road runner, january 2008 - british columbia...submitted by michael lovecchio, manager, strategic...

Ministry of Transportation Staff Newsletter January 2008

RoadRunner

The delegation engaged and reassuredstakeholders that the Pacific Gateway isreliable. Every stop was an opportunityto position Canada’s Pacific Gateway asa desirable supply chain to major NorthAmerican markets, with new capacitynow open in Prince Rupert and morecapacity coming on stream at Deltaportin 2009. It was also an opportunity tohighlight Pacific Gateway’s uniquepartnership of industry and government.

In Memphis, the delegation met withthe Chamber of Commerce, port andairport officials and logistics specialists,and toured the massive FedEx world hubat Memphis International Airport. InChicago, they toured BNSF Railway’sLogistics Park Chicago – the largestlogistics park in North America – andmet with exporters interested in BritishColumbia. In Arcadia, the delegation metwith executives of Ashley Furniture andtoured their Wisconsin headquarters.Ashley has grown to become the largestfurniture manufacturer, distributor andretailer in North America. The companyimported 6,700 containers through thePort of Vancouver in the first 11 months of2007, and 536 containers in the first sixweeks of operation of the FairviewContainer Terminal in Prince Rupert. InMinneapolis, the delegation met with

retailers Best Buy and Target to attractinterest in the Pacific Gateway supply chain.

Minnesota Transportation Commissionerand Lieutenant Governor Carole Molnaumet Minister Falcon at the site of the I35WBridge, which tragically collapsed lastsummer, and together they received an

update from the project team. Work hasalready started on a new bridge, with asignificant British Columbia connection.The project manager for the new I35WBridge is Peter Sanderson, who was theproject manager on the Alex Fraser Bridgein the early 1980s.

RoadRunner January 2008 1

Pacific Gateway Executive Committee Members at CenterPoint Properties BNSF RailwayLogistics Park Chicago, the largest distribution centre in the United States.

L-R: Gord Westlake, British Columbia Railway Company; Don Krusel, Prince Rupert PortAuthority; Rick Sloan, Government of Alberta; Kevin Falcon, Minister of Transportation; Pete Rickershauser, BNSF Railway; John Dyble, Deputy Minister of Transportation; John Higginbotham, Transport Canada; Shaun Stevenson, Prince Rupert Authority; Jim Ford,CenterPoint Properties; Ann Rosen, Canadian Consulate in Chicago; Scott Galloway,Vancouver Port Authority; Marie Houde, CN Rail; Lisa Gow, Pacific Gateway Branch.

continued on page 3…

Pacific Gateway Delegation to the U.S. MidwestSubmitted by Michael Lovecchio, Manager, Strategic Communications

Expanding on the advantages of the Pacific Gateway and directly engaging primary stakeholders,Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon led a delegation of Pacific Gateway Executive Committee membersto the U.S. Midwest, December 3 to 7. The delegation visited Memphis, Chicago, Arcadia and Minneapoliswithout a single weather delay.

“Don’t fear failure so much that you refuse to try new things. Thesaddest summary of a life contains three descriptions: couldhave, might have, and should have.”

– Unknown

The New Year brings increasingly longer days, fresh changes andnew challenges.

This year, as new Editor of Road Runner, I’m delighted to bepresenting a newly designed Road Runner. The ministry’s staffnewsletter has had a makeover to give it a more energetic,current look. We also wanted to provide our readers with somenew conveniences. You’ll find the story listings in the Table ofContents link to the articles, to help you navigate the electronicfile more easily. The new typeface (Frutiger) delivers improvedreadability. The pages now accommodate more words andphotos, to reduce scrolling and create a more cohesive document.

Thank you to previous Road Runner Editor Jane Hawksworth, forsharing her knowledge and experience with me, and answering

my multitude of questions. Jane also deserves recognition for herhard work in conducting the RFP process, and collaboratingwith the graphic designer selected, to generate some impressiveoptions. Best wishes to Jane, who is onto a new assignment ofher own, as A/Manager, Division Initiatives, with the Ministry ofEnvironment’s Environmental Protection Division, for six months.

Please let me know what you think of the new design.

Road Runner remains the samein its content and focus, so I lookforward to receiving more ofyour lively and informativearticles and photos.

May 2008 be your best year yet!

– Nancy McLeod

Editor’s Note

RoadRunner Contents, January 2008

Pacific Gateway Delegation to the U.S. Midwest page 1

Editor’s Note 2

Mike Proudfoot, our new ADM 4

Gateway Program Update 5

Kicking Horse Canyon Updates 7

William R. Bennett Bridge Nears Completion 8

Sea-to-Sky Highway Project on Schedule 8

EAF Update 9

Manager as Leader and Coach 10

Getting There GreenField Services Implementing Winning Green Idea 11

Green Changes Begin at Vancouver Island Offices 12

Snooper Truck Gives Rare View of BridgesJack Goes Back 13

Weather Wreaks Highway HavocGold River Fraser CanyonTrans Canada Hwy 14Pacific Marine Trail 15Oyster BayTsitlkaQuadra Island 16

Greetings From the Provincial Permit Centre 17

Kurt Edmunds – District Ops Manager 17

Mystery Man’s Identity Revealed 17

Lardeau River Spawning Channels Open for Business 18

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing 18

Gathering History of Rattlesnake Underpasses in Southern B.C. 19

Joint B.C. Road Builder/Ministry EPS 502Subcommittee – Partnering at its Best! 20

Dutch Creek Emergency Acrow Installation 21

Take Your Kid to Work (in Victoria) Day 21

Your‘re a Winner!Brian Gould – Senior Avalanche Officer and Professional Engineer 23

Jackie Chambers Recognizedfor Healthy Contributions

Recognizing Shawn GrantGrant Lacmuth Honoured for WRB Bridge Promotion 24Gary Runnalls Excels at ServiceDemo Run Successfully Completed

You never know what you’ll see! 25

CVSE in Christmas Parade 26

Lower Mainland District Christmas Party 26

Spreading the Warmth with Warm Faces 26

PECSFProvincial Employees Community 27Canvasser of the Year 28Services Fund 2007 Wrap-up 28

At DriveBC, Change is Constant 29

On The Road AgainDeep Freeze in Dease Lake 30Moving Through Makkah 31Antartic Bound 32Transportation Adventures in Egypt 33

The Winning Weather Photo and other photos from around the province 34

Onto New Vistas Derek Boyes – 35 Years of Government Service 35Retirement Luncheon with Gwyn Laybourne 35Grainger Wilson – Master of ProjectManagement – Retires 36Howard Emslie: A Legend Retires 37Harry Wan Rides On 38Jerry Gerrard – From Youngster to RetireeIn Memorium: Donald Arthur Goddyn

Staff Roundup 39

The RoadRunner is an employee newsletter,published six times a year. We welcome yourstory submissions. Email your article as a worddocument (350 words max) and your photo-graphs as jpegs to: [email protected] ensure the best photo quality possible, please do not embed photos within your article.

You can check out the EAF website for regular updates at:http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/eaf/home_intra.asp

For the Public Service Community website visit:http://www.gov.bc.ca.

Take a look at some of the new items in ourMoT Online Store visit:http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/gwwhr/content/store/onlinestore.pdf or through the MoTHome Page at: http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/content/ newhome.asp.


Venturing around the Dease Lake area.photo by Bill Maitland

The mission provided an opportunity toengage many parts of the supply chaindirectly, and combat misinformation aboutour ports and railways. American exportersand importers were impressed with theefficiencies presented by the PacificGateway. Retailers were very interested inthe short and efficient shipping times tothe Midwest via Canada’s Pacific Gateway.

Retailers, in particular, are watching thelabour situation in American ports andlooking for contingency plans.

Pacific Gateway Branch plans andcoordinates the Pacific Gateway ExecutiveCommittee missions. Working with ourpartners in the federal government,provincial ministries, and our rail, portand airport partners, means our stake-

holders hear from all segments of thetransportation system. Last year saw success-ful missions to Asia and the United States.In 2008, we will use the BC-Canada Pavilionin Beijing to highlight the Pacific Gatewayand our world-class transportation system,and we will also take our message toToronto, Ottawa and Montreal. �


Above left; Today’s B.C. Port Systems’ Multimodel Network.

Above right; Key West Coast rail network connections to North America in 2008.

At right; This envelope from 1926, shows that the Lower Mainland has always been a hub for Pacific shipping.

Submitted by Tracy Cooper, Regional Director

Pacific Gateway Delegation to the U.S. Midwest continued

ADM Mike Proudfoot – Moving Forward Together

Mike Proudfoot became Highways Department Assistant DeputyMinister at the start of this year, bringing more than three decadesof ministry experience.

Over the years, Mike has developed adeep appreciation for the ministry’speople. “This is an amazing team,” saysMike. “Our work is important andessential and our people are ourstrength. They’re the ones the publiccall if they’re worried about a stoplighton the way home, or a road that’sshowing its age. They’re the ones outthere at all hours dealing withsnowstorms, floods and washouts.They're the ones making sure trucksoperating on our roadways are safe."

One of Mike’s main focuses is ensuringthe public continues to be served by atalented ministry workforce, able tomeet the challenges of the future.“There's never been a more excitingtime to be part of the Ministry ofTransportation. We've embarked on thelargest infrastructure program theprovince has ever seen. Major initiativesunderway throughout B.C. affordopportunities for all of us to contributeto the growth and prosperity of theprovince. We need people who areskilled and motivated to take on thechallenges and make the most of theopportunities ahead.”

Succession planning is the foundation tobuilding on the legacy of our predeces-sors. And broadening our experience iskey to success. “People need to get outand sit in the seat of the snowplow; towalk behind the paver; to be involved inour major projects and environmentalinitiatives. We need to keep growingthat ‘on the road experience’ and at thesame time, we have to be adept at takingon technically demanding projects.”

"Throughout my career, I've been privi-leged to work with supervisors andmanagers who shared their experiencesand took an interest in the developmentof our people. Today, we have access toan established mentorship structure,comprehensive training opportunitiesand an ability to influence and contri-bute to an ever improving workplace

through the Employee Advisory Forumand regular Work Environment Surveys."

There are also the skills and abilitiesneeded to work with transportationexperts in the private sector, localgovernments and other agencies.“We’re using our expertise to work withagencies, communities and stakeholdersto develop innovative solutions to theproblems of today and tomorrow. We’reworking with contractors and theconsulting community to build partner-ships, to get top value in the delivery ofour programs.”

The kind of wide work experience Mikeenvisions for highways staff, he hashimself. Prior to his appointment asAssistant Deputy Minister, Mike wasExecutive Director of the GatewayProgram. He served as Director of Designand Construction for the Lions GateBridge rehabilitation project, one of themost complex infrastructure projects inBritish Columbia’s history. Mike also hasextensive experience in field servicesand operations including involvement injoint road and bridge maintenancecommittees with the B.C. Road BuildersAssociation. And during his time inconstruction, he did walk many milesbehind the paver.

Mike’s history with the HighwaysDepartment also includes CVSE. He wasVancouver Island District Manager whenCVSE returned to the ministry. He andDawn Major, now Deputy Director ofCVSE, worked closely on the transition.“We understood the crucial role thatCVSE has and how aligned andcomplementary it is to the rest of theHighways Department."

Mike’s desire now is to keep the depart-ment moving forward – ensuringemployees’ vast knowledge and experi-ence is passed on, and that current andnew staff have the educational andcareer development opportunitiesneeded for tomorrow. �

“This is an amazing team. Ourwork is important and essentialand our people are our strength.They’re the ones the public callif they’re worried about a stop-light on the way home, or aroad that’s showing its age.They’re the ones out there at allhours dealing with snow-storms, floods and washouts.They're the ones making suretrucks operating on our road-ways are safe.”


