The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers: The Voice of Ontario’s Engineers October 2006 Thank you for inviting us today to your seminar for the Engineers In Training group. My name is Vicki Chieu and I’m the Manager of Professional Development at the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE). With me today is Katerina Salto, she’s the Career Services Administrator. We’re here to provide you with some information on the Society and also some tips on helping you to find employment in the engineering field.

The engineering profession in Ontario since 2000 Public interest Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO): Issues licences Regulates the profession Protects the public Member interest Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE): Promotes the professional and economic interests of engineers To provide you with more details on PEO and OSPE – PEO – deal with issues relating to licensure, regulations and protects the public OSPE – promote the professional and economic interests of the members - engineers

Other professions in Ontario MEDICINE Public interest College of Physicians and Surgeons Member interest Ontario Medical Association LAW In Medicine and in Law, there are two separate organizations to help the members. For Medicine, there’s the College of Physicians and Surgeons (which protects the public’s interest) and the Ontario Medical Association (which protects the members’ interest). For Law, the Law Society of Upper Canada (protects the public’s interest) and the Ontario Bar Association (protects the members’ interest). Similarly, in Engineering, there’s Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) (protects the public’s interest) and Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) (protects the members’ interest) Law Society of Upper Canada Ontario Bar Association

The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers… Governed by an elected Board of 12 Run by staff of 17 Over 11,000 members Works for engineers in 3 ways: Advocacy Professional development Member services OSPE is Governed by a board of 12 members – meet 4 times a year Office is staffed by 12 as well 11,000 members we serve Three main ways we offer to members – advocacy, Professional Development and additional services to members

1. Advocacy Our most important activity Ensuring that engineers have a say in public policy making Ensuring that the public recognizes the value of professional engineers Advocacy – Our most important activity: Ask for engineers to volunteer and join committees to work on issues that will better improve the profession Bill 124 Brownfields Task Force Energy Working Group Safe Water Task Force Quality-based selection (projects are given to organizations based on quality and not low prices) Call for Volunteers - Review of PE Act and Brownfields Regulations. OSPE representatives meet regularly with politicians and ministry staff and throughout the year, the Society invites politicians and government staff to a number of OSPE events. Hosting government representatives at our events provides valuable opportunities for informal contact and relationship building for engineers and policy makers.

Our Advocacy in 2006… Energy Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) Brownfields Building Regulatory Reform Advisory Group Solid Waste Management Safe Drinking Water Limitations Act In 2004 we have been focused on a variety of issues that affect the engineering profession – issues like energy, low-fee bidding, environmental safety and building code reform.

2. Statutory and technical training courses Preparatory courses for PEO exams Business skills seminars Management seminar series Breakfast networking sessions Distance learning courses Collaborations with engineering organizations on conferences Custom offerings for employers Statutory and technical training – bill 124, hazard analysis and pre-start health and safety, whims training Preparatory courses for PEO exams – Law and Ethics and other technical ones by disciplines Business Skills – how to start your own business, how to write good contracts and proposals Management courses – leadership skills Breakfast networking – sessions early in the morning to discuss a certain topic and theme. Distance learning – online courses – Project management Collaborations with organizations and conferences – the Powerwithin and York Communications on trade shows – collaborate with them to offer discounts for members to attend Custom offerings – employers and based on group needs

OSPE Online Career Centre Quick Facts Total Jobs Posted 3,177 Monthly Avg. number of Jobs 60-90 OSPE Member Users 7,628 Employers 3,608 Resumes Posted 3,009 Average Daily Site Hits 1,644 The Career Centre was transferred to OSPE in 2002 – Stats are for the 2005 Popular and user-friendly

Salary Surveys Features Include: OSPE Employer Compensation Survey – 2006 The Classification Guide of Engineering Responsibility Levels Engineering Benchmarks to match job descriptions to 26 common engineering functions

OSPE’s member discount program …where being an engineer puts you first. OSPE’s member discount program SUBSTANTIAL SAVINGS on products and services Members can save MORE than the cost of dues OSPE earns important non-dues revenue to help keep fees VERY low

OSPE offers VALUE at a LOW FEE Cost of Professional Memberships: (including GST) Ontario Pharmacists Assoc. $ 506.00 Ontario Bar Association $ 609.71 Ontario Dental Association $ 1,219.00 Ontario Medical Association $ 1,345.00 Ontario Society of Professional Engineers $ 130.00 + GST All of these programs and services provide excellent value for individual engineers, but they do more than just that. The revenue we earn from them allows us to continually expand our advocacy and government relations activities while keeping the cost of Professional Membership at a very low $125 per year.

please visit our website: For more information, please visit our website: www.ospe.on.ca For more information, please visit our website or give us a call. Our business cards are on the table for you. Thanks and good luck to you all.