1. 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.

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. OSPE offers VALUE at a LOW FEE
Cost of Professional Memberships:
(including GST)
Ontario Pharmacists Assoc. $
Ontario Bar Association $ Ontario Dental Association $ 1,219.00
Ontario Medical Association $ 1,345.00
Ontario Society of
Professional Engineers $
+ 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.

12. please visit our website:
For more information,
please visit our website:
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.