OSPE - The Voice - Fall 2020 - 4

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Through the first few months of COVID-19 the world
experienced an economic slowdown, while scientists
and epidemiologists scrambled to analyze the little data
we had available to prioritize public safety.
Despite engineers assisting businesses
across industries, based on information
that could be considered ambiguous, we
were able to secure supply chains, ensure
product quality, and modify existing
processes to manufacture much needed
medical supplies. 	
Four months into the global pandemic,
new patterns of data and evidence have
emerged, meaning our communities will
have to innovate many more times in the
months to come to manage the damage.
OSPE is proud to note the proactive
and positive reaction of the engineering
profession-not only from the pivot in our
province to Personal Protective Equipment
(PPE) manufacturing but also to the
breaking down of interdisciplinary barriers
to come towards a common cause. The
COVID-19 pandemic has showcased some
of our greatest assets as a community; ones
that reflect our core pillars of Lead, Care,
and Unite.
As we shift from a global economic
slowdown to a gradual and cautious
reopening, we can begin to ask ourselves
more questions. What exactly does the
economy need to restart? Do we need to
change our approach to adapt to a new
marketplace? Are there now different
methods that we can employ to innovate
and solve problems while we investigate
with the fresh perspectives that the virus
has given us? What will be the impact on
professional engineering long-term?
OSPE has submitted recommendations
to the provincial and federal governments,
highlighting the immediate and shortterm actions we believe will position all
engineers and engineering graduates for
success as we reopen the economy. These
recommendations were developed based on

4

THE VOICE Fall 2020

to remain relevant while understanding
the advocacy work OSPE has done with our
the emerging marketplace so that we are
members and the variety of stakeholders
positioned for the jobs of tomorrow. The
within academia, industry, and other
diverse, skilled talent base that emerges
engineering associations. One clear impact
will go a long way in cementing our position
is that the work-from-home transition has
accelerated and highlighted the need for a
as skilled, ethical innovators who strive to
protect the public through the profession
steady ramp-up of digitalization, and we are
regardless of the circumstances.
pleased to see the Government of Ontario
This pandemic has had a social impact
commit to this endeavour. We will continue
on engineers' work-life balance and mental
to find ways that will allow us to appreciate
health. Given that there could be a second
potential benefits, such as digitalization,
while maintaining much needed human
wave of increased COVID-19 cases this
fall, as engineers we will Lead, Care, and
contact. We will be united on a global scale
with this research.
Unite, to ensure protections exist while we
continue to navigate any uncertainty.
OSPE's advocacy goals will now shift
to long-term, strategic solutions, with
the aim to target the specific
OSPE's advocacy goals will now shift
damage caused by COVID-19.
We will make evidence-based,
to long-term, strategic solutions, with
technological recommendations
the aim to target the specific damage
that align with the legacy needs
caused by COVID-19.
of the engineering community.
We know through anecdotal
evidence that job losses have occurred
in engineering, and now with the help of
our members, we can begin to examine
which specific industries were affected,
and how best to equip them for the future.
For example, we must understand that job
losses in the electrical engineering industry
will need different considerations from the
job losses affecting chemical engineering,
and it's possible that some industries, such
as manufacturing, will have found new
streams for innovation during the crisis.
This is also where the need for
re-skilling and up-skilling for our engineers
Réjeanne Aimey, P.Eng., MBA
becomes vital, not only to our survival as a
PRESIDENT AND CHAIR
profession, but also to ensure the longevity
of engineering careers. The Ontario
Engineering Academy (OEA) is an avenue
through which we can enhance our skill sets

Ontario Society of Professional Engineers
OSPE - The Voice - Fall 2020

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