All of those milestones would not havebeen as successfully reached without theefforts of the entire project team alongwith key contributions from the Ministry’sSouth Coast Region and Lower MainlandDistrict offices.

With the new year underway, Gatewaystaff wish Mike Proudfoot best wishes inhis new role as ADM, Highways Department,and welcome back Geoff Freer as theProgram’s Executive Director.

Port Mann/ Highway 1The Gateway Program held a successfulbidders meeting in April 2007, attractingpotential proponent teams of highlyaccomplished companies from all over theworld. The ministry short listed three firmscapable of designing, building, financing,

operating and maintaining the PortMann/Highway improvements to respondto a request for proposal. Each team hassignificant experience with toll highwaysin an urban setting.

Proposal submissions are due this spring,with the contract to be awarded in the fall.Construction will begin this year, withcompletion in 2013.

In September 2007, the PMH1 Projectapplied for Environmental Certification.PMH1 is currently in the 180-day applica-tion review stage, coordinated by theEnvironmental Assessment Office. Thereview includes a 60-day formal publiccomment period, during which regulatoryagencies, local and regional governmentsand members of the public are invited tocomment on the application.

The public comment period had over 300open house participants and about 140written submissions to the EnvironmentalAssessment Office. Feedback gatheredduring this process will be considered inrefining the project design. FollowingEnvironmental Assessment Certificationthis spring, there will be further oppor-tunities for public input during preliminaryand detailed design consultation.

In October 2007, an agreement was signedbetween the Province of British Columbiaand TransLink to ensure rapid bus serviceacross the Port Mann Bridge. It will providereliable, fast, frequent bus service betweenBurnaby, Coquitlam, Surrey and Langley,with connecting buses to Abbotsford andcommunities north of the Fraser River viathe new Golden Ears Bridge.

continued on next page…

Gateway Program UpdateSubmitted by Sarah Johnston, Communications Coordinator

Gateway Program staff had a very successful 2007. A contract was awarded for the Pitt River Bridgeand Mary Hill Interchange Project; the environmental assessment process continued for the South FraserPerimeter Road Project, and began for the Port Mann/ Highway 1 Project, for which three organizationswere short listed to submit proposals to design, build, finance, operate and maintain this corridor’s comingimprovements.


Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange team Tariq Malik, ColinLucas and Tom Bayntun (Peter Dzugas is missing).

Artist’s depiction of Rapid Bus Service across the Port Mann Bridge.

Did you know…

• There are approximately 150 people working in the GatewayProgram offices.

• The Gateway Program will create:

– 17,000 person years ofconstruction employment

– $2 billion of construction over the next six to seven years

• The Gateway Program will include:– 280 lane km of new construction– 48 significant structures– Two major high level,

long span bridges– Over one million tonnes

of asphalt pavement– Over six million tonnes of

granular fill

South Fraser Perimeter RoadFollowing three public comment periods and over 200 publiccomments for the project’s environmental assessment, the teamhas been working with the EAO, Surrey and Delta municipal staff,and other agencies, to finalize refinements to the project.

A lot of other work has been underway concurrent to theenvironmental assessment process to get the project ready forconstruction. In anticipation of environmental certification, theproject team is preparing the RFP scheduled to be issued thisspring. The ministry will manage preliminary works, such asutility relocation and pre-loading to improve ground conditionsalong much of the alignment.

Preliminary design public consultation is currently planned for thisspring. This stage of consultation will seek input with regard toconstruction plans, noise mitigation, landscaping and lightingfeatures.

Pitt River Bridge and Mary HillInterchange ProjectThe Pitt River Bridge and Mary Hill Interchange Project is movingforward. Here are some of the highlights:

• all of the piles have been installed for the two towersand more piles will be driven for the piers

• the first stage of traffic detours happened in December in Pitt Meadows

• preloading has begun for the new interchange

• detailed design consultation was successfullycompleted, with a focus on cycling features on the newbridge and interchange.

Progress is steady and the contractor is on track for completionin fall 2009, thanks to Tom Bayntun and the rest of the hard-working field crew. �


Above left: An artist's rendering of the completed South FraserPerimeter Road. Project plans detail the creation of a continuous andefficient route to serve port facilities, rail yards and industrial areasalong this key economic corridor.

Above right: An artist's rendering of the completed Pitt River Bridgeproject. Project plans include upgrades to improve safety and reliabilityalong this important corridor, serving goods movement, commutersand growing communities.

Gateway Program Update continued

To contine watching the progress of thisexciting project, you can visit; www.th.gov.bc.ca/gateway/index.htm

Each year, the Canadian Council for Public-Private Partnerships recognizesgovernments and their privatesector partners who havedemonstrated excellence andinnovation in infrastructure andservice delivery projects thatbenefit the public.

Murray Tekano was on handNovember 26, to accept the SilverAward for Infrastructure for the ministry’spartnership with Trans-Park HighwayGroup, on Phase 2 of the Kicking HorseCanyon Project. “It’s an honour to receivethis national distinction for the ministry’sinnovative approach to delivering newinfrastructure,” said Murray. “Our

partnership on the project resulted in ahigh-quality facility that opened to

the public well in advance of theoriginal schedule.”

The award showcased ourcollaboration with the privatesector concessionaire, Trans-

Park Highway GeneralPartnership, represented at the

event by Flatiron Construction. Inaccepting the award on behalf of theprovince, Murray thanked the Govern-ment of Canada (our “silent” partner) fortheir financial contributions to the projectand recognized their efforts in adaptingthe contribution process to assist a public-private partnership delivery.

These national awards are presentedannually, in three categories, to showcaseCanadian excellence and innovation inprojects that result in enhanced qualityof public services and facilities. �

While work was still wrapping up on thePark Bridge section (Phase 2), PrimeMinister Stephen Harper and PremierGordon Campbell announced funding toallow the project to continue into Phase 3.On November 6, leaders met in Golden tosign a $2.2 billion Building CanadaFramework Agreement, which gives theTrans-Canada Highway through theKicking Horse Canyon priority treatment.

Phase 3, with an estimated cost of $765million, involves upgrading approximately17 km of the Trans-Canada Highway fromGolden (Highway 95) to the west entranceto Yoho National Park, to four lanes. Thework includes realignment to improvetraffic operations, safety and reduce rockfall hazards.

The first segment to proceed will be an 8.8km piece from the new brake check tothe west boundary of Yoho National Park,followed by the 3.5 km section fromGolden Hill to West Portal (just east ofGolden to the wildlife viewpoint).

The project team is now working tocomplete detailed design and right ofway acquisition, to prepare for the tenderof the east segment, in late summer 2008.

It’s important for us to remember thatour success in getting funding commit-ments for these segments would not bepossible without the hard work andperseverance of David Marr and his team,at the Program Development and Monitor-ing Branch, in Victoria. They are the ones

who work first with our project teams tocraft the business cases that demonstratethe funding priority they deserve, andthen with the federal agencies, likeTransport Canada, to seal the deal.�

We couldn’t do it without their great work.

Work to improve safety on the Trans-Canada Highway, through the KickingHorse Canyon, has resulted in a new rolefor a section of the old highway align-ment. The stretch has been reborn as arecreation trail, about 13 km east of Golden.

This cycling and hiking trail is accessiblefrom the new Kicking Horse Rest Areawhere travelers have an opportunity toenjoy picnicking and meandering withinthe scenic valley, and will soon be able toperuse a historic interpretative sign. The

trail follows alongside three km of theturbulent Kicking Horse River, to a lookoutpoint at the location of the former bridge,across the river. Mountains, rivers, themajestic new Park Bridge, and trainsrumbling along the opposite riverbankand are all sights to see – as well as theoccasional herd of mountain goats andsummertime rafters. And travelersstopping on the long drive, to or fromAlberta, can really get out and stretchtheir legs! �


Murray Tekano accepts award.

Premier Gordon Campbell and Prime MinisterStephen Harper in front of the Kicking HorseCanyon Project map.

Strolling the new trail, in November.

Momentum Sustained on Kicking Horse Canyon ProjectSubmitted by Leanne Flood, Stakeholder Relations

New Role for Old Highwaysubmitted by Leanne Flood, Stakeholder Relations

Bringing Home Silver for Kicking Horse CanyonSubmitted by Leanne Flood, Stakeholder Relations

William R. Bennett Bridge Nears CompletionSubmitted by Tammy Kuffner, Community Relations Representative

The Premier told the guests and workersthat the completed improvements willadd 33 per cent more, or 80 km of newpassing lanes. He said, “In addition, we areadding 36 km of new median barrier aswell as highly reflective pavementmarkings to make sure that it’s safer for allof us.”

With no alternative detour route, one ofthe challenges faced by planners andengineers long before construction began,was the need to create a constructionschedule that kept closures and delays toa minimum, while maintaining trafficflows. Through an extensive and earlyconsultation process, MoT identified travelpatterns, allowing planners to create theleast disruptive closure and delay schedulepossible. To date, the contractor has usedless than half of the scheduled, permittedclosures.

Some of the construction challengesovercome include several massive rockcuts. At Darrell Bay just south of Squamish,close to 80,000 cubic metres of rock were

removed, or the equivalent of 500 railwayboxcars. Work is still underway atDoodson’s Corner, the notoriously sharpcurve 18 km north of Horseshoe Bay,where approximately 250,000 cubic metres

of rock, equivalent to a 30 km long line ofluxury coach buses, will be removed andused as backfill for mechanically stabilizedearth walls. �


The William R Bennett Bridge, the new floating structure to replace the 50-year-old Okanagan Lake Bridge,is making its way across Okanagan Lake from Westbank to Kelowna. Now almost 75 percent complete,construction is going well and is on schedule to open to traffic in early summer. With completiondependent on this winter's weather, a specific opening date will be announced in March.

Sea-to-Sky Highway Project on ScheduleSubmitted by Bruce Striegler, Community Relations Officer

With about 18 months left until scheduled completion, the Sea-to-Sky Highway Improvement Projectis on schedule. The project team celebrated the 50 per cent completion, in July 2007, at an event withPremier Gordon Campbell and Transportation Minister Kevin Falcon.

Crews are working on the last of the ninefloating sections, which is scheduled to befloated out by the end of February 2008.

The steel workers have completed theirwork on the bridge and have moved ontoother projects in the province.

Once the William R. Bennett Bridge iscomplete, work will begin on decommis-sioning the Okanagan Lake Bridge,including the interesting challenge ofwhat to do with each of the 12 existingpontoon sections.

In April 2008, the Ministry of Transporta-tion along with School District 23 in the

Okanagan, are placing a time capsule ontoone of the pontoons of the new bridge.Okanagan College is designing and buildingthe container and about 50 shoe size

boxes will be placed inside and sealed off.The capsule will be opened in 27 yearswhen the bridge is handed back to theprovince. �

An aerial view of the Sea-to-Sky Highway, 8 km north of Lions Bay, shows how engineers and designers have developed methods to build out over the steep slopes on the ocean side, rather than closing the road to widen into the mountainside. On the lower left of the picture below the highway is a section of completed mechanically stabilized earth wall, while in the centre, crews are working on a new “half bridge” structure. Half bridgessupport half of the lanes


Update from the Employee Advisory ForumSubmitted by Dawn Braithwaite, EAF Walk the Talk Team Leader and Area Manager

The Employee Advisory Forum (EAF) had its Fall 2007 meeting, in November, where the group cametogether to recharge and discuss the future direction of the forum. The two-day meeting was actionpacked with excellent presentations and guest speakers, including Dave Byng, former Assistant DeputyMinister of Highways, and Lee Herrin, Manager, Surveys and Analysis at BC Stats. For the full agenda andminutes from our two-day session please visit the EAF website, http://gww.th.gov.bc.ca/eaf/home_intra.asp

The EAF had a strategic action planning exercise on the secondday of our meeting, which helped the forum members prioritizeemployee issues. This session led us to reformat the currentteams into five new teams (see chart). Efforts by the previousteams for Vision, Mission and Goals, and Executive/Employee

Engagement, will be incorporated into the new CommunicationsTeam action plan.

