Chapter History
Norm Grusnick - Chapter Historian.
The British Columbia Chapter of ASHRAE is now in its 60th year, being started on April 9th 1952, with the inaugural meeting and formation of the BC Chapter of the American Society of Heating and Ventilating Engineers (ASHVE). Society President Ernest Szekely presented the Charter, at the Quadra Club in Vancouver. There were 36 Charter Members, headed by our first Chapter President Eth Minaker. These 36 pioneer members had the forsight to establish a Chapter that grew to over 500 members, produced several Regional and Society representatives, spin off another Chapter, and still remain a strong and active Chapter after 6 decades from its beginnings.In 1960 the young Chapter hosted the 67th Society Annual meeting at the Hotel Vancouver. By this time ASHVE (which had dropped the Ventilation moniker to become ASHAE) had merged with the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers (ASRE) to become ASHRAE, as we know it to this day. The Society Meeting proved to be very successful according to reports from Red Martin, the General Chair on behalf of the Chapter. Fraser Wiggins was the Chapter President that year, and presided over a Chapter that had grown to 190 members. Scholarships were established for deserving students at BCIT and UBC and that tradition continues to this day.
In 1963, the Chapter Research & Technical Committee, under the guidance of Chairman, Reg Racine published a document entitled “Recommended Outdoor Design Temperatures for 95 Locations in British Columbia”. Much of this data is still used today to calculate design heat loss.
The first of several Chapters Regional Conferences (CRC’s) was held in 1965 in Vancouver. At that time we were still a part of Region X, which extended all the way to California and Arizona. Red Martin was the Chairman for the host Chapter. A few years later in 1979 the Regions were re-aligned to the present arrangement, which includes the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and the Western Provinces, thus the BC Chapter became an integral part of Region XI.
In 1977 Vancouver again hosted a CRC.
In 1980 Dick Perry received the Regional Award of Merit.
In 1983, Dick Perry became Society President, a great honour for our Chapter.
In 1985 our membership roll was reduced substantially, but it was due to the formation of the Vancouver Island Chapter, which received its charter on April 2,1985. Our membership has since recovered and has steadily increased to over 500 members.
Expo 86 Worlds Fair happened in Vancouver in 1986 and Gary Hudson and his committee hosted a great CRC that year.
The late 1980’s was a strong time for the Chapter. In 1989 the Society Annual Meeting again honoured Vancouver with a visit to the newly completed Trade and Convention Centre. The late 80’s also earned Distinguished Service Awards for Percy Butler and Dick Perry and also a Regional Award of Merit for Bob Martin. Dick Perry also became the first Society Fellow from our Chapter.
The early 1990’s continued to see strong participation and performance by members of the BC Chapter. Alex Boome and Dale Carter received Regional Awards of Merit. Dick Perry received the Andrew T. Boggs Service award and an Exception Service award for all he has done for the Society. During this time Alex Boome was Region XI DRC.
1995-96 Godfrey Nash was our Chapter President. Highlights of the year Raju Paul TEGA RVC visited our Chapter. The same year Blair McCarry received an ASHRAE Symposium Paper Award. GM Place was recently opened and the January Meeting/Tour attracted nearly 300 people the largest attendance ever at a chapter meeting. It moved from regular Wednesday night to a Tuesday to accommodate the Vancouver Grizzlies NBA game (remember them).
Peter Sung and his Board of Directors organized a great year for the Chapter in 1996-97. Started off with a great September meeting/tour of the newly expanded Vancouver Airport. Don Holte ASHRAE Society President Elect visited the Chapter in April and attended the Bi-Annual Trade Show “Commitment in Technology Transfer”. This was followed up by Refrigeration Night Tour of BC Hothouse Foods and finishing with our annual Golf Tournament. This year also the BC Chapter/Vancouver Island combined Website was set up.
1997-98 Bruce Munro was President. The year’s programs were all in place and confirmed early. John Jutras newsletter editor even got a Totem out in early August to start off the year. Highlights this year included a tour of Granville Island Brewery and a visit from DRC Robert McDowell. Mr. Art Lewis Life Member and Past Chapter President(1977) passed in May.
1998-99 Rob Flipse was President. Also year for bi-annual trade show. Interesting tours this year were the ECOM Emergency Call centre and Burnaby 8-Rinks. Don Holte Society President was here to Present Distinguished Service Awards to Ron Strong and Alex Boome. This year was also instrumental in offering a series of ASHRAE ALI Professional Development Seminars.
1999-2000 Y2K and many other end of Century issues predominate. Tim Hutchison is President and the biggest undertaking of the year is a joint Region XI and X CRC chaired by Rob Flipse. Again the Chapter is providing Professional Development course. Dick Perry received the Society Exceptional Service Award.
