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| Sara Renner, Climate Ambassador |
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Sara Renner has seen big changes happen to the environment. So now she’s making big changes to save it – she’s become one of Canada’s Climate Ambassadors.
Renner, Canadian cross-country skiing Olympic silver medalist and sponsored by McElhanney, joined 250 athletes, business leaders, educators, environmentalists and government officials from across Canada for a three-day intensive training session in Montreal on environmental science and solutions to the climate change crisis. Talks were led by former United States Vice-President Al Gore and climate experts, including renowned Canadian scientist Dr. David Suzuki. Organized by The Climate Project (TCP) Canada, participants returned home as Climate Ambassadors, armed with the most current information to increase public awareness of the growing climate crisis. She has already given her first televised presentation in Banff, on April 22, for Earth Day.
Renner has seen first-hand how our climate is changing, and not for the better. In her 12-year international cross-country skiing career, she has witnessed winter weather conditions grow increasingly unpredictable, and sees the unseasonable weather as a threat to the future of her sport.
“I am so used to racing on snow that has been trucked in from hundreds of hundreds of kilometers, and that snow they truck in is getting dirtier and dirtier every year,” said Renner. “It’s just so difficult for these organizers to pull off these [World Cup] races in Europe.”
The first place to begin fixing things is at home, and Renner is starting with her family. According to Renner, considering the environment doesn’t require drastic change. The easiest way for a family to reduce their environmental impact is to simplify their lives – eating local foods whenever possible, line-drying clothes and riding a bike all make a difference.
“As a mother, as an athlete and a Canadian, I have a huge responsibility to my daughter,” said Renner. “At a time when it’s so crucial, everyone has to do something for the environment. Everyone has to stand up and say ‘my children are important and I will not be remembered as someone who didn’t do anything.’”
“All these things that we do, and all the things that our culture has gotten suckered into, are taking away time from what is important,” said Renner. “It’s the same things that are taking time away from working out, time away from our families. By making your life simpler, you are reducing your environmental footprint, and in the end you are making your life happier for it.”
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| MCSL Earns Work Safe Alberta Award |
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McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd. has just received a belated notification that they were selected for the Work Safe Alberta 2006 Best Safety Performer Award, granted by the Minister of Employment, Immigration and Industry, and the Occupational Health and Safety Council.
MCSL is proud to announce that this is the second year they have earned this award, which recognizes exceptional performance in workplace health and safety. Of Alberta’s 140,000 employers, only approximately 650 were granted the designation.
MCSL has successfully met the following criteria in the Engineering category:
- A current Certificate of Recognition (COR) or a Partner in good standing under the Partnerships in Health and Safety Program
- 60 consecutive person years with no disabling injuries in the most recent years
- No work related fatalities in the previous three years, and no outstanding compliance orders under Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislation
- No violations of the OHS Act in connection with any incident investigated by Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry during the past two years
- Not currently being prosecuted for a violation under Alberta’s OHS legislation.
With this award, MCSL is granted the privilege of using the “2006 Best Safety Performer” logo, and continues their commitment to the health and safety of Alberta’s workers.
Click here to see the award. |
| McElhanney Purchases Powerful LiDAR System |
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McElhanney has purchased a new laser imaging LiDAR system. It is one of the most versatile and powerful available.
The system is a Leica ALS50-II LiDAR with MPiA (Multiple Pulses in Air), which enables quicker and denser data collection as compared to older systems. LiDAR uses laser pulses (150 kHz) for distance measurement. When combined with GPS and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) for aircraft attitude, the processed data provides a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) point cloud.
Further classification of the point cloud generates information such as bare earth Digital Terrain Model (DTM) or tree and building models, for integration with CAD and GIS data. Rasterized (intensity) images can be created for visually effective 3D models and for use in LiDARgrammetry. We anticipate the requirement for LiDAR 3D surface data to include projects where tree cover is substantial and where large areas or long corridors are needed.
The Leica ALS50-II LiDAR is a strong complement to McElhanney’s long-standing ability to provide control survey, large-format aerial photography and photogrammetric mapping, making us a true full-service geomatics provider.
