What do you do to help further yourself in your career in/out of WSP?

Apart from my work as the head of the Quebec rail transport and collective transport team at WSP, I have always been active in the transport community, in particular within associations such as AQTr (Association Québécoise des Transports) and more recently the CARS (Canadian Association of Railway Suppliers). My involvement in the transportation community has allowed me to build a network whose contribution is invaluable in the advancement of my career. Over the years, I have forged strong and lasting ties with several people who have inspired me. To advance her career, it is important that an engineer renew herself and be on the lookout for advances in the industry. To do so, I regularly participate in training, webinars and conferences to increase my knowledge. In addition, I sometimes participate in writing articles to share my experience acquired through projects. Finally, the way I learn outside of WSP that I like the most is to learn as a transportation user in the field; whether by biking the streets of Montreal or elsewhere in the world, by metro, train or car, I am inspired by everything I see around me.

What keeps you engaged and interested in the engineering industry/your sector?

Mobility is a sector that fascinates me — in particular its impact on our activities, our health and our economy. Thanks to the projects we carry out, we can have a significant impact on the quality of life for our families and friends. This is one of the main reasons that motivates me to improve my knowledge to do better and to always challenge myself to imagine solutions that go beyond the technical, and that improve the daily lives of communities. As a woman in the railway engineering industry, what motivates me most is to set a good example for future generations and inspire women engineers to grow and aim high in their careers.

Give an example of your most innovative contribution.

One of my key duties is performing air dispersion modelling assessments. I had always found that one of the more challenging tasks is not necessarily to run a dispersion model, but rather, to transform large amounts of model data into meaningful results for the client to understand.

Recently, I developed an innovative solution to a unique and complex air quality compliance issue for a cement production plant. Instead of relying on the standard method of data analysis and presentation used in the past, I experimented with various ways of data visualization and developed new data analysis tools/charts that were easily understood by both the project manager and the client. As a result, the data analysis charts were well received by the regulators and the proposed solution was ultimately approved by them to implement at the plant.

What keeps you engaged and interested in the engineering industry/your sector?

I love how varied and dynamic the engineering consulting is – which keeps my day-to-day tasks and project experience interesting and unexpected. One day I could be performing odour sampling to address community odour nuisance complaints, the next day performing air quality dispersion modelling for a new facility that may pose air quality impacts to the community. In particular, I appreciate the chance to work outdoors in both the natural environment and diverse industrial setting where I can observe, measure and analyze the air quality and odour impacts first hand.

What steps did you take on your career path to end up where you are today?

My career path has been dictated by flexibility. I’ve never been the type of person who has a 5-year plan, but I often check in with myself to see if I’m fulfilled with the role I am in and calibrate my path accordingly. At times, it’s meant identifying what I enjoy about my position, what I’d like to change, and then observing to find where I would like to be. Once that clicks (which often happens organically), I voice my interests to my direct supervisor. Very few of the moves I’ve made in my career have been calculated but I’ve jumped on opportunities that were presented to me. All of these moves have led me here today, so I have to say I’m happy with my past decisions!

What do you do to help further yourself in your career in/out of WSP?

One of the best resources to have as an engineer are my colleagues. I consult with them often in technical and operational matters because our industry really benefits from learning by osmosis on top of research and professional experience. Outside of work, I often read articles and listen to podcasts about productivity, team management, and organizational psychology to better navigate our corporate world.

What keeps you engaged and interested in the engineering industry/your sector?

As an engineer, you never stop learning, every project you do is different, you go to places you never would go to otherwise, and you meet such interesting people.  Always being challenged allows you to grow. Figuring out how you are going to accomplish something and then doing it is very rewarding.  These are just a few of the things that keep me engaged and excited about the type of work that I do. 

What’s the most rewarding project you’ve been a part of, or that you are most proud of? 

I used to live in Alaska and worked for the state government, assisting small fly-in communities, mostly Indigenous, to implement water and wastewater projects using grant funds.  A community called Tuluksak received a grant to be used for a wastewater project. A new wastewater pipeline to the lagoon was built to replace the one that had failed, and the lagoon was re-activated by clearing away all the shrubbery that had grown in. Although it was a small project, it really made a difference in peoples’ lives. 

What do you do to help further yourself in your career in/out of WSP?