The new teams also saw a shuffle of forum members, where thered represents the new Team Leaders:

Recognition (Team Appreciation)

1 Terry N. Harbicht2 Patrick Livolsi3 Mark Devoss4 Heather Liburn5 Crystal Chenier6 Yongmei Chen7 Katy Fulton8 Dennis Pryhitko

Health/Workload

1 Jaswinder Mann2 Debbie O’Brien3 Judy L'Hirondelle4 Layle Larusson5 Stacey Weightman6 Sandra Jackman7 Dale Wood8 Janice Meier9 Don Ramsay

10 Annette Estey

Development (Road to Opportunity)

1 Lenora Fillion2 Dianne Friend3 Adrian Vander-Velden4 Lina Halwani5 Holly Adems6 Jackie Chambers7 Rajeeta Bains8 Karen Brown9 Kimberly Newton

10 Sharon Cowden

Communication (Team Walk The Talk)

1 Nancy McLeod2 Stephanie Livingstone3 Carmone Allen4 Dawn Braithwaite5 Trent Folk6 Dawn Nicholson7 Lori Wiedeman8 Malcolm Makayev9 Jason Jackson

10 Renee Mounteney

Staffing Practice(Staffing For The Future)

1 Mark Hallam2 Jim Macmillan3 George Foisy4 Bob Petho5 Susan Ingram6 Jay Porter7 Brian Taylor

EAF members exchange views on future direction.

more photo’s on next page…

Please visit us at our website for more information on our current and past activities and on thenew teams: www.gww.th.gov.bc.ca/eaf/home_intra.asp


Although I have taken several courses on supervision, I found thiscourse to be very upbeat, jammed packed with interestingdiscussions and focused on many different aspects ofmanagement. It recognized the complexity of a manager’s rolein the workplace and the importance of establishing somepersonal time management strategies that work, and reinforcedthe importance of being a good manager.

Here are some comments from other participants.A new employee to government: “The instructor, LeilaRahemtulla, was fabulous. She was really easy to listen to, andher funny anecdotes (which she often used as examples tosupport course material) made the two-day course an enjoyableexperience.

I was particularly inspired by two phrases that the instructor usedthroughout the course: “How can I be of service?” and “Seek firstto understand”. I learned that it’s easy to get caught up in one’sown work demands, but it is important for supervisors andmanagers to make time to communicate with their staff. Also,

it is important to understand why things, are or are nothappening, before making any judgements about a situation.

A new manager within the ministry: “I really enjoyed the course– the instructor was very knowledgeable and engaging. Wecovered topics such as performance management, communica-tion, delegation, leadership, change management and muchmore. As a new manager, I got a great deal out of the course. Itgave me greater insight into motivation and team-building,personality types and communication styles. The case studiesenabled us to deal with real issues and get ideas from ourgroups. It was great to be able to take time away from work andfocus on our roles as managers.

An existing manager in government: “The course further empha-sized the integral role a manager has in the workplace.” �

This course will be offered again in

March 2008, if you get the chance to

participate. I would highly recommend it.

I recently attended a two-day course “Manager as Leader and Coach,” which was developed by the EAF’sCareer Development Team, Strategic Human Resources and BCIT. The course was designed to giveparticipants an overall view of the role of a manager. It recognized that not all management styles arethe same – there are pros and cons for each – and that many different challenges are faced by managers.

Manager as Leader and CoachSubmitted by Sharon Cowden EAF, Member and Manager, Finance and Administrative Services

Update from the Employee Advisory Forum continued

Charting the EAF's route. EAF Chair Grant Lachmuth and Manager of Corporate PerformanceSusan Ingram applaud participants.


It’s great to see that their hardwork on this is moving forwardto the implementation stageand being recognized provin-cially. This wasn't an easy taskand they all worked hard onresearching this concept. Thankyou – you make us proud!

Keith, Brian, and Bob’s sub-mission was about coveringaggregate stockpiles. Thisproject involves an agree-ment with road buildingcontractors, to cover aggre-gate stockpiles immediatelyfollowing extraction, for allmajor paving projects acrossB.C. The contractors wouldpurchase, install, remove andstore tarps for covering thestockpiles. The project willinvolve engaging withtransportation road build-ing contractors, as partnersin service delivery andgreenhouse gas reduction.

The reason this is so greenis that aggregate is oftenmined, processed and storedin uncovered piles where it’sexposed to the elements,leading to an increase in itsnatural moisture contentfrom two to three per cent,to as high as four to 5.5 percent on average across theprovince. Since the aggregatemust be heated, beforemixing with the asphaltbinder, additional moisture means higher energy costs andgreenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, covering stockpilesresults in fewer emissions. Just goes to show how simple(and cheap) ideas can make a difference!

Additionalbenefits ofcoveringaggregatestockpiles:

• Highly practical measure for achievingsubstantial greenhousegas emission reductionsat a relatively minorinitial cost through outthe province.

• Considerable financialbenefits to the privatesector in the form offuel cost savings andpotential productivityimprovements inasphalt production.

• Reduced dust andsuspended sedimentrun-off from aggregate piles.

• Local air quality benefits from reduced heavy fuel use.

• Potential wider application to other public agenciesthat require asphalt paving. �

Getting There Green continued on next page…

Field Services Implementing Winning Green IdeaSubmitted by Shanna Mason, Regional Director

On behalf of Field Services, I would like to congratulate Keith Callander, Brian Twiname and Bob Pennerfor placing second in the leader award category in the Green Ideas Shine program.

The call for winning green proposals, made last year.

Although none of my ideas are “re-inventing the wheel,” they are simple toimplement, have generated relatively highoffice support and have noticeableimpacts on waste levels.

I began small, by first handing out cubicle-sized recycling bins to those who did notalready have one, and turning off lights inauxiliary rooms, such as bathrooms andstorage closets. Keeping the lights offwhen not in use has been a bit of a battleagainst old habits, but there has been animprovement. (Even if it has meant thatI’ve occasionally turned them out onpeople by accident – sorry guys!)

The next step, was to divert items from thetrash that could be recycled such as glass,tin and plastic. This program was set up atthe Saanich office and is quite inexpensive;however, the service is not offered inNanaimo. Although this was a bit of a letdown, a co-worker suggested collectingthese items and exchanging them for arefund, and by the end of the year thereshould be enough money to throw anoffice luncheon. The benefit is two-fold, asnot only are we preventing recyclablesfrom entering the landfills, but also theprogram-funded party allows everyoneto see that helping out can actuallygenerate tangible rewards.

Other easy programs are battery and cell-phone recycling. Used personal and workcell phones can be sent to the Information

Management Branch at no charge, andalmost any type of battery can be taken toa local recycler for safe disposal. Mostcurrent electronics contain a percentage ofrecyclable material, so consider takingthat used DVD player or computer to adepot rather than to your curb.

One of the more challenging problemswas break room and bathroom papertowel waste, as the majority is non-recyclable. The solution came from seeinglocal restaurants with Compost Bins (GreenBins) outside their back doors. Both theSaanich and Nanaimo offices nowparticipate in this program, and hold theproud distinction of being amongst thefirst non-restaurant buildings to becomeinvolved in their respective cities.Bathroom towel waste will be all buteliminated since paper towel is com-postable and break room waste isexpected to drop by 75 per cent once theprogram is in full swing.

The Green Idea’s bug has spread to others.Martin Madelung, South Coast Region’sManager of Rehabilitation and Main-tenance, recently won support to set up a single-point teleconferencing centre at our Courtenay office, which will allowhim to cut his roundtrip commute to 6 km, from 220 km.

Into 2008, new projects like motion-activated sensors in auxiliary rooms,switching to bio-degradable cups and

plates for meetings and functions, andbuying more ecologically safe cleansersare all expected to come into place.Keeping it simple and straight forwardhas allowed my co-workers to becomecomfortable with the changes, and hasin fact, encouraged them to propose theirown ideas for office changes. In the end,education is the best way to get everyoneto see how easy it can be to help endclimate change.�

Green Changes Begin at Vancouver Island OfficesSubmitted by Kevin House, TELP

We are all aware that we must each play a role in curbing climate change, but often the issue seemstoo daunting or far removed from our daily tasks. Following up on the “Green Fervour” generated inmy office by the Green Ideas Shine Program, and with support from Vancouver Island District’smanagement team (i.e. Barb Thomas and Peter Wightman), I have set out to cut waste generated withinour district offices.


Kevin House showing off the benefits of the new program.

The Snooper is basically a vehicle that is used to transport threepeople in a basket to various locations on bridges that youwould otherwise never see or touch. You can imagine what animportant tool this is for the provincial bridge program. The onlything more impressive than the Snooper itself, is how well it'soperated and maintained.

Reese Davidson and Mike Rutledge are a two-man crew thattravel all over the province taking bridge inspectors and bridgearea managers to places that have to be seen to be believed.These gentlemen take their job very seriously, with safety beingthe most important thing. You can understand the importanceof safety with three people suspended in mid air, sometimeshundreds of feet off the ground and single lane traffic passingwithin inches of the Snooper parked on the bridge deck.

There are so many things that Reese and Mike look after to makethis happen. They include first-rate traffic control; excellentcommunication between the driver, the operator and flagpersons; using a Snooper with an impeccable service record;and arranging a well-planned schedule that works for all the usersin the province. On top of all that, these guys are a blast towork with, and are a real asset to the Ministry of Transportation.

I am looking forward tonext season and getting outon the truck again.�

Photo Top:Snooper Truck gets ready to lower MoT staff to hair-raising vistas.

Photo Bottom:Bridge inspectors andmanagers get a rare viewfrom the Snooper.

Jack liked the Lower Mainland so much,that his three-month assignment grew tofive months; or, more likely, all the snowhad made him homesick.

Jack says, “I would like to thank you all forthe opportunity and experience. I wouldalso like to thank Andrew Whale, forlooking after the Rocky Mountain Districtresponsibilities while I was in the LowerMainland. It was a pleasure working withyou all, as well as a great learningexperience for me. I encourage you toexplore temporary assignments andopportunities as they come available,when appropriate for you.”

Jack’s musing on his experience…”newmunicipalities (big ones)… traffic

management issues, driven by the cross-border traffic increases…large CVSE teamand working with the provincialcommittee initiative…working withconcession teams…Gateway, Sea-to-Sky,utility protocol, maintenance andconstruction…the South Coast golf

tournament – a new experience…didn’tmake it to Whistler, but made it to PowellRiver…Perry could improve on officedécor…I tried to offload his burgundychair - it came back…

“One word - ‘staccato’.” �

Snooper Truck Gives Rare View of BridgesSubmitted by Carl Lutz, Bridge Area Manager

I have been working as a Bridge Area Manager with MoT for approximately a year and half. It's a jobthat I really enjoy and I look forward to coming to work each day. On several occasions I have had theduty and privilege to work with the ministry’s Snooper Truck.

Jack Goes Back to Rocky Mountain DistrictSubmitted by Loretta Carlson, Development Approvals Assistant

Perry Dennis had completed his assignment with the CVSE committees in the South Coast Region andthe province, on December 10, and returned to his position as Lower Mainland District Manager. In turn,Jack Bennetto returned to his position as District Manager, Rocky Mountain District.

Jack Bennetto appears reluctant to give up the Lower Mainland District Manager’s burgundy chair, despite Perry Dennis’ persuasiveness.



Weather Wreaks Highways HavocWinter storms, winds, rain and snow lashed B.C. inlate 2007, keeping MoT staff and contractors busyclearing routes and, assessing and repairing damage.This meant much work, and some pretty dramaticphotos.

