West Toronto PEO Chapter

Technical Seminar: Canadian Engineering Firsts ⚙️
The PEO West Toronto Chapter is pleased to invite you to an inspiring Technical Seminar!
Join us for an engaging evening exploring the remarkable achievements of Canadian engineers and the critical role engineering plays in Canada’s innovation, economic strength, and future sovereignty.
🎤 Speaker:
Gregory P. Wowchuk, BASc, Dip.El.Tech., P.Eng., FEC
PEO Past President & Chair of Council (2025–2026)
📍 Location:
Rosebrugh Building Room RS 208
164 College St, Toronto, ON

📅 Date:
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
🕡 Agenda:
• Registration, Refreshments & Networking: 6:30 PM – 6:50 PM
• Seminar: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
💡 Topics Include:
✅ The achievements of Canadian engineers
✅ How engineering supports Canada’s economy and sovereignty
✅ The importance of professional licensing in the engineering profession
🎟️ Free Registration (limited to 100 attendees):

PEO West Toronto Chapter Technical Seminar: Canadian Engineering Firsts Canadian engineers are among the best in the world: join us to hear about notable achievements in the world of Canadian engineering.

On April 25, 2026, Vice-Chair Ray Seker, P.Eng. and Secretary Carlos Radic, P.Eng.
attended the 104th Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) Annual General Meeting in
Ottawa, representing the West Toronto Chapter.
The AGM opened with remarks and blessings from Karen MacInnis, an Ojibwa Elder
and Knowledge Keeper from Walpole Island First Nation (Bkejwanong). Drawing from
her extensive experience as a psychologist therapist, traditional healer, and advisor to
both Indigenous and non-Indigenous organizations. She shared the personal
significance of the profession in her life because of her late husband’s engineering
career, and she spoke about the importance of the engineering profession and its
impact to the environment; highlighting the responsibility carried by the profession.
The meeting continued with updates from PEO leadership, including Past President
Gregory Wowchuk, P.Eng., FEC and CEO/Registrar Jennifer Quaglietta, P.Eng.,
MBA, ICD.D. They marked the conclusion of the 2023–2025 PEO Strategic Plan and
introduced the 2026–2030 vision. Mr. Wowchuk also noted that this marks the
conclusion of his long-standing service with PEO, spanning nearly three decades, and
welcomed President Leila Notash, P.Eng., PhD, FEC to lead the new Strategic Plan
alongside PEO Council.
The AGM also featured video remarks from the province of Ontario leadership Premier
Doug Ford, and Hon. Attorney General Doug Downey, who delivered on the
accountability and the evolving role of engineers in the province.
Three member submissions were presented for consideration:
• **Submission 1: Code of Ethics Update** – Proposed revisions addressing Artificial
Intelligence (AI), Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), greenhouse gas emissions and
global warming, environmental pollution and waste management, and engineering
practice in the armament and munitions industry.
• **Submission 2: Prioritizing Digital Engineering Licensure** – Focused on improving
licensure pathways for non-traditional disciplines such as software, cybersecurity, digital
communications, and systems engineering.
• **Submission 3: Government Liaison Program (GLP) Task Force** – Proposed the
creation of a task force to strengthen PEO’s role in protecting the public interest through
improvements to the effectiveness of the GLP.
A particular highlight of the event was the insightful presentation by keynote speaker Dr.
Melike Erol-Kantarci, P.Eng., Canada Research Chair in AI-enabled Next-Generation Wireless Networks, and Full Professor at the University of Ottawa. Her works and
contributions on AI Innovation and Governance sparked meaningful discussion on how
emerging technologies are shaping engineering practice and professional responsibility.
The AGM concluded with the PEO Council elections. Attendees also had the
opportunity to connect with peers, reflect on the profession’s direction, and discuss
ways to contribute to the continued evolution of engineering in Ontario.

Why Projects Go Wrong Even When the Engineering is Right

On March 25, the West Toronto Chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario hosted an insightful conference at the University of Toronto’s downtown campus, bringing together engineering professionals to explore this critical question.

The session featured Sedat Akkaya, President of the Toronto Section of the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE), who shared valuable perspectives drawn from industry experience and his contributions to education through Concordia University’s CICIEM initiative and George Brown College’s CET Program Advisory Committee.

💡 Key takeaway: Technical excellence alone is not enough project success depends on cost, communication, and ex*****on.

Thank you to all attendees for your engagement and thoughtful discussions. Your participation continues to strengthen a collaborative and forward-thinking engineering community.

We look forward to creating more opportunities that support growth, learning, and excellence in engineering.