To further my personal and professional development, I have been involved with committees and other initiatives beyond my day-to-day project work, such as the Momentum Developing Professionals Network National Committee at WSP. Participating on the team that established the framework for the Developing Professionals Network in Canada expanded my professional network, developed my leadership skills, and allowed me to gain a better understanding of the business. Forming connections with colleagues locally and around the world has been a fulfilling experience that continues to motivate me to think creatively, share my ideas, and try new things. 

Tell us about someone/something that inspired you into your career path and your current role.

A career in Transportation Planning piqued my interest because the work requires a holistic approach to problem solving and an understanding of all aspects of the surrounding environment. Being involved in the development of context-specific solutions that have a positive impact on the community feels like a tangible way to make a difference. I’m interested in learning more about how transportation influences our society, specifically social equity and public health.

What’s the most rewarding project you’ve been a part of, or that you are most proud of? 

It would have to be the Acid Gas Injection Project I worked on at WSP from 2017-2018. I had worked on many small projects in the past as a Project Engineer/Project Manager but none where I was solely in a Project Management Role.  What makes this project memorable is that at its peak we had approximately 60 people working full time and many the Lead Roles were filled by women. The team comradery was palpable, and each project meeting was filled with supportive and open communication. We were executing a very challenging project and having a great time doing it.  It was a great example of how diversity and inclusion bring about high performance. The project was a great success as communicated by the Client, construction went well and the project “started up on a dime”.

Tell us about someone/something that inspired you into your career path and your current role. 

Growing up in my home, there was only one moto that my parents instilled in my sisters and I, “It’s better to aim high and miss the target, then aim low and get a bullseye”. I used to roll my eyes as a kid every time I heard it but now as an adult and a parent of two girls myself, it means everything to me.  There was never a “glass ceiling” in my life. We had family dinner every night, another thing I didn’t value at the time, but it was during those meals that my parents taught me that I had a voice, that what I had to say was important, how to debate, how to negotiate, how to compromise and how to deliver a message properly to be heard.  Learning those skills at a young age has definitely enabled me to grow my career into my current position as a Project Manager at WSP.

What’s the most rewarding project you’ve been a part of or are you most proud of? What made it so rewarding and memorable?

It was my first mandate to design deep foundations. I explored innovative geotechnical investigation methods. It was a mandate in which I had to surpass myself, and I am proud to say that the analyses carried out were conclusive and led to the publication of a scientific article.

What do you do to help further yourself in your career in/out of WSP?

I am a great believer in helping each other within the profession and in the transfer of knowledge. For this reason, I participate in mentoring programs to learn and benefit from the advice of those who have gone before me. I also attend conferences for ongoing training and participate in networking activities within and outside WSP to develop my network.

What steps did you take on your career path to end up where you are today?

In secondary school my favourite class was wood shop, which I took every year. After college I found a job in construction building residential houses, which I really enjoyed, but I found myself asking lots of questions about why things were built the way they were, which didn’t seem to matter as much to the other carpenters on site. I hadn’t realized before how interested I was in the structure of the buildings rather than just the craft of putting them together, so after two years working in the construction industry, I went back to college to take the civil engineering technology program and was hired by WSP post graduation. Both the college program and my experience in construction have been a huge asset in my current role as a structural technologist.

Tell us about someone/something that inspired you into your career path and your current role.

Back when I was still working construction in Kelowna, we were putting in the foundation for a residence we were building and a female engineer, coincidentally named Gina, came to site to review the reinforcing we had placed before we poured the concrete for the foundations. As she walked around site, drawings in hand, checking our work, it made me wonder what her job was like and how thrilling it must be to design the structure, rather than build it. Most of my relatives are farmers and tradespeople, so engineering was a foreign concept to me, but once I educated myself on the roles of engineers, I quickly realized that it was a field that I would really enjoy working in and I haven’t looked back!

What’s the most rewarding project you’ve been a part of, or that you are most proud of? 

I have been thrilled to be a part of WSP, because being driven by strategy and a clear vision, I can really get behind the purpose. I know the work the company does, and me in contribution, has meaning.

