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- Jack Parker, P.Geo., Northeastern Region From rock-hounding as a kid to Senior Manager of Mapping at the OGS Crystal Spekking, APGO's Northern Ontario Communications Officer 
Jack's interest in geoscience goes back to his days as a young boy,
when he spent a lot of time in the outdoors and prospected for amethyst
with his father in the Thunder Bay area. In high school, he enrolled
in a geology course that really aroused his interest in the geosciences.
That first geology course, lead Jack into a professional geoscience
career and into his current position as acting Senior Manager of the
Precambrian Geoscience Section (PGS) of the Ontario Geological Survey
(OGS) based in Sudbury, Ontario. Jack manages a team of 15 professional
geoscientists and support staff. His specializations are: Precambrian
geoscience, metallogeny and alteration associated with mineral deposits.
What are Jack's views on professional registration and its effects on the work of the geoscientist? Many people have mixed views about professional registration because registration is mandatory among those who are practising geoscience under the Professional Geoscientists Act, 2000. When asked, how has professional registration made a difference in your life and in your workplace? Jack responded, "Professional registration has been an educational experience for me. I've learned a lot and am proud to be a member of a professional organization. I think professional registration has helped reinforce that all geoscientists have an obligation to practice geoscience for the public good and public safety. It highlights the fact that our actions and conduct as professional geoscientists reflects on all of us and on our profession." Jack is an enthusiastic supporter of professional registration. He believes it provides a general standard of conduct and greater accountability in our profession. Professional registration also helps to ensure that geoscientists continue their professional development throughout their career and provides for greater credibility of the profession to the public. His message to members Jack has been an effective and productive advocate for the concerns and issues of APGO members on council. He encourages other geoscientists to get involved in their association by volunteering for committee work, by participating in elections and finding out more about the APGO. There are some misconceptions about the APGO and its council and he believes these issues can be explained with better communication and encourages members to contact him to discuss their issues, acquire more information or clarify the role of APGO and council. He thinks council is making an effort to respond to its members and improve communication between council and members. What are APGO's challenges and how can Members assist? In Jack's opinion, the biggest challenge is reminding non-members of the requirement to register and to encourage geoscience students to get involved in their self-regulating association early in their career. Jack believes communication is extremely important if we want the APGO to be a strong association. All members can assist the APGO by promoting professional registration among their unregistered colleagues. He would like members to be proactive in their outreach to students and take advantage of every opportunity to communicate the value of the APGO and the practice of professional geoscience. When not doing geoscience Jack spends most of his spare time with his family. He enjoys cycling, cooking, curling, music and reading. He has also taken an active role in his community and donates his time as a volunteer. When asked to name the most exotic place where his career in geoscience has taken him, Jack's answer was Pickle Lake, the top of the province! Meet your Councillor profiles will feature one of your APGO Councillors each month in Field Notes. The profiles are based on the answers received to a series of standard questions asked of each Councillor. |
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