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Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC) Annual General Meeting

The CISC held their 75th Annual General Meeting in the scenic region of Charlevoix in Quebec. The Quebec Committee for the AGM marked the 75th anniversary with an exhibit of CISC memorabilia, including past history, manuals, detail drawings from the Dominion Bridge archives, drafting tools and significant members over the years. The exhibit also held a contest leading viewers through the memorabilia, making a lasting impression of the contents.

Although the weather in this picturesque region on the Gulf of St. Lawrence River was on the damp side to say the least, it did not deter Susan and I from touring the region’s many art galleries and sampling the region’s famed cuisine. The golf tournament did not fare well, as only a few foursomes were able to complete the course in the downpour, and après le deluge prizes were awarded for endurance.

The CISC Detailing Committee chaired by Robert Beauchamp was well attended and reports were received from each region. Alberta is pushing their apprenticeship program and is having some success with participants. They have been fortunate in having the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) develop an 80-hour shop course and an 80-hour field course to assist in training steel detailers. Quebec has implemented courses for detailers but has not yet reached the level to have the program endorsed as an Apprenticeship program. British Columbia has taken a different route and is emphasizing detailers as technicians and technologists and not trades people, in the belief that the skills required by structural steel detailers today are far more sophisticated than those required twenty or more years ago. The Ontario and Atlantic Regions do not as yet have any serious plans for training detailers.

Discussion was held on how to encourage detailers to become members of the CISC. How do we sell the benefits of membership? One concern current detailer members have is that many CISC fabricators use the lowest bid when they sublet work, which can often result in work going to non CISC Detailer Members. Mike Gilmor, President of CISC, circulated a letter dated November 9, 2004, requesting CISC Fabricator Members give first consideration to CISC members in subletting work. They could also encourage non Detailer Members to join the CISC and participate in the many benefits of the Institute.

The CISC National Marketing Committee was also well attended. Detailed reports were received from the four Regional Executive Directors on how they were spreading the word and involving architects, engineers and other decision makers in the construction industry. Mike Gilmor summed up with a national update.

The CISC AGM and the Steel Structures Education Foundation (SSEF) AGM are always interesting, allowing us an opportunity to see what has occurred in the past year and to present awards and recognitions to members, particularly the Jackson Fellowship Award to a student in Architectural Design.

The Chairman’s Opening Reception, the Mechoui Style Dinner and the traditional CISC Annual Saturday evening closing gala all provided good opportunities for networking and socializing with members. The presentation on Falconbridge’s Raglan Mine Project and the humour of Canadian comedian Denis Grignon helped round out an excellent AGM.

Hugh Dobbie