20
Geotechnical News • March 2016
CANADIAN GEOTECHNICAL SOCIETY NEWS
Investigations Ltd were both made
Fellows of the Engineering Institute of
Canada.
The citations that accompany these
awards and fellowships will appear in
an upcoming issue of the
CGS-Geo-
technical Info Net.
Thanks to all who submitted nomina-
tions of CGS members for these EIC
awards and fellowships. In an accom-
panying article in this issue, find out
how you can nominate CGS members
for 2017 EIC Awards and Fellowships.
Division News
CGS Engineering Geology
Division
Message from the Chair
I am honoured and excited as I begin
my term serving the CGS in the capac-
ity of the Chair of the distinguished
Engineering Geology Division. I am
committed to advancing the role and
recognition of the Division in order
to ensure meaningful progress. Along
with the outstanding Leadership Team
of the CGS, I am ready for the chal-
lenges and interesting opportunities
that exist for the CGS and specifically,
the Engineering Geology Division.
I personally want to thank
Doug
Stead,
the previous Chair, for his
tireless commitment, work, mentor-
ship and contributions. I would also
like to acknowledge the efforts of all
others that have worked historically in
the past in order to aid in the develop-
ment of the CGS Engineering Geology
Division. The work and service of the
current executive members,
Stephen
Butt
,
Ariane Locat
,
Karine Cham-
pagne
, and
Anna Torgunrud
is also
extremely valued and much appreci-
ated.
As a Division, we look forward to
working closely with the other CGS
Divisions in order to ensure open lines
of communication and collaboration.
We will also ensure to strengthen
our existing ties with Provincial and
National Organizations (i.e.
Cana-
dian Federation of Earth Sciences
(CFES), Universities, Industry etc.)
as well as International Societies (i.e.
International Association for Engi-
neering Geology and the Environ-
ment (IAEG
) etc.). I believe that our
membership and professionals at large
have much to contribute in this regard.
There are many initiatives that we
would like to pursue. We hope to
commission the production of a
monograph on
Canadian Engineer-
ing Geology
. There is considerable
support for this initiative and we
envision that it will include the work
of eminent Canadian engineering
geologists in industry and academia.
The monograph would encapsulate
not only the historical development
of Canadian engineering geology, but
include state-of-the-art chapters. If
you would like to contribute to this
initiative or suggest what content
should be included, please contact me
at
; we do not
want to leave any relevant individual
or group out of such a publication.
We are also looking for members to
help fill certain key positions on the
Executive Committee. I am hoping
that if you are interested and have a
constructive vision for the organiza-
tion, you will consider contacting me
in order to officially contribute to our
efforts. This is a terrific way to meet
other members, but more importantly,
help shape the future of the Engineer-
ing Geology Division.
To our many current members, thank
you for your continued support of our
great organization. Please feel free to
contact me or any other member of the
CGS Executive Committee at any time
with your ideas, thoughts and initia-
tives. I look forward to serving and
working with you all.
Submitted by Nicholas Vlachopoulos
Division Chair – Engineering Geology
Division
Committee News
Formation of the CGS
Geohazards Committee
Activities of interest to Canadian
Geotechnical Society (CGS) mem-
bers that transcend the Society’s
Divisional structure are managed by
Committees. There are currently seven
active, standing committees: Educa-
tion, Heritage, Professional Practice,
Transportation Geotechnique, Mining
Geotechnique, and Sustainable Geo-
technics Committees, and the newly
re-branded
Geohazards Committee
.
The Geohazards Committee replaces
the Landslides Committee in response
to a broadening of the interests and
scope of committee members and
activities.
Geohazards comprise a subgroup
of natural hazards associated with
geotechnical, hydrotechnical, tec-
tonic, snow and ice, and geochemical
processes that can affect public safety,
infrastructure and the environment.
The mandate of the Geohazards
Committee is to support efforts lead-
ing to the technical competence and
excellence of Canadian geotechnical
engineers and related geoscience pro-
fessionals working in the field of geo-
hazards. For example, the Committee
will contribute to the organization of
CGS Annual Conference sessions on
landslides and geohazards, the orga-
nization of national and international
Nicholas Vlachopoulos
