September 23, 2022 | CP24
September 23, 2022 | CTV News
September 14, 2022 | BNN Bloomberg
CivMin hosted a long-awaited in-person gathering to open the facilities at U of T Camp on Gull Lake. On Saturday, September 10 Camp Open House saw some hundred guests, comprised of faculty, staff, current students, alumni and friends, make the trek to the site near Minden, Ont.
After more than a century of student development and learning at Camp, there are now new buildings to reflect the diverse needs of students. The six separated rooms have a total maximum capacity of 96 campers. Additionally, the new structures are now the first fully accessible buildings at Camp, allowing different groups to attend the site with ease.
Brief remarks were made by Professor Brent Sleep, CivMin’s Chair, Anne Taylor of Curve Lake First Nation, alumna Teresa Nguyen (CivE 1T4 + PEY),Professor Emerita Brenda McCabe, Professor Evan Bentz and Dean Chris Yip.
The new HCAT Bunkhouse, MacGillivray Common Room with attached shower and washroom facilities were opened with a symbolic ribbon cutting after some tales of Camp were shared. Tours ensued and an outdoor lunch was enjoyed by attendees.
The in-person event was to complement the March virtual ceremony held to thank donors and pronounce the project’s success. The pent-up demand to gather for a social event, and to physically tour the new facilities, was evident in the turnout and enthusiasm expressed.
By Phill Snel
Camp Open House 2022 Gallery
[slideshow_deploy id=’30785′]
Slideshow of new facilities – August 2021
Camp donors recognized at (virtual) ceremony for new facilities (with video tour) – March 2022
CivMin’s Professor Emeritus Doug Hooton has been awarded Honorary Membership to the International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures, known as RILEM (from the French name Réunion Internationale des Laboratoires et Experts des Matériaux, systèmes de construction et ouvrages).
The news came via announcement during the General Council meeting in Kyoto, Japan on Thursday, September 8, 2022 and was relayed via email to Prof. Hooton.
“Dr. Nicolas Roussel, President of RILEM, has announced during last General Council, in Kyoto, that you have been awarded RILEM Honorary Membership in recognition of your outstanding technical contributions to the advancement of science and your dedication to the RILEM association,” relayed Judith Hardy, Secretary General of RILEM.
RILEM was founded in June 1947, with the aim to promote scientific cooperation in the area of construction materials and structures. The mission of the association is to advance free-access scientific knowledge related to construction materials, systems and structures and to encourage transfer and application of this knowledge world-wide. This is achieved through collaboration of leading experts in construction practice and science including academics, researchers, testing laboratories and authorities.
September 5, 2022 | CBC News
Your Professional Experience Year (PEY) is a great opportunity to get real-world engineering experience and make important connections that you can tap into after graduation. Siu Kai Cheung (Year 4 CivE) spent his PEY working for the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Here’s his story:
Tell us about your PEY experience at the TTC.
I was working as a Track and Structure Engineering Intern and my main responsibility was to conduct drafting of our existing stations. I also carried out some finite element analysis for our system structures to assess their current structural integrity to prevent future failures and flag potential maintenance needs. I was also tasked with preparing locate tickets for excavation projects.
Towards the end of my PEY experience, I had more opportunities to work with the track team to conduct measurements on the rails, essentially gauging wear and tear to schedule future maintenance and track replacement. It was a very rewarding experience.
What was the biggest learning curve going from a classroom to real-world transportation system?
I didn’t realize how dangerous working in a subway tunnel can be if you’re not following proper policies and procedures. The TTC takes health and safety very seriously, especially on track level with the electrified third rail and several tripping hazards. But they put us through rigorous training with all of that and the signaling system, so if you follow all that, plus commit to proper communication with your co-workers, it’s easy to get the job done safely.
Did you know before going to work for the TTC, that you wanted to do something in this field with public transportation engineering?
Not specifically transportation, but yes for public infrastructure. I’ve always had a passion for building infrastructure for the city. I find it really rewarding. What you do in the public sector really contributes to our society. And there’s a lot of pressure to succeed. If you made one mistake it could cost taxpayers a lot of money.
This must have been a good networking opportunity for you, making some contacts that you can get in touch with after school.