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| Selena Wilson Only Canadian in International Management Programme |
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Selena Wilson is learning to become an expert at designing roads. She’s also becoming an expert at business.
Selena, a Transportation Designer in one of our largest branches, located in Surrey, is the only Canadian participating in the Young Professional Management Training Programme, a component of FIDIC, the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (the acronym comes from the French, Fédération Internationale des Ingénieurs-Conseils), with world headquarters based in Switzerland.
For seven months, Selena will work with an international team to develop and present four case studies, culminating in a final presentation to the FIDIC Board during their four-day Annual Conference in Québec this September, 2008.
Each case study is based on a real-life situation. The first was in South Africa, which immediately involved political decisions, such as hiring practices. Teams analyse the situation, and then explore various options on how best to guide a company to success, or to resolve a problem. Rather than focusing on a final consensus, however, the goal is to understand the process of analysis, so that this process can be applied anywhere. They explore a maximum of workable options, broadening possibilities in a world where delays – and the unexpected – often happen.
The learning is tough. Up to 30 hours per month of class-work, combined with research, preparation and presentations, all web-based. Teams are led by a mentor, and are organized by time zone in groups of 10-15 people. For Selena, who is with the Central European group, this means logging on at 7:00 a.m. for teleconferences to join their 4:00 p.m. meetings.
Her team-mates hail from the Netherlands, Jordan, South Africa, Nigeria, the Czech Republic, and Ireland. And they are all there for the same reason: “to develop leadership, communication skills, new approaches to understanding management challenges and intercultural understanding.” As Selena says, working with international colleagues on international projects is “very beneficial – it engages a person both in how business works overseas and within a company.”
It’s a large order. And for Selena, it’s a whole new world. But one she wouldn’t trade for any other.
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| Three New BCLS at McElhanney |
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McElhanney is pleased to announce that we have three newly commissioned British Columbia Land Surveyors:
- Jonathan Austin, BCLS #819, of Penticton
- Graham Rankine, BCLS #822, of Surrey
- Brian Wardrop, BCLS #817, of Nanaimo
Their hard work and rigorous training paid off as they were presented with their certificates at the BCLS Annual General Meeting Awards Luncheon in Kelowna, on February 28, 2008.
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| Jonathan Austin, BCLS #819, of Penticton |
Graham Rankine, BCLS #822, of Surrey |
Brian Wardrop, BCLS #817, of Nanaimo |
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| McElhanney – Green and Clean with Hybrids |
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McElhanney’s Surrey office has taken a step to making tomorrow’s air cleaner with the addition of McElhanney’s second hybrid vehicle to the current vehicle fleet.
The Ford Escape Hybrid will be added to the Surrey Inspection Department as a vehicle replacement for an older high kilometer vehicle. The hybrid produces near zero tailpipe emissions and exceptional fuel economy. With the increasing traffic problems and emissions concerns, this is an excellent example of McElhanney’s ongoing commitment to building great communities, the welfare of our employees, and their generations to come.
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| Olympic Skier Sara Renner, Sponsored by McElhanney, Earns Place on Most Influential List |
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Sara Renner, three-time Olympian and contender for the 2010 Winter Games, has been named on the 2007 list of the Most Influential Women in Sport and Physical Activity.
The Most Influential list is compiled by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS), which recognizes women who have made a significant impact in the world of sports. This year’s listing is a solid reflection of current achievements throughout Canada, as we prepare to host the 2010 Winter Games.
Sara’s many achievements include earning a silver medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy, smashing records during a triumphant 2005-2006 season with four World Cup medals, including a Team Sprint event in her hometown of Canmore, Alberta, and bringing home Canada’s first ever medal at the 2005 World Nordic Ski Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany. She is also a ten-year veteran of the Canadian Cross-Country Ski Team.
McElhanney is a proud sponsor of Sara as she trains in her quest for the Gold, and receiving financial funding from McElhanney’s 2010 Centennial Program helps to maintain her rigorous training schedule.
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| McElhanney Acquisition, Corporate Growth and Diversification |
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McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd. is pleased to announce the acquisition of Civic Engineering Services Ltd. of Kamloops, BC.
