel empowered to solve problems effectively. Balancing the diverse needs of staff and clients, while adhering to Ontario’s regulatory standards and company protocols, is crucial. She also strives for continuous improvement, leveraging technology and best practices to enhance productivity and maintain high standards of service.
In addition, Maggi supports our marketing and business development efforts in Ontario. She helps to organize and support Associated’s client receptions connected to industry conferences, as well as supporting internal company conferences, such as the company’s recent Water Capacity Building Seminar in Toronto, which brought together over 140 staff and clients.
In her free time, Maggi is actively involved with her church. She is a member of several brass bands, including one that travels across Canada and around the world, teaching music to both adult and youth musicians.
Every summer, Maggi volunteers at a music camp for children. She teaches music, leads the children’s band, and also fosters their spiritual development. Maggi is encouraged when she sees the continued development in the lives of these children who she spends time with year-over-year.
Maggi also enjoys keeping active, running, hiking, and representing Associated in charity bike events.
Through her work and community involvement, Maggi is shaping our shared future!
Associated Engineering is proud to once again partner with Western Canada Water, as they host their Annual Conference in Winnipeg this week! As a supporting sponsor of the event, we also have several presenters in the technical program on September 18th and 19th.
Today at 2:30pm in Room 1, Ken Anderson (Manager, Water) is speaking on Sustainable Water Treatment Plant Expansion for Manitoba’s Fastest Growing Community: Design and Implementation.
Tomorrow, Ken presents again at 11:30am in Room 1 on Optimizing Water Treatment: Adding a Closed Circuit RO to City of Winkler’s WTP.
On Thursday afternoon, Sarah Larlee (Process Engineer) will discuss Maintaining Decentralized Systems: Alexander First Nations Cistern and Septic Inspection Program at 2:00pm (Room 3); and Jeff O’Driscoll (Division Manager, Infrastructure) will talk about Enhancing Water System Resilience: Assessing Drought Preparedness Across 100 Public Water Systems in Manitoba.
This year’s symposium features the theme of “Mine Reclamation and Biodiversity”. On September 25th in the second technical session beginning at 9:00am, Melanie Piorecky (Technical Specialist, Reclamation and Restoration) will co-deliver a presentation titled, “An evolving reclamation approach under drought conditions”.
Melanie shares, “The topic of the presentation is related to challenges faced by mine reclamation under extreme weather scenarios. The heat dome and level 4 drought are two recent examples of extreme weather in our changing climate. This and challenging mine conditions, such as steep slopes and rapidly draining ground, make it very difficult to establish trees, shrubs and natural vegetation communities. The local First Nations want and need to see more effort, as this land has been and will be for their traditional use. We are developing research plots and working with Indigenous communities to apply novel approaches, including islands of intensive effort, goats to manage weeds, and remote watering.”
We’re delighted to share the news that Rahim Ahmad (Manager, Construction Services) in our Saskatoon office has been named as one of Canadian Consulting Engineer‘s Top 10 Under 40 Award winners! The awards program now in its third year, recognizes young professional engineers working in Canada as consultants in the construction field and who demonstrate diligence through hard work, mentorship, achievements, and education.
All of the award winners are recognized as up-and-coming professionals in the Canadian engineering industry and are selected by the Canadian Consulting Engineer’s editorial advisory board.
Associated Engineering has a proud history of employee ownership and this is integral to the sustainability of our business. Our organization’s legacy has forged who we are today – a uniquely Canadian, employee owned, multi-discipline firm trusted by our clients to provide quality, value-added solutions in the building of better communities. Please join us in welcoming our newest incoming shareholders for 2024!
Back Row (L-R): Keenan Rudichuk, Greg Cooper, Jacob Froh, Peter Grant, David Forde, Chris Schmelzle, Alex Jancker, Michael Walker
Front Row (L-R): Sarah Bruce, Kerri Walker, Heather Taylor, Lillian Siu, Christine Lee, Sara Debaji, Esther Vennard, Twyla Kowalczyk
Associated Engineering is pleased to announce the following new directors on the Boards of Associated Engineering Group Ltd. and our parent company, Ashco Shareholders Inc.
Judy has 25 years of experience, including 11 years in the public sector with the City of Calgary and Calgary Transit before she joined Associated. Judy specializes in data and information management and Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), focusing on the application of advanced technologies and innovative approaches to solve complex mobility challenges. She provides strategic advisory services to clients to support decision making and long-term planning. Judy also serves on the Board of ITS Canada.
Leslie has 35 years of experience, including 23 years with Associated. His experience encompasses project management, design, and construction of transportation projects across Canada, South Africa, and the Caribbean. Leslie’s experience includes both traditional design-bid-build as well as alternative delivery projects, on which he has acted as Independent Certifier, Owner’s Engineer, and Design Manager.
Nadeer Lalji, MBA, P.Eng., Vice President & General Manager, Alberta South
Nadeer has 21 years of experience, the last 18 years with Associated. Nadeer’s experience includes a focus on people leadership as well as the project management, planning, design, and construction of infrastructure projects. Having worked for Strathcona County and Alberta Environment before joining Associated, Nadeer brings public sector perspectives to his role on the Board. Nadeer also serves on the Board of Directors of the Consulting Engineers of Alberta (CEA).
We thank Carma Holmes, Helder Afonso, and Ian Reid (Independent Director) for their service as they step down from their respective director roles on the Associated Engineering Group and Ashco Boards!
Rahim shares, “I’m incredibly humbled to be shortlisted for the FIDIC Future Leaders Award and honoured to represent Associated Engineering and our talented future leaders on the international stage.”
At the FIDIC Global Infrastructure Awards Gala Dinner in Geneva next month, Rahim will be presented with either a Highly Commended Award or a Winner’s Award.
Next week in Toronto, thousands of leading water organizations and professionals are gathering at the Internation Water Association World Water Congress to share and learn from each other about shaping and delivering solutions across the full water cycle. Associated Engineering is pleased to be a gold sponsor of the Canadian Pavilion, as well as supporting the Young World Water Camp featuring 30 future leaders representing 14 countries!
In the technical program on Monday, in Session 2.35 at 1:30pm is our presentation titled “Pharmaceutically Active Compounds in Wastewater: A Review of Occurrence, Regulatory Framework and Removal Methods”, authored by Shahab Minaei, Soubhagya Pattanayak, and Dean Shiskowski.
Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) have become an emerging public concern because of their prevalence and persistent nature. These compounds are engineered to exhibit significant activity even at minimal concentrations, which raises alarms about their potential adverse effects on exposed organisms over extended periods. With the advancement of analytical techniques, a growing body of literature is addressing the presence of PhACs in various environments and their associated toxicological effects. Nonetheless, there is a gap in thorough understanding of regulatory landscape to establish the discharge limits as well as the effectiveness of the existing wastewater treatment technologies in reducing PhAC concentrations to non-toxic levels. In this context, this review will provide an overview of PhAC occurrence, current regulatory frameworks, and removal methods.
Also in the same program session (2.2), a pair of our posters will be featured:
Enlarged Anaerobic Zone – Evolution of EBPR Design in MBR | Soubhagya Pattanayak, Dean Shiskowski, Daniel du Toit
Undersizing anaerobic zones has led to poor performance of enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) in many wastewater treatment plants. In a greenfield 70 MLD membrane bioreactor (MBR) project in central Alberta, an important objective was to meet stringent P limits. Simulations to evaluate the impact of different anaerobic zone mass fractions on EBPR were conducted and a large anaerobic zone (mass fraction ~ 15%; volume fraction ~ 23%) was chosen for final design.
Effect of Extended Solids Retention Time (SRT) on Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal (EBPR) Kinetics in a Membrane Bioreactor Process |Rony Das, Soubhagya Pattanayak
There is an ever-increasing demand from Water Resource Recovery Facilities to optimize solids production and subsequent processing. The enhanced biological phosphorus removal process (EBPR) operated at extended solids retention time (SRT) could be an attractive and sustainable in-situ treatment solution to achieve low sludge yield. We investigated the performance of a membraneassisted EBPR process for a set of SRTs (25, 40, 60, and 80 days) in a dual-train parallel system fed with municipal wastewater. The objectives of the study were to (1) determine sludge yield at different SRTs, (2) characterize P-removal performance at extended SRTs, and (3) determine if distinctive microbial populations are associated with “normal” and “extended” SRT systems.
Associated Engineering is pleased to announce Jeff Fetter, P.Eng., as our new Senior Vice President, Civil Infrastructure, effective immediately. Jeff succeeds Chris Skowronski, who is transitioning into retirement after 35 years of service with the company and will remain in a Strategic Advisor role to support the continued growth of our infrastructure practice.
Jeff has almost 30 years of experience in the consulting and construction industries and brings a proven track record in delivering complex infrastructure and water projects for large municipalities and rural communities, including the City of Edmonton, Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, Town of Slave Lake, and many more. His project experience includes feasibility studies, site and land developments, facility evaluations and rehabilitations, water distribution, sewage collection and primary treatment, stormwater management. Most recently, Jeff served as Division Manager, Water in the Edmonton office and was responsible for managing the water and power & automation groups.
Associated Engineering congratulates Jeff on his new role and expresses appreciation to Chris for his efforts in expanding our civil infrastructure capabilities, overseeing projects of critical importance, and fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.
Associated Engineering is pleased to announce the appointment of Elia Edwards, M.A.Sc., P.Eng. as Vice President, Integrated Water Solutions.
Most recently, Elia was the Division Manager, Water in the Toronto office and has been with the company for over 27 years. He has been involved on many multi-disciplinary water projects in Ontario and across Canada, serving in roles ranging from process engineer through to corporate sponsor.
Elia is also a Director on Associated’s Group Board and is our Strategic Advisory Services Leader in the Ontario marketplace. His diverse areas of expertise include master planning and feasibility studies, process analysis, optimization, regulatory review, sustainable design, and implementation. Elia provides strategic insights and technical guidance in developing solutions with our staff and clients, for a full range of water planning and implementation projects.
We’re excited to be part of the UESI Pipelines 2024 Conference in Calgary, AB this week! From serving on the conference organizing committee, moderating sessions, authoring papers, and delivering presentations in the technical track program, our participating staff have been busy in the lead up and expect a wonderful few days ahead!
Monday, July 29, 2024
2:00PM – 2:30PM | Macleod D Room Valley Line West LRT – Drainage Relocation – Microtunnelling Construction Design and Impact Chris Lamont
Design and construction on the new Valley Line West which connects downtown to the west side of Edmonton is currently underway. EPCOR owns and operates a number of sanitary sewers along the new LRT alignment. Due to the depth, length, and other utility conflicts, the primary sewer was designed to be replaced by primarily by microtunnelling methods. Shanghai Construction Group was awarded the project and began planning for several microtunnel drives. Due to the tight construction timeline two drives were planned to occur simultaneously by microtunnelling from both sides of an existing 1500mm diameter trunk at installation lengths between 400m and 980m. The anticipated jacking loads for the installations were identified as a concern as the existing deep trunk was not designed to take the laterally imposed 500 and 800 Tonnes cyclically over 200 times and at nonconcentric elevations. A finite element analysis of the proposed shaft design system and the loading imposed by the microtunnelling was completed to determine if the potential impacts to the existing tunnel were in excess of what could be resisted. This paper will discuss the steps taken to assess the structural impact of the construction loads on the existing deep sewer trunk. It will also go through the complications and issues encountered during construction and how they were mitigated through working with the owner to minimize public impact on such a large project.
The community of Sunnyside, North of downtown Calgary, Alberta, is located in the Bow River floodplain. Sunnyside is located below a 30 metre high escarpment which separates it from an upper plateau. 290 ha of this upper plateau catchment drains into storm trunks that connect to Sunnyside’s storm system and discharge to the Bow River. In 2013, Sunnyside was subjected to significant flooding twice over the span of two weeks. Associated Engineering worked with The City of Calgary to identify solutions to manage the upper plateau stormwater and reduce flood risk in Sunnyside. The design criteria required management of a 1:50 year rainfall event with a low Bow River level and a 1:5 year rainfall event when the river level is at a 1:100 year level. Associated assessed options to store and pump the stormwater. Feasible storage locations proved difficult to find in the developed, inner-city and pumping the flow proved costly, so Associated also examined conveyance options. Due to the estimated capital cost, the options were vetted through a Value Engineering session convened by The City. The recommended option which was advanced to construction proposed intercepting the upper plateau stormwater and conveying it to the Bow River via a 775 m long, 3.4 m diameter gravity storm trunk. The trunk, which includes a depressed siphon, will convey 20 m3/s during a low river condition and 11 m3/s to a high river. A portion of the trunk was installed by microtunnelling and was the largest diameter microtunnelling installation in Canada as of the installation date. By installing the trunk, the storm flows from the upper plateau catchment north of Sunnyside were separated from the local flows generated from within the community for discharge directly to the Bow River during low and high river levels. This created additional capacity in the local existing system, significantly reducing the flood risk for Sunnyside and adjacent communities. The paper and technical presentation will provide insight into the project planning, design and construction delivery.
5:00PM – 5:30PM | Macleod C Room Saunderson Waterline – Large Diameter HDD Installation Chris Lamont, Jason Lueke
The Saunderson PRV project is a multi-year project to upgrade water supply for the Lower Townsite (LTS) neighbourhood in Fort McMurray, Alberta. The project includes the construction of a new PRV chamber in the LTS, extension of the existing primary high pressure water supply line, and the installation of a new supply line from the new LTS PRV chamber to the existing Abasand Heights neighbourhood reservoir to by horizontal directional drilling (HDD). The focus of this paper is on the design and installation of the 450 m long, 914 mm diameter HDPE DR9 directionally drilled supply line crossing of Highway 63 from the LTS to the Abasand Heights plateau, a topographic elevation difference of approximately 65 m between entry and exit. Detail design of the installation included consideration of the complex geotechnical stratigraphy, elevation difference, short alignment, connection requirements and its setback from the plateaus top of bank, slope failure zone, and extremely tight workspace restrictions. Construction of the trenchless crossing installation was successfully completed in April 2023. Project complexities were anticipated during design and managed during installation as a result of the elevation difference between drill entry and exit including contingency measures to manage flush-backs during reaming passes, overbreak pipe support at drill exit for pullback, buoyancy control requirements during pullback, and annular space grouting post-installation. This paper will review the steps taken during design and construction to support the successful installation and review lessons learned through the process.
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
10:30AM – 11:00AM | Glen 208-209 Room The City of Edmonton’s Sustainable Utility – Blatchford District Energy System Aaron McCartie
Following the closure of the Edmonton City Centre Airport, the City of Edmonton has approved a redevelopment plan for the 536-acre parcel of land. The City’s Vision is that “Blatchford will be home to up to 30,000 Edmontonians living, working and learning in a sustainable community that uses 100 percent renewable energy, is carbon neutral, significantly reduces its ecological footprint, and empowers residents to pursue a range of sustainable lifestyle choices.” The overall District Energy System design utilizes inter-connected nodes of centralized heat pumps distributing ambient-temperature water to heat pumps in each building. This allows for sharing between buildings and flexibility for connection of additional energy sources in a staged build-out over time. Geoexchange, sewer heat exchange, auxiliary boilers and cooling-towers, Solar PV as a low-GHG electricity source, are included in the overall design concept. Combining the benefits of building energy efficiency, energy sharing within the system, and highly efficient heat pumps, results in greenhouse gas reductions at 75% below that of business as usual. The 3 MW Energy Centre for Phase 1 was commissioned in Q4 2019 with an initial 1 MW of HP capacity, and a 570 borehole geoexchange field under the future storm water retention pond as it’s renewable energy source. More than 1 km of large-diameter HDPE DPS has a planned 57 service connections. The City of Edmonton has established the Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility to own and operate the system. Blatchford has been recognized locally, nationally, and internationally, with awards including those from: Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Canada; Canadian Home Builders’ Association; Consulting Engineers of Alberta; Federation of Canadian Municipalities; and most recently International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC). This presentation will discuss the assessment, design, and implementation of this innovative and forward-thinking utility project that provides low-carbon heating and cooling service to an urban in-fill, master-planned, sustainable community.