There was a flood and washout, at Dirty Creek, on Highway 28near Gold River, November 12, 2007. A nearby creek was filled withrubble from a slide, causing water and debris to flow outside of thecreek channel and damage the road.

Photos from the closure of Highway 1, in the FraserCanyon, in early December 2007. At about 15 differentlocations there were avalanche deposits on the road.

Storms Raze West Coast RoadsSubmitted by Doug Elliot, District Technician

A series of storms in early December razed the PacificMarine Circle Route between Cowichan Lake andPort Renfrew, on Vancouver Island’s west coat. Up to75 cm of snow accumulated in two days, followed bya warm "banana express" that dumped large volumesof rain. The intensity of the run-off was more thanstream banks and drainage appliances could contain.The damage is significant. About 500 metres ofsealcoat and gravel were washed away. Run-off wasapproximately one metre over the road.

The roadway is open again, however, some sectionsremain single lane and it will take some time tocomplete the repairs.


Bridge end fill washed away at Robertson River Bridge. Culvert plugged solid with rock and soil, water running over roadway.

Two backhoes clearing debris from slide. Surface damage on road.

Weather Wreaks Highways Havoc continued


Debris, rock and mud slide blocked Highway 19 nearTsitika, November 12, 2007. Pictured here are remnants ofa timber logging bridge.

A rock and mud slide on Wee Wai Road, on Quadra Island, in lateOctober 2007, caused one lane to slip out, and resulted in damage tothe Cape Mudge Band’s sewage aeration facility below.

High tides, combined with heavy ocean storm surges, washedaway protective rip-rap and undermined approximately 100metres of Highway 19A, at Oyster Bay, on November 12, 2007. The highway was closed to one lane. Photos were taken by, Gary Fabick, who is the brother of Val Fabick, South Coast Regional Manager of Project Delivery.

Greetings From the Provincial Permit CentreSubmitted by Lyn Ashcroft, Permit Centre Clerk

Lots of things are going on in the COLD, COLD North. Here in Dawson Creek, we have a staffcomplement of 20 that includes one manager, one administrator, five commercial transport programofficers and 13 permit clerks. We have some current postings as well. Life here is fun with all the challengesthat are attached. Our phone system still has its gremlins and industry have been very good andpatient with us. Our newer staff are getting up to speed and learning more and more about differentparts of the province and all its nooks and goat paths.

In June, the second phase, we addedKamloops area to our permit area and in December, phase 3 Vancouver Islandcame into play. That makes everything inthe province except the 604 exchangethat is under our call system. The LowerMainland is scheduled to be added inMarch of this year.

Here is a list of our staff for those of youwho do not know us. Permit Centre

Manager Terry Morris, CommercialTransport Program Officers Paul Meckler,Sean O’Neill, Craig Williamson, DannyWithrow and Phil Folz; Administrator JulieWillsie and last – but most important –Clerks Kim Bedell, Lyn Ashcroft, JanetWiedeman, Cora Jefferson, Ashley Johnston,Tamara Short, Dawn Werezak, DarlaMartin, Katrina Graham, MarlenePickering, Claudette Ouellette and Michael

Danielsen. Our team is looking forward tothe New Year and the new permit system.We would like to say major KUDOS toKamloops East and all Lower Mainlandscales (back-up staff), and to all our fellowweigh scale staff and portables for theirpatience and understanding during thepast year �


Kurt Edmunds – District Ops ManagerSubmitted by Loretta Carlson, Development Approvals Assistant

Lower Mainland District’s OperationsManager Max Walker moved to theCourtenay Office and thought you wouldlike to know a little bit about his replace-ment Kurt Edmunds.

Kurt Edmunds, has been a Ministry ofTransportation employee for more than 27years, and has worked in several locationsthroughout the province. Kurt began hiscareer in the former Chilliwack HighwaysDistrict in Development Approvals andhad the opportunity to work in severaldistrict offices and throughout B.C., before

becoming a Provincial Approving Officerin 2002. Additionally, Kurt has takensecondment opportunities and workedin Headquarters in Traffic Safety Branchand Planning and Policy Branch.

Kurt made the transition to operations in2006, and recently joined the LowerMainland District, in November 2007.Kurt’s personal interests are outdooractivities – skiing and snowboarding inwinter, and rowing in summer. Kurt iscompleting an undergraduate degree inCommunity Studies. �

Mystery Man’s Identity RevealedThe December 2007 Road Runner asked readers if they recognized a man wearing a bowtie andglasses, who appeared on . For those of you who don’t know this plaid-clad MoTemployee, it’s none other than Jeff Wiseman, District Operations Manager (with a fewmodifications)!

Kurt settling into his new office and role.

Wolf in Sheep’s ClothingSubmitted by Dennis Pryhitko, Supervisor, Kamloops Westbound Inspection Station

Well…well…well… Just when you think you have seen a few unbelievable happenings in ourtransportation business, low and behold another one pops up…

So unsuspecting, a new tractor cautiouslydrives up the scale ramp, way slower thanany other normal commercial traffic.AHA!! You think could there be a reasonthey are driving so slow? What shall we do?

STOP THEM ON EACH AXLE!! This willproduce some results. As the directionalsign says, “STOP,” the vehicle actuallystops. Good. But then we notice there is nomovement of push rods, indicating slacktravel from the brake pots!!

Well let’s back them up to double check.STILL no movement of push rod on therear axle – we definitely need to parkthis vehicle. A level one CVSA inspectionis performed on the truck and trailer.The wolf in sheep’s clothing isuncovered! This vehicle was drivenacross the country from Ontario toKamloops with no interruption on theirwestbound run. Brand new, looks good,smells good, but deadly – NO BRAKES!

When the wolf is interviewed, he has noidea he is short brakes on a full load. Sothen, who really is the big bad wolf? Whoplugged two air lines to the trailer? Whopoked and pushed one plug through intothe glad hand so that the maxi brakes onthe trailer could be released through thesupply line? Who left a plugged serviceline so there would be no air to apply thebrakes on brake application…which thenallows the wolf to trot deadly down thehighway?!

So many questions! Is there more thanone wolf? We are not sure. What we doknow is that the wolf here today had histeeth removed at this inspection station!Will that be enough? We just keep ontrying. Always be on the lookout for thatBIG BAD DEADLY WOLF in sheep attire. Nomatter how shiny and dressed up thesheep appears, there could be a wolflurking underneath and within!

Proud to be an inspector? YES, YOU BET!We have some sharp eyes looking forwolves in our organization! Keep up thegood work! �

These glad hands were one of the problemsthat meant a trailer had no brakes as ittravelled from Ontario to B.C.


Lardeau River Spawning Channels Open for BusinessSubmitted by Bruce Persello, Environmental Services Manager

In September 2007, restoration work ontwo existing side channels of the LardeauRiver was completed, adjacent to Highway31 approximately two km south of TroutLake. The work was undertaken inconjunction with ongoing roadimprovements along Highway 31 betweenTrout Lake and the Duncan Reservoir. Theside channels had become isolated over aperiod of time from the mainstem LardeauRiver as a result of a series of both naturaland human influenced flood events.

The project involved the construction ofchannel intake structures, modificationof the existing side channels to promoteimproved hydraulic flow conditions,placement of large woody debris and theplanting of vegetation in disturbed areas,all aimed at providing improved spawningand rearing habitat for a variety of speciesincluding burbot, rainbow trout , bulltrout, mountain whitefish and kokanee.

The total project involved the enhance-ment of over 1,300 lineal metres of sidechannel habitat and took approximatelyfour weeks to complete.

The restored side channels becameoperational just in time for the 2007kokanee spawning run and hundreds offish were observed staging/spawning atany given time during October 2007. It isanticipated that the improved hydraulicconditions in the side channels and newlyconstructed channel features will benefitfish stocks in the upper Lardeau Riverwatershed for many years to come. Theside channels will be monitored closelyto ensure they function as intended.However, the results from initial biologicalsampling undertaken at the site are farexceeding initial expectations. �

Bruce Persello (crouching) and Jesse Morwoodobserve bright red kokanee. Photo by EricMiller (Masse and Miller Consulting)

Gathering History ofRattlesnake Underpasses in Southern B.C.

Submitted by Leonard Sielecki, Environmental Issues Analyst

The Ministry of Transportation’s pioneering efforts to protect deer, elk and moose on the Coquihalla(Highway 5), the Okanagan Connector (Highway 97C), and the Vancouver Inland Island Highway(Highway 19) have been recognized both nationally and internationally. However, not much is knownabout some of the ministry’s earliest initiatives to protect other species of wildlife, especially thosecreatures that are slimy, scaled, and bite.

For years, rumours havecirculated that rattlesnakeunderpasses were built bythe ministry in the SouthernOkanagan. Some storiesmention a culvert installedby a district employee toprotect rattlesnakes nearOkanagan Lake, around1957. From bits and piecesof information collected todate, it appears that in thelate 1950s and early 1960s,the ministry installed at leastthree culverts for rattles-nake passage under roadsand highways. Apparently,these installations werecompletely local initiatives,championed by district staff wanting toprotect rattlesnakes. The passages wereconstructed decades before the conceptsof environmental stewardship andunderpasses for wildlife were recognizedby transportation agencies.

A number of ministry folks with longmemories have been really helpful fillingin the details of the rattlesnake underpass

history. They include Okanagan-ShuswapDistrict’s Stan Beaulieu, DistrictDevelopment Technician; Rusty Hewitt,District Technician; Stan Warkentin, DistrictSign Technician, and Grant Lachmuth,District Manager, and the NorthernRegion’s Mike Hovde, Manager, Operations,Corporate and Operational Services.

A lot has happened in theSouthern Okanagan sincethe late 1950s. Numeroushighway upgrades andalignment modificationshave occurred. It is veryunlikely that the originalculvert rattlesnake under-passes exist in their originalform, as they have probablybeen replaced over time.Although it has been over50 years since the under-passes were first constructed,the information aboutthem is still important fordocumenting the ministry’searly efforts to protectrattlesnakes.

If you know about the rattlesnakeunderpasses, or if you know a formerministry employee, or anyone else, whomight know about them, please contactme (Leonard Sielecki, Environmental IssuesAnalyst, Engineering Branch). I can bereached in Victoria by telephone at (250)356-2255 or by email at:

[email protected] �


U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Submit your stories and photos:If you want to submit stories and photos send your word files and photos to: [email protected]

Joint B.C. Road Builder/Ministry EPS 502Subcommittee – Partnering at its Best!

Submitted by Keith Callander, Director, Provincial Field Services

The B.C. Road Builder MoT Joint Paving Subcommittee is a success story of partnering in epic proportions.The subcommittee was formed almost two years ago, to review and rewrite EPS 502 (End ProductSpecifications for paving work). The review included examining workmanship issues from EPS 501.

Chaired by Mike Oliver, the success of thegroup is largely due to the hard work,determination and common senseapproach of all the members. At the coreis the component of partnering, and boththe Road Builder and Ministry represen-tatives come to the table with open minds,without pre-formed opinions or individualagendas. The outcome is a highly effectiveEPS document that rivals any document ofsimilar subject matter in any otherjurisdiction. Improvements to the new EPS502 document include:

• clearer language to removeambiguities or grey areas

• a review and revision to thebonus/penalty component toencourage contractors to achieve a higher quality product whilereducing Ministry risk, and whichreflects the increasedcommodity/material prices

• improved workmanship language

• improved definitions, consistentlyapplied to the entire document

The subcommittee is comprised ofmembers of the Joint Road Builder/Ministry Paving Sector committee. Thenew EPS 502 will be distributed shortlyfor inclusion in all Ministry contracts untilthe 2008 Standard Specification for

Highway Construction is issued later thisyear. Special thanks to Don Shaw for hisunlimited hours, and all other membersfor their hard work and patiencewitnessing Don’s two-fingered keyboard-ing prowess! �


Back Row: Todd Strynadka (Terus), Paul Simpson (Imperial Paving), Keith Callander, Brian Twiname, Don Shaw, Daryl Finlayson, Ray Pledger (OK Industries)

Front Row: Rodney Chapman, Mike Oliver, Bob Penner

Dutch Creek Emergency Acrow InstallationSubmitted by Bill Glen, Bridge Area Manager

In the early morning of Monday December 3, 2007 a commercial vehicle carrying a 200 class trackexcavator and a rubber tracked backhoe impacted and extensively damaged the Dutch Creek Bridge,located just south of Fairmount Hot Springs.

