President's Perspective:   Year End Review

In October, I represented the Association in a Round Table discussion at the national level, in Victoria, B.C., on geoscientists’ mobility. And in early November, I participated in a break-out session on this topic as part of the Canadian Council of Professional Geoscientists’ Board of Directors meeting held in Toronto. At this same meeting, the Academic Knowledge Requirements for professional geoscientists licensing and registration were presented and discussed. I was pleased to see that the Canadian Geoscientists Standards Board has reached an agreement, in principle, on the educational standards. The Members of this Board deserve our congratulations for their accomplishment. Clearly, APGO must continue to be an active participant in these debates at the national level to ensure that the Association’s viewpoint is represented and the members’ wishes are communicated.

At APGO’s October meeting, Council agreed to focus on moving forward strategically on issues that are crucial to APGO’s long-term viability. These include:

• Obtaining meaningful mobility for geoscience practitioners across the country;
• Implementing a viable mentoring program for APGO’s geoscientists-in-training and student members;
• Improving the Association’s governance;
• Committing to Enforcement and Compliance as an important regulatory component; and,
• Developing an effective communications and outreach program directed at secondary school students.

These issues are reflected in the 2007 budget to be presented to Council for approval at its December 14, 2006 meeting to be held in Sudbury, Ontario on the day following the Ontario Prospectors Association’s Ontario Exploration and Geoscience Symposium.

I trust you will find some time during the festive season to take a break to reflect on the year that has just passed as you celebrate with family and friends. On behalf of the Council and the staff of APGO, please accept my best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season and for your good health and prosperity in the New Year.

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Field Notes is published by APGO and is edited by Wendy Diaz, P.Geo. If you have comments or wish to contribute material to this newsletter, please contact Wendy Diaz, P.Geo., or Norman Williams, P.Eng., Executive Director/Registar.

Copyright 2006, Association of Professional Geoscientists of Ontario (APGO)