10:30AM – 11:00AM | Telus 104-106 Room Buffalo Pound Non Potable Water Supply System – Regina Regional Pipeline Darin Schindel, Keith Kingsbury, Kristin Sies
The Buffalo Pound Non Potable Water Supply System (BPNPWSS)– Regina Regional system will supply non-potable water from Buffalo Pound Lake to industrial customers in the southwest and northeast regions around Regina. The Regina Regional System is an extension of the existing BPNPWSS – East which consists of a lake intake, pumping station and pipelines that currently supply non-potable water to industrial customers in the Belle Plaine corridor. The project as a whole includes two booster pump stations, 65 kilometers of pipe and service laterals and metering stations at various customer sites. The planning of the pipeline began with utilizing GIS to show existing utilities, route challenges and initial consultation with stakeholders. Once the route was chosen, hydraulic analysis was completed to determine the required pressure rating and diameter of the pipe to deliver the required water to the end users. The results of that analysis were that the pipeline would be broken down into 3 sections: Section 1 being 34.5 kilometers of 600mm with an operating pressure of 275psi, Section 2 being 24 kilometers of 500 mm with an operating pressure of 250psi, and Section 3 being 5.5 kilometers of 400mm with an operating pressure of 150psi. The design of the pipeline took a unique and alternative delivery approach. The focus from the client, Saskatchewan Water Corporation (SaskWater), was to determine through industry consultation the most cost effective pipeline material for each section and to determine if the contractors chosen had experience in installing the chosen pipe type. Ductile iron, steel, and HDPE were candidates for Sections 1 and 2, with PVC added as an option for Section 3. The design of the pipeline was completed to 70%, without a specified pipe type for procurement. A Request for Supplier Qualifications (RFSQ) pre-qualified 3 contractors to submit a proposal to complete the work. The proposals included the Contractor’s proposed pipeline material for each section meeting the specified criteria, work plan and schedule, additional details on their previous experience and their proposal price. Once the pipe types were chosen, the design was completed with the selected Contractor’s input and construction began in May 2023. This paper will provide an overview of the planning and design process determining the pipeline route utilizing GIS, to 70% design of the pipeline, and finally to obtaining a qualified contractor and completing the design. We will also discuss the challenges and benefits that this approach brought on.
Located 95 kilometres east of Calgary, Siksika Nation is growing quickly, and there is a shortage of safe and quality housing. Existing homes require significant work to bring them up to living standard, and more homes need to be built to accommodate the growing population. Many Elders and residents live in homes requiring repairs or renovations to address safety and health concerns.
The community prioritized Elders’ units and multi-generational homes in which Elders reside for the pilot project. Elders represent the most vulnerable members of the community. Focusing on Elders’ needs first improves safety and well-being for Elders and respects Elders who play a key role in Indigenous Communities, passing on their knowledge and cultural principles.
The Nation needed to identify what work needed to be done, create a strategy (with limited funds and need for transparency) to conduct the required maintenance, and manage the ongoing repairs.
The Siksika Nation Housing Department provides and maintains the Nation’s public housing for approximately 1,235 homes. In 2022, the Housing Department completed over 200 inspections of Elders’ homes with the help of home inspection firms, whose comprehensive reports detailed recommendations for repairs.
The Housing Department has limited funding and labour resources to meet the community’s needs, and also faces capacity constraints. The Department engaged Associated Engineering to assist with developing an efficient and cost-effective action plan, and provide project management support for the first phase of the Elders’ Homes Repair Program. In addition to assisting with the repair program, we helped the Housing Department with strategic planning, and developed tools to help build internal capacity to plan and budget future work.
Project Manager, Abu Waraich, tells us, “Our work included a significant data management component. The home inspection reports contained a large amount of information in text form. Converting this text to a useable form required creating programming scripts to extract and process over 5,000 recommendations from the inspection reports.”
The home inspection reports were completed almost two years ago. The reports assigned priorities to all of the recommendations, so risks to the safety of the residents could be addressed first. However, since the inspections, some of the information in the reports were outdated, and in many cases the condition of different components became worse.
Abu says, “With digitization of the data in the reports, the priorities assigned to different repairs could be modified as new information became available, allowing the project team to quickly pivot and allocate funds within the project budget to the highest risk homes and items. Items which had lower risk to residents could be assigned lower urgency and can be addressed in future phases.”
Our team worked closely with the Housing Department to ensure that they were involved in the development and rollout of plans and tools. When developing the costing spreadsheet to help operations staff estimate the cost of completing repairs and maintenance, Associated worked closely with Housing Department staff and a cost consultant so they could understand the new approach to costing and incorporated their feedback to make the tool as user friendly as possible.
During the repairs and renovations, Associated kept residents informed about the repair work. Project team member, Jorey Robin, says, “We worked hard to establish a rapport with residents. Along with the contractor and the Siksika Housing Department, we met with Elders to describe the work being completed on their homes and explained the phased approach.”
Associated is currently reviewing and organizing the various Housing Capital Programs and identifying where the Nation could improve their data management so that they can improve how they manage projects and funding/grant applications.
Our key personnel on the project are Abu Waraich, Jorey Robin, and Craig MacDonald.
Associated Engineering is pleased to announce Chad Maki, P.Eng., as the new General Manager of the Alberta North operation, effective July 1, 2024. Chad succeeds Helder Afonso as General Manager, who is retiring after 37 years of service with the company.
Chad began his career at Associated Engineering as a summer student. After earning a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering, Chad joined Associated Engineering in 2001, and subsequently progressed in roles from design engineer to project manager, group manager, division manager, and now General Manager. An accomplished engineer and leader, Chad has 23 years of experience on water/wastewater, solid waste, and road infrastructure, as well as urban and industrial developments across Alberta, including award-winning projects for Athabasca County and the City of Edmonton. He brings strong technical abilities and a proven track record of leading teams and successfully delivering projects to his new role as General Manager.
On his appointment, Chad says, “I’m honoured and excited to take on this leadership role with our Alberta North operation and to work with our talented team. I look forward to collaborating with our clients as their trusted advisors to help build more sustainable and resilient communities.” Chad adds, “I want to thank Helder for his support and guidance over the years and through this leadership transition.”
“Chad is an inspiring leader who promotes diversity and staff development,” said Helder Afonso, retiring Vice President and General Manager, Alberta North. “With his strong business development skills, business acumen, and vision, Associated Engineering will continue to flourish.”
Associated Engineering congratulates Chad on his new role, and thanks Helder for his many years of dedicated service and wishes him a long and healthy retirement!
The Hay River Harbour is the primary operational base for Marine Transportation Services (MTS), a marine shipping service operated by the Government of the Northwest Territories. As the key hub for rail, highway, and marine networks serving 12 communities, MTS provides marine resupply services for transporting petroleum products and other bulk freight.
Bulk resupply, particularly of fuel, is a complex and multimodal network across the Northwest Territories. Each community’s resupply profile is unique and is influenced by a combination of storage infrastructure capacity, duration and timing of road access, marine river or ocean access, lateral staging options, and other supply-chain factors. Marine resupply forms a critical component of bulk resupply. Alternative options require significant lead time and contingency options are logistically and cost prohibitive.
The harbour was last significantly dredged in 1997. Since then, the buildup of sediment in the harbour has created navigation hazards for marine vessels and now threatens this important marine supply-chain hub. The harbour required restoration to maintain the viability of key marine operations for both government and industry.
Project Manager, Rebekka Lindskoog, says, “The current bathymetry and water elevation data suggest that insufficient depth will threaten resupply operations. Restoration is critical to protecting public safety and infrastructure to restoring a safe and reliable resupply route.”
In 2022, the Town of Hay River flooded during spring break-up. This event likely contributed high amounts of sediment into the river. As the summer progressed, the water levels began to drop at an abnormal rate. By the early fall, vessels were being grounded on the shoals, particularly at the outfall into Great Slave Lake.
On behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Infrastructure, Westmar Advisors retained Associated for the environmental and regulatory leadership for the emergency dredging program. The contractor for the dredging program is locally owned Rowes Construction.
Rebekka tells us, “We focused on developing a way to restore navigability in the channel, recognizing the extreme constraints posed by the compressed timing to satisfy regulatory and procurement requirements.” The technical design established a channel width and depth that would provide minimum passage requirements of the largest draft vessel and a width that would facilitate a single-barge, wide configuration for MTS, with a safety buffer.
The project involved mechanically dredging sediment from two areas in the Hay River to open an emergency marine navigation channel 30 metres wide and 2.4 metres deep.
The team received the required regulatory approvals under the emergency provision, in time for the dredging program to be conducted during the least-risk fish window.
“Two days after we began dredging, the Town of Hay River had to be evacuated due to wildfire.”
In 2023, approximately 5,600 cubic metres of sediment was dredged and about 78,000 cubic metres remains to be removed in 2024.
“We have updated and maintained the regulatory approvals for the second year of dredging, including permission from Fisheries and Oceans Canada for an extended window, as a result of community engagement feedback and support for the program.”
The remainder of the emergency dredging program is currently underway and will include working alongside with Indigenous auditors from the local Indigenous communities.
Parallel to the emergency program, Associated is leading a multi-disciplinary feasibility analysis for the Hay River long-term dredging program. Associated’s key personnel on the project are Rebekka Lindskoog, Candace Bryks, Cassio Ishii, Brett Elmslie, Dean Foster, Tyler Mehler, Ryley Corcoran, and Brian MacGillivray.
Since its founding in 1908, the City of Melville in east-central Saskatchewan has endured challenges providing reliable, quality drinking water to residents. Melville’s surface water supply was difficult to treat and the area is prone to droughts. As a result, the City added a supplemental groundwater supply in 1989.
The City implemented Canada’s first electrodialysis reversal (EDR) process to treat its highly mineralized groundwater supply. In 2016, with this equipment near the end of its service life, SaskWater, the plant’s owner/operator, retained Associated Engineering to design and oversee construction of a new water treatment plant using only groundwater.
Project Manager, Peter Hooge, says, “Associated Engineering shared SaskWater’s and Melville’s strategy and vision to use the reverse osmosis (RO) process to treat the groundwater supply for the City. Once completed, this facility would be one of the largest, municipal reverse osmosis water treatment plants in the province.”
Associated advocated for the addition of pre-treatment upstream and post-treatment downstream of the RO, which would increase the RO membrane service life, reducing operating and maintenance costs and minimizing RO wastewater volumes generated.
SaskWater, Associated Engineering, and Beckie Hydrogeologists (BHL) collaborated on the design of the new wells, supply pipeline, and solar panel installation, which interfaced with Associated’s design of wellfield pumping infrastructure. Associated’s multi-discipline team included civil, structural, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation and controls designers.
A complete SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system was also part of Associated’s design, which interfaced with all components of Melville’s Potable Water Supply System. The project also included demolition of the old plant and the deep well injection system formerly used for EDR process wastewater disposal, and decommissioning of the surface water supply.
Project Engineer, Shengtao Weng, says, “We designed a tailored pre-treatment system, including oxidation, detention, and gravity filtration for removal of iron, manganese, and arsenic.” The post-treatment system encompassed pH correction and saturation index adjustment (control water’s corrosivity).
The new Melville Potable Water Supply System includes two new groundwater supply wells in the Hatfield Aquifer, located 30 kilometres south of the plant, a new raw water transmission line from the Hatfield Aquifer wellfield, re-use of two existing groundwater supply wells in the nearby Melville Aquifer and the associated raw water transmission line, a new water treatment plant in Melville, re-use of an existing 4550 cubic metre gunite reservoir, repurposing existing wastewater ponds, and potable water connections to the City distribution system and water tower.
Associated Engineering’s design allowed construction and commissioning to proceed without unplanned water supply service disruptions, while fully integrating existing non-plant infrastructure, where possible. Initially located adjacent to the old facility, the new plant design facilitated raw water and treated water piping interconnections, including a challenging connection into the existing gunite reservoir.
Peter tells us, “The new process incorporates wastewater retention and release, reducing environmental impact and greenhouse gas emissions from the former deep well injection system.”
Melville now has the highest consistent quality drinking water in its 115 year history
The complete system, including the new 30 kilometre raw water supply pipeline, was successfully commissioned in March 2022. Operating costs are 20-25% lower than the old plant and maintenance costs are significantly lower.
Delivered on time and under budget, the water treatment plant provides Melville residents with affordable, high quality, sustainable, and reliable drinking water that supports growth, economic development, and quality of life.
This initiative, led by Dr. Alireza Bayat, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director of CUIIC, brings together three Canadian universities to develop innovative strategies and technologies aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions across various phases of underground infrastructure projects. The co-applicants include Dr. E. Davies, Dr. L. Hashemian, and Dr. S. J. Birchall (University of Alberta); Dr. R. Dziedzic (Concordia University); and Dr. I. L. Stefanovic (University of Toronto).
NSERC and 21 industry partners are funding cash and in-kind contributions totalling three million dollars over five years. The research will provide training opportunities for ten graduate and undergraduate students, allowing them to gain hands-on experience and interact with industry professionals in the field of underground infrastructure.
The Industry Partners include: Associated Engineering, EPCOR Water Services Inc., Metro Vancouver, Insituform Technologies, Region of Peel, AECOM, UDI Edmonton, Alberta Roadbuilders & Heavy Construction Association, Mott MacDonald Canada Ltd, Stantec Consulting Ltd., ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd, Dura-Line, eTrenchless Group, Lafarge Canada Inc., North American Society for Trenchless Technologies-NW Chapter, ParklandGEO, Precon, PW Trenchless Construction Inc., Westlake Pipe & Fittings, Benjamin Media Inc., Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association.
Jason Lueke, P.Eng., Ph.D., National Discipline Leader, Trenchless Technologies, says, “Associated Engineering is excited to collaborate with CUIIC, NSERC, and our industry partners on this important program to develop strategies to reduce GHG emissions on underground infrastructure projects.”
CUIIC, housed at the University of Alberta, continues to be at the forefront of research and innovation in underground infrastructure leading collaborative efforts between academia and industry to address critical infrastructure challenges.
Dr. Bayat expressed his excitement about the project, stating, “This initiative will advance sustainable practices in the design, construction, repair, and maintenance of underground infrastructure, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and contributing to environmental conservation efforts.”
Since 2022, Associated has been working on the design of Cultural Gathering Centres at Tachet and Wit’at for the Lake Babine Nation in BC.