The merger of Civic Engineering provides McElhanney with an expansion of services into the Kamloops, Thompson and North Okanagan region, providing civil and transportation engineering, planning, surveying and mapping. Civic has been established for 23 years in Kamloops, providing service to First Nations, municipal and land development clients.
Mr. Chris Newcomb, President of McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd., notes that “the geographic expansion and integration of staff will provide McElhanney with the continued diversification and corporate growth that the company has experienced in the last five years”
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| McElhanney-sponsored Paralympian Speaks Out on Medal Award Controversy |
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Matt Hallat, a member of the Canadian Disabled Alpine Ski Team, was quoted in a recent National Post article titled "No cash for medals for Paralympic athletes" -- View National Post Article. Although disappointed that he and his teammates would not have access to the money-for-medals program, he acknowledged the financial support of McElhanney and other official organizations and concluded by saying "It is the best that it has ever been".
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| Expansion in Penticton |
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Chris Newcomb, P.Eng., President of McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd., and Bruce Dalrymple, P.Eng., Principal of J & B Engineering Ltd., are pleased to announce the merger of J&B Engineering Ltd with McElhanney's Penticton office, effective September 1st, 2007. Lawrence Riding is joining the company from Winnipeg to take on the role of Engineering Branch Manager.
For the past several years McElhanney has operated a very successful survey branch in Penticton and with this merger the company will be able to carry out a wide range of land development, municipal, structural and building engineering. There are a number of new and exciting projects planned in the Penticton region, and we are looking forward to being involved in many of them.
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| Success for McElhanney at the Inaugural David Thompson National Geomatics Awards |
The David Thompson National Awards Program is sponsored by the Association of Canada Lands Surveyors (ACLS) & the Canadian Council of Land Surveyors. |
At the gala dinner on the final night of the ACLS conference held in Quebec City on June 22, 2007, McElhanney was successful in being recognized in the three categories of this awards program:
Innovation in Geomatics Finalist - Frank Slide GPS Deformation Monitoring Project.
Contribution to Society Finalist – Cambodia Land Management Project.
Unusual Applications in Geomatics Winner – Cambodia Land Management Project.
Congratulations to the McElhanney teams for their outstanding efforts on these projects which helped the company achieve recognition for its innovative approach to projects in the Geomatics industry.
For information on David Thompson, please visit www.davidthompson200.org
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Turtle Mountain, British Columbia Frank Slide GPS Deformation Monitoring Project
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| McElhanney Completes Clean Sweep of 2007 Transportation Awards |
At the 2007 Consulting Engineers of BC Annual Awards on March 3rd, McElhanney received the Award of Excellence for design of the Mount Lehman Interchange, on the Trans-Canada Highway in Abbotsford. This was the top award out of 11 high quality submissions in the Transportation Category. |
Coming less than a month after our two wins at the Ministry of Transportation Awards in February, this means that McElhanney has won all the first places in transportation design and construction in BC in 2007. This is an outstanding achievement that sets the bar as high as it can go.
Congratulations to Gary Tencha and Rob Parkinson who came up with the innovative design concept, and to the entire design team:
Gary Tencha, Project Director; Rob Parkinson, Project Manager; Dave Porterfield, Resident Engineer; Manfred Milewski, Resident Inspector; Dennis Karpluk, Bridge Inspector; Grant Stewart, Designer; Harold Smith, CADD; Jose Pinto, Traffic Engineering; Denny Leung, Signing Design; Jim Dumont, Drainage Design; Kent LaRose, Bridge Design; Parm Nahal, Quality Control; Ed Ho, Municipal Utilities Design
Read the Executive Summary of this submission
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Interchange Design
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| Two 1st Place Awards of Excellence to McElhanney from the BC Ministry of Transportation |
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McElhanney is very proud to be the recipient of two outstanding awards at the recent 2007 Minister’s Awards Dinner hosted by the Ministry of Transportation and the Consulting Engineers of BC. The Honorable Kevin Falcon, BC Minister of Transportation, and Dirk Nyland, Chief Engineer for the Ministry of Transportation, presented a total of five Awards at the event. McElhanney’s awards were in recognition of:
- Excellence in Construction Supervision Services - Ootsa Nadina Road Upgrading project; and
- Excellence in Design & Contract Preparation – Roads for HWY97, Okanagan Lake Park to Greata Ranch 4-Laning project.
