October 2005 ISSUE
Newsmakers
Walk This Way for Bronze
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| The Finish Line |
Dr. Upali Hippola, P.Eng., walked his way to a bronze medal at the World Masters Games in Edmonton, this summer. Dr. Hippola, who volunteers on APEGGA’s Investigative Committee, competed in the five- and 10-kilometre walks for ages 65-69, but it was in the 10-km event that he won his medal, for a time of 1 hour 14 minutes 23 seconds.
Humble about his accomplishment in his first competitive race, Mr. Hippola says just being there was accomplishment enough.
“A friend told me about the World Masters Games being in Edmonton. The fact that a world-class event was going to be held in our own backyard inspired me to participate. When I registered last year, my goals were to be there at the start and do the very best I can and be there at the finish lines.
“Participating in the games was a great experience that I will never forget.
Winning the bronze medal was a nice bonus.”
Mr. Hippola says he’ll continue with his overall fitness regimen, which
includes both walking and swimming. If he improves his time, another World Masters
Games may be in his future.
“On race walking I will try to improve my walking style and speed. I may
try to participate in some of the local competitions, and who knows, if I improve
appreciably, I may consider going to the World Masters Games in Sydney Australia
in 2009.”
Meet the Master
Of Suds Sales
If you’ve ever opened a beverage made by the Mountain Crest Brewing Corporation,
you’ve tapped into the ever-growing business of Ravinder
Minhas, E.I.T. The University of Calgary engineering graduate is president of Mountain Crest
Brewing Corporation as well as Mountain Crest Liquors Inc.
Mr. Minhas says that he’s always wanted to be in the brewery industry.
Now that he’s there — engineering degree or not — he has no
plans to leave for a while.
“I’ve always wanted to be involved in a brewery. In 1999 I started Mountain Crest Liquors Inc., which was more of an import-export business supplying various clubs and bars with brand names under my banner. But once I had the capital, in 2002 I started Mountain Crest Brewing Corporation and created a uniquely Alberta beer.”
Mr. Minhas remains undeterred by the bigger corporations, such as Molson and Labatt — and their shares of the marketplace. He says his 10 per cent Alberta chunk is a good starting place. He expects the company to be clearing 15 to 20 per cent of the retail market in the next few years.
While the Alberta company offers its brew to Albertans exclusively in Canada,
a slightly different blend is being offered to several American states, each
designed to appeal to each region’s palate.
As for selling out or getting out while the money is good, Mr. Minhas says he’s
staying in for the long haul.
“I’d never sell out. Even if they (the likes of Molson) asked. It’s a fun business and something I’ve always wanted to do.”
McKnight Named
Hero of Chemistry
When the history of chemical research is written, the name Craig.
A. McKnight, P.Eng., will be there. Mr. McKnight has been named one of the American Chemical
Society’s Heroes of Chemistry.
Mr. McKnight, on loan from Syncrude to ExxonMobil Process Research Laboratories at the time of nomination, received the award for his efforts within a team to remove sulphur from gasoline. The result of the work is vast improvement to the environment.
In all, 18 research chemists from five companies were named heroes. The awards are given to innovators whose work has led to the welfare and progress of humanity by creating commercially successful products that improve the quality if life.
APEGGA Members
Among Alberta’s
Most Influential People
Alberta Venture magazine recently published its ninth annual listing of Alberta’s
most influential people — people who, in the magazine’s estimation,
have helped shape Alberta’s fortunes.
APEGGA members who made the cut are Patrick Daniel, P.Eng., president and CEO of Enbridge Inc.; Charles Fischer, P.Eng., president and CEO of Nexen Inc., and co-chair of Climate Change Central; Hal Kvisle, P.Eng., president and CEO of TransCanada Corporation; and Steve Laut, P.Eng., president and COO of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.
Other notable choices were Premier Ralph Klein, Stephen Harper and Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel.
TEC Edmonton Leader
Heads For California
So he can nurture a spin-off geotechnical company in Los Angeles, Dr.
Peter Robertson, P.Eng., will take a year off from his duties as the CEO of TEC Edmonton and associate
vice-president of research and industry relations at the University of Alberta.
Dr. Robertson, who’s been with the university since 1988, is co-founder of a Vancouver geotechnical investigation firm with eight offices in Canada and the United States. It’s this company that spawned his new position at Gregg In-Situ Inc.
“It was a difficult decision. California is the 10th largest economy in the world but there are also a lot of exciting things happening in Edmonton.”
The next decision — whether to return — will come later, Dr. Robertson says.
Several Permit Holders
Given Corporate Kudos
Canadian Business magazine recently bestowed several of APEGGA’s permit
holders with the distinction of having among the best corporate boards in the
country.
Among the top 25 were: SNC-Lavalin Group Inc., TELUS Corp., Suncor Energy Inc., EnCana Corp., Petro-Canada, TransCanada Corp., and Enbridge Inc.
The top 25 were evaluated and rated according to their accountability, board independence, disclosure and three-year return versus the TSX.
APEGGA Geologist
Made VP of
Storm Cat Energy
Don Martin, P.Geol., has been appointed vice-president of Canadian and international
operations for Storm Cat Energy Corp. of Calgary.
Mr. Martin brings with him more than 25 years of experience in exploration and development, as well as a more than 75 per cent success ratio with 350 prospects drilled to date.
Prior to joining Storm Cat, Mr. Martin was with Nytis Exploration Company as vice-president of exploitation and with Evergreen Resources Canada Ltd. as a vice-president.
Engineer Becomes
Board Member and CEO
Of Daleco Resources
Stephan V. Benediktson, P.Eng., has become the latest member of the board of
directors of Daleco Resources Corporation in Los Angeles. Mr. Benediktson will
also serve as CEO with the company’s management team.
During his 43-year career, Mr. Benediktson has held many positions with varying levels of technical and managerial experience. He has served as vice-president of the Amerada Hess Corporation in the United Arab Emirates and as director general of Bridas in Argentina. Mr. Benediktson has also founded or co-founded several oil companies, including Benson Petroleum Ltd., PetroSantander Inc. and Kroes Energy Inc.
He is also the honorary consul of Iceland in Alberta.
Gold Company Names
U of A Professor
To Advisory Board
Dr. Jeremy P. Richards, P.Geol., has been appointed to the advisory board for
Telkwa Gold Corporation. The board will assist in the development and financing
of the comp-any’s mining exploration and development projects.
Dr. Richards is a professor of geology at the University of Alberta who specializes in mineral deposits. Originally from the U.K., he received his bachelor’s degree in geology from Cambridge University. He obtained his master of science degree from the University of Toronto and his PhD from the Australian National University.
Much of Dr. Richard’s work has revolved around research on the genesis of hydrothermal mineral deposits, and the formation of ore deposits. Right now he’s researching the regional controls on porphyry copper and polymetallic epithermal mineralization in northern Chile, Argentina, Iran and Turkey.
Calgary’s Telkwa Gold Corporation has operations in British Columbia and Nevada.