Freda Leong, Associated’s National Leader, Indigenous Communities, tells us, “We are proud of the positive relationships we have built with the Nation and involving their steering committees and community members in every step of the design of two Cultural Gathering Centres. They have guided us through the design of these spaces which will support the communities. The designs are not twins, but are cousins. They are braided in intention, but include unique and special features – just like the people and the communities of Tachet and Wit’at.”
In 1876, the Federal government enacted the Indian Act, which gives the government the power to manage the affairs of Indigenous Communities and Peoples. The Federal government believed that Indigenous ceremonies like the potlatch prevented the assimilation/integration of Indigenous Peoples, and subsequently instituted an amendment to the Indian Act that banned the potlatch from 1884 to 1951. The loss of ceremony was crippling to Indigenous Peoples, as these ceremonies are deeply tied to their history, language, culture, community, and values.
Freda says, “During a visit to Woyenne, as part of our work on their Capital Asset Needs Assessments, conducted under First Nations Child and Family Services for Lake Babine Nation, we conducted a survey of the local Child and Family Services team and community members. Their responses will help determine the capital asset investments required to support child and family services through a prevention lens. What we heard from community members and Elders during our survey is that there is a need to bring back ceremony, culture, and language; to reconnect to the land, community, and spirit; and to heal through reconnection.”
While in Skidegate, Associated’s team met with the Skidegate Haida Immersion Program (SHIP) and attended an Open House to reach out to Elders and community members to gather their input and knowledge for the Child and Family Services Capital Asset Needs Assessment. One Elder told our team that their strength and sense of self was lost through colonization. Some spoke about the shame and fear of speaking their language when they were young and the punishment for practicing their culture, and how it was forced out of their lives. Elders spoke of the their healing through language and culture, and how they are regaining their strength.
Freda says, “Through wonderful programs such as SHIP, Elders are reconnecting, gathering strength, and passing on their culture, language, and ceremony to community. Today, we see the celebration of language and culture. Language and culture are healing. Gathering is healing. The new Cultural Gathering Centres for these communities will support and advance healing.”
Brampton, Ontario’s City Hall is a vital hub for municipal operations and hosts numerous events, council meetings, and administrative activities. As part of an ongoing commitment to replace aging infrastructure and ensure operational reliability, the City of Brampton engaged Associated Engineering to undertake critical upgrades to the emergency power system and existing air handling units (AHUs) as a part of the HVAC systems at City Hall. The project’s scope of work also included updating the cooling and humidification systems as part of the AHUs, replacing the humidifiers serving the AHUs, and upgrading five existing drinking fountains to comply with current accessibility requirements, codes, and standards.
The City of Brampton wished to improve the reliability and efficiency of the emergency power system and HVAC infrastructure. The outdated emergency diesel generator and AHUs posed significant issues, including potential operational disruptions during power outages and inefficiencies in maintaining indoor air quality and temperature. Project Manager and Building Mechanical Lead Engineer, Azad Khamforoush, advises, “We worked with the City to develop a robust solution to mitigate these issues, provide uninterrupted operation, and meet compliance standards.”
The project team overcame many challenges during design. These included a lack of background documentation and restricted access to the generator room due to existing, large, rooftop cooling towers blocking the only entry to the room; sequencing the construction work and managing a crowded City Hall with noise and odour restrictions during occupancy hours; supply-chain issues causing delays in generator delivery and challenging design constraints that limited acceptable generator vendors; complex lifting and rigging operations required for demolishing the old generator and transferring the new one to the highly restricted rooftop generator room; and coordination with neighbouring businesses for potential temporary power shutdowns during the crane lifting process.
“The design carefully considered sustainability by optimizing the generator and AHU systems for energy efficiency. The new systems are designed to reduce energy consumption and enhance reliability, contributing to the City’s long-term adaptability and sustainability goals.”
Azad tells us, “We came up with an effective solution to use an existing exhaust damper opening on the penthouse’s exterior wall for generator entry and exit, coordinated with vendors to ensure accurate dimensions of the new generator set, and collaborated with crane consultants to confirm the feasibility of the lifting operation in a constrained urban environment. We also requested hiring of specialized millwright teams along with a crane consultant in the design documents for safe generator demolition and installation. We phased the work to avoid operational disruptions. This required extensive planning to manage constraints of working in a busy, urban environment.”
The team implemented a phased approach for AHU replacements to ensure the continuous operation of HVAC systems at City Hall. To accommodate unforeseen supply-chain issues, timelines and budgets were adjusted. Meticulous planning and coordination helped to overcome changing circumstances during construction.
The project is nearing completion, with all equipment installed and mechanical items commissioned. The final commissioning of the generator set is pending, ensuring the City Hall will benefit from a reliable emergency power system and efficient HVAC operations.
The project highlights Associated’s capability to manage complex retrofit projects in challenging environments, leveraging our experience on municipal and industrial projects. Associated’s key personnel on this project are Azad Khamforoush, Dusan Fil, Yang An, David Holyer, and Dennis Cheng.
As a young child growing up in South Africa, John Maree was inspired by his father and fascinated by the work that he did and how he provided for his family as an engineer. John recalls, “I was also greatly influenced by my grade 12 math teacher. She believed in me and motivated me to such an extent that I still carry that motivation and gratitude with me today. She played a significant role in my success.”
John shares that an early mentor in his career taught him about self-confidence and instilled in him the value of his contributions to projects.
“He introduced me to and taught me pavement engineering, which sparked a passion for me; he was extremely motivating. To this day, we continue to be friends.”
In South Africa, John successfully progressed in his career and by his early-thirties, he had become a regional technical manager and later a technical director. Seeking a new challenge, John tells us that he applied for a role at Associated Engineering.
John says, “During my interview with Eben Kruger, he spoke highly of Associated Engineering. Eben’s passion for the company was truly evident. Now, after nearly five years with the company, I can confirm Eben didn’t exaggerate. I’m incredibly grateful to Eben and the company for giving me an opportunity. Recently, I was invited to become a shareholder of the company, which is something that I am very thankful for and proud of.”
A Senior Transportation Engineer in our Edmonton office, John specializes in the design of rural and urban roads in Northern Alberta. John tells us, “I truly love this work. Roads are the backbone of our society. I’m proud to contribute to building a better Canada.”
Since joining Associated in 2019, John has participated in many interesting and challenging projects, such as the Valley Line South LRT in Edmonton, North Corridor Improvements in St. Albert, and the twinning of Highway 63 in Northern Alberta.
“The North Corridor Improvement project is a highlight for me as it involved a comprehensive road redesign. The design included a new southbound alignment, while the northbound lanes underwent rehabilitation. The project addressed critical intersection connections and ensured efficient surface water drainage to designated low points. Additionally, it incorporated dedicated infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.”
John tells us his experience at Associated Engineering has been very positive. He explains, “While it initially took some time to adjust to the different work environment in Canada, compared to South Africa, I truly appreciate the many extra activities and opportunities the company offers.” John shares that having worked for several companies before joining Associated Engineering, he can honestly say this is a great place to work.
When asked about his advice to young professionals, John recommends being open to opportunities. He advises, “Saying ‘no’ to certain tasks might close a door that could have been a very fulfilling opportunity, or at least a stepping stone to a satisfying career.”
“I firmly believe in knowledge transfer. Whenever possible, I share my knowledge with our junior staff. I recognize that they are the future of this company, and that knowledge transfer benefits everyone, including myself, the individual receiving it, and ultimately, the company as a whole.”
Furthermore, John believes that nobody knows everything, so he always encourages his team to ask questions.
Professionally, John is currently the Secretary of the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) Geometric Design committee, a member of the TAC roundabout design sub-committee, and a member of the Pavements committee. Within Associated Engineering, he is a member of the Roadways and Highways Discipline Interest Group.
Outside of work, John enjoys spending time with his family and friends over a braai (South African barbecue). Recently, John has taken up skiing, and also enjoys running, mountain biking, and playing the electric guitar.
Bridge inspection and rehabilitation have been the backbone of Associated Engineering’s transportation structures services for over 40 years. Our team conducts visual inspections, structures modelling, and rehabilitation design to assist clients in preserving and extending the life of their bridges and structures inventory. We are constantly advancing the tools that we use for bridge inspections for specialized and non-destructive material testing.
On recent projects, we have employed a wide array of innovative approaches and technologies for gathering data, conducting risk analysis, prioritizing work, visualizing recommendations, as well as identifying funding options. We have completed projects from BC to Ontario and the North, including detailed condition assessments of the historic St. Andrews Lock and Dam in Manitoba and Baxter Bridge in BC, and employed drones for improved data capture and specialized timber inspection tools.
With aging infrastructure and competing needs for limited government funds, risk management, strategy, prioritization, and funding are critical considerations when establishing a bridge management approach. Owners need to undertake visual inspections, and consider bridge condition, required maintenance, repairs, rehabilitation or replacement, as well as public needs, risks, and the municipality’s overall funding.
For example, Associated Engineering has worked closely with Smoky Lake County in Alberta for almost 20 years, assisting them to manage their bridge inventory, comprising 88 bridges and culverts. A constant challenge has been securing adequate funding for bridge repairs and replacements. With approximately 4,000 residents, the County’s low tax base, large structures inventory, and recent escalating construction costs their challenges have compounded. Moreover, the County is facing aging infrastructure – many structures built between 1950 and 1970 now require immediate and significant rehabilitation.
Given these challenges, risk identification and rehabilitation prioritization are crucial. Decisions on keeping roads open or closed are based on traffic volumes, safety risks, and resident and business access needs. The County heavily relies on grant funding and provincial support, but faces competition from municipalities across the province for grants, which are often over-subscribed. Funding tends to be directed only to the most critical replacements.
To assist Smoky Lake County, Associated has supported lobbying efforts for funding key structures where closures would significantly impact the County’s economy. Identifying and targeting key assets and focusing efforts on securing funding for their maintenance and rehabilitation have been important components of the County’s bridge management strategy, and maintaining the network’s level of service through funding constraints. Our collective efforts have resulted in funding for crucial bridge replacements, that would not have been possible without our strategic approach.
Associated’s experience with the City of Kelowna showcases the benefits of a proactive bridge management strategy. We have assisted the City of Kelowna in managing their bridge inventory since the early 1990s, focusing initially on thorough inspections and detailed maintenance lists. These efforts identified repairs, rehabilitation, or replacement projects, following the BC Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure‘s system.
In 2018, we introduced a new inspection rating process for Kelowna. This innovative system assessed the condition of bridge elements and evaluated the relevancy of observed defects, measuring their impact on the structure’s performance. By developing a comprehensive risk profile for each bridge and its defects, we prioritized repairs based on the risk they posed to the City and its residents.
Incorporating factors such as Average Daily Traffic (ADT) allowed us to refine our prioritization further, ensuring funds are directed to the most critical projects. Over the past six years, this risk-based approach has enabled Kelowna to implement an aggressive bridge rehabilitation program. The condition of the city’s bridges has improved significantly, shifting from reactive to proactive maintenance strategies. This transformation not only enhances public safety, but also ensures the longevity and reliability of Kelowna’s bridge infrastructure.
The experiences of Smoky Lake County and the City of Kelowna underscore the importance of tailored strategies in bridge management. Whether facing funding challenges or managing a well-funded inventory, Associated’s ability to assess risks, prioritize, innovate, and strategically plan are critical to a bridge management approach that provides safe and reliable infrastructure for communities and delivers value to our clients.
About the Author:
Michael Paulsen, M.Sc., P.Eng. is Vice President, Transportation Structures and a structural engineer with over 20 years of experience. He has been involved in a wide variety of projects, including roadway, pedestrian, heavy rail, and LRT bridges. Michael’s experience includes concept, preliminary and detailed design, project management, asset management, planning, load-ratings and bridge assessment studies.
Scott Barbacki, C.Tech., began his career with Associated Engineering in 2011 as a Data and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Analyst. His passion for technology and problem solving quickly led him to expand into software development and asset management. Scott’s expertise is aligned with project information management (PIM), and he has taken on more responsibilities supporting our internal systems. After his work on the steering committee for the planning and deployment of Associated’s PIM system, his role has extended to database and systems administration.
Since 1999, Scott has been a part-time lecturer at Niagara College and Conestoga College. He has taught over a hundred GIS and Computer Science courses at the colleges, as well as online courses. Scott’s involvement in education also includes chairing the Niagara College Program Advisory Committee for the GIS/GM Post Graduate Program. In addition, he served a two-year term as a Director of Communications for URISA Ontario/BeSpatial Ontario.
For his dedicated service, Scott received the URISA/BeSpatial Ontario Service Award (2017-2019) and the OACETT Dedicated Service Award (2018-2019). In 2023, he was honoured with the OACETT Decade Award!
Scott has produced 16 articles in the Ontario Technologist magazine and published source code in the textbook, “Quality by Experimental Design”, demonstrating his commitment to advancing technology and sharing knowledge. He has also been an event presenter at Software Niagara.
In addition, Scott has been a judge in every Niagara Region Science and Engineering Fair (NRSRF) since 2010. He became a Special Awards Judge in 2018, when he co-founded the OACETT Niagara Chapter Award with fellow judge and co-worker, Andrew Ferguson.
With his commitment to education, his community, and volunteerism, Scott is an inspiring role model for young scientists and innovators!
Associated Engineering was proud to be a supporting sponsor of the Canadian Coalition of Women in Engineering, Science, Trades, and Technology (CCWESTT) conference held last month in Victoria, BC! Our Jonathan Musser and Lianna Mah co-presented in a session and spoke about our internal Women In Science & Engineering Retention (WISER) initiatives and the work we are doing to create a better experience for women in science and engineering roles within our organization.
Our sponsorship of the conference also provided two local students to attend the four-day event. Tamara (2nd from left) is studying mechanical engineering technology at Camosun College, and Michaiah (3rd from left) is a second year computer engineering student at the University of Victoria. We are so pleased both could attend the conference and grateful to receive the following reflection prepared by Tamara about her experience.
I was very lucky to be given the opportunity to attend the 2024 CCWESTT conference last month, and found it very eye-opening. On my first day, the presenters hosted a panel that was open, friendly, and collaborative. This set the tone for the next two days, and was a good example of what a more inclusive future may look like.
Something that stood out to me was that the conference felt incredibly friendly and open. I was comfortable sharing my thoughts and experiences, and I noticed that many others were as well. This feeling of community and support was very different from other STEM related events I have attended in the past.
The theme of the conference was Navigating Systemic Change. Throughout the two days of presentations, there was a strong emphasis on both systemic change and the importance of recruiting more women and girls into STEM fields and the trades. Some presentations, such as the one done by Associated Engineering, focused on keeping women from feeling pushed out of their workplace, and covered ways to retain the women in their workplace. Others discussed the barriers that prevent girls in middle school and high school from pursuing a career in STEM.
As a college student studying mechanical engineering and preparing to enter the workforce, I found it helpful to get a realistic idea of what my future workplace might look like. It was encouraging to see practical solutions being shared and to hear success stories from companies prioritising gender equality, though it was clear that there is still much to be done. It provided me with a clearer vision of the kind of work environment I hope to find once I start my career, and gave me a better idea of what I need to be aware of.
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to attend this conference. It gave me a better understanding of the challenges women face in STEM, as well as the various strategies used to overcome said challenges. I hope to look back on and learn from the experiences and insights shared by the presenters as I continue my own journey in mechanical engineering.
