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CANADIAN GEOTECHNICAL SOCIETY NEWS
In Memoriam
Benjamin Torchinsky
1926 – 2013
Friends and colleagues of
Benjamin
Torchinsky
were saddened to learn of
his death on December 23, 2013. Ben
was born in Calgary, Alberta in 1926.
In 1947 he received a Bachelor of Sci-
of Science degree in Civil Engineering
in 1949. From 1947 to 1949, he was a
Sessional Instructor in Civil Engineer-
ing at the University of Alberta.
In 1949, he joined the faculty of the
University of Saskatchewan in Saska-
toon. He held the position of Assistant
Professor and then Associate Profes-
sor in the Civil Engineering Depart-
the College of Engineering.
his time, while conduct-
arch for the Saskatchewan
h Council on cracking and
ation of buildings, he realized
low foundation systems such
ntional spread footings were
orming satisfactorily with the
soils encountered in the City
a.
dations to perform satisfacto-
ese areas, it was necessary to
foundations extending below
ve” zone of seasonal moisture
. He concluded that a bored
crete pile was the most eco-
deep foundation system that
xtend below the active zone,
ch he recommended in areas
entially active clay soils.
he founded B.B. Torchinsky
iates Ltd., which special-
oil mechanics and foundation
ng engineering. Two years
started the piling company,
Foundation Borings Limited
bsequently became Western
s Limited to construct bored
foundations.
due to the increasing tempo
tside interests, he resigned
University of Saskatchewan
ge the business enterprises.
dent, he directed the rapid
f the firm until it provided
across Canada, United States
s overseas. By 1970 these
ring and construction compa-
e consolidated into publicly
GRA Inc. and in 2000 AGRA
with U.K. based AMEC plc.
sky retired from AGRA in
ere many entrepreneurial
“firsts” in Torchinsky’s career. In the
early 1950’s he pioneered the instal-
lation of deep piles and caissons in
Western Canada; by the mid-1950’s
he established the first cable television
system in Western Canada (Cablenet);
in 1960 he built the first canola oil
refining plant in Canada; in the late
1970’s he established the first all-
news radio network across Canada
(CKO); and at the turn of the century
he spearheaded construction of the
first electronic toll highway in Canada
(Highway 407 in Ontario).
In 2003 he received an Honorary
Doctor of Science Degree from the
University of Alberta, his alma mater.
His accomplishments have also earned
him many awards. He was nominated
by the Canadian Geotechnical Society
for the 1997 Sir John Kennedy Medal
which he received, and which is the
most distinguished award from the
Engineering Institute of Canada. He
was also named, Fellow of the Engi-
neering Institute of Canada in 1997.
He was awarded the Beaubien Award
in 2001, the highest recognition pre-
sented by the Association of Consult-
ing Engineers of Canada.
This obituary was prepared (with per-
mission) from information presented
in Agra Foundations in 2006.
Submitted by Victor Sowa
Secretary General – Canadian
Geotechnical Society
Heritage Committee
History of Local Chapters of the
Canadian Geotechnical Society
The Heritage Committee believes that
the history of the local chapters of the
Canadian Geotechnical Society to be
valuable part of the Society and its
members. The CGS Heritage Com-
mittee would like to assemble if at
all possible, a collection of historical
summaries of all the chapters. As an
example, the CGS Heritage Commit-
tee is pleased to provide a third history
of one of our prominent local chapters.