Technology Skills Appreciation Week in BC (March 21 – 25) recognizes the valuable contribution of people working in technological skilled trades to the province’s economy and labour force. The technology sector of the BC economy relies on the skills of science and engineering technologists and professionals to grow and prosper. More information.

Paul West, President ACPBC, Minister Amrik Virk, Technology, Innovation and Citizens’ Services, Tom Fyles, Registrar ACPBC.  Photo courtesy of Dr. Vanessa Craig, President College of Applied Biology.

Chemists protect public health through their work in the food industries.  Discover a Chemist in the Food Industry is another in a series of YouTube videos produced by Ordre des chimistes du Québec (OCQ).  It offers a glimpse of the work chemists do in monitoring the purity and quality of foods and beverages, the levels of additives, and the packaging  essential to getting  your food from the farm to your table.

We thank our colleagues at OCQ for this initiative.

The Associations of the Chemical Profession in Alberta and Saskatchewan are pleased to offer a one-day workshop on chemical leachate issues that affect landfills and lagoons. Special consideration will be given to the plight of small rural communities in Alberta and Saskatchewan that may face leachate regulations and potentially costly programs to monitor, manage, and remediate their facilities. This workshop will bring together the expertise of professional chemists from both provinces to address the challenges facing regulators and leachate liability holders. It will help stakeholders and decision makers understand the basic chemistry of leachate components, outline the problems that leachates can cause, and provide strategies for dealing with leachate liabilities.

The course will be held April 8, 2016 at Lakeland College in Lloydminster, Alberta
For additional information and registration, visit the ACPA website.

On the evening of February 1st, 2016, the Vancouver section of the Chemical Institute of Canada in partnership with NSERC-Pacific will be hosting the BC Acdemia-Industry Mixer. This event is also supported by the Association of the Chemical Profession of British Columbia and will take place at SFU Vancouver’s Harbour Centre Campus. The goal of this event is to forge new collaborations and research opportunities as well as celebrating ongoing partnerships between industry representatives and academic researchers. As an active member of the chemistry community, you are invited and encouraged to attend.
The evening will include a presentation from Dr. Elicia Maine, Associate Professor in Technology and Operations Management at the Beedie School of Business, and the Academic Director of the Graduate Certificate in Science and Technology Commercialization. Dr. Maine will discuss “Turning Invention into Innovation: Chemists as Scientist-Entrepreneurs”. In addition, representatives from NSERC and Mitacs will also give a brief insight on these types of partnerships from a funding agency standpoint.
A networking mixer with food and light refreshments will follow the presentations. Space will be available to display promotional material such as pamphlets and brochures during this time. It is hoped that this informal meeting will lead to new and exciting collaborations.

If you plan to attend, kindly fill out your information to confirm your reservation:
http://websurvey.sfu.ca/survey/231556884
Please contact John Canal (jcanal(at)sfu.ca) if you have any questions.

Dr. Andy Pickard P.Chem. has been recognized for his outstanding service to ASTM International through the Frank W. Reinhart Award.  Dr. Pickard is an independent consultant to the petrochemical sector focused on petrochemical products and liquid fuels ( natural gas, propane, gasoline, aviation fuel, diesel fuel, heating oil and heavy fuel oils).  ASTM International is a non-profit organization that develops standards and testing methods that are internationally recognized as the basis of quality assurance in the global trade of commodities and refined products.  Dr. Pickard has served for many years on ASTM committees and working groups; he currently chairs a working group on liquefied petroleum gas.

The ACPBC is proud to congratulate Dr. Pickard on this significant international recognition of his impact and achievements.

A chemist in the environment is another in a series of YouTube videos produced by Ordre des chimistes du Québec (OCQ).  It offers a glimpse of the work chemists do in monitoring the environment for natural and synthetic chemicals and highlights the role chemists play in assuring water and air quality.

We thank our colleagues at OCQ for this initiative.

It is now time to act!  The deadline for renewing your membership in the ACPBC is January 29, 2016.
The ACPBC is pressing to enhance the professional stature of chemists through recognition of the profession of chemist in BC through legislation and in regulation.  The ACPBC is also deeply involved with the national umbrella organization FCPC – Federation of Canada’s Professional Chemists/ Federation des Chimistes Professionels du Canada.  These are important steps for our profession in BC and nationally.
We look forward to your continued support.  Soon.

We are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2015 ACPBC Undergraduate Scholarship is Ms. Sydney Acton.  Ms. Acton is fourth year Honours Chemistry student at UBC Okanagan.  In addition to her studies she is active in the UBCO Chemistry Course Union and in the CIC South Eastern BC local section.

Congratulations to Sydney, and to the other applicants for the scholarship!

Full details on the scholarship and biographical sketches of past winners are on our Awards and Sponsorships page.

Emily’s Story – a chemist in research in development is the first of a series of YouTube videos produced by Ordre des chimistes du Québec (OCQ).  It offers a glimpse of the work chemists do in creating new pharmaceuticals and also tells one chemist’s story of what motivated her to engage in the profession.

We thank our colleagues at OCQ for this initiative.

Are you planning to be in Calgary November 9th and 10th? If so, you may want to check out this short course.

Click the image to learn more!