Featuring insights into Canada’s political climate, as well as inspiration to foster and promote the next generation of skilled trade professionals, the first in‐person Canadian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (CIQS) Congress since 2019, held this past June 16 to 18 at The Westin Ottawa, was one of the largest in over a decade.
This year’s event focused on professional development, with educational sessions kicking off with a presentation on government relations by Huw Williams from Impact Public Affairs. He shared with the group his insights on the political climate in Canada and CIQS’s advocacy campaigns. With delegates emerging from two years of virtual events, they had the opportunity to take in an in-person congress agenda that covered a vast range of topics, such as prompt payment, risk management, MEP pre‐fabrication initiatives, P3 projects and dispute resolution.
Jamie McMillan talks about her career and influencing the next generation of skilled tradespeople. (Photo courtesy of CIQS)
Saturday morning’s keynote session featured Jamie McMillan. She shared an inspirational tale about how she climbed the proverbial mountain of life to attain her goals and get to where she is today, an iron worker, role model and advocate for the next generation of skilled trade professionals.
Not going completely virtual-free, this year’s annual general meeting and yearly review was offered in a hybrid presentation, allowing all members with voting rights the opportunity to make their voices heard. Members voted online with GetQuorum and those who attended remotely were able to participate in the discussion via Zoom. With 599 members registered to participate, and 400 who submitted proxies, this was the largest AGM since the inception of CIQS.
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Sheila Lennon, CIQS chief executive officer, thanked Erin Brownlow for her leadership and personal mentorship during her tenure as CIQS chair. The incoming chair, Arif Ghaffur, took a few minutes to address the group and to also thank the outgoing chair for her work on behalf of the organization.
As this is the first time that members have gathered in person since 2020, honourary life membership award from the past few years were presented, along with the bestowing of Professional Quantity Surveyor fellowships during the annual chair’s dinner.
Harland Lindsay, PQS(F), Ian Duncan, PQS(F) and David Lai, PQS(F) were all awarded Honourary Life memberships. David Lai accepted the late Ian Duncan’s award on behalf of his widow who was unable to attend. Fellowships, which are bestowed on PQS and CEC members who have served CIQS in a meritorious way, were presented to Erin Brownlow, PQS(F), Jerry Crawford, PQS(F), Lloyd Hussey, PQS(F) and Tammy Stockley, PQS(F).
Founded in 1959, CIQS is the voice for Canada’s construction economists. The self‐regulatory, construction and infrastructure economics professional body currently represents over 2,000 national and industry professionals.