Last week in London, UK, David Harvey (National Technical Specialist, Bridge Planning) in our Vancouver office was invited by The Institution of Structural Engineers to attend an event celebrating professional and technical excellence and outstanding commitment to the Institution.
2024 IStructE President, Tanya de Hoog, presented David with the Keith Eaton International Award that recognizes outstanding contributions from members in supporting the Institution’s international growth and development. In particular, David was awarded for his work involving mutual recognition agreements; his successful campaigning for the Chartered Exam to be adopted by British Columbian legislation; and for his significant and successful efforts to build the membership base in British Columbia. Congratulations, David!
We’re pleased to share the news that the Ontario Public Works Association has awarded the Fischer-Hallman Improvements (archaeological program) project with the 2023 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award! The award was presented at the OPWA Annual Awards Luncheon on May 29 in Mississauga.
The project began as a Schedule ‘C’ Class Environmental Assessment for a review of the road widening and capacity needs along a major arterial corridor in a rapidly developing community. Road cross section alternatives were evaluated incorporating active transportation/cycling facilities, transit facilities, and integrating trail networks in a 2-lane to 4-lane widening scenario. Environmental and archaeological impacts were also investigated and mitigated in design, incorporating Low Impact Development (LID) facilities within the roadway and advancing further archaeological investigations to mitigate impacts to evidential discovery of an Indigenous settlement within and around the road corridor.
Ultimately, a formidable Stage 4 Archaeological investigation was required during construction and unearthed thousands of unique artifacts – the first of its kind in the Region of Waterloo. A unique relationship between the owner, general contractor, and Indigenous community representatives needed to be articulated in a dynamic construction contract accommodating time and spatially sensitive staging in a tandem active archaeological investigation/mitigation operation.
The award recognized the project team’s role in implementing a framework for completing major capital infrastructure projects alongside Indigenous community stakeholders, acknowledging the enduring presence and traditions of Indigenous Peoples.
Congratulations to Gul Khan (Construction Project Manager and Contract Administrator) and Peter Lejcar (Environmental Assessment and Detailed Design Project Manager) as well as Daniel Curtis (Site Inspector, Contract Administration Support) for their roles in advancing this important project and contributing to the successful completion of this major $17M first phase for the Region of Waterloo! Honorable thanks to Delton Zehr for his work as the Region of Waterloo Project Manager at the time, prior to joining the Associated’s Kitchener office. This team is currently advancing the design and tender of the fourth and final stage pending construction in 2025.
Geoexchange or geothermal heat pumps (GHX) are at times overlooked in the growing buildings electrification market. However, when implemented correctly, GHX can be the best solution for heating and cooling in cold climate countries.
Expand your knowledge on geoexchange alternatives at the Vancouver Heat Pump Symposium, by hearing from our Technical Specialist, Low Carbon Energy, Ruben Arellano, as he co-presents in this breakout sesson on May 30th.
Contributing to the conversation on Saturday will be Lianna Mah and Jonathan Musser, as they share the efforts we’re undertaking to support and retain our women professionals across our organization.
For 10 years, Associated Engineering has made a commitment to improving the retention of women engineers, technologists, and scientists across the company. Historically, retention of women professionals was as much as 6 percentage points lower than men in the same roles. This presentation will discuss the findings from ‘stay interviews’ completed with longer term staff and the subsequent initiatives established. These include flexible working arrangements and mentoring programs, which have helped improve retention, leading to increased representation of women in technical leadership and managerial roles across the company. We are now looking to better understand and address the challenges women professionals face in a hybrid work environment. Improving retention is particularly relevant today, in a job market in which recruiting talent and maintaining a stable workforce are challenging. By engaging more women in engineering and science, we can better represent and meet the needs of the communities we serve.
Key points:
The reasons why employees join and/or leave a company are not always the same as why they stay. Understanding why women professionals choose to stay in an industry dominated by men is key to improving retention and ‘playing the long game’.
Through ‘stay interviews’ conducted with longer tenured women employees, Associated identified the top reasons they have stayed with the company for 10 years or longer. Initiatives such as mentoring circles, flexible working arrangements, and parental leave supports not only benefit employees, but also provide broader benefits for companies through improved long-term retention.
Retaining women through junior and intermediate levels is essential to ensure the ‘pipeline’ of women into senior technical and leadership roles. This is conducive to some of the proven benefits of gender diversity in the workplace, including improved creativity, innovation, collaboration, decision-making, employee satisfaction, and corporate financial performance.
Associated Engineering was pleased to support the 2nd annual ClimateWest Forum as a silver sponsor. The hybid conference was held on May 8th and 9th in Edmonton and brought together experts in a wide range of sectors and communities from across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.
The two-day forum featured several sessions with prairie-specific climate experts, including our Jeff Zukiwsky, Senior Strategic Advisor. He participated as a panelist on day one, focused on youth perspectives on climate change risk and resilience on the prairies. Drawing on his extensive experience engaging stakeholders in climate risk and resilience planning, Jeff provided his insights on how practitioners working in the climate change field can better engage youth. Some key message from the panel discussion included the need to be proactive in engagement by both targeting youth specifically, and including youth participation on projects, for example through youth advisory committees.
A recording of the session is now available online.
Following our large presence in the education program out west this week at the BCWWA 2024 Conference, we are headed east in support of the Ontario Water Works Association and the Water Environment Association of Ontario, as they host their joint conference in Niagara Falls from May 5th to 7th! As a gold sponsor of this year’s event, we are also active in the technical program with nine presenters featured in ten sessions.
Monday, May 06
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM Optimizing Aerobic Digester Design and Operation for Biosolids Stabilization Presenter: Nico Carunungan
Small wastewater treatment plants receiving less than 10 megaliters per day (MLD) of wastewater produce sufficient quantities of biosolids to require onsite sludge stabilization. Aerobic digestion is a suitable and cost-effective technology candidate for these smaller facilities as it can be easily controlled, has good nitrogen removal capabilities, and is relatively safer to operate and maintain compared to anaerobic digestion. This presentation will discuss how aerobic digestion is an appropriate technological candidate for small wastewater treatment plants requiring biosolids treatment. Sludge stabilization criteria against which digestion performance is measured against include pathogen reduction and vector attraction reduction. Mixing, oxygen transfer, thickening, and temperature are some of the most significant drivers for the proper functioning of an aerobic digestion process. Key design steps for new digesters include tank sizing based on forecasted treatment requirements and site climatic conditions, determining series versus paralmichaelel digester configuration, selecting appropriate aeration equipment (blowers and air diffusers), sludge thickening equipment, and determining how mixing requirements will be achieved. It is essential that process equipment be properly sized and optimally operated to minimize digester life-cycle cost. Sludge should be pre-thickened prior to being aerobically digested to achieve greater levels of performance, although odour generation, heat generation, and foaming can become operational issues when not addressed properly through design. Planning for capital upgrades at existing aerobic digesters involves understanding construction sequencing constraints and the potential need for temporary biosolids treatment during digester shutdowns. It is possible to maintain continued biosolids treatment using a combination of partial stabilization and storage, while sludge trucking to other digester facilities remains an option. Provincial biosolids regulations should be reviewed for compliance if biosolids are intended for land-application. Climate change strategies and greenhouse gas emission (GHG) mitigation requirements are also important considerations in the design and operation of aerobic digesters. In summary, municipalities can consider aerobic digestion as a suitable technological candidate for sludge stabilization at small wastewater treatment plants and subsequently design individual digester systems to meet specific treatment needs.
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM Blending Asset Management and Engineering Methodologies for Specialized Process Assets Presenter:Nico Carunungan
Conventional approaches to state of good repair planning at water and wastewater treatment facilities are typically based on physical conditions of assets. However, in-depth reviews of specialized treatment processes are required to provide a practical and integrated approach to achieve service level goals while managing risk and minimizing life cycle costs. In this presentation, we illustrate Associated Engineering’s work with the Region of Waterloo (Region) in creating asset programs for filter assets at sixteen water treatment plants and digester assets at seven wastewater treatment plants across the Region. Asset hierarchies were created using the Region’s standard facility-based asset categories and were supplemented with additional categories and attributes to better facilitate effective asset life cycle management upon integration with the Region’s existing asset management protocol. Ten (10) and fifty (50) year capital and O&M plans were proposed based on the current conditions of existing assets and unique engineering requirements including but not limited to filter media studies, filter underdrain/air scour lateral inspections, aerobic digester diffuser inspections, or anaerobic digester cleanouts and coating applications. Considerations of process redundancy and shutdown requirements for renewal were incorporated into the capital planning and O&M recommendations. Level of Service statements were developed to support performance and lifecycle management to achieve mandated levels of service. The proposed capital and O&M projects and budgets arising from this work provide clearer projections for upcoming filter and digester work at the Region’s treatment facilities. By creating projects under an asset program, the Region can proactively plan for capital and O&M work, thereby ensuring municipal funds are spent efficiently and the risk of treatment service going out of service minimized. Both asset programs will aid the Region in better planning for project work over the life cycles of specialized process equipment.
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM Identifying WTP Optimization Opportunities via Capacity and Performance Review Presenter:Anna Comerton
The performance of a WTP can be baselined with a review of historical water quality and operating data. Along with this, the design and operating capacity of individual treatment process units can be estimated in order to identify bottlenecks and performance limiting factors in a process train. This systematic review of historical treatment unit capacity and performance in comparison to design parameters and capacity/performance objectives allows for the identification of WTP optimization opportunities in the short-term with existing infrastructure as well as to inform upgrades and enhancements needed to meet current and future treatment objectives as part of overall facility capital planning and future proofing for potentially changing water quality due to climate change. Confirmation of optimization and upgrade opportunities is often complemented by bench-/pilot- and/or full-scale testing of the proposed operational adjustment and treatment process unit upgrades. Additionally, full-scale stress testing can also provide confirmation of hydraulic and performance capacity limitations. Mixing in anaerobic digesters can limit other water resource recovery facility (WRRF) processes such as dewatering and sludge transfer. Mixing can also be less efficient if operational parameters have changed, for example the solids concentration increased due to implementation of waste activated sludge (WAS) thickening. A properly selected and designed mixing system can also help address other challenges at a WRRF (i.e. poor performing preliminary treatment that result in undesirable materials, like rags) which can cause clogging or excessive settlement in the digester increasing operation and maintenance activities. Beyond the usual anaerobic digester design parameters of achieving a sufficient active volume to enable uniform or consistent heating and volatile solids destruction, effective digester mixing is an important consideration to facilitate the digester in achieving the desired performance, reducing impacts on downstream processes and mitigating operation and maintenance issues. A recent mixing improvement at the Waterloo Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) started as an investigation into sludge transfer between the primary and secondary digesters. Like most facilities, only ~200 mm of driving head was available between the primary digester and its overflow box to the secondary digester. During the commissioning of new rotary drum thickeners (RDTs) for thickening of the WAS, the plant experienced severe clogging in the sludge transfer line, requiring manual intervention by plant staff. As a result, the RDTs have been operating at a reduced capacity since commissioning. After an investigation of digested sludge gravity transfer line hydraulics and maintenance issues with the existing digester mixing system, it was identified that the plant would benefit from a change to hydraulic mixing with a chopper pump that could operate at a higher solids concentration and be able to cut up rags, hair, and other debris. The new hydraulic mixing system has the potential to improve digestion performance, and enable the WRRF to operate with its TWAS process as designed and achieve the most benefit from the existing infrastructure. This will be of particular interest looking to the future as the facility approaches its digester capacity (15-day retention time) and can benefit from operating the digesters with a higher solids concentration.ons as well as to understand the potential of pushing treatment processes to support a retrofit construction upgrade where certain unit processes might need to be taken offline. Case studies from three WTPs will be shared to illustrate the above and demonstrate the benefit of such capacity and performance reviews and associated testing to identify optimization opportunities and in line with getting the most out of existing WTP infrastructure (i.e., making your assets sweat). The case studies will also show examples of deferral of capital expenditures achieved though optimization of existing infrastructure in the interim to longer term upgrades captured through facility capital planning. In brief, this presentation will provide an overview of a structured approach to WTP optimization and facility planning as well as illustrate these concepts with case studies.
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM Effective Digester Mixing Improves Sludge Transfer – A Case Study from the Waterloo WWTP Presenter: Michael Blain
Mixing in anaerobic digesters can limit other water resource recovery facility (WRRF) processes such as dewatering and sludge transfer. Mixing can also be less efficient if operational parameters have changed, for example the solids concentration increased due to implementation of waste activated sludge (WAS) thickening. A properly selected and designed mixing system can also help address other challenges at a WRRF (i.e. poor performing preliminary treatment that result in undesirable materials, like rags) which can cause clogging or excessive settlement in the digester increasing operation and maintenance activities. Beyond the usual anaerobic digester design parameters of achieving a sufficient active volume to enable uniform or consistent heating and volatile solids destruction, effective digester mixing is an important consideration to facilitate the digester in achieving the desired performance, reducing impacts on downstream processes and mitigating operation and maintenance issues. A recent mixing improvement at the Waterloo Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) started as an investigation into sludge transfer between the primary and secondary digesters. Like most facilities, only ~200 mm of driving head was available between the primary digester and its overflow box to the secondary digester. During the commissioning of new rotary drum thickeners (RDTs) for thickening of the WAS, the plant experienced severe clogging in the sludge transfer line, requiring manual intervention by plant staff. As a result, the RDTs have been operating at a reduced capacity since commissioning. After an investigation of digested sludge gravity transfer line hydraulics and maintenance issues with the existing digester mixing system, it was identified that the plant would benefit from a change to hydraulic mixing with a chopper pump that could operate at a higher solids concentration and be able to cut up rags, hair, and other debris. The new hydraulic mixing system has the potential to improve digestion performance, and enable the WRRF to operate with its TWAS process as designed and achieve the most benefit from the existing infrastructure. This will be of particular interest looking to the future as the facility approaches its digester capacity (15-day retention time) and can benefit from operating the digesters with a higher solids concentration.
Tuesday, May 7th
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM Ultra-low and non-reactive phosphorus removal – does it make sense? Presenter: Amitesh Malhotra
Point source control regulates phosphorus (P) in wastewater discharge since P is usually the limiting nutrient for algal growth related to eutrophication, especially in fresh waters. Eutrophication is known to cause a number of adverse effects to the environment. Today, there is an increased understanding of a climate change/eutrophication feedback loop, and this evidence amplifies the need for nutrient removal technologies that have minimal CO2 equivalent footprints to effectively interrupt this loop. To control ecological degradation, there has been increasing demand to achieve extremely low effluent Total-P due to more stringent discharge limits imposed on wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Mass-based effluent limits and tighter numerical concentration-based limits create new challenges for municipalities discharging to the Great Lakes and other sensitive bodies of water, such as Lake Simcoe. Proposed voluntary effluent targets for Total-P in the Grand River watershed are 0.15 mg/L and 0.30 mg/L (monthly averages) for WWTPs with tertiary filters and with secondary treatment, respectively. The long-term load target for Lake Simcoe is 44 tonnes P per year. However, some P-limited surface waters are susceptible to algal blooms even at these low levels, which can potentially lead to even more stringent water quality goals and standards. A long-term sustainable solution for addressing P-based eutrophication is to remove P from water and wastewater streams and recover it for beneficial reuse, e.g., as struvite. However, existing processes can struggle to consistently achieve increasingly lower TP standards. A key factor contributing to this difficulty is that existing processes cannot remove all P fractions, in particular non-reactive P (NRP), which poses a challenge for P removal and recovery. There are concerns that meeting stricter P levels in the effluent of expanding WWTPs might not be possible without looking at advanced technologies that can achieve ultralow P removal and/or remove NRP, especially in areas where the receiver is considered Policy 2 for P. To better understand the concerns regarding ultralow level P/NRP removal, this paper identifies technologies, discuss their advantages and disadvantages as well as technology trade-offs (for example, potentially increased greenhouse gas emissions), and provide critical insights into technology advancements to enhance P removal and recovery.