It was mentioned that the word ‘exceptional’ was used a lot in association with ‘McElhanney’ throughout the evening. Congratulations to Marcus Barber of the company’s Prince George office and Santino Pirillo of the company’s Surrey office for leading the winning teams on these two crowning assignments.
Read the Project Description
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| Ootsa Nadina Road Upgrading |
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| Okanagan Lake Park to Greata Ranch 4-Laning |
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| Second 2010 Olympic Athlete Sponsorship to commemorate McElhanney’s Centenary |
We are pleased to announce our sponsorship of 2006 Olympic Silver Medallist Sara Renner in her quest for Gold in the 2010 Games. Sara, in addition to Paralympic Athlete Matthew Hallat, will receive financial funding as part of McElhanney’s 2010 Centennial Program. |
Sara is a 10 year veteran of the Canadian Cross Country Ski Team. She is a three-time Olympian who sprinted to a silver medal in the team event at the 2006 Winter Olympics Turin, Italy.
There were many notable placings leading to the silver in Turin. In 2005, Sara earned Canada's first ever medal at the World Nordic Ski Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany with her bronze-medal finish in the individual sprint. In the following season, Sara also won 4 World Cup medals including a silver in front of a roaring hometown crowd in Canmore in the Team Sprint event.
This Golden Girl (born in Golden, BC) is currently taking a year off to start a family with husband Thomas Grandi, also an Olympian and leader of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team. They live and train in Canmore, Alberta and are expecting their first child in February. Sara is very excited about being a new mom and confident that her new arrival will bring a balance to her life when she continues to pursue her dream to represent our nation and leading the Canadian Ski Team to deliver podium-level performance in 2010.
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Learn more about our Golden Girl at www.grandi.ca and her thank you note to McElhanney.
Welcome to our McElhanney Family, Sara! And our very best to you and yours in 2007.

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Left to Right: Bruce Winton, Vice President MLSL, Sara Renner, Chris Newcomb, President MCSL.
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| 2010 Paralympic Athlete Sponsorship to commemorate McElhanney’s Centenary |
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McElhanney is proud to extend financial support over the next 3.5 years to a world class Athlete vying for a spot on the podium at the 2010 Paralympics.
Matt Hallat was born in Vancouver in 1984. He lost his right leg to cancer just before his sixth birthday, but was skiing by eight. He is now living and training in Whistler towards his lifelong dream of becoming an Olympic Champion.
The first race for Matt was when he was 12 years old and he has been a serious contender ever since. He has been a member of the Canadian Disabled Alpine Ski Team over the past 4 years and his first breakthrough came at the 2003 Canadian Disabled Alpine Ski Championships in Kimberley, BC, where he ranked 1st in SL (Slalom).
His other achievements since include:
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Left to Right: Chris Newcomb, President of McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd., Matt Hallat, O'Brian Blackall, President of McElhanney Land Surveys Ltd.
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- 2005 Canadian Disabled Alpine Ski Championshps at Sunshine, Banff
- 1st in SG (Super Giant Slalom)
- 1st SL (Slalom)
- 1st GS (Giant Slalom)
- 2nd DH (Downhill)
- 2006 Paralympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy (1st Paralympic Games for Matt)
- 31st in SL
- 32nd in GS
- 37th in SG
- 1st at Nor-Am SL and GS in Whistler, BC
- 10th at World Cup SL in Shiga Kogen, Japan
- 11th in World Cup SG and 12th in SL in Pyeong Chang, South Korea
For those of you who do not ski, maybe you could challenge Matt at the golf course; he is an avid golfer with a 6 handicap - not bad for a person who spends most of his time skiing all over the world!
We are certain that we will see a lot more of this outstanding athlete who shares our passion for excellence in our endeavours.