It appears that the operator, in his attemptto fit both pieces of equipment on thesame load, was forced to place the boomof the excavator over the backhoe. In sodoing, the boom of the excavator waspositioned beyond acceptable heightrestrictions, causing the impact.

According to our counterparts with CVSE,the carrier was not permitted. The impactwas quite severe, causing major damageto the north end lateral portal brace, bothend posts and top chords. After anextensive evaluation it was determined

that the structure had to be load restrictedto light traffic, until repairs could be made.

The imposed load restriction caused animmediate economic impact to the area asa local mill was forced to shut down dueto inability to move product. Many othercommercial carriers that use the route ona regular basis were also affected.

Given the extent of damage, the possibilityof a quick repair to the existing bridge wasunlikely, and a decision to install a temporarybridge was quickly made.

A suitable site upstream was chosen andwork on an assembly and storage area forthe emergency bridge began immediately.

With the closest emergency bridge stocksituated in Creston, some three hoursaway, a major logistical task ensued withLarry Ballard (Bridge Area Manager) fromGrand Forks playing a key role. Larry didan excellent job in coordinating loadingand shipping of all the components for thebridge – no easy task when long distancesand time constraints are at play!

continued on next page…

Dutch Creek Emergency Acrow Installation continued

The bridge to be installed was a new (stillin the crate) 700 Series, 160 foot DSR extrawide Acrow with a steel grid deck system.Installation of the bridge was tasked tolocal contractor Johnston Construction,who although very competent, lackedenough people with Acrow Bridgingexperience to do the work. To solve thatproblem, calls were made to ThompsonDistrict in Kamloops and Acrow Bridgingin Richmond, for some additionalexpertise. Mainroad Contracting Ltd. alsosupplied a substantial amount ofmanpower and equipment to round outthe onsite requirements. The launch was

assisted with the use of a 250 ton Liebherrhydraulic crane supplied by SterlingCrane’s Calgary division.

Actual assembly of the bridge commencedin the late afternoon of December 6, andby evening of December 10, the bridgewas across and sitting solidly on itsbearings. The “dirt dogs” worked lateinto that evening to get both north andsouth approaches up to grade and readyfor traffic.

I did a 6 a.m. “last look” on the morningof December 11, before heading back toKamloops, and it was quite a sight to see.

There was a persistent snowfall which wasilluminated by the onsite generator-powered lights. I was taken by howmajestic this newly installed bridge looked,in its new location where only a few daysago there was nothing.

Congratulations to Gord and his team inRocky Mountain District, along with theSIR regional bridge engineering group,in putting this project together so quickly.It was good fun working with you! �


Bridge halfway over Dutch Creek.

Take Your Kid to Work (in Victoria) DaySubmitted by Doreen McAllister, Supervisor, CVSE

So, my 14-year-old daughter comes up to me in early October, and says she wants to come to work withme on November 7, for “Take Your Kid to Work Day.” Then about a week later, Susan Ingram from HRsends out an email asking for participants. I quickly register, with Susan and Howard Emslie, mymanager. Perfect. Jamie was happy with me; she was finally going to get to come to work with Mom.The permissions were received from her high school to miss the day.

Then, on Friday November 2, Susan Ingramphones and says, “I understand that youand your daughter are participating in“Take Your Kid to Work.” Susan thenproceeded to tell me that we had won adraw. (I didn’t know we had entered one!)The draw was for Jamie and me to spend“Take Your Kid to Work Day” in Victoria.For those of you don’t know, I live in FortNelson. What do you think Jamie and I

said? “Gee, it’s November, do we want togo to Victoria for a day, or stay here in FortNelson?” It took us about three secondsto decide!

Then Susan went to work on travelarrangements. Flying out of Fort Nelson isnot normally a problem. Flying out of FortNelson, to somewhere like Victoria, onfour days notice can be! Susan called and

said, “I have flights for you two but theyare not great.” She explained we wouldnot arrive in Victoria until midnight,November 6, spend the next day inVictoria, and then fly out of Victoria onNovember 8, at 5:40 a.m.! Would that beokay? Again, I remind you, we live in FortNelson and it was November. Of course wesaid it was okay

.continued on next page…

Take Your Kid to Work (in Victoria) Day continued

November 7, we went into the CVSE officeand met with Greg Gilks for the morning.We learned that CVSE is more than just bigtrucks, and that we do vehicle standardsfor the Province of British Columbia aswell. Jamie, myself, Greg’s neighbour’s sonand I discussed “Segways,” “Bio-fuel”vehicles, “Right hand drive cars,” “Hoursof Service for Commercial Drivers” andseveral other very interesting things. Gregthen gave us a tour of the offices wherewe met quite a few people. That part wasgreat for me, as I have seen some of thesenames over the past eight years, and nowI finally have faces to put with the names.After lunch, we met up with a bunch ofother kids and parents at the LegislativeAssembly Building, for a tour. Because the

session was going on, we did not see insidethe house but it was still a great tour!After the tour, we went to a nearby hotelfor a one-hour session working for thePublic Service. This included three speakers,and a keynote address from JessicaMcDonald, the Deputy Premier andMinister for the Public Service.

Our work day over, Jamie and I then spenta couple of hours walking around thedowntown harbour area of Victoria,looking in the windows of the museum,and at the architecture of some of thegreat buildings.

We got up the next morning at 3 a.m., tobe downstairs at 4 a.m., to meet theshuttle to catch the plane home. After

several delays, we finally made it back toFort Nelson about 2:30 p.m., three hourslate. We did have company for the delays,however, as Jessica McDonald and herassistant Michelle visited with us, in theFort St. John airport. Ms. McDonald wascoming to Fort Nelson to meet with the BCPublic Service Agency folks here.

Jamie admits that some of the trip is alittle fuzzy, because of jet lag, but it wasstill a great experience for the both of us.I guess she will just have to come help medo truck inspections some other day!

Thanks to Susan Ingram, the HumanResources Branch of MoT and the BCPublic Service Agency for this once-in-a-lifetime trip for me and my daughter. �


Deputy Minister

John Dyble (left)

visits staff at the

new Kamloops

Ministry of

Transportation

Building.

Submit your stories and photos:If you want to submit stories and photos send your word files and photos to: [email protected]

Brian Gould – Senior Avalanche Officer and Professional Engineer

Submitted by Mike Boissonneault,Manager, Snow Avalanche and WeatherPrograms.

Our ministry is full of over achievers. Weall know people who rise above andbeyond the expected call of duty. We allknow people who take training courses,and attend workshops and seminars, in aneffort to become the best that they can be.

One such person is Senior AvalancheOfficer Brian Gould. Brian has worked

with Avalanche and Weather Programs since September 2005,and has made many significant contributions, not only to theministry program, but to the entire Canadian avalanchecommunity. Brian is also a fully certified mountain guide and isleading a team to organize the next International Snow ScienceWorkshop.

Brian’s most notable recent achievement is to have passed all thetests and requirements of Professional Engineer. This qualificationwill allow Brian to perform avalanche terrain assessments thathave previously been the work of a select few within the country.It is rare to have combined endorsements of Professional Memberof the Canadian Avalanche Association and Professional Engineer.

Well done Brian, P. Eng. �

Jackie Chambers Recognized for Healthy Contributions

Submitted by Tracy Cooper, Regional Director

Jackie Chambers was recen-tly honoured by her fellowstaff members for herwork on the EAF, healthyworkplaces (through theHealth and Safety Commit-tee and Healthy WorkplaceWeek), and her contri-butions to Act Now. Jackiealso serves on the Article29 committee and is thelocal union representative.

In addition to the recognition certificate she received giftcertificates for Mountain Equipment Co-op and Stefano’sRestaurant.

Jackie says, “I do these things because I enjoy it, and I wouldencourage all staff to participate at some level in things outsideof their day-to-day work. You'll be amazed at what you canachieve!” �

Recognizing Shawn GrantSubmitted by Faisal Siddiqui, Traffic Engineer in Training

I had the opportunity to organize our Traffic AGM, back inNovember 2007. The meeting was meant to cover all trafficengineering related topics, but I took it a step further andintroduced an employee recognition event. It was the first timewe had this recognition within our section.

I made a poster, which was presented to Regional TrafficEngineer Shawn Grant, who is based in Kamloops. Shawn wasrecognized at our AGM for her expertise and for the excellentwork she does for traffic engineering. Although I am quite newat the ministry, working with Shawn Grant is the most valuableprofessional experience I have ever had. Along with her ownresponsibilities, Shawn trains professional engineers fortomorrow. Shawn is a wonderful leader and has built herteam into an exceptional one. �


Jackie Chambers receives a certificate from Tracy Cooper.

Shawn (in black jacket) and team members at the 2007 EIT AGM. Leftto right: Mike Feduk, Lina Halwani, Winnie Wong, Shawn Grant,Trent Folk, Susan Randle, Carolyn Turcotte and Nam Nguyen.

Gary Runnalls Excels at ServiceSubmitted by Bart Chenuz, Inspection Station Supervisor

Gary Runnalls was recognized for the excellent service heprovides to customers and his peers, and for his contributionto the Occupational Health and Safety Committee. ACommercial Transport Inspector for the Kamloops EastboundInspection Station, Gary was presented with a certificate andgift card, on December 17, 2007. �

Grant Lachmuth Honoured for WRB Bridge PromotionSubmitted by Dave Byng, former ADM, Highways

Congratulations to Grant Lachmuth on being awarded the 2007 AdvancedTechnology Award from the Applied Science Technologists and TechniciansAssociation of B.C.

This award was presented at the November 3, 2007, dinner held at the Pan PacificHotel in Vancouver and states...

“The Advanced Technology Award is to acknowledge advancements intechnology and the contributions made by individuals, both members andnon-members, business and industry and government, to promote pioneerefforts in technology and to recognize the application and adaptation ofadvanced technology to new users.”

Grant won this award for his presentations and promotion of the William R.Bennett Bridge and its unique features as a public/private partnership and theonly floating bridge structure in Canada.

Well deserved, Grant!�


You’re a Winner! continued

At our client’s request, CVSE’s Engineerin Training Nam Nguyen successfullycompleted a Demo Run for a new seven-axle ready-mixed concrete pumper truckon December 13, in Port Coquitlam,assisted by CVSE Commercial TransportInspector Robert Sanderson and BillSherman. The demo truck has an overalllength of 16.5 metres, which is one metrelonger than our current permit allows.However, the truck chassis manufacturerclaimed that it should have similarofftracking characteristics with the existing“tridem steer/tridem drive” pumper trucksdue to the inherent turning capabilities ofthe last two axles in this new truck.

CVSE works very closely with the munic-ipalities, local police and RCMP in develop-

ing permit conditions for ready-mixedconcrete trucks, since these trucks areoperated mostly on municipal roads andneed special municipal operating andparking permits, when they travel to andstay on construction job sites. Many ofthese stakeholders were invited andparticipated in the Demo Run.

The demonstration included a slow speedminimum turning radius determination,followed by actual driving in normal trafficstreams in both left and right directions.The demo was videotaped and a debriefingsession was held to answer any questionsraised by the participants.

