TAC tidb i ts CITE has a strong partnership with the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC). One of our key contributions to TAC's technical projects is participation on a number of TAC councils and committees through CITE appointees. In TAC Tidbits, our appointees share updates about their committees from the spring TAC meetings.
Chief Engineers Council JOHN MCGILL
PAST CITE PRESIDENT The two day long Chief Engineers Council (CEC) meetings are the last of all technical meetings at TAC’s mid-year meetings and AGM. Day one is typically filled with interesting presentations that are reviews of events that have occurred, or perspectives on the future of transportation. For example, in the past few years we have heard about how many Cities, such as Winnipeg, dealt with the significant snowfalls that have occurred thanks to climate change, and how the Nipigon River Bridge in northern Ontario failed and how it could be repaired. We have been challenged to think about Big Data, the future impacts that might occur when autonomous and connected vehicles arrive, and to imagine a day when infrastructure is designed and constructed with little human interface. On the second day of meetings, we receive updates and approve the activities of all TAC's standing committees including the Asset Management Task Force, the Joint Active Transportation Subcommittee, and the following standing committees: Geometric Design, Maintenance and Construction, Pavements, Road Safety, Soils and Materials, Structures, Traffic Operations and Maintenance. Where else would one get such a complete overview of where all the transportation services within Canada are presented? The CITE/TAC relationship is a strong one and being provided a seat at the CEC is both a unique and rewarding opportunity!
Education and Human Resources Development Council MAUREEN VAN RAVENS
Manager of Transportation and Development Engineering, Town of Halton Hills, Ontario The EHRDC spring meeting focused on succession planning, skills needed by transportation professionals, and mental health issues in the workplace. There were three different presentations focusing on the overall skill sets of high school students, using video gaming to provide skills in transportation and mental health issues in the workplace. As part of the Spring meeting, EHRDC along with the TAC Foundation sponsored a TRAC Workshop for high school students. The program included the students breaking into groups and using a computer program to assist in designing a bridge. This was a highly successful workshop. EHRDC activities for the 2017 Fall conference will focus on the following: 1. High School Event. The organizing committee will invite 30 or so high school students to learn about the transportation field in Canada. 2. Three different technical sessions/panel sessions which include a TAC Transportation Theatre “Off-Broadway” discussion: ŰŰ “Understanding and Appreciating Different Stakeholder Views in Transportation” ŰŰ Mentoring – “Pave a Path for Canadian and Foreign Engineers for Advancement and Success” ŰŰ Technical Expert to Manager – “Tips on Successfully Navigating the Transition” 24
TRANSPORTATION TALK | SUMMER 2017