I got a chance to work with not just the structural engineers, but I also got a chance to work with the track engineers. After a while at the TTC, I realized that even as a Civil Engineer, you can still transition into a rail engineer, which is quite fascinating, because in Canada we don’t have a specialized program for rail engineering. It feels like there are still a lot of opportunities out there that I haven’t explored, so it’s exciting.
Do you have any advice for other students who are thinking about PEY or are scheduled to go into their own PEY experience so they can get the most out of it?
First, just know that you are going to be working with different kinds of people with different professional and educational backgrounds, and you’re working with people who have a lot more experience than you. At school you’re only working with Civil Engineers, but at the TTC you’re paired up with mechanical engineers, structural engineers and rail engineers.
Second, don’t be afraid to ask questions. I had a great mentor and I learned so much just by getting clarifications on so many things and asking for background information.
And lastly, schedules and deadlines are more important in the workplace. If you’re behind on an assignment you may be able to negotiate something with the professor, but in the real world you must take it seriously and missing a deadline could have serious consequences.
How was navigating COVID-19 during your PEY?
When I started my PEY, COVID-19 restrictions were a lot stricter than they are now, so I was mostly working from home. As the year went by, I was able to go into the office and work in the stations and on the tracks. Don’t miss your opportunity to go in person and interact with your colleagues outside of Teams or Zoom. It’s a much better-quality relationship and you can learn a lot more. That’s how you get the most out of your experience.
By David Goldberg
August 30, 2022 | TVO Today
As we gear up for the 2022-23 academic year, we’re checking in with the newly-elected leaders of CivMin’s various clubs. Here’s our Q&A with Civ Club Chair Kent Straky (Year 4 CivE):
What is CivClub?
The Civil Engineering Club, or Civ Club for short, is a student-run organization that aims to represent and strengthen the Civil Engineering student body through social and academic activities and initiatives.
What does Civ Club do?
Civ Club organizes several events and services throughout the year with the intent of supporting the community through an academic, social, and professional lens. This includes running student socials, networking events, midterm preps, mentorship opportunities, as well as health and wellness resources. In addition, CivClub is in constant communication with the Department and Faculty for issues the student body may bring to our attention.
How did you get involved?
After concluding first year, many clubs opened applications for executive positions which drew my eye. I joined the Troitsky model bridge team as Logistics Director, and Civ Club as the Director of Finance. These experiences opened my eyes to the strength of the Civil Engineering community and gave me lifelong friends and connections. I continued to grow within these organizations with the hopes of supporting others through the various platforms, leading me to the position of Civ Club Chair.
In-Person events are finally back in full swing. How does Civ Club plan to take advantage of this to engage students more than we’ve been able to in the last couple of years?
With in-person events back in full swing, Civ Club has the opportunity to repair the traditionally strong Civil community by running socials and reintroducing classic events. We plan to host the CivMin Dinner Dance, organize community outings, run food sales, and much more. We also have an amazing mentorship program and will be opening the common room with some fresh improvements. With this being the first year fully in-person, we want to focus our efforts on making campus a hub for engagement, as well as prep students for in person studies which may include different strategies then that of online.
Do you have any helpful hints for new students to be successful academically and socially? Favourite places to study or grab a bite to eat on or near campus?
For me, the best way to do well with academics is to make sure you are organized. With many classes and a breadth of assignments, it can be challenging to know when to do what and can often lead to cramming. Make sure you prepare a good system for organizing your academics in addition to scheduling personal time for your own health and wellbeing.
In terms of being successful socially, the advice I would give is don’t be afraid to schedule lots of your time for friends and family. Overwhelming your schedule with constant schoolwork won’t give you the chance to relax and mentally prep for the days to come. Put the books down and go out with your friends, it’s just as important.
In terms of food spots, two have been critical for my success at U of T, including the MedSci building, and Browns Food Truck in front of Sidney Smith. Do yourself a favour and check them out!
How can students get involved with CivC lub?
Send us an email at general@civ.skule.ca if you want to get involved! You can also check out our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook pages. We will be electing a first-year representative in September, so stay tuned for updates!
By David Goldberg
August 26, 2022 | TIME Magazine