Thanks to Nam’s effort, a new permitcondition was established at the successfulconclusion of the Demo Run. �

Nam Nguyen (left) with the driver, engineer, shop foreman and VP of Sales at the rear of the Concord Concrete Pumpsplant in Port Coquitlam. The demo truck is behind the group.

Association President Darrin Heisler presents the 2007 Advanced Technology Award to Grant Lachmuth.

Demo Run Successfully CompletedSubmitted by Samuel Lam, Senior Engineer, CVSE


This photo, taken in March 2007, captures one of the many mudslides that came down over the Trans Canada Highway in the FraserValley. It shows why it is so very, very important to obey traffic controlpeople and most certainly why you should not drive through a roadblock that would have protected you from this muddy situation. Whosays Mother Nature doesn't have a sense of humour? (Submitted byLoretta Carlson, Development Approvals Assistant). �

This sign was spotted in the Kicking Horse Canyon, on the eastbound side of the Trans-Canada Highway, about six km east of Golden. The photo was submitted by Assistant Project SupervisorRick Marven, who says, "I've been roaming around the province for more than 25 years with Field Services Grading (aka ConstructionBranch). I've seen a lot of 'publicly modified' roadside signs but this one takes #1 for creativity." �

Look at the first picture and you can see where the pick-up truckbroke through the guardrail.

The pick-up truck was travelling from right to left when it crashedthrough the guardrail. It flipped end-over-end, across the culvert

outlet, and landed right side up on the left side of the culvert, facing the opposite direction from which it was travelling.

Now look at the second picture. Incredible what some people walk away from! (Submitted by Loretta Carlson, DevelopmentApprovals Assistant). �

CVSE in Christmas ParadeSubmitted by Paul Picco, Commercial Transport Inspector

On December 1, CVSE joined Chilliwack’sChristmas Parade of Lights. Hunter CreekInspection Station’s Commercial TransportInspectors Paul Picco and Roger Perry,were honored to each drive a CVSE vehiclethrough the downtown parade route.Their families helped decorate the vehicleswith lights, garland and a small tree oneach roof. Paul’s children Riley and Alyssa,and Roger’s children Liam, Deaglan and

Emily, rode along and enjoyed waving tothe crowd and shouting “Merry Christmas”through the trucks’ loud speakers. Thewives, Sheryl and Kim, walked beside thevehicles, handing out candy canes andlollipops to the spectators. With emer-gency lights flashing and occasional sirenblasts, the CVSE entry was well received,especially by the young members of thecrowd. �

Winters in Northern BritishColumbia can get cold…very cold.This past holiday season, theNorthern Region/Fort Georgeoffice spread the warmth andmade very valuable contributionsto the Salvation Army in the formof cash, toys and food.

In order to increase awarenessabout the fundraising effort, a funtwist was put on this year’scampaign. Four handsome individ-uals decided to grow beards andcall it the “Spreading the Warmthwith Warm Faces” campaign. Onshort notice, these four individualswere able to grow the mostglorious beards known to mankind. (Somemay disagree, but we were asked to writethis article, so we’re telling it how we sawit – they were glorious!).

Aside from the bearded banditsencouraging food and toy donations tothe hampers, there were a few creativefundraising efforts organized.

A chili lunch sale was provided tostaff. Over 40 bowls of delicious,warm chili were served. Restassured that food safe guidelineswere followed, as can be seen inthe photo. When you have beardsof that size, you need to be careful.

Other activities used to raise moneyincluded a “Guess the CelebrityBeard” contest, and raffle.

Over $650 in cash was raisedthrough generous donations. Thetoy and food donations were quitegenerous as well – the estimatedvalue of the office’s totalcontribution was over $1,000.Thank you very much to everyone

who helped “spread the warmth” bycontributing. The money and goodsdonated went to a truly good cause andmade a difference in the community. �


CVSE tracks add dazzle to the ChilliwackChristmas Parade

Lower Mainland District Christmas PartySubmitted by Loretta Carlson, Development Approvals Assistant

Spreading the Warmth with Warm FacesSubmitted by Trent Folk, Kyle Drummond, Ryan Spillett and Brent Davies, Northern Region

Staff came from as far as Powell River,Sechelt and Chilliwack, for the LowerMainland District Christmas party,December 11, 2007, and a wonderful timewas had by all. Everyone was pleased thatDistrict Manager Perry Dennis came backfrom his special assignment at CVSE, in

time to enjoy the festivities. On December17, the Lower Mainland had an early visitfrom Santa Claus. Santa’s helper BrianAtkins had a great time giving out thegifts Santa had left under the tree. �

The four bearded cooks – Ryan Spillett, Kyle Drummond, TrentFolk, and Brent Davies –dish up perfection served in a bowl.

Wow, MoT had a great year working to raise funds for local charities! Staff from all over the province pulledtogether to raised over $69,747 – our best year yet – and we sure had fun doing it. Ministry wide we workedtogether to collect funds and engaged in activities that were inclusive of remote area offices and opento those who don’t use computers in their work environment. The Coquihalla Toll Plaza experienced theirlargest participation in years, thanks to the work of Doreen Cook and her efforts to ensure that our comradesin the toll booths were able to donate recipes and stay connected with the ministry’s efforts.

Our executive really got involved and wasengaged in various activities: supportingthe 50/50s, playing mini-golf, attendingthe open house and leading the chilichallenge. John Dyble donated personallysigned copies of From Wagon Trail to Super-Highway for prize winners of some events.

Throughout B.C., our ministry was activein various events. The Northern RegionalOffice/Fort George District organized abake and book sale, and a pumpkincarving contest, on Halloween. The PeaceDistrict held a silent auction and bakesale, and Bulkley Stikine organized a bottledrive. The Southern Interior Region Officeengaged in a 50/50 Halloween, 50/50Beach Night, Halloween basket, and ChillOut Dress Comfy event. Okanagan ShuswapDistrict held a bake sale, Nelson had acharity lunch and Williams Lake conducteda bottle drive and a chili bake. The SouthCoast Region held a BBQ, basket draw,Pumpkin Carving Contest, HalloweenCostume Dress-up event, silent auctionand bake sale, and a Road Kill Jar Draw.Saanich Area Office had a potluck chiliand hot dog lunch and a penny challenge.Vancouver Island District, held the GreatSnail Race. At headquarters, we had rafflebasket draws, the PBMB hot dog sale, TheAmazing Golf Race, The Great ExecutiveChili Challenge, 50/50 Fridays and TheGreat Executive Chili Challenge.

The golf tournament was a huge successand all of the golf holes were wonderfullyelaborate. Radio and Electronics won first

place for best hole. Ministry wide, wecombined forces to create an incrediblecookbook, held an online silent auction,weekly draws and had an online Halloweenphoto contest. Crystal Chenier from SIRwon a certificate for a cake by IvanaMazuch for guessing the most people inthe Halloween photo contest. �


Provincial Employees Community Services Fund2007 Wrap-up

Submitted by Shelley KeddyPECSF 2007 Ministry Representative

Colourful golfers Renee Gabia, Gillian Moxham,Mary-Ethel Audley and Sandy Evans.

Proud and poised Miss MoT contestants. Steve Loptson and Jordan Wenzel releasefearsome “Gourd Wagner”!

Chili posse Peter Milburn, John Dyble, Marilyn Wargo and Lori Wiedeman.

“Gourd Wagner” securely contained. (A play on Gord Wagner,Regional Manager of Engineering)

Canvasser of the Year Judy Gunderson’scontributions in 2007 included being amember of our ministry-wide planningcommittee, participating on the NorthernRegion inter-ministry PECSF committeeand serving as the Northern Region MoTcanvasser and contact. Judy has beendedicated to PECSF for more than 10 years– organizing events too numerous to list– and is an inspiration to others. As part ofthe award, Judy also received a certificatefor one of Ivana Mazuch’s famous cakes –to be personalized to Judy’s specifications.

Congratulations Judy and thank you foryour continued altruistic dedication toyour community!

Campaign canvassers are the backboneof a successful PECSF campaign. Theyspend a tremendous amount of timeworking for the benefit of others. Severalcanvassers like Doreen Cook, SharonCowden, Donald Harder and LorettaCarlson (just to name a few) have helpedsupport PECSF campaigns year after year.They were also nominated by theircolleagues for this new award. �

The end of September found Nanaimo District Office staffrunning a very slow race. The Great Snail Race, an inspiration ofSuzanne Moore, was a fundraiser for the Public EmployeesCommunity Services Fund. Suzanne inspired, co-ordinated andtracked all the racers. Racers played from Vancouver, Courtenayand Saanich as well as Nanaimo.

How did the race work? Each player had to show Suzanne theirmoney and they drew and named a game piece – snail theme ofcourse. The game board was drawn and each contestant waspoised at the start line. To move spaces, more money had to be paideach day for 10 days. Some snails were so speedy that they racedright off the board! The winners of the Great Snail Race were:

John McKay, (with certificate for a dinnercruise aboard Peter’s Wightman’s sailboat )

Janelle Yardley Barb Thomas


PECSF continued

Canvasser of the Year – Judy GundersonSubmitted by Shelley Keddy PECSF 2007 Ministry Representative

Faster Than a Herd of…Snails Submitted by Linda Mick, Carrier Safety Inspector, CVSE

Debbie Koehl, Judy Gunderson, Hilda McNeilland Kelcie Paterson.

The Twist – A game within a game . . .The morning of September 27 found theracers buzzing and playing with Playdoh,construction paper, felt pens and plasticeyes. Why, porque, pourquoi? They weredesigning “action figure” snails! Extramoves were awarded to these racers.

A great time was had by all! Some mornings,racers were lined up at Suzanne’s desk. Mostimportantly, the Vancouver Island Districtraised over $300 for the community servicesfund. Many thanks to Suzanne for her enthusi-asm, encouragement and patience. �

Winners of the best snail action figure:

Speckled Violinist Book Reading MoT Tech Scuba Diver Diva

At DriveBC, Change is ConstantSubmitted by Cam Gray, Business Analyst, Information Management Branch

2007 saw the successful release of DriveBC 1.17, a month of on-the-road training, increased phone linecapacity, and the initiation of numerous key marketing partnerships. While this is pretty impressive stuff,2008 is shaping up to be even more dynamic and change-filled! We have a number of exciting initiativesin the works which we are very confident will further enhance user experience, broaden our audience,and make an already relevant service, even more meaningful to the traveling public.

While we can’t let the cat out of the bag too soon on exactlywhat these exciting enhancements will be, we can tell you thatwe have every reason to believethat they will please and impress!We’ll introduce you to theseenhancements in future editionsof the RoadRunner, so be sure toread DriveBC articles in futureeditions!

Staffing ChangesWe have two key staffing changes toannounce – one arrival and onedeparture.

WelcomeDriveBC is pleased to welcome KateFitzPatrick. Kate comes to us with aM.A. in Communications fromRoyal Roads University and aprofessional background in market-ing and corporate communications.

Working in both the public and private sector, Kate bringsexperience from BC Investment Management Corporation, BCTransit, and a local high-tech start-up, Voice Mobility Inc.

Kate is particularly interested in organizational behaviour,corporate social responsibility, and change management.

Kate will be assuming DriveBCmarketing and communicationsresponsibilities.

GoodbyeYours truly – Cam Gray – is movingon. After nine months as programlead for DriveBC, I am moving to anew role at the Ministry of Trans-portation’s Information Manage-ment Branch.

I’ve enjoyed my time as programlead, and have every confidence inthe DriveBC team and their com-mitment to continued excellence inproviding the public with anaccessible, meaningful road andincident information system. �

Stay ConnectedIf you want more information on DriveBC, or have suggestions onhow to improve the service or increase public awareness, pleasecontact; Kate FitzPatrick either by phone at (250) 356-0432 orvia email at [email protected]


Spot the ViolationWhat would have led to this situation? Please submit your response [email protected] The person with the best answer will be announcedin the next edition of Road Runner.