Welcome to the McElhanney Family, Matt!
Read more about Matt at www.matthallat.com You can also email him at matty_goneskiing@hotmail.com
DISCIPLINES
Downhill: Skiers are timed as they race down a long, steep course that may include turns and jumps. They must pass through a relatively few number of gates that are used as checkpoints. The penalty for missing a gate is disqualification. Each athlete is allowed only one run down the course and athletes' times determine the order of finish.
Slalom: The Slalom is a technical event. The course is shorter than other Alpine Skiing events with a high number of gates (55-75 gates on a men's course and 40-60 on a women's course) that the athletes must negotiate. The penalty for missing a gate is disqualification. Each athlete completes two runs on the same day on different courses. Times from the two courses are added to determine the order of finish.
Giant Slalom: The Giant Slalom is also a technical event. In comparison to the Slalom, the course is longer, there are fewer turns, and the turns are wider and smoother. The number of gates is determined by the vertical drop and the penalty for missing a gate is disqualification. Each athlete completes two runs on the same day on different courses. Times from the two courses are added to determine order of finish.
Super Giant Slalom (Super-G): The Super-G is a speed event. The course is shorter than Downhill but longer than Giant Slalom and Slalom. The number of gates is determined by the vertical drop, with a minimum of 35 direction changes for men and 30 for women. Gates are set at least 25m apart and the penalty for missing a gate is disqualification. Each athlete is allowed only one run down the course. Athletes' times determine the order of finish.
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| Robert A. Brocklebank - 2006 Beaubien Award Winner |
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Robert A. Brocklebank, P.Eng. was this year’s recipient of the Beaubien Award, the Highest recognition presented annually by the Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada (ACEC) for individual lifetime achievements and contribution to the engineering industry and to the Association.
Bob’s greatest technical expertise is in the field of geomatics related to aerial photography and mapping. He has played an important role in establishing Canada’s reputation as a world leader in the field of geomatics and in the logistics of carrying out projects in remote, inhospitable locations. Throughout his distinguished career he has also made significant public contributions in other fields of endeavour. His dedication and support for the Canadian Consulting Engineering industry is well known.
The McElhanney organization of today rests on the foundation fostered by Bob Brocklebank during his 30 year tenure as its leader. When Bob joined McElhanney in 1964 the firm was a modest survey partnership with a staff of 25. By the time Bob retired as President of the company in 1995, he had built McElhanney into one of Canada’s largest integrated engineering and geomatics companies, with a staff of over 500, offices throughout Western Canada, and a track record of successful projects throughout Canada and in over 70 other countries.
In his acceptance speech for the Award, Bob said “I have had an enjoyable, interesting and sometimes even exciting career. I can truly say that there were very few days when I didn’t look forward to going to work! I found particularly rewarding the many years of involvement with the Consulting Engineers of BC and later, the ACEC. Everyone should be so fortunate!
For making the last 40 some years rewarding and enjoyable, and for making the achievement of this award possible, I thank the present and past management and staff of the McElhanney Group of Companies. Except for their dedication and efforts, I would not be here.”
Read the Award Nomination
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| Past Success in Cambodia Leads to a New CIDA-Sponsored Contract |
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McElhanney, in association with GeoSpatial/Salasan Consulting, was awarded a CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) funded Land Management and Administration Project (LMAP-Canada) in Cambodia. This project was developed by CIDA as a follow on from the Land Management Program that our McElhanney-GeoSpatial Team undertook in 2003/2004.
The LMAP-Canada project was opened for competitive bidding Canada-wide. Our McElhanney-GeoSpatial Project Team was selected because of the ingenuity of our approach in the geomatics field and our extensive knowledge of the type of work gained from the successful implementation of the earlier project in the country.
Work is expected to begin in January 2007 and will extend over a 5 year period. The program provides technical assistance for establishing property parcels, land ownership and land titling. Technical input includes mapping, survey control, boundary demarcation, adjudication, dispute resolution, State land management and land valuation.
