2024 Engineers Nova Scotia Award Winner
J.D. Fraser Service Award: Denise Trim, FEC, P.Eng. Awarded to an engineer who has made a substantial contribution of service to the association. This includes a record of outstanding volunteer service to the various committees and projects of Engineers Nova Scotia.
“A real honour and very much appreciated. It is exciting to win an award and be recognized for years of service but in my case, I was not expecting it.” Denise Trim graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia in 1987. She worked for three years with a local consultant firm, doing highway inspection, asphalt and geotechnical design work across Nova Scotia. During this period, she was also approached by a former professor about joining the Student Affairs Committee at APENS, one of a few committees that accepted Engineer In Training members. In 1990 Denise switched positions to work with the federal government, with what was known as Public Works Canada. Initially in a technical role as geotechnical engineer in Atlantic Canada, it seems logical to undertake a Master of Engineering degree to expand her knowledge in this area. During a busy period of raising a family and working, she completed this degree part-time, graduating from Dalhousie University in 1999.
There were opportunities during this period for volunteering to provide engineering related presentations to groups across Nova Scotia, including Brownies, Cubs, schools and science fairs. Having taken a hiatus from committees with Engineers NS during the final years of the Master’s program, in 2000 Denise returned to the Student Affairs Committee, serving as Chairperson for several years. In her professional life she had moved into management of teams and projects across Nova Scotia, which enabled travel which could be combined with engineering presentations such as those at St. Francis Xavier University engineering classes. Denise also served as a mentor for Engineers in Training, including more than one who worked in the same federal government department. In addition to her vast committee work - Student Affairs, Sustainability, Complaints, Discipline, Board of Examiners - Denise Trim has consistently shown her dedication to the profession by advocating for women in engineering and more inclusive participation from other under-represented groups; willing 20 20
to support young engineers in their professional development; prepared to do the work required to promote the profession and its reputation; all while keeping protection of the public as a priority. The ultimate testament of her recognition as an engineering role model is the fact that she has two daughters who have graduated from the Faculty of Engineering at Dalhousie. In 2015 it was time for a change; having recently changed departments to work for the RCMP she was appointed to the Complaints Committee. During this time, she also was a volunteer Commissioner with the Shubenacadie Canal Commission, which intertwined leadership and technical skills. Denise continued to serve in these two roles until moving out of province in 2019. A promotion to Director General of Real Property at the RCMP led to a move to Ottawa in 2019. COVID was a challenging time for all, however remote work was a real benefit to Denise as she was able to spend a lot of time in Nova Scotia until retiring in June 2022. Planning for post-retirement, Denise accepted an appointment to the Board of Examiners at Engineers Nova Scotia. Knowing that being busy and active was important to successful retirement, she also became a part time volunteer employee with Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Dartmouth, assisting with real property considerations. She continues in these roles along with being a volunteer with the Ronald McDonald Atlantic Charities at both the RM House in Halifax and the RM Family Room at the IWK.