Deep Freeze in Dease LakeBill Maitland, Dease Lake Operations Manager, submitted a few shots to Road Runner, to give everyonethe icy feel of life around his far northern home.

A truck travels slowly through grim winter conditions. Bill Maitland's cabin.

A waterfall alongside Telegraph Creek Road gradually unfreezes,in the spring.

Heavy equipment positioned in the middle of Tuya River, while workis done on the bridge, last winter.

On the road again continues on the next page…


Moving Through MakkahFaisal M. Siddiqui, EIT

I have had many wonderful opportunities to travel around the globe; however, my most memorablejourney took place in 2000, to Saudi Arabia. Traveling there was an overwhelming experience, since Iwas there when Muslims from around the world gather in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, to perform their once-in-a-lifetime visit to the holy city (also known as Mecca). A crucial part of the ritual requires every singlepilgrim (approximately three million) to be physically present at a certain place within a specified timeframe. All three million first travel from Makkah to Mina – a distance of about eight km. After stayingthe night in Mina, everyone moves toward the ground of Arafat, a distance of about 10 km. Afterspending the daylight hours in Arafat, the next destination is Muzdalifah – a distance of about five km.Then people stay the night in Muzdalifah before returning to Mina once again.

A most interesting part of thisjourney was the necessity ofensuring the smooth move-ment of large numbers ofpeople from one place toanother. Before leaving forthe Saudi Kingdom, I wouldnever have imagined the timeit would take to travel fromone location to the next.Although the road-and-tunnel network appeared tobe no different from what wesee throughout North America,the sheer volume of people,at each point in time andspace, was phenomenal, andeveryone had to be accom-modated. I observed thatthose who used a bus or taxito reach the next stop on thepilgrimage took longer thanthose who simply walkedbecause the traffic jams wenton forever. It appears that theSaudi Kingdom has spentfortunes on building “effective”roads and tunnels. However,the use of high-occupancyvehicles and rapid-transit links appears tohave been omitted from their plans.

In my opinion, there should be far morebuses to move people around than thecountless sedans or jeeps that, day andnight, clog up the arterial roads. However,undertaking a safety analysis should be thefirst step taken before rapid transit is putinto the picture. A rapid transit systemwould provide significantly faster

movement of the crowds and would alsocontribute towards a more sustainableenvironment. For example, one transit carwould take up the volume of approximately80 passengers, thus taking about 20 autovehicles off the road for each transit car.Instituting rapid transit would create abetter environment for the local residentsas well as for the pilgrims. After all,everyone wants to see a better environ-ment worldwide. Rapid transit would also

allow pilgrims to reachtheir destinations fasterand to offer their prayers ina timely manner ratherthan arriving late – whenit’s really time to leave forthe next place.

While the memories ofthis journey will stay withme forever, I will alsoremember the frustrationthat millions of peopleexperienced because ofthe lack of proper trans-portation planning. Onthe other hand, my experi-ence in Saudi Arabia gaveme the feeling of howpeople used to travel a century ago, when therewas not even leveledground. In the past, pilgrimsuse to hike across moun-tains to reach their destina-tion because Makkah issurrounded by mount-ainous terrain. By havingan adequate road-and-

tunnel network in place, the Saudigovernment has, in fact, made it easierfor local residents to get around duringrest of the year. Nevertheless, rapidtransit and high-occupancy vehiculartraffic would significantly impact themovement of millions of people in avery positive way.�

On the road again continued


The huge volume of people who make the pilgrimage to Makkah, presenta challenge to the city’s transportation systems. Photo credit: Mohammad Suman Hossain.


Antarctic Bound!Submitted by Peter Bullock, Geotechnical Engineer

Dreams really can come true – in October 2007 my dream of playing with the penguins and walkingthe path of explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton came to life!

Through a friendly connection and plentyof phone calls, I landed the six-week job asgeoscientist/guide on a small cruise ship,destined for the southern seas. I was hiredas the geoscientist to teach “The Stories ofStone” and “The Magic of Ice” to the 95passengers, drive zodiacs through thelabyrinth of icebergs, search for sea creatureslarge and small and generally ensurenobody waddled away with the penguins.

The trip started in Ushuaia Argentina –a rather Nelson-like city of 60,000. ThereI got familiar with my new home: a 120metre long, 150 bed Russian ship. Origin-ally the ship was built, in 1988, for deepoceanic research, but was retrofittedinto the perfect platform for expeditioncruising. Here I met my colleagues, thesailors and welcomed the passengersonboard.

First stop was the Falkland Islands. Therewe walked the gentle grassy slopes andfound hundreds of nesting albatross,and rockhopper and magellanic

penguins, amongst the plethora of otherbirds. As well, we toured the historicstreets of Stanley, the heart of the 1982confrontation between Britain andArgentina.

Then we plied the eight metre swellwith a shroud of hundreds of sea birds.Cape, giant and Antarctic petrelsabounded. Black browed, grey headedand wandering albatross – with four metrewing spans and grace for flight like noother – guided us to the shores of SouthGeorgia, the last stop and pinnacle ofShackleton’s adventures.

The steep grassy slopes and ruggedmountains of South Georgia are mostnotably home to the king penguin whichroost by the tens of thousands amongstthe rife of fur and elephant seals.

Gale force winds blew us around thesoutheast tip of the island. Thousands ofsea birds and plenty of icebergs added tothe drama as we turned our ship to thesouthwest – Antarctica! On route, in a

shroud of fog and a scour of wind, wepassed the ominous coast of ElephantIsland, the home of Shackleton’s men,stranded for 105 days…

Antarctica welcomed us with open arms.The fog lifted, the air was still and ourbreath stopped at the sight of a warmglow of a setting sun dancing across therugged white peaks and occasionaliceberg. The scene was complete with thepair of humpback whales gentlyswimming off the port bow, leading usthrough the many islands of the peninsula.

The adventures and magical views are toomany to describe here. But the contrastbetween the harshness of the environ-ment with huge mountain cliffs, scouredand etched by enormous glaciers, to theintricately carved glowing blue icebergs andprofusion of life, was truly breathtaking!

Peter Bullock joined MoT in March 2007and works as the Regional GeotechnicalEngineer out of the Nelson office. �

Feeding time for young king penguins.

Our ship, a former Russian research vessel.

Gentoo penguins jumping.The modern-day explorers near an iceberg.

Not a good time to be on deck.




Transportation Adventures in Egypt – Cruising on the Ship of the Desert

Submitted by Dave Byng, former ADM, Highways

Kneeling before us on the desert floor was a resentful adolescent camel, suffering the indignity of beinghog-tied and immobilized Bedouin style, while older camels hauled students and scientists up and downthe wadi (valley) that we were encamped in. It protested its plight by expressing itself in the most fouland threatening manner to all passersby.

During the summer of 2007, my familyand I were working on a joint British-Egyptian expedition, undertaking abiodiversity study to examine the impactof a decade of drought on the SinaiPeninsula’s desert. My role was to leadthe expedition in the field and my wifeCheryl, a teacher, liaised with the studentgroups supporting the science teams. Mysons, Tyler and Max, worked with theteams trekking through the desert eachday, studying the region’s plants, birds,bats, lizards and mammals.

One thing made abundantly clear by thecamels we associated with was theirgeneral dislike of people. They ensuredthat was well understood by their hissing,spitting, moaning, groaning and the bitingattempts if you strayed to close – even ifyou were riding by on one of theircounterparts. Solidarity amongst the camelfaction, I suppose. As you can imagine,the Bedouin have become very adept atcoercing the camels into complying withtheir needs, utilizing their version ofhissing, spitting, moaning, groaning…wellyou get the picture. Camels, like people,quickly understand where the limits lieand were generally compliant while

complaining bitterly until they were ontheir feet. To be sure, camels are a highlyvalued asset to the Bedouin people,supplying them with transportation,income, products from hair woven intoclothing and blankets, milk and evenmeat. A healthy camel can be essentialto a Bedouin’s survival as they travel vastdistances between desert water sources, sothey are typically well cared for.

We rode the single hump model; the rockyground below looks a long way off whenseated atop a camel’s hump, making theprospect of a camel rodeo highlyundesirable! In fairness to the camels, wefound once they were up and on theirfeet, the protests ended, and apart fromthe odd go at biting bystanders, they werequite pleasant to ride. They have anunusual gait, causing them to sway fromside to side, earning the moniker “theship of the desert”.

We were so taken by our camelexperiences that we brought a camelsaddle home as an accoutrement for ourliving room, raising eyebrows andprovoking questions as we traveledthrough customs in Egypt, the U.K. and

Canada. Our Canadian custom’s officersummed up the general sentiment of hiscolleagues well in his conversation with usin Vancouver. He politely asked, “What isin the box, sir?”

“A camel saddle,” I responded. He drylyreplied with a deadpan expression, “I’mafraid we don’t have many camels aroundhere, sir…”

The hospitality of the Egyptian people islegendary and everyone treated us likeroyalty, from our expedition drivers, cooksand guides, through to the local sheiksand the academics from the institutionssponsoring the expedition. We are hopingto return to live and work once more withthe Bedouin, in one of the most hostile butfascinating environments on our planet.

Dave Byng is the former Assistant DeputyMinister of the Ministry of Transportation’sHighways Department and currentlyheads the British Columbia Public ServiceAgency as Associate Deputy Minister. Eachsummer, Dave and his family go on anexpedition in some far-flung corner ofthe globe, learning life skills such as howto trap a monkey or roast a goat. �

Tyler Byng and his father, Dave, aboardEgyptian camels.

Bedouin men at an expedition desert camp. Dave Byng with Bedouin men on the SinaiPeninsula, Egypt.





Because we both like to know what’saround the next corner, my boyfriend,Bill, and I went out for a drive on a roadneither of us had been on before. I usuallytake my camera with me (bought it withour signing bonus) because I like takingscenery pictures and you just never knowwhat you’re going to come across. Wetook a road right at the top of the hillout of Merritt and it took us across anopen grassland toward Quilchena Ranch.In one of the hollows there was a fewtrees bunched together and the fall colorwas so beautiful, I snapped a picture of it.When I got home and downloaded thepictures onto my computer, (I had takenseveral) that particular one stood out. Idecided to send it in to Wayne’s WeatherWindow on Global TV, and have sentpictures before but never have they beenshown. Both Bill and I were at work on theevening the picture was shown so didn’tsee it but I was e-mailed by Kari McKeelcongratulating me on the picture. OnFriday I rushed home from Kelowna tomake sure I wouldn’t miss the pic of theweek which I won. My phone rang offthe hook for the next hour, friends e-mailed me and when I was out the next

evening, several friends commented onthe picture. Wayne Cox has e-mailed measking if he can pass this picture on tosomeone that has asked for a copy. This

was lots of fun and just knowing that Itook a picture others enjoyed, makes mefeel like doing it again. I don’t use blackand white but look out Ansel Adams! �

The above photo won “Picture of the Week” for Oct 14-20, 2007, on Global TV’s Wayne’sWeather Window. The talented photographer is Doreen Cook, Assistant Manager at theCoquihalla Toll Plaza.

This mystical photo of sheep and a rainbow was taken in October2007, by Karen Brown, Development Approvals Technician. The viewis from the Village of Radium Hot Springs, looking north toward thetown of Edgewater, in the Columbia Valley, with Kootenay NationalPark on the right side. Karen says the photo was “a lucky shot”.