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM Infrastructure Gap and Funding – Barriers and Opportunities Presenter: Vincent Laplante
As we settle into the new reality of building and rehabilitating water and wastewater infrastructure in Ontario in the post-pandemic market, barriers and opportunities present themselves. The well-worn design-bid-build approach is becoming more challenging to successfully execute with increased market pricing volatility, staff shortages and longer manufacturing times for key components in our infrastructure projects. This requires reflection on how we deliver projects to better serve the public in terms of project duration, overall pricing and a more equitable sharing of the project risks amongst all parties involved (e.g. owner, consultant, contractor and suppliers). With these market pressures, it appears that additional capital is unexpectedly required to fund new and upgrade existing infrastructure. Although an unwelcomed additional financial pressure on already strapped municipal budgets, this increased capital need is also an opportunity to review how to fund and deliver projects. On the funding side, municipalities have few levers to use to obtain additional budgets, such as metering revenue, development funding and debt-funding. An approach that is often underutilized or not used is the use of grants and fund programs provided by the Federal and Provincial governments. On the delivery side, various and credible alternate project delivery approaches do exist to the traditional design-bid-build approach that could also provide some relief This presentation will provide a brief review of available funding opportunities and programs, along with suggestions on how to rethink packaging and delivery of infrastructure renewal programs to align with specific funding program requirements. This presentation will also explore the latest alternate project delivery methods to meet project drivers (e.g. lower overall project cost, lower project risk, faster implementation timeline, retain control over key design elements). Case studies will be presented to illustrate the concepts presented.
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM Small Wastewater Systems – Unique Challenges and Opportunities for Right Sized Solutions Presenter: Paula Steel
Small wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), defined as those with design flows of less than 500 m3/day, can have a significant impact on the quality of life within the community they service, as well as on the receiving environment. Changing regulations, stringent effluent limits, updates to codes and standards and climate change are resulting in the modification, replacement, or expansion of existing small WWTPs or the requirement to implement new greenfield facilities. Small WWTPs are designed, constructed, and managed to achieve the same environmental performance objectives as larger conventional WWTPs, yet a small treatment plant is not and must not be regarded simply as a scaled down version of a larger installation. Small WWTPs, typically categorized as decentralized wastewater treatment systems, can be a feasible alternative for communities. Decentralized treatment can be a cost-effective way to meet treatment objectives while mitigating large capital, operations and maintenance costs compared to centralized facilities but also can provide opportunities for growth, business and job opportunities within the community. Similarly, these facilities can be green and sustainable by benefiting water quality and availability, using energy and land wisely, and responding to growth while preserving green space. Unique challenges experienced by small WWTPs include variable organic and fluctuating hydraulic loadings, limited financial resources, attracting or retaining qualified operations staff and potentially remote locations, while being required to meet the same or stricter regulatory requirements as conventional WWTPs, including the management of sludge and biosolids. This makes small treatment systems complex to design, construct, operate, maintain and manage. Solutions that may be effective in other larger facilities may not be as effective in small systems. Designers need to carefully consider many factors when choosing solutions that are suitable for each small system. This presentation will address the unique considerations for planning, design, and implementation of small WWTPs, and illustrate through case studies how these challenges can be addressed.
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM Impact of Emerging Contaminants on WTP Treatment Design and Monitoring Presenter: Anna Comerton
The science around the monitoring, treatment and health impacts of emerging contaminants continues to evolve and understanding the impact on water system monitoring, operation and design is important. In recent years, media and public attention have focused on emerging contaminants (such pre- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) following EPA announcement of new drinking water health advisory levels in 2023, and microplastics), updated drinking water guidelines (such as lead following the 2019 Health Canada guideline update) and other drinking water concerns (such as March 2023 W5 episode on asbestos cement pipes). In consideration of the above, it is important for anticipated new and updated guidelines to be understood in maintaining public trust and reviewing the robustness of water systems to manage these contaminants as well as implementing appropriate adjustments to water quality monitoring programs. A brief overview of the guideline development process along with recent and anticipated drinking water guidelines will be provided including harmful algal blooms (HAB), manganese aluminum, lead and corrosion, and PFAS. Treatment strategies along with examples to address the above following a holistic approach will be provided. Finally, it is important to understand the raw water source, including potential impacts from climate change, through a good source water quality monitoring plan to understand the impact of emerging contaminants and updated drinking water guidelines as well a to inform the appropriate treatment strategy accordingly. In brief, this presentation will provide an overview of current and upcoming drinking water guidelines, a review of treatment approaches to manage emerging contaminants, and recommendations on related water source monitoring.
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM Unlocking sustainability at water and water resource recovery treatment facilities Presenter: Elia Edwards
In an era defined by climate uncertainty and ecological awareness, understanding what it truly means to employ ‘green’ and sustainable solutions at water and water resource recovery treatment facilities is paramount. This landscape is evolving rapidly across Canada, driven by the pressing need for efficient resource management, environmental conservation, and climate resilience. Employing ‘green’ and sustainable solutions goes beyond adopting renewable energy sources or recycling; it encompasses a holistic approach to optimizing operations, infrastructure, and community well-being. The imperative to explore and implement ‘green’ or sustainable solutions in the context of water and water resource recovery treatment facilities has never been more critical. This presentation aims to unravel the multifaceted dimensions of sustainability in the municipal water and water resource recovery treatment space, shedding light on what it truly means to employ ‘green’ solutions. This presentation will delve into the intricacies of sustainable practices, examining their diverse applications across the water and water resource recovery treatment lifecycles. Key focal points include energy efficiency, resource recovery, infrastructure resilience, community engagement, and regulatory compliance. Through case studies, best practices, and lessons learned, this presentation will offer insights for professionals striving to align their operations with sustainable principles and solutions. It will also provide a roadmap for owners, consultants, researchers, manufacturers, contractors, policy makers, and funding agencies to collaborate effectively in the pursuit of a more resilient and environmentally responsible water and water resource recovery treatment sector.
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM The City of Edmonton’s Sustainable Utility – Blatchford District Energy System Presenters: Ruben Arellano and Thomas Hummel
Following the closure of the Edmonton City Centre Airport, the City of Edmonton has approved a redevelopment plan for the 536-acre parcel of land. The City’s Vision is that “Blatchford will be home to up to 30,000 Edmontonians living, working and learning in a sustainable community that uses 100 percent renewable energy, is carbon neutral, significantly reduces its ecological footprint, and empowers residents to pursue a range of sustainable lifestyle choices.” The overall District Energy System design utilizes inter-connected nodes of centralized heat pumps distributing ambient-temperature water to heat pumps in each building. This allows for sharing between buildings and flexibility for connection of additional energy sources in a staged build-out over time. Geoexchange, sewer heat exchange, auxiliary boilers and cooling-towers, Solar PV as a low-GHG electricity source, are included in the overall design concept. Combining the benefits of building energy efficiency, energy sharing within the system, and highly efficient heat pumps, results in greenhouse gas reductions at 75% below that of business as usual. The 3 MW Energy Centre for Phase 1 was commissioned in Q4 2019 with an initial 1 MW of HP capacity, and a 570 borehole geoexchange field under the future storm water retention pond as it’s renewable energy source. More than 1 km of large-diameter HDPE DPS has a planned 57 service connections. The City of Edmonton has established the Blatchford Renewable Energy Utility to own and operate the system. Blatchford has been recognized locally, nationally, and internationally, with awards including those from: Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Canada; Canadian Home Builders’ Association; Consulting Engineers of Alberta; Federation of Canadian Municipalities; and most recently International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC). This presentation will discuss the assessment, design, and implementation of this innovative and forward-thinking utility project that provides low-carbon heating and cooling service to an urban in-fill, master-planned, sustainable community.
Tonight in Edmonton, the Consulting Engineers of Alberta hosted the 27th edition of their annual Showcase Awards Gala. This year, a total of 54 project submissions from member firms were evaluated by a panel of judges to recognize technical excellence across a range of disciplines. We’re proud to share that three of Associated Engineering’s projects were selected as award winners!
In the Studies, Software and Special Services category, the Award of Excellence was presented to the Closing the Infrastructure Gap for First Nations project! The Assembly of First Nations and Indigenous Services Canada needed to understand the actions and investments required to close the infrastructure gap for First Nations across Canada by 2030. Associated Engineering documented, for the first time, the costs of maintaining, renewing, upgrading or expanding existing infrastructure while considering climate adaptation and energy management. Level of service improvements to accessibility, drinking water, and all-season road access were examined. This study recognises and emphasises the inequity and societal difficulties associated with substandard infrastructure, as well as the opportunities and benefits that may be realised by narrowing the infrastructure gap.
An Award of Excellence in the Sustainable Design category was bestowed upon the Northwest Inner City Upper Plateau Separation, a multi-year project designed to alleviate flooding in the community of Sunnyside in Calgary! Associated Engineering proposed and designed a 765 metre long, 3.4 metre diameter microtunnelled inverted siphon, the largest microtunnel in North America, to intercept stormwater from the upslope communities, and divert it directly to the Bow River. Trenchless construction was preferred to minimize disturbance to the Sunnyside community and to traverse varying geology from the upper plateau to the Bow River. This passively operated solution has the benefit of saving both capital and operational costs.
In the Project Management category, the Confederation Way Sanitary Sewer Bypass project received an Award of Merit! This project provides a robust sanitary sewer trunk for the Timberlea Neighborhood in Fort McMurray, that traverses unstable slopes, crosses several pipelines, shallow utilities, two interchanges and passes through the built-up neighbourhood of Timberlea and a busy wastewater treatment plant. Using a trenchless technology, Horizontal Directional Drilling, Microtunnelling, and Pilot Tube Auger Boring minimized impact on the environment and the public.
Lastly, we’re very pleased that one of our distinguised alumni and long serving staff members, was recognized with the Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Distinguished Achievement. During his career with Associated Engineering, Herb Kuehne held numerous senior management positions, including Senior VP of Civil Infrastructure, Senior VP and General Manager of our Ontario operation, and he also served on the Board of Directors of Associated Engineering. His contributions to the Alberta consulting engineering industry include serving as Past President of the Consulting Engineers of Alberta, and nationally on the ACEC Canada board of directors.
Associated Engineering is excited to continue our long-time support of the BC Water & Waste Association and we’re proud to announce our large slate of subject matter experts who are featured in this year’s educaton program at the BCWWA’s annual conference taking place on April 29 and 30 in Whistler, BC! Each of our presenters, representing our water and strategic advisory services practices, will share their insights on various topics that are connected to the conference theme of “The Ripple Effect: When Action Becomes Change”.
Monday, April 29
11:15am – 11:45am Stop Throwing Away Your Hydraulic Energy! Presenter: Jonathan Musser Room: Garibaldi B
Join us to learn more about Pump–as–Turbine Generating Systems. Surplus energy is regularly dissipated at pressure reducing stations within gravity fed distribution systems. At the same time, efforts to reduce fossil fuel usage are increasing the demand for electrical energy. There is potential for pressure reducing stations to generate electricity. This presentation will review operational experiences from The Sooke River Road Treatment Facility, a Capital Regional District facility which has been successfully generating power since 2010. The Sooke River Road Treatment Facility includes an 11–kW pump–as–turbine generating system, which operates in parallel with pressure reducing valves to recover hydraulic energy as electricity. Join us to learn about the challenges and opportunities of implementing this technology, review maintenance needs for the system and understand the cost– benefit analysis for utilizing a pump–as–turbine generating system
1:45pm – 2:15pm Strategic Electrical Maintenance and Upgrade Planning of Operating Water Plants Presenter: Derek Desaulniers Room: Garibaldi A
How often do we see strategic planning to replace/ renew equipment in an operating plant? As individuals, we may be inclined to look at the large equipment such as pumps and filters, but what about some of the smaller, more sensitive components that are pricey, but often overlooked. With the evolving landscape in the electrical industry introducing us to greater challenges obtaining materials, this introduces new implications to planning for electrical upgrades, including such items as PLC upgrades, capital spares and SCADA systems.
Tuesday, April 30
10:30am – 11:00am Increasing Anaerobic Digestion Capacity: Different Strategies and Their Implications Presenter: Cameron Macdonell Room: Empress B
This presentation explores innovative approaches to enhance anaerobic digestion (AD) capacity and performance for wastewater sludge treatment, emphasizing the integration of diverse technologies. Techniques including sludge thickening, chemical hydrolysis, thermal hydrolysis, and improvements to primary clarification are investigated for their synergistic effects on optimizing AD performance. The study evaluated the implications of these strategies on biogas production and biosolids volume reduction, emphasizing the role of increased biogas yields in sustainable wastewater management. In addition, the integration of advanced technologies aims to elevate volatile solids reduction efficiency, reduce biosolids volume production, and improve final product quality (Class A), contributing to more eco–friendly and economically viable solids treatment solutions. This presentation will provide valuable insights into the multifaceted strategies available for increasing AD capacity without necessarily building additional tanks, paving the way for more effective and sustainable wastewater treatment practices.
11:00am – 11:30am AM Planning at the Sechelt Water Resource Centre Presenter: Jaimie Sokalski Room: Empress A
The District of Sechelt is building their asset management capacity, and recently developed their first ever Asset Management Plan (AMP) for their Water Resource Centre, a Level 4 wastewater treatment facility with tertiary treatment capacity. This initial AMP for the district is intended to act as a template and example for future AMPs across the service area and organization. In this presentation, the District and Associated Engineering will share their journey in making the most of a small budget to develop a first time AMP. Using an asset driven approach, we will share our findings around asset condition, functionality, risk and how these indicators will be used to inform future decisions. The presentation will discuss priorities in beginning your AM journey and how taking initial steps can still have immediate impact while setting you up for a more mature AM program across your facility or organization in the future.
1:30pm – 2:00pm AWWA’s 2030 Strategic Plan – A Worldwide Path Forward Presenter: Keith Kohut Room: Empress A
When the Strategic Plan was last updated in 2020, AWWA members could not have foreseen the world–changing events that were about to occur, or the rapidly increasing interest in topics such as cybersecurity, “forever chemicals”, and diversity and inclusion. During the same period, the AWWA has also initiated a proactive campaign to identify, plan for, and shape the issues and the state of the water industry in the long term via their Water2050 program. AWWA is in the final stages of updating their strategic plan, intended to guide the organization from 2025 to 2030. This has provided an opportunity to reflect on the changes that have happened and are expected within our industry, as well as the changes that we want to make happen. Members of AWWA’s Strategic Planning committee will provide a walkthrough of AWWA’s 2030 strategic plan and its relevance for the water industry in BC.
