2010 Nominees For Council
Craig McFarland was born and raised in Calgary and graduated in 1998 with a B.Sc. in electrical engineering from the University of Calgary where he also participated in the inaugural year of the Engineering Internship Program. An internship placement with Revolve Magnetic Bearings (now SKF Magnetic Bearings) led to a permanent position upon graduation. Craig continues to work for SKF where he is now a Senior Electrical Engineer working in Research and Product Development. His professional experience with SKF includes a two-year placement at the SKF Engineering Research Centre in The Netherlands.
Craig has been actively involved with APEGGA for a number of years. While attending the University of Calgary, he was a volunteer with the APEGGA Outreach Program (1994-1995). In 2006, Craig joined the Calgary Branch Executive Committee as a member at large and in 2008 he served as the Chair of the Calgary Branch. Craig continues to serve as an active member of the Calgary Branch Executive Committee.
Craig is actively involved in the local soccer community as both a player and coach. He is also a member of Engineers Without Borders Canada and is currently the Co-Leader of the Calgary Professional Chapter. Craig and his fiancée Sarah are to be married in the summer of 2010.
APEGGA Activities
Chair, Calgary Branch Executive Committee (2008)
Member, Calgary Branch Executive Committee (2006-present)
Member (1998-present)
Volunteer, Outreach Program (1994-1995)
Affiliations, Corporate or Community Service
Co-Leader, Engineers Without Borders, Calgary City Chapter (2009-present)
Member, Engineers Without Borders Canada (2007-present)
Volunteer Tutor, Aspen Family and Community Network Society (2005-2007)
Coach and Player, Chinooks Soccer Club (1993-present)
Is the concept of professional self-regulation of engineering and geoscience an outdated concept or an efficient and effective means of protecting public safety and well-being and the environment?
The continually evolving nature of the engineering and geoscience professions is a key argument for self-regulation. In contrast to a regulatory body managed directly by government, the self-regulation model is better able to adjust and respond to the technical, environmental and ethical issues we face today. The continued success of the self-regulatory model is dependent on maintaining both an active membership that is engaged with the issues and an association that is able to provide an open and effective forum for discussion.
Should the need to facilitate international mobility of skilled knowledge workers to ensure Canada’s continued well-being and prosperity outweigh the need for due-diligence in evaluating the education and experience of internationally educated applicants for professional licenses?
Since the need to ensure public safety is paramount it is clear that the facilitation of international mobility should not take precedence over the need for due-diligence in evaluating the education and experience of internationally educated applicants. It will take considerable time and effort but, through continued co-operation with our fellow professional associations both within Canada and abroad, it will be possible to establish a fair and consistent evaluation system to ensure public safety as well as access to properly qualified international workers.