Engineers Canada Awards Gala: Rewarding Engineering Excellence

VANCOUVER, May 28 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada's engineering profession will celebrate the accomplishments of eight outstanding professional engineers and one engineering project during the Engineers Canada Awards gala, to be held on Saturday, May 29, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver.

"The 2010 award recipients are making a difference at home, abroad and among the stars," said Chantal Guay, ing., P.Eng., M.Env., chief executive officer of Engineers Canada. "Their extraordinary accomplishments are shaping a better tomorrow for all of us.

This year's Gold Medal Award recipient is Julie Payette, ing. The highest recognition of its kind in engineering is awarded to Ms. Payette for the difference she is making both at home and beyond earth's atmosphere. A world-renowned astronaut and computer engineer, Ms. Payette first flew in space in 1999, when she became the first Canadian to step inside the International Space Station. She participated in the development of the Canadian Mobile Servicing System for the International Space Station; was the chief astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency from 2000 to 2007; and participated in a 15-day mission last year, where she was the prime operator of the Canadarm on the space shuttle, the Canadarm2 on the Space Station and a special-purpose Japanese arm on the Kibo module.

"We are delighted to present Julie Payette with the Gold Medal Award this year," said Dan Motyka, FEC, P.Eng., president of Engineers Canada. "Julie is another example of the exceptional Canadian engineers that are contributing not only within Canada, but who are shining on the world stage."

     <<     The other 2010 Engineers Canada Award recipients are:     -   National Award for an Engineering Project or Achievement - Manitoba         Hydro Place     -   Young Engineer Achievement Award - Constantin Christopoulos, PhD,         P.Eng.     -   Medal for Distinction in Engineering Education - Greg J. Evans, PhD,         P.Eng.     -   Award for the Support of Women in the Engineering Profession -         Cristina H. Amon, Sc.D., P.Eng.     -   Meritorious Service Award for Professional Service - Mike V. Currie,         P.Eng.     -   Gold Medal Student Award - Jane Chui     -   Gold Medal Student Award - Mike Klassen     -   Meritorious Service Award for Community Service - Jonathan C. Noble,         P.Eng.     >> 

For more information about the Engineers Canada Awards program and the recipients, visit www.engineerscanada.ca/e/pr_awards_1.cfm

The Engineers Canada Awards are sponsored by Manulife Financial, TD Insurance Meloche Monnex, ENCON and the Great-West Life Assurance Company.

Engineers Canada is the national organization of the 12 provincial and territorial associations that regulate the practice of engineering in Canada.