1:30pm – 2:00pm Upgrades of Existing Wastewater Collection Facilities – A Case Study Presenter: Alex Jancker Room: Empress B
The City of Maple Ridge is rapidly growing, and so are the demands on the City’s wastewater conveyance systems. While new infrastructure is desirable, upgrades to existing facilities are often the approach of choice due to various constraints and financial viability. The City’s largest wastewater pump station was constructed in the 1970’s and all mechanical equipment had reached the end of its service life. The construction and connection to a new, larger forcemain will mitigate the pump station’s hydraulic capacity limitations while larger equipment needs to be installed to convey higher flows. Major upgrades applied included the significant remodelling of the pump intake, complete replacement and remodelling of all piping components, the replacement of all HVAC and odour control components, general repairs, and improvements, as well as remodelling of the site drainage and access. Further, the upgrades significantly reduced the maintenance burden of the facility to City operation’s staff.
2:00pm – 2:30pm Playing the EDI Long Game: Recruiting and Retaining Women Professionals Quinn Crosina Room: Empress A
For 10 years, Associated Engineering has made a commitment to improving the retention of women engineers, technologists, and scientists across the company. Historically, retention of women professionals was as much as 6 percentage points lower than men in the same roles. This presentation will discuss the findings from ‘stay interviews’ completed with longer term staff and the subsequent initiatives established. These include flexible working arrangements and mentoring programs, which have helped improve retention, leading to increased representation of women in technical leadership and managerial roles across the company. We are now looking to better understand and address the challenges women professionals face in a hybrid work environment. Improving retention is particularly relevant today, in a job market in which recruiting talent and maintaining a stable workforce are challenging. By engaging more women in the water industry, we can better represent and meet the needs of the communities we serve.
3:15pm – 3:45pm Some Like it Hot! Actions to Address Algae Issues Presenter: Dörte Köster Frontenac C
Algae are essential to our waters but can create challenges, such as toxins, taste and odour, changes to pH, and aesthetics. Reports of algae issues in lakes, drinking water reservoirs, storm ponds and wastewater lagoons, along with available treatment options, have recently increased. But an understanding of the cause and the different types of algae that are present is key to identifying the most effective solutions. This presentation will provide an overview of the common types of algae, their biology and related issues for water and wastewater treatment. We will then discuss conditions that promote algae, such as climate, water quality and mixing patterns. Then, most importantly, we show how essential the understanding of algae is to assess risk and inform the right mitigation actions. Using case studies, we will demonstrate techniques to investigate algae issues and select the most appropriate solution for your type of algae.
4:15pm – 4:45pm Optimizing Aerobic Digester Design and Operation for Biosolids Stabilization Presenter: Jason Leong Room: Empress C
Small wastewater treatment plants receiving less than 10 megaliters per day (MLD) of wastewater generate enough solids to require onsite sludge stabilization. Aerobic digestion is a suitable and cost–effective technology candidate for these smaller facilities as the process is simple and safe to operate and achieves stabilization objectives. Mixing, oxygen transfer, thickening, temperature, and pH are the most significant drivers for the proper functioning of an aerobic digestion process. Key design steps for new digesters include tank sizing based on forecasted treatment requirements and site climatic conditions, determining series versus parallel digester configuration, selection of appropriate aeration equipment (blowers and air diffusers), selection of sludge thickening equipment, and mixing effectiveness. These factors are also important in the operation of digesters and are key for Operators to understand.
Congratulations to our project team, client, and partners on being recognized with an Award of Merit in the Transportation category by the Assocation of Consulting Engineering Companies – Manitoba at last night’s Awards of Excellence Gala in Winnipeg, MB! The replacement of the St. Andrew’s Lock and Dam is helping to ensure the future of a Canadian national treasure.
Originally constructed in 1910, the St. Andrew’s Lock and Dam is the world’s only Caméré curtain bridge-dam and a Canadian National Historic Site. Public Services and Procurement Canada retained Associated Engineering to replace the bridge deck and extend its operating life by 50 years. The project involved multiple engineering and related disciplines requiring working with century-old technology and materials. The St. Andrew’s Lock and Dam is important for the local economy and had to be kept open during construction, while protecting endangered bird species and limiting further ground disturbance to preserve the archaeologically-rich area around the facility.
Associated Engineering partnered with the Assembly of First Nations, Indigenous Services Canada, and other organizations, to support a funding request made to the federal government to close the infrastructure gap for First Nations across Canada. This initiative builds on the National First Nations Asset Needs Study delivered through 2021 and quantifies the investment required for the long-term sustainability and resilience of First Nations’ infrastructure and services, services that continue to experience inequity and social challenges.
The work involved compiling and analyzing infrastructure investment needs, including transportation, water, wastewater, stormwater, recreation, housing, social services, and education. Our team’s innovative approach also documented through objective analysis, the need for climate adaptation, actions required to achieve net zero for First Nations, improvements in accessibility, eliminating drinking water advisories, and the costs of improving all-season access roads to First Nations currently serviced by seasonal ice roads.
This ground-breaking study is a critical step towards achieving reconciliation with First Nations.
Learn more about the Closing the Infrastructure Gap 2030 Report, here.
On December 19th, 2023, Calgarians witnessed the opening of the much-anticipated West Calgary Ring Road. This final segment, spanning Highway 8 and the Trans-Canada Highway, completes the 101-kilometre freeway that encircles the city, enhancing local connectivity and fostering economic growth across Alberta.
The delivery of the West Calgary Ring Road project marks a significant achievement in freeway planning and engineering in Alberta. The project involved two critical segments: the north segment completed by EllisDon and the south segment constructed by Calgary SafeLink Partners. These segments, delivered through design-build projects, comprise nine kilometres of six and eight-lane freeways, including two system interchanges at the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 8. Additionally, the project introduced four service interchanges and 24 bridges, alongside extensive retaining walls and numerous sign structures.
Associated Engineering, serving as the prime consultant on the Owner’s Engineer team, played a crucial role from the project’s inception to completion. Our initial efforts in 2018 involved planning, traffic modeling, site investigations, and establishing the technical requirements which laid the foundation for this complex project. Throughout the construction phase, we provided contract management, monitoring, and technical support to Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors, confirming adherence to the highest standards, bringing experience from our involvement on other segments of the Ring Road since 2004.
During construction, we overcame many challenges, such as extensive rock blasting and mass earth moving within a densely populated area. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced further complexities, requiring stringent health and safety protocols to keep the project on track, while maintaining worker safety. We addressed environmental challenges, including several severe rainstorm events and dust mitigation, minimizing their impact on the construction progress, and the surrounding communities. Innovative engineering solutions addressed design and site-specific challenges, like traffic staging, water management, multiple bridge structures, and variable geotechnical conditions.
Team Lead, Jim Zagas, tells us, “As a collective project team, we faced the challenges of building significant infrastructure in an urban, residential environment. We had to carefully navigate construction impacts to existing roadways, infrastructure, and adjacent communities. Strong communication and collaboration between all parties were keys to the project’s success. We leveraged our collective experience working on previous Ring Road projects.” Leadership, teamwork, knowledge-sharing, and our cumulative expertise were instrumental in overcoming the project’s challenges.
The West Calgary Ring Road has enhanced transportation safety and efficiency around Calgary. The completed Ring Road facilitates smooth traffic flow and efficient goods transportation, demonstrating the positive impacts of strategic collaboration to tackle complex engineering challenges. The Ring Road provides a conduit for economic growth and development for the region, reflecting the benefits of our efficient transportation networks to create thriving communities.
Our key personnel on this project include Jim Zagas, David Nagy, Jeff Belziuk, Leo Pinto, Jon Wiens, Karl Liu, Larry Mouland, Joseph Wang, Taylor Caldwell, Michael Walker, Richard Simpson, Mandy Shum, Wendy Liu, Ben Basso, Corinne Arkell, Tara Alexander, Simon Cook, Ashlene Harvey, Dwight Carter, Shane Hemenway, Matt Freeman, and Christel Lope.
Highway 1 through the Fraser Valley in southwestern BC is a critical transportation link for both people and goods movement. This four-lane section of the highway experiences frequent congestion and has several collision-prone sites, with collision rates up to four times higher than the provincial average. The frequency and severity of collisions causes further congestion and reduces reliability of the corridor. In addition, there is a gap in the regional active transportation network, which acts as a barrier to potential users of active transportation modes.
The Fraser Valley Highway 1 Corridor Improvement Program is a multi-phase program to widen Highway 1 from the 216th Street Interchange in Langley to Yale Road in Chilliwack. The enhancements will provide a more integrated transportation corridor to improve travel time, safety, reliability, active transportation, and transit.
Associated Engineering together with ISL Engineering, PBX Engineering, Thurber Engineering, and BKL Consultants are providing preliminary, functional, and detailed design for the widening of 20 kilometres of Highway 1 from the 264th interchange to McKenzie Road (one kilometre east of the McCallum Road interchange in Abbotsford) under Phase 3A and 3B of the project.
Project Manager, Priscilla Tsang, says, “Improvements to active transportation and transit are key objectives. They include new high occupancy vehicle (HOV) and bus-on-shoulder lanes, and over 9 kilometres of multi-use pathway parallel to the highway from the 264th Interchange to the Mt. Lehman Road Interchange, as well as improved multi-use pathways and/or sidewalks at bridge crossings.”
Optimizing the horizontal and vertical alignments through the Mt. Lehman interchange is particularly challenging, as the design will need to fit within the available space bounded by the existing abutments and piers of three existing underpasses. Highway Design Lead and Engineer of Record, Shaun Bidulka, explains, “To accommodate a new HOV lane in both directions, the inside/outside shoulders are locally reduced through the existing structures with custom cast-in-place, tall barriers at the abutments and median to reduce to the zone of intrusion.” Constructability/staging and detour design to maintain traffic during construction was also a major consideration in the design development.
The 264th interchange area is frequently congested during morning and afternoon peak hours and with a high volume of commercial vehicles heading to-and-from the Aldergrove border crossing. Deputy Project Manager, Pat Stancombe, tells us, “The Design-Builder will need to design the interchange to accommodate HOV lanes, truck parking, and a mobility hub with about 180 parking stalls to improve transit connections. The existing two-lane 264th Street underpass will be replaced with a new four-lane structure to accommodate the highway widening, sidewalks, and bike lanes.” The Bradner Rest Area along Highway 1 will also be expanded.
“We have followed the Ministry’s climate risk assessment process. We first screened out the medium and high-risk design elements followed by a detailed evaluation of the climate risks, adaption measures, and the associated order of magnitude costs.”
The Ministry has engaged with First Nations as part of the design. First Nations were consulted as part of the environmental permit applications, and they also participated in archaeological monitoring during the archaeological field reconnaissance, geotechnical investigations, and excavations inareas of archaeological potential.
Three advanced work contracts are underway and taking place concurrently. Our environmental team is responsible for wildlife sweeps prior to site clearance for advanced works.
“We worked closely with the Ministry’s Field Services team and contractors to complete wildlife sweeps. Thanks to our environmental team’s proactive approach, we completed the wildlife sweeps to meet the contractor’s schedule under short notice.”
Associated key personnel on the project include Priscilla Tsang, Pat Stancombe, Shaun Bidulka, Helen Zhang, Lisa Liu, Ana Varhaug, Breanna Jackson, Eric Finney, Siu Fung Ma, Helen Du, Mike Lumb, Jason Dowling, Monica Ip, Jennifer Prive, Naomi Sands, Melanie Piorecky, Samira Abbasian, Chase Kehrig, and Sean Yasui.
EPCOR’s Northeast Sanitary Interceptor Sewer Trunk provides essential wastewater conveyance in the City of Edmonton’s northeast area. Originally constructed in 1964, the Clareview Sanitary Trunk section of the interceptor conveys wastewater flows from the north side of the Kennedale Ravine to the Alberta Capital Region Wastewater Commission wastewater treatment plant.
The Trestle No. 3 bridge supports a 900 millimetre diameter steel pipe section of the trunk sewer and a maintenance walkway at the crown of the pipe across the Fraser Ravine. Trestle No. 3 is approximately 72 metres long with a maximum height of 23 metres. The structure consists of a steel frame supported by two concrete abutments and four piers with concrete spread footings. The sections of the trunk sewer immediately upstream and downstream of the trestle bridge are comprised of non-reinforced concrete pipe.
In 2019, as part of its condition assessment and asset management program, EPCOR determined that the pipe required rehabilitation. EPCOR retained Associated Engineering, with Thurber Engineering as its geotechnical subconsultant, to undertake conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design of measures to rehabilitate or replace Trestle No. 3, replace the steel pipe, and rehabilitate the concrete pipe.
Project Manager, Owen Mierke, tells us, “The location of the pipe bridge in a steeply sloped terrain complicated rehabilitation and replacement measures. The steep slopes are not traversable by heavy construction equipment. In addition, a recessed pipe bridge below the top of bank, erosion concerns, and slope stability, all contributed to the project’s challenges.”
The project team worked together to implement a series of innovative designs and construction methodologies to overcome the challenges posed by lack of access and the steep ravine slopes, which limited the ability to use heavy equipment.
Owen shares, “The contractor came up with a creative solution to use a scaffolding gantry constructed between the top of the bank and the trestle, which facilitated removing and replacing the steel pipe. Construction teams installed the manholes, gabions, and rip rap armouring by hand using small equipment.”
Scaffolding gantry allowed workers to safely traverse the steep slopes and geotextile curtains protected workers from falling debris
Restoration measures were carefully considered to prevent future erosion of the ravine slopes under the trestle.
“Bioengineering techniques including live staking and rough and loose soil treatment were implemented to slow the flow of stormwater and quickly re-establish vegetation on the ravine banks, promoting stability and naturalization into the existing environment.”
Throughout design and construction, the team considered risks and identified mitigation strategies. The contractor mitigated risks to slope stability by employing alternative construction methodologies. Safety risks associated with placing and filling gabion baskets were managed through a wagon and pulley system, as well as staged conveyors. Geotextile curtains were placed on the steep slopes to provide protection from falling debris.
Proactive planning and a strong communication plan helped to minimize impact on neighbouring residents and users of the adjacent trail system.
The completed Trestle No. 3 Rehabilitation project restored the trestle, addressed erosion issues under the trestle, replaced the 900 millimetre diameter steel pipe on the trestle, and relined the sewers upstream and downstream of the trestle. The rehabilitated Clareview Sanitary Trunk will serve Edmontonians for many decades to come.
Since 1906, the City of Saskatoon has provided residents and businesses with drinking water from its Avenue H Water Treatment Plant. The facility is a conventional surface water treatment plant, drawing water from the South Saskatchewan River and providing coagulation, filtration, and disinfection treatment before distributing potable drinking water to the city and the surrounding area.
Since its construction, the plant has undergone numerous upgrades and expansions. In 2015, the City and Associated Engineering completed design and construction of the Avenue H Reservoir, ultraviolet disinfection, and high lift pump station. The project involved a temporary solution for transferring filtered water from the existing filter clearwells to the new facility, including modifications to the former high lift pumps.