Returning home to North Saanich from the Gulf Islands. Photo: Louise Kennedy¸ Senior Budget Officer

The Winning Weather PhotoSubmitted by Doreen Cook, Assistant Manager at the Coquihalla Toll Plaza

Other shots from around the province:

Derek Boyes – 35 Years of Government ServiceSubmitted by Dianne Friend, Regional Administrative Clerk

A retirement luncheon heldfor Derek Boyes on November22, 2007 at Stephano’s Restau-rant, in New Westminster wasattended by 50 of Derek’sfriends and co-workers.

Derek began employmentwith the ministry on Sept-ember 5, 1972. Since then hemet the challenge of changingtechnologies head-on. Designtasks evolved from plottingcross-sections by hand to“real-time” design using

various software packages. Surveying progressed from pullinga heavy chain and performing temperature corrections, to usingelectronic measuring devices with data collectors and a globalpositioning system for the collection of spatial data.

He is a well respected employee who will be sorely missed by all of us here at the South Coast Region. Derek’s hard workfor the ministry did not go un-noticed and he was pleased toreceive a Meritorious Scroll signed by the Premier, Minister andDeputy Minister.

Derek is an avid fisherman when he is not working on therestoration of his 1965 Mustang, or hiking or biking around theprovince. We all wish Derek, and his wife Peggy, all the very best asthey retire to the Powell River area to be closer to their family. �

A luncheon was held December 19, 2007, for Gwyn Laybouneat the Coast Capri Hotel in Kelowna. Friends and co-workerpast and present had a wonderful chance to show theirappreciation to Gwyn. She started her career with the ForestryService in Prince George and then joined the Ministry ofTransportation. She worked with various departments in MoT,most recently the Okanagan-Shuswap District office in Kelowna.She always went out of her way to help in the work she did withhired equipment contractors and MoT projects staff, and she willbe truly missed. Her knowledge and dedication shows a truecommitment to public service. Gwyn is retiring at the same timeas her husband Don (on Gwyn’s left in the photo). They plan totravel and spoil their two grandchildren. We wish her health,wealth and happiness in her retirement.

Yours truly,

Your friends and co-workers �


Derek Boyes (right) receives aMeritorious Scroll from RegionalManager Patrick Livolsi.

Retirement Luncheon with Gwyn LaybouneSubmitted by Jim Gerow, Traffic Systems Design Technician

MoT Retirements continues on the next page…


Onto new vistas continued

Grainger Wilson, Area Manager of Bridges in the RockyMountain District’s Service Area 12, retired after more than 33years with the Ministry of Transportation. His final day at workwas December 28, 2007.

Grainger is a master of project management; including managingthe details in the Capital Projects System. He is meticulous, aperfectionist, and cannot live with a loose end untamed. He dida masterful job managing Toby Creek Road rehab this pastsummer. He can find the gaping holes and the tiniest details thatcould lead to disaster in traffic management plans, bridgedesigns or anything else that seems suspect. He knows what isand is not constructable. He is a born project manager, built manybridges over the Columbia River (Brisco Botts, SpillimacheenSwing), Canyon Creek (Nicholson), and has hammered the deskmost passionately for the final needed replacement over theColumbia at Donald. Hopefully his efforts will result in a projectthere soon!

Grainger has always been a technology buff, pushing the Ministryinto new design software, new survey gear and other newwidgets. He has the ability to analyze new technology andforesee the usefulness and application of it before others evenbother to check it out.

He has seen many 'catastrophes': the washout of Hwy 23N at Holdich Creek, the Greely Bridge collapse, other slides and crises (Clanwilliam, Kickinghorse Bridges, Golden floods andwashouts, etc).

Grainger has played a key role in developing the very evidentexcellent working relationship with the maintenance contractorin Service Area 12 (HMC Services Inc.). With his efforts, theministry, the maintenance contractor and our customers/stakeholders have seen the benefit of his dedication andcommitment. This work has ensured well-maintained structures,a very proactive approach to managing the inventory, andcollaborative efforts with the maintenance contractor to seekinnovative ideas at every opportunity.

Whether work was project related or maintenance contractrelated, Grainger's involvement brought forward very unique,innovative ideas that considered the effects to all parties involved.He took a special focus on how each project or activity might affector disrupt our customers and stakeholders, and took well thoughtout actions to ensure excellent customer service and satisfaction.

Grainger is also a great mentor, eager to tell anecdotes of pastsuccesses, failures and projects. He loves to give advice and passon knowledge to us young bushy-tailed upstarts. His advice issound and well-presented. Grainger has talents and knowledge

that could never be fully tapped. The ministry and public havebenefited immensely from his contributions. I have learned somuch in knowing him these past two years. �

Grainger Wilson – Master of Project Management – Retires

Submitted by Jeremy Zandbergen, District Program Engineer,

with additions from Debbie Munroe and Glenn Olleck


Grainger’s retirement celebration.

Grainger and Gord Chudleigh (Operations Manager, Service Area 11,Rocky Mountain District). Grainger went to assess the Acrow Bridgeinstallation at the damaged Dutch Creek Bridge site – just south ofFairmont, along Highway 93/95 (see story, Page 20).

Howard Emslie: A Legend RetiresSubmitted by Brad Emslie

After a 35-year career with government, Howard Emslie isretiring. Howard spent his entire career in Dawson Creek wherehe worked for numerous government branches and ministries.In 1973, Howard started his career with the Liquor ControlBoard where he worked for four years. He then applied for aWeigh Master position at the Pouce Coupe Weigh Scale. Aftera seven-year stint in the famous Pouce Coupe Weigh Scale he waspromoted to Portable Weigh Master. Not one to sit around in thesame position for too long, in 1988 Howard was again promoted.This time he took the leap which lead to all his grey hair – he wasnow the boss! A year later his responsibilities would increasewhen he took on the newly created position as Regional Directorof Motor Vehicle Branch.

Once in awhile Howard’s management career would bring hima new title. Depending on what ministry or branch he reportedto, his position title would change from Director, to ComplianceManager, to CVSE Manager. But for the most part the jobresponsibilities stayed the same.

Throughout Howard’s career he worked for a variety of branchesand ministries including Weigh Scale Branch; the ministries ofenergy, transportation and communications, Motor VehicleBranch, transportation and highways, public safety and solicitorgeneral, ICBC – and MoT where Howard would finish his career.Needless to say, during Howard’s lengthy career he had theopportunity to work with many great people and mentors suchas Keith Jackman, John McDicken, Dave Ward and Ray Calder,to name a few.

On November 30th, 2007, Howard finished his last day of work.However, Howard will still be linked to government until hisofficial day of retirement on June 30, 2008.

The knowledge, expertise, beliefs and history that Howard hasprovided and shared, to help our organization become the oneit is, will be truly missed by both staff and industry. �

Brad Emslie is the son of Howard Emslie. He works at the QuesnelScale as a Commercial Transport Inspector. Brad says his dad hasbeen a huge mentor and friend – helping him to make sometough decisions on the job, and as a father. Brad joined MoTabout two years ago, but like his father, he’s been with a feworganizations including ICBC and Ministry of Public Safety andSolicitor General.



Howard missed out on the order for his uniform; orders took placeonce a year and uniforms were tailored to fit each inspector.

The portable unit Howard operated for numerous years.

Nearing the end of his career, Howard became more relaxed. I guessyou would call it retirement mode!


On November 2, 2007, Harry Wan retired from MoT, after 30years of working in property acquisition. A retirement dinnerwas held November 1, in Victoria, and 50 friends and co-workers attended to wish Harry all the best in the nextchapter of his life. Headquarters staff gathered for cake andmemories the next day. Harry is pictured here with his StarWars-inspired “Obi-Wan/Harry Wan” poster, which expressesHarry’s renowned wisdom and wit. The poster, created byBeverly van Druten-Blais, was signed by his many colleagues.



Jerry Gerrard has had a long and fulfilling career in our ministryand has worked in a number of different areas dealing withengineering support and traffic analysis. Jerry started as anEngineering Aide, in 1971, as a youngster out of high school.During his time here, he was part of the many changes that haveimpacted how our ministry supports the goals and objectives ofthe provincial government.

His willingness to always support the engineering and planningfunctions of the ministry through these changes has beenappreciated by his co-workers and clients. Jerry took pride in hisprofessionalism as a technical resource and the standards ofexcellence that he provided to his work groups have contributedto the great reputation that our ministry holds.

Jerry always took the time to share his considerable knowledgeand expertise about the province’s roads and communities. Thiswas invaluable as Jerry helped transition his replacement (JohnMazuruk) into the ministry, and into his last job as the Traffic DataProgram Co-ordinator. � Jerry Gerrard over the years of his career with MoT.

Harry Wan Rides OnSubmitted by Shery Owen, Administrative Assistant

Jerry Gerrard – From Youngster to RetireeSubmitted by John Coombs, Manager, Traffic Data Program

In Memoriam: Donald Arthur Goddyn March 23, 1921 to December 11, 2007Submitted by Keith Callander, Director, Provincial Field Services

Donald Arthur Goddyn passed away peacefully Tuesday, December 11, 2007, with his wife of 59 years,Elaine, at his side. Don is predeceased by twin sons Richard and Robert, brother Alfred, and is survivedby sons Michael (Wendy), Alan (Rochelle) and Graham (Amber), nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, sister Helen, brother Jack (Barbara), sister Suzanne as well as extended family membersand friends. Donald worked with the Department of Highways for 15 years. �

Staff Roundup


HeadquartersMike Proudfoot is the new Assistant Deputy Minister, HighwaysDepartment (see story, Page 3).

Wayne Locke has accepted anassignment at the Gateway Project as Director, Finance and Administration.Gary So will be acting as the Manager,Accounting for the Ministry and forBCTFA in Wayne's absence.

In the Properties and BusinessManagement Branch, Deborah Millerwas the successful applicant for theposition of Manager, Expropriationand Litigation, and Gloria Valle hasjoined as Manager, Ministry Protocoland Events, while Elizabeth Young isEvents Planning Coordinator.

Sara Haskett is on a three-monthtemporary assignment as Manager,Writing Services.

Southern Interior RegionMurray Tekano is the District Manager,Transportation, in Okanagan-ShuswapDistrict, effective December 3, 2007.Murray retains his responsibilities asSenior Project Director on the KickingHorse Canyon project.

Keith Callander has become theDirector, Provincial Field Services, for the Southern Interior.

Northern RegionShanna Mason is the new Regional Director.

The Northern Region HighwayEngineering’s newest members are Tracy Ziebart,Geomatics SurveyProject Supervisor; Trevor Key, Senior Geomatics Survey Technician;Sabrina Larsen, Geomatics SurveyTechnician; and Bridgett Leitch,Geomatics Survey/Design Technician.

Norm Schien has accepted a temporaryappointment as the Senior Traffic andDesign Engineer in the Northern RegionOffice, in Prince George.

Catherine Deol, is now a ProjectTechnician, in Fort St. John, and will join the project management group onFebruary 4. She will be providing projecttechnician support to Reid Drummondand Dwain Hornland.

Trish Mazuch was the successfulapplicant for a Temporary SnowAvalanche Assistant position with the Bear Pass Snow Avalanche Program,in Stewart. She has taken a five-monthleave of absence from her position ofArea Manager in Bella Coola.

Mike McLaren was successful for thePrince George Paving Supervisorposition, with Field Services.

South Coast RegionSteven Carney has accepted a TrafficOperations Engineer position, for a sixmonth term, with the South CoastRegion’s Traffic Engineering Section.

Craig Hilborne and John McKenzie has joined the South Coast Region as Project Managers.

Salem Bahamdun has returned to theministry as the new Pavement andMaterials Engineer in the South CoastRegion Geotechnical and MaterialsEngineering Section.

Al Scharien was the successful candidatefor the Kamloops Paving Supervisorposition, with Field Services.

road runner, january 2008 - british columbia...submitted by michael lovecchio, manager, strategic...

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