President's Message

I sit here at my kitchen table penning my final president’s message. I’m excited for the peaceful transfer of power in May to Kristen Darr, P.Geo.

ur Association has gone through a lot over the past year, with our members rising to the challenge. This issue of The Professional Edge highlights some of these amazing pivots, including RMD Engineering and its scratch development and certification of a ventilator and Sasktel handling the massive influx of data consumption. You may be reading this thinking to yourself, “How can I help prevent another COVID-19 pandemic?” Well, the completely unsubstantiated answer is to vote in the upcoming APEGS elections.*

We have a great slate of candidates (except for the past-president; he is “sus”) that will bring a diverse perspective to our Council.

This perspective will become even more important over the next year as Council continues to develop feasibility plans and make significant changes to the Association as a part of our multi-year Governance Change project. Council has been supported by almost every volunteer and staff member during the review and debate of more than 30 significant changes, but I would like to take a moment to give a special thanks to Stormy Holmes, P.Eng, for her chairing the task group on the changes. She personally gave the Association the first kick in the pants to get the ball rolling. We were lucky she did. By the end of this project, we will have modernized APEGS with better public representation, better governance practices, while retaining the valuable volunteer-based structure that is the envy of many other professional regulators.

Outcomes of the Governance Change project need to be ratified by our license holders, so everyone should consider attending this year’s upcoming virtual Annual Meeting on Saturday, May 1st. It is an exceptionally important meeting for the health of the Association, with several of our core bylaws (council size and composition among them) being ratified.

As this issue has shown, APEGS volunteers, members and staff display the patience, flexibility and innovation our professions are known for. This makes me infinitely proud to represent you as your president.

My service to the profession absolutely marks as a high point in my working career. I wish all the best to everyone and may the upcoming year bring great changes to our province and association.

* I promise I will not incite any insurrections. Zero impeachments for me!