The City recognized that a sustainable long-term transfer pumping plan was required for improved operational reliability and energy efficiency. Major electrical upgrades were needed at the plant to replace an aging 4160V/600V system and improve redundancy. In 2017, the City engaged Associated as the prime consultant to deliver preliminary studies and long-term plans; conceptual, preliminary, and detailed design; construction administration; resident engineering; and commissioning services for the project. The project is nearing completion.
The project includes design and construction of a new 450 million litres per day capacity transfer pumping station and electrical system upgrades with a new medium voltage electrical room, a low voltage electrical room, and two new 2-megawatt generators to match the existing generators at the plant. Co-Project Manager, Scott Miller, says, “The generators are designed as a ‘pooled’ system, working interchangeably to provide back-up power.”
Co-Project Manager and Process Mechanical Lead, Eric Gaudet, explains, “Several piping tie-ins were required to connect the plant’s existing filter clearwells with an underground piping network to convey water by gravity to each of the new transfer pumping forebays.” From the transfer pumping station, two 1200 millimetre steel pressurized pipelines supply the existing Avenue H high lift pump station. The structural design included a 10 metre deep pump station substructure complete with two isolated pump wells to allow for fully redundant operation. The facility superstructure includes the new electrical rooms, generator and pump room, and rooftop mechanical and electrical equipment.
“Due to the complexities of tying in to the existing water treatment plant facilities, the electrical and pumping systems were designed to allow closed system commissioning through a detailed functional testing plan while avoiding impact to the existing water treatment plant operation.”
Construction Manager, Josh Yohnke, says, “Several construction challenges were encountered when building the new facility within the confines of the existing plant site, involving both demolition, replacement, and tie-ins to existing infrastructure. Working in a century-old facility, there are many “unknowns”. We uncovered abandoned, below-ground structures and pipelines, and contaminated soils from an early 1900’s electrical power plant.”
The new transfer pumping station is designed for energy efficiency and long-term sustainability.
“It follows current guidelines and recommendations from the Hydraulic Institute with optimal pump selection, where the pumps’ best efficiency points correspond closely with the most frequent flow rate analyzed from historic data. This new system has resulted in significant and noticeable energy cost reduction and reliability for the City.”
Climate change adaptation was considered in the design of the HVAC systems, including free cooling for the low voltage electrical room with allowances for higher air flows, if required, for increased cooling days in the future. As well, the mechanical cooling system for the medium voltage electrical room was designed for projected increases in temperatures and cooling demands.
Our key personnel on the project include Scott Miller, Eric Gaudet, Josh Yohnke, Bob Hawboldt, Jared Suwala, Louis DeLange, Brody Masserey, Ashley Hodgson, Geoff Sarazin, Jason St. Germain, David Sorenson, Peter Hooge, Risto Protic, and Doug Olson.
Nancy Inglis, P.Eng., PMP, Division Manager, Water in our Regina office, is a dedicated leader, project manager, volunteer, and athlete. As a Project Manager, Nancy has led the delivery of some of Western Canada’s most significant projects, including highways, roads, power, and irrigation projects. Her projects include the $1.88 billion Regina Bypass, $1.5 billion Boundary Dam Power Station Carbon Capture and Sequestration, and the Westside Irrigation project in Saskatchewan. Currently, she is playing a lead role on the Municipal District of Acadia and Special Areas Board Irrigation expansion project in east-central Alberta.
Nancy is deeply committed to community service. She has served as an Alternate Warden, Camp 25 (Regina) of The Corporation of the Seven Wardens since 2021. The Corporation is charged with administering the Obligation of Canadian Engineers, a ceremony which dates back to 1922. Nancy has been active in the evolution of more inclusive ceremony traditions and enjoys conferring iron rings to newly qualified Canadian engineers and reminding them of their professional duty to the public.
Since 2016, Nancy has volunteered with the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies-Saskatchewan (ACEC-SK), an organization committed to advancing the consulting engineering industry. Currently, she is a board director of ACEC-Canada, representing Saskatchewan. As Vice-Chair, Nancy plays a pivotal role in shaping policy and advocacy efforts at both the provincial and federal levels. She engages with federal Members of Parliament and Saskatchewan Members of Legislation to effect positive change in infrastructure development.
Nancy is a competitive athlete, most recently competing in the Senior Women’s Curling Championships, representing Saskatchewan. Nancy’s Team Saskatchewan won a silver medal.
With her commitment to the future generation of professional engineers and advocating for the Canadian consulting engineering industry, Nancy shapes our shared future on many levels. Thank you for your dedicated service, Nancy!
Invasive carp have become an issue affecting many regions of the world. Recently, goldfish (Carassius auratus) and Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) have been introduced to North America. The City of Calgary is one of the first municipalities in North America to begin researching control and containment strategies for these invasive carp species.
The City of Calgary has identified invasive goldfish and Prussian carp in multiple stormwater ponds. Invasive carp escaping the stormwater ponds pose a risk to the downstream natural aquatic environment by competing with or displacing native species, impacting water quality, and spreading diseases. In addition, introducing invasive fish into a natural waterbody is illegal under provincial and federal legislation.
Invasive carp are highly adaptable, tolerant to poor water quality and habitat, grow rapidly, and reproduce early to maturity. They can travel between connected waterbodies and unconnected waterbodies during high flow events, resulting in population expansion over time. In addition, invasive carp eggs may be transferred between waterbodies in the digestive systems of water birds, and be deposited in new areas, spreading invasive species. People also contribute to spread of invasive fish, for example, by freeing unwanted pets, stocking ponds for recreational angling, or releasing fish as part of a prayer service.
To control and contain the spread of these invasive fish, the City of Calgary retained Associated to complete an identification and feasibility assessment of potential measures. The first part of the project involved a literature review to identify fish control or eradication solutions implemented in other jurisdictions, best practices implemented during other activities (e.g. instream construction) which could be adapted to stormwater ponds, potential new and innovative ideas which have not previously been used to address invasive fish, and the feasibility of implementing multiple measures concurrently.
Fyke net used for fish abundance monitoring in Tanglewood Wetlands
Environmental Project Manager and Planning Lead, Dean Foster, says, “We completed a feasibility report for the City that recommended dewatering ponds and allowing ponds (and fish) to freeze over winter, as well as fish passage monitoring.”
A pilot dewatering and freezing treatment program was completed on two stormwater ponds to evaluate their efficacy for fish control. We compared the presence of invasive carp pre-and-post treatment, and used dewatering and freezing as a treatment to eradicate invasive carp which appears to have potential; however, more results are needed to better understand the exact specifications required for success. The City plans to continue the fish population control and abundance program in 2024.
Prussian carp captured while completing fish abundance monitoring for the dewatering and freezing pilot program
Fish passage monitoring was piloted at one outfall to inform future containment strategies and gain information about invasive carp movement, specifically eggs and larvae, out of the storm ponds and into natural waterbodies.
“The information gathered from this pilot project will be used to help inform the exploration of different configurations of fish screens and materials to prevent invasive carp from migrating into natural waterbodies.”
Associated is collaborating with the University of Alberta and Biologica Environmental Services to determine the best methodology to complete DNA testing on the preserved specimens and obtain specific information regarding invasive carp movement. The City, in partnership with Associated, plans to scale-up the fish passage monitoring program in 2024.
Lastly, eDNA sampling was conducted at all of the City’s stormwater ponds to detect and document the extent of invasive carp.
“The eDNA sampling pilot project was successful in developing repeatable methods, identifying constraints, and training Associated staff members.”
Our key personnel involved on the environmental component of this project include Dean Foster, Jessica Eaton, Carlo Gallotta, Krish Purohit, and Lee Hang-Liu.
Angela (front centre) with colleagues in the Regina office (l-r: Nicole DeBond, Thomas Goddard, and Nancy Inglis)
As Manager, Special Projects in our Regina office, Angela Hickie-Miller leads a talented group of project engineers, project managers, administrators, and analysts to deliver major projects, including some of Canada’s largest and most complex projects. Her team, including Thomas Goddard, Stella Madsen, and Pamela Procyk, bring decades of project delivery experience coupled with expertise in project, financial, schedule, and document controls; information management; analytics; communication; and collaboration.
“Working with this amazing team has been one of my career highlights!”
Recent examples of the group’s success and involvement on large-scale assignments are the award-winning $1.88 billion Regina Bypass project, the Westside Irrigation project in Saskatchewan, and the Municipal District of Acadia and Special Areas joint irrigation project in east-central Alberta in Treaty 7 territory. These complex projects require budget and schedule control, risk management, collaboration with multiple partners, and stakeholder engagement.
The Special Projects team members are typically involved in all aspects of project management, through all phases of a project. Typically, one of the first steps of their projects is setting up a project collaboration site to enable efficient and secure data sharing and collaboration for use by internal and external personnel.
“It’s important to create a virtual project environment that is easy to use, well supported, and has excellent search capabilities. We try to keep things simple and get input from the project team to ensure that they are onboard with the site development.”
Angela tells us, “Our Special Projects personnel are often the ‘go-to’ contacts for project information. Depending on the project, we may use lists or logs to track submissions, issues, decisions, lessons learned, and other important data. We analyze information to get a handle on its importance. We are also often involved in the compilation of technical information and therefore can serve an active role in ensuring project deliverables have a consistent voice and reflect the client’s expectations.”
Financial controls include contract management and amendments, ongoing monitoring of budgets and schedule, and invoicing based on an agreed-upon work breakdown structure. Project dashboards are provided to clients on a monthly basis that provide a snapshot of each project’s status. Updates on project deliverables, schedule, and earned value forecasting are also included.
“For multi-consultant projects, we may develop project-specific templates, naming conventions, and other procedures which may support the development of the Project Management Plan, Quality Management Plan, and Project Safety Plan. We provide project onboarding training sessions to help roll out the various information. Training is also a great opportunity to build a strong and supportive team environment.”
Angela is a Civil/Environmental Engineer, who first joined Associated Engineering in 1996. She started her career on the design and management of municipal infrastructure projects. She later held a role as Senior Engineer in charge of proposal development for the Regina office. Presently, in addition to her management role, she is also involved on the Acadia irrigation project and the City of Edmonton’s Capital Line LRT project.
Angela and her father attend the Hospitals of Regina Foundation Donor Appreciation Gala
When asked about people who have influenced her career, Angela shares, “I’ve had many influences and mentors in my life and career, including my parents; Ken Hicks (a long time Associated project manager); and my former colleagues from the Yorkton Tribal Council. Each of my mentors demonstrated a remarkable ability to overcome obstacles and contribute so much to society. As a leader, Angela believes in building on each other’s strengths and supporting one another through challenges.”
“Currently, my main volunteering work is with my daughter’s baton twirling club, as I serve as Club President.”
She says, “Associated’s Regina Branch Manager kindly allows me to host club meetings at our office. As a female dominated sport, baton twirling doesn’t get the respect or funding it deserves, even though the level of athleticism and dedication is on par with other competitive sports. Therefore, any help we can get is so appreciated. Thank you Associated Engineering for your support!”
I often get asked what a consulting career is like in Northern Canada. Well, it’s unique and wonderful! There are opportunities and life experiences here that cannot be found anywhere else.
Working and living in the North means being in an environment with extreme natural conditions. We face bitter cold, winters with complete darkness, and summers with all-day sun. We also experience extraordinary landscapes and northern lights, adventure, wilderness, a welcoming culture, and a true sense of belonging – all of this is what draws people to the North!
Working in the North gives us the opportunity to work on diverse and challenging projects that have a real impact on the environment and the people living in these remote areas. We have a lot to learn from people in the North, and their ways of life and priorities.
Every project is different and this is particularly true in the North.
Conditions change depending on the size of the community, the local environment, and the community’s needs. We don’t just serve our clients; we also build strong relationships with the communities.
Our projects range from a residential fuel tank spill, where you need to work with the homeowners and the community to educate them and remediate the spill response and impacts, to navigating regulatory processes and engaging with the community. We also participate in design and construction of vital infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, water, and wastewater treatment plants, and airports.
Climate change is a current crisis, especially in the North. Permafrost is melting. Winter ice road conditions are problematic, and wildfires and floods affect the ability to ship freight by air or sea. There is a lot of pressure in a fast-changing and unpredictable environment.
Working in consulting takes a mix of applied science, problem solving skills, and the love of working with people.
This career enables you to expand your skills and always work through logistics and solutions with the end goal of serving our clients better. Being client focused, we need to be able to bring all of the services the company has to offer, which means thinking on your feet and knowing when and where to pull in additional resources and expertise into these communities.
Environmental consulting has changed in the past 20 years. We used to play a more reactive role; we were often called in for support after an environmental incident.
Now, we are proactively consulted to advise, to work with the regulators, to participate on design teams, and to coordinate with communities.
Some of our exciting and diverse environmental projects include the Inuvik Airport runway extension, the Hay River Channel dredging program, Yukon airports and aerodromes environmental risk inventories and remediation planning, the City of Yellowknife Water Licence and wetland delineation studies, and Northwest Territories caribou habitat compensation plans.
To learn more about our environmental science work in the Canadian North and career opportunities, contact Rebekka at lindskoogr@ae.ca. Also, hear more from Rebekka in our AE Live podcast.
About the Author: Rebekka Lindskoog, R.P. Bio. is a Senior Environmental Scientist with more than 25 years of experience as an environmental professional. She has worked extensively in the North for nearly 15 years. Rebekka has managed more than 350 projects, many of them being Northern multi-year projects requiring coordinated multi-disciplinary project teams.
In Episode 4, we speak with Jermyn Wong (Discipline Lead, Building Structural) about his career in building structural engineering, projects that he’s been involved with, and the variety of building materials used to address various challenges and meet specific goals.
In Episode 3, we talk to Freda Leong (National Leader, Indigenous Communities). She discusses her long-time involvement with Indigenous communities across British Columbia and shares stories about the relationships she’s built and the lessons she’s learned about the importance of listening when working on projects in small and remote communities.
Associated Engineering is pleased to be a supporting sponsor of this year’s Asssociation of Engineering Companies British Columbia‘s Transportation Conference, taking place in Vancouver, BC on February 14th and 15th. On the opening day of the program, we’re proud to feature two speakers from our local office, as they each share their experiences working on important projects in the province. We also welcome the online attendees to visit our virtual booth to learn more about our transportation sector services.
Matteo is a structural engineer with nearly 10 years of experience consisting of bridge rehabilitation design, pedestrian bridge design, contract administration, construction supervision, bridge condition assessment, and project management. He is currently working as the Deputy Project Manager and Contract Administrator for the Granville Interim Connector and North Loops Reconfiguration, which is a major active transportation improvement project for the City of Vancouver.
3:30pm The Significance of Indigenous Knowledge and Wisdom on Projects Co-panelist: Freda Leong
Freda has over 28 years of experience in the planning, management, assessment, design, and construction of water and wastewater treatment, civil infrastructure, subdivisions, and community buildings and has been working with Indigenous communities since 2005. She currently works directly on projects in BC and the territories. As the National Leader, Indigenous Communities, Freda collaborates with staff across the company to provide input and advice on Indigenous Community projects across Canada.
Listen to Rebekka Lindskoog, Manager, Northern Environment for Associated Environmental talk about the hardships Canada’s northern territories are facing due to climate change and difficulties accessing remote communities. Learn about opportunities that are available to live and work in this amazing and beautiful part of Canada.