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| Another Award for Treetops Adventure |
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At the annual conference of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of BC in Victoria on October 14, McElhanney was honored with yet another award for the Treetops Adventure project. Art Williams and Chris Newcomb were awarded the 2006 Editorial Board Award for best article of the year in Innovation, the association’s monthly magazine. Unfortunately Art is in poor health, so the award was proudly received on his behalf by his grandson, Chris Fenje.
Click here to read the article.
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| Tsunami Project Update |
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Last week McElhanney signed a new contract with the Canadian Red Cross to substantially expand its tsunami resettlement work in Aceh, Indonesia, for another 15 months. We recently completed our work in Area 1, close to the provincial capital city of Banda Aceh, where we re-created and established ownership for over 2,000 residential land parcels in areas where villages had been completely eradicated, as well as carrying out environmental and geotechnical assessments. House construction is now under way, and the Red Cross aims to have as many homes as possible occupied in time for the second anniversary of the tsunami on December 26th.
Our new contract is for 19 villages in a more remote area on the southwest coast of Aceh, several hours by road from Banda Aceh. This was the area closest to the epicentre of the earthquake, and the first to be hit by the tsunami. In addition to parcel mapping, ownership, environmental and geotechnical services, we are also responsible for community planning and coordination of water supply, sanitation and drainage works being provided by others. Some of these villages require relocation, because the original sites are now submerged below sea level.
This increase in the scope of our work is providing us with many new challenges. It demonstrates the trust that the Canadian Red Cross has in our ability to deliver a complex range of services under extremely difficult circumstances. Congratulations to Francisco Goncalves and Tim Coulas, who have done an outstanding job representing McElhanney on the front lines of this project!
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| Temporary Housing in the Relocated Village of Jeumphek, on the West Coast of Aceh |
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| 2006-2007 Scholarship Announced |
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The University of Calgary has recently advised us that Ms. Rebecca McKillop Broten of Calgary has been selected as this year’s recipient of the McElhanney Scholarship. This award, jointly sponsored by McElhanney Land Surveys Ltd. and McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd., is valued at $2,500.00.
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| Assistant Branch Manager - Prince George |
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Effective immediately Bill Cheung is appointed as Assistant Branch Manager of MCSL Branch 2341 in Prince George.
Bill was with the company at this Branch from 1991 to 1999 and he returned in 2004 after 5 years in Ecuador. He will still continue as manager of our municipal section in addition to his new duties.
Bill’s appointment is consistent with our move to provide a "Go To" person in MCSL’s larger branches for occasions when the manager is not available. Please join me in welcoming Bill into his new role.
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| McElhanney Proudly Supports The Mobility Cup 2006 |
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McElhanney was a proud “silver” sponsor of The Mobility Cup, Canada’s annual International Regatta for sailors with disabilities. The Disabled Sailing Association of BC and the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club hosted the event at English Bay in Vancouver on September 11 - 15. Forty sailors of varying severity of disabilities from across Canada, US, Australia, New Zealand and Hungary competed in this challenging and highly competitive sport. Check out “Event Summary, Background and History” for more info.
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| Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan unfurled the Mobility Cup 2006 flag at the official opening ceremony on Monday. |
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| Dan Tresa (left), Assistant Manager of Vancouver Mapping Branch, and David Ostro, Funds Development Manager of the Sam Sullivan Disability Foundation. |
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| McElhanney Announces Merger with Kilbride Land Surveying Ltd. |
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McElhanney Associates Land Surveying Ltd. and Kilbride Land Surveying Ltd. are pleased to announce the merger of Kilbride’s business with McElhanney. Gordon Kilbride, BCLS, the principal of Kilbride, and his staff will be located in McElhanney’s Prince George office in the near future. This merger emphasizes McElhanney’s province-wide commitment to land surveying and strengthens our capability to serve the communities in northern BC.
Gordon Kilbride received his commission as a BC Land Surveyor in 1973 and was President of the Corporation of BC Land Surveyors in 1993. He works closely with Dale Keown BCLS, who will also be joining the McElhanney team. Gordon, an ardent golfer, has been in business, and providing surveying services in Prince George, for over 30 years.
