Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jun 26/00) - Several Northern companies and professionals were recognized for their engineering and geological achievements last week.

Members of the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of the NWT gathered in Yellowknife June 16 and 17 for their annual general meeting, professional workshop and awards banquet.

Gary Craig, professional engineer and director of public works for the City of Yellowknife, was the recipient of the association's 1999-2000 President's Medallion. Henry Murzyn, professional engineer for Nishi Khon SNC Lavalin, received the 2000 Civic Award. Jody Todd, professional geologist for BHP Diamonds, received the 2000 Young Achievers Award, while Bernadette Stewart, president of Braden-Burry Expediting, was the recipient of the 2000 service award.

Todd has also been named the association's new president. He replaces Craig, who was acting president for 1999-2000. Awards of merit were presented to Inuvik Gas Ltd. for its development of a gas reservoir to supply a cleaner, more efficient natural gas flow to the town of Inuvik, and to the Nunavut Construction Corporation for the fast-tracked construction of the infrastructure required for the new government of Nunavut.

Bob Spence, executive director for the association, said all winners were selected by the association's honours committee.

Overall, Spence said the weekend went well. However, he was disappointed with the attendance at the professional development seminar on Friday.

"We were in competition with a lot of other things ... Mining Week and some other things, so we're considering moving the date next year to sometime earlier, probably mid-May," Spence said.

But he was happy to report that the awards banquet was sold out, and some even had to be turned away.

"I thought it was a very successful affair. We had a very stimulating talk by a visitor from B.C., and of course the awards were the highlight of the evening," said Spence.