We are very pleased to announce the appointment of Chad Maki, P.Eng. as General Manager, Alberta North operation effective July 1, 2024. Chad will succeed Helder Afonso, Vice President & General Manager, Alberta North, who has advised of his intent to retire on June 30, 2024.
Chad has a long history with Associated Engineering, first working for the company as a summer student in Saskatoon in 1999 and 2000. After graduating from the University of Saskatchewan, Chad joined our Edmonton office in 2001 as a civil engineer.
Over the years, Chad has demonstrated strong technical and project management skills. He has taken on roles of increasing responsibility, from design engineer to project manager, group manager, and, most recently, as Division Manager, Infrastructure. Chad has led many large and complex infrastructure projects serving many long-term clients in northern Alberta amassing a voluminous portfolio of projects. One of his key accomplishments is the planning, design and implementation of the Aspen Regional Water Services Commission – Regional Water System which services several communities in the Athabasca Region.
Helder tells us, ”Chad is an inspiring leader who promotes staff development and supports their success. His strong business development skills, business acumen, and vision have contributed to the company’s success. I am sure that under Chad’s leadership and with the passion and dedication of our Alberta North team, the company will continue to flourish!”
Over the next few months, Helder will collaborate with Chad and the Alberta North management team to address succession in the Edmonton infrastructure division and transition the leadership of our Alberta North operation to Chad.
Please join us in thanking Helder for his dedicated service to the company and congratulating Chad on his new role!
2023 was an exciting year at Associated. For the first time in our 77-year history, we received the Outstanding Project of the Year Award (Small Project Category) from FIDIC (the International Federation of Consulting Engineers) for the Blatchford Neighbourhood District Energy System – Phase 1 project in Edmonton. We’re very proud of our work on this project in collaboration with the City of Edmonton, and being recognized on the world-stage for this “community of the future”, which is a model for sustainable development.
I’m very proud of the many industry and professional awards that our projects and staff have received across our areas of practice. This recognition is a testament to the technical excellence of our projects, and the expertise and outstanding contributions of our staff to our industry.
Over the years, Associated Engineering has worked with hundreds of Indigenous communities across Canada on projects that support their community development and well-being. Recognizing that we can do more to enhance our understanding of Indigenous history, culture, values and to advance reconciliation, we have established an Indigenous Commitment Policy and Action Plan. We are hosting cross-company webinars on Indigenous history, the residential school system, and how we can advance reconciliation on our projects. We are also supporting community events and participating in career fairs to promote youth education in science and engineering, and have established awards to students pursuing post-secondary education.
As 2023 draws to a close, I wish to thank our clients for your continued confidence in us as your consultant and trusted advisor. To our partners, friends, staff, and your families, thank you for your support and efforts.
From the Associated family, we wish you a very merry holiday season!
Since 2020, Associated Environmental has worked with various municipalities, including the County of Grande Prairie, Sturgeon County, Lac La Biche County, the Municipal District of Greenview, Parkland County, Strathcona County, and the Cities of Red Deer and Leduc, to complete wetland restoration and construction projects on behalf of the Alberta Environment and Protected AreasWetland Replacement Program.
Kristen Andersen, Technical Specialist, Wetlands and Restoration, tells us, “We are the first consulting company to successfully complete projects under this new program. Currently, approximately 20 municipalities and three non-governmental organizations are enrolled in the program.” Associated has been engaged by 12 municipalities and successfully completed 17 projects resulting in the restoration of over 65 wetlands.
The Wetland Replacement Program has evolved significantly since its inception. Kristen has provided input on Alberta Environment and Protected Areas wetland policy documents as a volunteer. Kristen also currently teaches a course in wetland restoration at the University of Alberta.
Having been involved since the beginning of the program, we were able to supply early examples of deliverables under the program. Kristen says, “Each restoration or replacement project presents unique issues and challenges that require innovative, dynamic solutions, including engaging with multiple stakeholders, navigating new legislation and funding programs, and working within land access and soil handling restraints.”
As we completed the projects, we met these program objectives:
Improve the quality of runoff from the contributing drainage area
Provide flood flow attenuation
Improve habitat for a diversity of wildlife, including waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, amphibians, reptiles, and bats
Increase educational opportunities and opportunities for the public to view wildlife
Increase habitat for pollinators, including bees, butterflies, and moths
Control non-native plants and restore habitat for a diversity of native plants
Demonstrate how wetlands may be restored without constructing a dam and without using a well, pipes, pump, diversions, or a water control structure
“We are currently monitoring all sites, which is required for four years after construction. This involves assessing vegetation establishment, hydrological conditions, and other factors based on design.”
For more information about our wetlands and restoration services, please contact Kristen Andersen at andersenk@ae.ca.
The City of Airdrie is one of the fastest growing communities in Alberta, with a population exceeding 80,000 in 2023. Access in-and-out of Airdrie via Highway 2 was limited to two highway exits. Traffic using Yankee Valley Boulevard was often delayed by the at-grade Canadian Pacific Railway train movements. The interchange at Highway 2 and 40th Avenue was identified by the Government of Alberta as a necessary project in the early 2000’s.
In 2017, the City of Airdrie engaged Associated Engineering to be the lead consultant for the design of the highway interchange, 40th Avenue roadway, and five bridges. Associated’s team designed the bridges, stormwater, and Highway 2 electrical roadway lighting. A subconsultant designed the roadway geometrics, traffic signals, and civil design of the Nose Creek channel realignment with Associated’s Environmental team designing the Nose Creek realignment revegetation and providing regulatory services. Later, the project expanded to include the construction of the six-lane 40th Avenue corridor, with a half interchange at Highway 2, three new bridges, a new twin Structural Plate Corrugated Steel Pipe culvert bridge with Nose Creek realignment and bridge widening over the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Associated and the City brought forward lessons learned from previous projects working over/adjacent to railway lines. Regular communication with Canadian Pacific Railway was established to schedule work and provide early warning of critical activities impacting their asset.
Associated and the City, in coordination with Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors, had Highway 2 posted to 80 km/hr for the duration of the project as a safety measure. Temporary barriers or requested lane closures also helped to provide a safe working area.
The City of Airdrie, Associated, and the contractor (EllisDon) maintained a collaborative relationship throughout the project, which helped the team overcome several challenges to successfully deliver the project under-budget and on-time. For example, construction industry trades were over-extended by multiple mega-projects in the greater Calgary region. The contractor worked with subtrades to secure resources to limit impact on the project. The project partners managed costs by maintaining open lines of communication, assessing risks, and reviewing costs and budgets.
Associated Environmental worked with regulators to obtain the necessary permits. A summary memo of the permits, conditions, and references was provided to the project team for ease of monitoring, ensuring regulatory compliance was communicated in a simple and straight forward manner. The project was subject to the requirements of the Nose Creek Watershed Management Plan. The City, landowner, and Alberta Environment and Parks collaborated to evaluate options and maximize opportunities for the successful resolution of the alignment and crossing for Nose Creek. The approach reduced disruption to the existing creek to the extent possible and diminished land severance and acquisition.
“The enhancements made to the Nose Creek alignment and watershed within the project footprint help provide a cleaner environment for generations to come.”– Peter Grant, Project Manager
The new east-west connection will allow the King’s Heights Fire Station to better service southwest Airdrie neighbourhoods by reducing travel time and provide these areas with direct access to commercial and recreational facilities, as well as the City of Calgary. Residents have reported that, since the opening of the interchange in October 2023, their commuting time has been reduced by 15 to 20 minutes.
The new, $83 million interchange will benefit future land development in the area that is currently constrained due to transportation capacity. A future development area of about 36,000 residential units is planned over a 30-year period.
Key Associated personnel included Peter Grant, Scott Etzel, Kevin Ho, Christa Luckasavitch, Joseph Wang, Larry Mouland, Lisbeth Medina, Eliman Camara, Howard Mariano, Jenna Gillman, Kourtney Cameron, Jim Zagas, and Jon Wiens.
ATAP Infrastructure Management assists in operating and maintaining water, wastewater, and municipal infrastructure. A member of the Associated Engineering group of companies, ATAP offers technical support, operations, troubleshooting expertise, and infield and classroom training by highly experienced operators.
The Government of Manitoba Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations engaged ATAP’s Water System Circuit Riders to provide water systems support to northern communities. Circuit Riders provide operators with tailored water treatment education and hands-on support to improve the efficacy and efficiency of their water system operation and maintenance. The intent is for communities to achieve compliance with facility licensing and meet applicable regulations and environmental acts.
Launched in 2021, the initial phase of the program involved six communities (Duck Bay, Camperville, Berens River, Barrows, Comorant, and Sherridon) and focused on addressing the prolonged boil water advisories ordered in these communities. The Water System Circuit Riders currently supplies water system operational support and water system operator training services to the communities of Berens River, Pikwitonei, Thicket Portage, Wabowden, Cross Lake and Nelson House. These six communities are all governed by elected mayors and council under the Northern Affairs Act. A collaborative effort, facilitated by the collective expertise of our Water Circuit Rider team and our extensive network, yielded positive results, enabling five of the communities to independently manage their water systems.
“The aim of the Water System Circuit Riders initiative is to enable operators to effectively manage their community water systems and ensure the availability of clean, fresh drinking water.” – Mark Keller, ATAP Manager
A strong collaboration between operators, ATAP trainers, and government staff results in the creation of a tailored plan which aids operators in acquiring their certification registration and prepares them for in-person training specific to their community water systems.
For operators who have already obtained their certifications, the Water System Circuit Riders assist them in developing standard operating procedures to maintain their systems and ensure they meet their regulatory and operational requirements. The Water System Circuit Riders travel to these remote communities, providing hands-on mentoring and training for essential operational tasks, such as daily water quality monitoring, sample collection and delivery to laboratories for analysis, equipment maintenance, record-keeping, and reporting.
In 2022, the project entered its second phase, encompassing six communities, including two distant northern communities with challenges, particularly in terms of limited access and resources to address issues concerning their water treatment systems. ATAP successfully secured the contract through a tender process. Mark shares, “The communities have struggled to maintain compliance with provincial drinking water requirements and regulations and their water systems have been subject to frequent/long-term water advisories.”
Project Coordinator, Milton Wood, says, “We work with the communities to ensure all regulatory and operational requirements are understood and travel to each location to provide on-site, in-person training to the local operators of the public works systems so they are able to meet the operating challenges and permit requirements consistently.” Training videos, designed for the transfer of knowledge, were also produced as an integral component of the services offered.
Water & Wastewater Systems Specialists, Phil Beaulac and Kevin Sutter, serve as the on-site trainers and are both highly experienced operators. Phil also has numerous years of experience and knowledge gained from working in northern communities. Kevin says, “Two communities are fly-in only, as no other access is available. Due to the remote locations, we stayed with locals.” Phil adds, “With the limited access to available materials, we worked with the operators to overcome issues related to the remote-working environments.”
Our Water Circuit Riders have completed six of nine visits to each community of the 18-month contract. The team members have fostered a mentorship relationship with the operators and have made themselves available around the clock to offer troubleshooting assistance and leverage their extensive experience in the field of water and wastewater management.
Effective communication with all stakeholders, collaborative efforts with the Government of Manitoba, and the participation of northern communities in the program are key components of our ongoing work and successful service delivery.
Alternative delivery projects are complex undertakings, demanding thorough planning, design, and implementation. Alternative delivery methods, such as design-build or public-private partnerships (P3) offer owners numerous advantages, including accelerated delivery, cost savings, and enhanced quality. However, they also introduce significant challenges, such as risk ownership, reduced control, and complicated contracts.
To successfully deliver major transportation and infrastructure programs via alternative delivery approaches, project owners require a reliable partner with sufficient professional resources to advocate for their interests and guide them throughout the project. This is where Owner’s Engineers can assist.
Associated Engineering has acted as Owner’s Engineer for several high-profile transportation projects, including the Regina Bypass, West Calgary Ring Road, Edmonton’s Capital Line South LRT Extension, and the Deerfoot Trail Improvements in Calgary. We served a pivotal role in steering these projects to successful planning, design, construction, and commissioning. Our expertise and guidance have contributed to developing safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation systems benefitting society.
The Crucial Role of Owner’s Engineers
As Owner’s Engineers, our role is to work directly for the project owner, acting as their representative and advocate. We are deeply integrated into the project team and actively participate in the decision-making process. We bring our extensive knowledge, experience, and industry best practices to offer professional advice and guidance to the project owners, stakeholders, and contractors. Our primary responsibility is to assist owners to successfully deliver projects with the highest levels of efficiency, safety, and quality, while adhering to established technical standards and regulations.
Our key responsibilities include the following:
Strategic Planning: We assist in defining project objectives, scope, and key performance indicators, creating a comprehensive project plan that specifies technical requirements and budget constraints. We also aid in selecting the most suitable delivery method and contractor for the project, considering project goals and risks.
Quality Assurance: We oversee project design and implementation for compliance with technical requirements, industry standards, local regulations, and best practices. We conduct site inspections, audits, and tests to verify the quality of work and materials, providing an early warning of potential issues. Our vigilance helps identify and address potential issues early, reducing the risk of costly revisions or delays.
Risk Mitigation: We identify and manage risks, conducting comprehensive risk assessments and proposing mitigation strategies. We monitor the project schedule, scope, and budget, ensuring that any changes are properly documented and approved. This minimizes the likelihood of unexpected challenges derailing the project and helps protect the project owner from any claims, disputes, or liabilities that may arise.
Contract Management: We play a vital role in administration, reviewing the Alternative Delivery Team’s work for adherence with the project’s terms and conditions, and overseeing the contractor’s performance. This includes reviewing and approving the detailed design, invoices, change orders, and claims resolution; certifying construction completion; and evaluating items for traffic availability. We also help resolve any issues or conflicts that may occur between the owner, contractor, and other stakeholders by championing partnering principles.
Project Monitoring: Throughout the project’s lifecycle, we provide continuous monitoring and reporting services to keep the project owner informed of progress and promptly address any deviations from the plan. We use various tools and methods, such as dashboards, reports, and feedback loops, to track and measure the project’s performance against the established objectives and indicators. We also provide recommendations and suggestions for improvement and optimization.
Communication: We facilitate effective communication between the owner, contractor, and other stakeholders to keep everyone informed and aligned throughout the project, applying partnering principles and holding alignment sessions. We use various platforms, such as meetings, websites, and online project management systems to share information and updates. Our approach employs clear, concise, and consistent communication.
Problem Solving: In the face of unforeseen issues, we leverage our expertise to propose effective solutions using techniques such as root cause analysis, collaboration, and brainstorming to analyze and resolve problems. We also implement corrective and preventive actions to avoid recurrence and improve performance.
Selecting the right Owner’s Engineer team is critical to the success of alternative delivery projects. Associated Engineering’s leadership, expertise, and guidance has made the difference on the successful delivery of many major projects.
As we work closely with project owners, we make significant contributions to create safe, efficient, and sustainable transportation systems. These systems not only facilitate smoother commutes, but also stimulate economic growth by improving access to jobs and services, and the movement of goods.
About the Author:
Jim Zagas, RET, PL (Eng.) is Vice President, Transportation and has over 30 years of experience delivering highway infrastructure. He has effectively managed large teams of engineering and technical professionals on complex, multi-year transportation assignments. Jim has been a project leader on many large-scale transportation projects.
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