Meet your councillors

Meet Your Councillor - Wayne Caston, P.Geo., MCIP, RPP

Bird's Eye View as High School Pilot Leads to Career in Pit/Quarry Develpment and Rehabililitation

By Crystal Spekking, APGO's Northern Ontario Communications Officer

As a high school student, Wayne's interest in Physical Geography, particularly glacial landforms such as the Oak Ridges Moraine, was triggered both by his teachers and by being able to fly over much of southern Ontario as a result of receiving his Private and Glider Pilot's Licences at a young age.

While an undergraduate at the University of Waterloo, Dr. A.G. (Sandy) McLellan - a Glacier Geomorphologist - piqued Wayne’s interest in the development and rehabilitation of pits and quarries, and mentored him to become involved in this specialty. Dr. Doug Hoffman, a prominent soil scientist, and his M.Sc. advisor at the University of Guelph, was also a significant influence

In his student years, Wayne's summer jobs involved flying gliders in the Canadian Armed Forces Air Reserve, latterly as a flying instructor and Commissioned Officer. Prior to his M.Sc., Wayne worked under Dr. Frank Schwartz at the Defense Research Establishment in Suffield (Alberta), undertaking a hydrogeological investigation of a low-level radioactive waste disposal site and assessing the impact of a large scale detonation (50 tons of TNT) on groundwater elevations.

Wayne now owns and operates a consulting business specializing in planning, development and management of mineral aggregate and related resources - sand, gravel and stone. In addition to being a P.Geo, he is also a Registered Professional Planner and member of the Canadian Institute of Planning.

Wayne’s work has involved in sub-watershed studies, natural gas pipeline impacts and compensation issues, and aggregate resources matters brought before the Niagara Escarpment Plan Review Hearings. He has also appeared before the Environmental Appeal Board, the Ontario Municipal Board and in civil court proceedings, as an expert witness.

Wayne is also a dealer in antique maps, specializing in maps of Canada by 17th and 18th century French cartographers and in the early geological maps of Canada. He undertakes appraisals of maps, plans, surveys and similar documents under provisions of the federal Cultural Property Import and Export Act.

What are Wayne's views on professional registration and its effects on the work of the geoscientists?

As one of APGO earlier licensees, and particularly as a member of the Registration Committee, Wayne views the professional registration of all geoscientists as an absolute necessity in order to protect the life, health and property of the public and to protect the natural environment. He is particularly interested in encouraging recent graduates to become Geoscientists-in-Training, and has made presentations on behalf of APGO to students and faculty at several universities. He is also interested in assisting with the establishment of a mentoring program for students and GIT's.

When asked, how has professional registration, made a difference in your life and in your workplace? Wayne said, "On a personal level, professional registration has provided, at least in part, recognition for the work I have done in a highly specialized area of the geosciences, over more than a quarter century. While the level of recognition of Professional Geoscientists in Ontario has come a long way in the past several years, there is still a great deal to do. Not only must we encourage more academics to become members of APGO, for example, we must also raise our profile with other professions.

On a corporate level, and since I am the only Professional Geoscientist in our company, registration has not made a great difference in the workplace. On the downside, as a sole practitioner in a corporate setting, the purchase of professional liability insurance is mandatory. This an onerous expense (in the four figures), which is not required for consultants operating as sole proprietors."

"As Chair of APGO's Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Committee, I want to encourage members to recognize that our new CPD program will be of significant benefit to the membership, not only from the perspective of interprovincial mobility and consistency across Canada, but also by actively encouraging participation in professional activities, APGO committees and so on. Achieving the requirements of the CPD program will not be an onerous task for the vast majority of members. In addition, the built-in flexibility of the program allows for such contingencies as work interruption, parental leave and illness."

"There is a core of volunteers on Council, participating in our committees and assisting with a variety of tasks like editing Field Notes. Nevertheless, the need for additional volunteers is becoming urgent. I would strongly encourage our members to participate in APGO activities, particularly as committee members. We need new blood!"

Wayne has participated on School Councils and on the Board of Directors for a non-profit infant and toddler day care. He was a Board member, and Chair, of the Wilfrid Laurier University MBA Alumni Association. In addition to his APGO activities, he is currently a volunteer for the Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada.

With his interest in historical cartography and antique maps, Wayne has written a number of articles for the Waterloo Historical Society, the Ontario Land Surveyor magazine, the Bruce Trail Magazine, Wellington County History, amongst others.

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.