“Engineering Tomorrow’s Quality of Life” 2000-01 was the beginning of ASHRAE Satellite Broadcasts, the first being on Standard 90.1-1999.Brian O’Donnell was president we had visits from Society President Jim Wolfe, Distinguished lecturers Tom Hartman and S.Mathaudhu, concluding with a tour of Molson Brewery. Also a tour of the Historical Hotel Vancouver the site of the 1960 Society Annual meeting.
2001-02 Eric Bradley was President is this very important year. Our Chapter celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary. Past Presidents night celebrated this milestone with Lee Burgett Society Vice President, Doug Dunford DRC. Presentations also made to Ron Strong and Blair McCarry as they became Fellows of the Society. Ken Meadow 1973 Chapter President passed away this year. Brian O’Donnell RP chair exceeded $20,000.00 in donations the highest to date in Chapter history.
2002-03 Rod Yeoh and his Board put together a great list of dinner programs and speakers. Starting with SMACNA Duct Construction Seminar. Visit from Don Colliver Society President. Ken Baker came to speak to the group about the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Bid and all its implications, jumping ahead in history we won the bid to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. Sadly this year Robert Hole a 50+ year member passed away.
2003-04 Norm Grusnick presided over the Chapter affairs. Regional Technology Awards won for The City of Vancouver Works Yard and Heritage Mountain Secondary School. A tremendous refrigeration tour of Neptune Foods. In other areas it was a sad year. We lost Mickey Drake at age 86 and Ralph Robson. Ralph could best be described as “ Mr. Ashrae” of his time. He published the extensive history of the first 35 years of the Chapter.
2004-05 Peter Horwood lead the team. Ron Vallort Society President visited as well as Julian de Bullet a Society Distinguished lecturer. John Hoyle received his 50 year membership certificate and Dale Pitts became a Life Member. The White Rock Operations Centre – Blair McCarry-Keen Engineering received a Regional Technology Award. The Chapter received the Dick Perry Award as Top Performing Chapter in Region XI. Dale Carter received the Distinguished Service Award at the Denver Colorado Society Meeting.
2005-06 Bob Mackie had a theme for the year “Get Involved”. The first tour/meeting of the year had great attendance to visit the Life Sciences Centre at UBC. Kevin Marple RVC Membership visited in October. Chris Collett our hard working CTTC Chair did an excellent job. Submissions from MCW Consultants, Cobalt Engineering, and Jade West Engineering all won awards in their respective categories. The year ended with another well attended Trade Show.
2006-07 Ed Chessor was President. Meeting held for Southern Interior Section. Society President Terry Townsend paid us a visit. Dennis Stanke gave an update seminar on ASHRAE Standard 62. We had a very informative refrigeration tour of the new Thunderbird Olympic arena complex at UBC.
2007-08 Wayne Borrowman was President. In October a great tour of the Kwantlen Trades College Campus as well as a Tour of the shop of Viaduct Sheet Metal. Society President Kent Petersen came and spoke to a luncheon meeting. B.C. Building Code updates and ASHRAE 90.1 were featured at a meeting this year.
2008-09 Chris Collett was an outstanding President. His theme “Value to Members” began early as he had all Board members over to his house for a barbeque and planning session. Dr. Ray Cole spoke to us on “Net Zero”. Tour of new Olympic Speed Skating Oval in October attracted almost 200 guests. Held a great student night and Job Fair. ASHRAE ALI 90.1 day long seminars were conducted. Regional and Chapter Service Awards presented to Norm Grusnick. Kam Hon and Bob Yoneda both passed away this year. The year ended again with a great day of Golf at Westwood Plateau.
2009-10 Charlie Sabean was President. Chris Collett had a record breaking year collecting ASHRAE Research funds. We started the year with a large group touring the new Convention Centre. Tariq Amlani started a local YEA group. Visits from Society President Gordon Holness And Student RVC Doug LeCren. The Chapter won several Regional Technology Awards and Best Chapter at CRC in Regina. Tim Hutchison Past President and organizer for many successful trade shows passed away this year. The year ended with another great Golf Tournament at Westwood Plateau.
2010-11 Les Pereira was President. First ever “YEA” social organized by Tariq Amlani. Again the year started off with a large Tour-The Olympic Village. Distinguished Lecturer Kent Petersen tried to make it in January but snowfall prevented him leaving Portland,we did his Std 189 lecture via website. All meetings well attended as there were a good variety of topics. ASHRAE winter meeting in Las Vegas was attended by over 70 local ASHRAE members as it was so close. Dick Perry received the F.Paul Anderson Award. The City of Vancouver celebrated its 125th Birthday this year. The CRC was in Portland this year and our Chapter won six Regional Technology Awards. The year ended again with a great golf tournament and a hugely successful SMACNA – Seismic and Duct Construction Technical program.