April, 1999
T
he Confederation Bridge has added to its list of honours by being named one of the five most significant Canadian engineering achievements of the 20th century.It was one of five winning projects unveiled at the National Engineering Week (
new) launch ceremony in Ottawa on March 1. The launch was chaired by Micheline Bouchard, P.Eng., president and CEO of Motorola Canada Ltd. and honorary chair, National Engineering Week.Joining the Confederation Bridge on the select list were the following Canadian engineering achievements: the IMAX system of motion picture photography and projection, Canadian Pacific’s Transcontinental Railway, the Pacemaker, and Canadarm – one of space engineering’s greatest advances. The Pacemaker received further recognition as the engineering accomplishment that makes us most proud to be Canadian (as determined by an Angus-Reid poll).
"To have the Confederation Bridge recognized as one of the 20th century’s five most significant projects instills a great sense of accomplishment and pride for all of us at Stantec – not just as employees but as individual Canadians," says Tony Franceschini, P.Eng., president and CEO of Stantec. The Alberta-based firm led the engineering team for Strait Crossing Inc., the consortium responsible for the design and construction of the bridge built across Northumberland Strait to link Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. Completed in May 1997, for an estimated $840 million, the bridge is the first "build-own-operate-transfer" project of its kind in Canada and the longest bridge in the world spanning ice-covered waters.
Judging procedures for this distinction were rigorous. To be considered as one of Canada’s most notable engineering achievements, projects had to meet several key criteria, including being conceived, designed, and executed with significant input by a Canadian engineer or engineering team; provide groundbreaking engineering thinking and ingenuity; and demonstrate the scope and diversity of Canada’s engineering profession. Based on extensive research and input from national engineering organizations, a shortlist was compiled by NEW’s Executive Committee, which included representatives from the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers, the Canadian Academy of Engineering, the Engineering Institute of Canada, the Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada, the National Council of Deans of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Canadian Federation of Engineering Students.
Barry Lester, P.Eng., vice president and COO, Stantec Canada West, who headed the team on the bridge project, said: "I would like to extend my congratulations to each of the four other winners for offering unprecedented engineering marvels to Canada and the rest of the world. I will always consider it an honour to have had the opportunity to contribute to a historic undertaking like the Confederation Bridge."
The Confederation Bridge has received a number of other major awards; including ones from the Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada, and Consulting Engineers.