What gives me the biggest thrill is the “Aha!” moments my colleagues have when I’m sharing that purpose, teaching something complex and they say, for the first time, “I get it!”. Amazingly, that moment comes most commonly when I’m auditing. I designed an audit program around my belief that people, at their core, just want to know the “why” behind what they’re asked to do. Once they know that, then it’s easy for them to buy in. So my approach to all interactions, audits included, is a respectful discussion around the “why”. And when I see “Aha” moments come fast and furious, and I have people asking *me* if they can please be audited, I know I’m doing something right.

What do you do to help further yourself in your career in/out of WSP?

Some people may target a particular role for their career, saying “I want to be a <insert title here>”. But not me. My goal is to make a difference and to always be learning. Sometimes that may manifest as work on a particular project, or partnering with certain teams, or solving that beast of a problem that no one else will take on. Then the career path seems to take care of itself.

The trick is: I never know in advance what those opportunities may look like, so my approach to career growth has always been: Listen lots. Participate whenever asked. Act respectfully, and weave connections between ideas so the solution becomes bigger than the problem.

What steps did you take in your career path to end up where you are today?

I always tried to broaden my horizons, by becoming aware of, and understanding other entities related to my roles. I always looked for new opportunities.

What’s the most rewarding project you’ve been a part of, or that you are most proud of? 

For close to 5 years, I worked on a major SAP implementation program. The mix of skills set, and personality in the team was just perfect! One of many learnings from that experience is the importance of having the right person in the right role.

Give an example of your most innovative contribution.

I find a lot of room for innovating by bringing together engineering and behavioural science. Through my PhD, I researched the economic impacts of drinking water infrastructure, from the customer’s perspective. I found that just because a customer doesn’t complain, doesn’t mean their level of service is right. Often, they will buy pumps or water treatment equipment to improve some aspect of their water supply, for an economic cost of $300 per household per year. Until I did my research, those economic impacts were virtually unknown to water suppliers. With this new information, the economically ‘optimum’ level of service may be higher than anyone previously thought.

What do you do to help further yourself in your career in/out of WSP?

I advocate for and support causes I care about and I use my engineering, economics and research experience to help further these causes.

In 2018, I nudged the City of Fredericton into competing in Infrastructure Canada’s inaugural Smart Cities Challenge. I supported the team as a member of the Mayor’s Smart City Task Force, and then, when the City of Fredericton and Saint Mary’s First Nation were announced as 20 finalists out of over 200 submissions, I chaired one of five workstreams. The project was important to me because Fredericton is my hometown and my parents, brother, partner and kids live here. There was a significant accessibility component to our submission, and with my father using a wheelchair to get around now, I’m very aware of how much is unavailable to him.

I’m also a Board member of the University of Toronto’s Civil Engineering Industry Advisory Board, and I look for ways we can collaborate with the university – giving their students research opportunities, and giving our staff opportunities to get involved in their research.

What’s the most rewarding project you’ve been a part of, or that you are most proud of?

The Centre Block Rehabilitation project has been the most fulfilling project that I have been part of. It has been truly an amazing experience to be working with dynamic and efficient team members. WSP is a progressive company that values its people and finds innovative ways to enhance the project. I am grateful to have incredible managers and leaders who see my potential and encourage me to grow professionally.

Give an example of your most innovative contribution.

My passion for women empowerment in STEM - especially people of colour has led to many exciting paths and projects. I am currently part of the board of directors of the Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) Ottawa chapter and the chair of its 30 by 30 committee. The committee was created this year, aiming to increase the percentage of female engineers to 30 per cent by 2030. I am constantly working with my committee members in creating new programs, tools, virtual events while adapting to the COVID-19 situation.

What’s the most rewarding project you’ve been a part of or are you most proud of? What made it so rewarding and memorable? 

The Drinking Water Upgrade Project in Harrington Harbour was located on a unique site on an island of the lower north shore of Quebec. I was project manager for the full engineering of the construction of a surface-water treatment system using nanofiltration, as well as an insulated and heated drinking water distribution network. What made the project rewarding was the logistical and technical challenges, the contribution to people's quality of life through engineering and the collaboration and proximity with the community.

What do you do to help further yourself in your career in/out of WSP?

The constant challenges. There are many challenges in the work of an engineer and engineering executive: technical, business, legal and human. Each of these challenges is interrelated and complex at a certain level. We are always facing a new situation, but the experience gained allows us to move forward a little towards the next solution.