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| McElhanney Announces Merger with Acer |
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Chris Newcomb, P. Eng., President of McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd., and Brad Pollard, RP Bio, President of Acer Resource Consulting Ltd. are pleased to announce the merger of Acer with McElhanney’s Terrace office.
For the past decade Acer has provided environmental consulting services specialising in wildlife throughout northwestern BC. The merger will complement McElhanney’s existing environmental staff based in Smithers, specialising in aquatic studies. The combined staff of 8 environmental specialists will be able serve McElhanney’s clients at its other offices throughout BC.
 From left to right these are Wayne Sheridan, Brad Pollard & Sam Buchanan in front of Acer’s office.
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| McElhanney Opens Materials Testing Facility |
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McElhanney is pleased to announce the opening of a materials testing facility for soils, concrete and asphalt at our branch office in Smithers.
We would like to welcome new employees Emily Davidson, P.Eng. and Bruce Garlick, C.Tech. to our growing Smithers branch office. Emily has 10 years experience in Geotechnical Engineering and Materials Testing; and Bruce has 20 years experience in Materials Testing, and Geotechnical field assessments.
McElhanney’s Smithers office provides a wide range of consulting services including specialists in Structural, Municipal, and Transportation Engineering; Fisheries and Aquatic Biology; and Surveying.

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This week, almost exactly one year after the tsunami of 26 December, 2004, hit Indonesia, McElhanney signed a contract with the Canadian Red Cross to provide services for resettlement work in several villages east of the provincial capital of Banda Aceh. The Canadian Red Cross wants to build 12,500 permanent new homes along the north coast of the island of Sumatra in villages that were completely destroyed. McElhanney leads a consortium that includes Golder Associates, Hatfield Consultants, Geospatial International and Whyte-Reynolds that will provide mapping, surveying, geotechnical, environmental, land titling and livelihoods services (livelihoods involves helping people to re-establish their small businesses) for the first 2,400 of these homes. The project will be managed by Francisco Goncalves of our Jakarta office.
For more photos showing what the area looks like today, click here (pdf)

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We are pleased to announce that Translink has selected the Golden Crossing Group as the preferred proponent for the Golden Ears Bridge Project.
As a member of the Group, McElhanney Engineering Services Ltd. will be playing a major role, responsible for the detailed design of the north-south section, including several interchanges, traffic analysis, drainage and utilities.
Scheduled to open in June 2009, the Golden Ears Bridge will provide a six-lane toll bridge across the Fraser River, connecting Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge with Surrey and Langley. The new bridge and associated road network will result in improved north-south access to regional centres and major trade routes such as the Trans Canada Highway.
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Last week McElhanney’s mapping department announced that our MapsByAir.com aerial photo link to the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is now available to realtors. Through a subscription fee with McElhanney, a realtor’s MLS listings will automatically be attached with an aerial photo covering their for sale property. Aerial photos provide home buyers with a view of their new home, their neighbourhood, and surrounding parks, bus routes, schools and other services.
 Overview of 7488 Salisbury, Burnaby, BC
 Zoomed View of 7488 Salisbury, Burnaby, BC
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McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd. was presented with the SNC-Lavalin Group Award for Improvement of Physical and Social Infrastructure, for the Land Administration in Mine-Affected Areas Project in Cambodia at the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters 13th Annual Canadian Awards for International Cooperation in Toronto on November 1st. The awards recognize the excellent work of Canadian businesses and organizations in developing countries and countries in transition.
This is McElhanney’s fourth award for this project. Previous awards include the 2004 Consulting Engineers of BC Lieutenant Governor’s Award and the Award of Excellence in the Soft Engineering category, and the 2004 ACEC Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards Award of Excellence. This is a tribute to the ingenuity and perseverance of McElhanney’s staff.
The awards were presented jointly by Madame Diane Vincent, Executive Vice President, Canadian International Development Agency and Hon. Perrin Beatty, President and CEO, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.
Pictured below from Left to Right: Robert Blackburn, Senior Vice-President of SNC-Lavalin, Chris Newcomb, President McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd., John Blair, Vice President Geomatics McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd., and Hon. Perrin Beatty, President and CEO, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters.

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