We’re pleased to announce that Patrick Gloux has stepped into the role of Structural Department Head in our Winnipeg office.  

Patrick is a highly skilled and dedicated engineer with over 19 years of experience. Over 13 years at KGS Group, Patrick has made significant contributions to the Structural Department, both as an engineer and project manager. Always serving his clients well, Patrick has successfully taken on a leadership role for dozens of projects simultaneously.

In addition, Patrick’s expertise in cold climate building design as well as expert litigation assistance services has been invaluable to our team.

As Assistant Structural Department Head for the past five years, Patrick has already proven his ability to lead. We know he will continue to excel in his new role.

Please join us in congratulating Patrick on this well-earned achievement!

We’re delighted to announce that Ashley Dent has taken on the role of Mechanical Industrial Department Head in our Winnipeg office.  

Ashley has been an invaluable member of the KGS team since 2008, consistently delivering exceptional results on projects for some of our largest clients. His dedication to meeting the daily challenges of projects while maintaining a focus on constantly improving our organization is commendable.

Furthermore, Ashley’s expertise in managing complex, multidisciplinary projects has been key to our growth within the industrial market. Beyond his technical skills, Ashley is a committed leader known for his mentorship abilities and his genuine care for his colleagues.

Having served as an Assistant Department Head since 2019, Ashley’s promotion to Department Head is a well-deserved recognition of his hard work and contributions.

Please join us in congratulating Ashley on this well-earned achievement!

On October 23, 2024, KGS Group hosted a major milestone celebration.

Seventeen members of our Winnipeg team celebrated their 25^th anniversary working at KGS Group.

We are beyond grateful for their commitment to making KGS Group the company that it is today. These individuals have been instrumental in shaping not only KGS Group, but also generations of engineers and staff.  The expertise found in this group is second to none.

You can learn a little bit about each of our celebrants below.

Adam Pawlikewich

“Adam has continued to grow in many ways throughout the years,” says Founding Principal Dave MacMillan. “He has developed in confidence and capabilities, and he has kept his engaging personality and kind heart.”

It would be difficult to find someone more passionate and dedicated to KGS than Adam Pawlikewich. Adam is known for taking on challenging work and contributing beyond his role. Over the years, he’s worked within our electrical teams, advancing to the role of Electrical Department Head in Winnipeg and then to Principal. He has also worked tirelessly to develop our U.S. operations and our IT team.

Bonnie Hoffensetz

Confident, compassionate, approachable. Bonnie Hoffensetz’s leadership style can be described as all these things, and it goes hand in hand with her depth of knowledge in the environmental field. Bonnie is an expert in contaminated sites projects and has worked her way up to Department Head of our environmental group in Winnipeg. She has also made positive impacts across the organization as an Associate Principal.

Bonnie never shies away from a challenge. She meets them head on and will get through them with the expertise required for the situation.

Carlos Carvalho

Carlos has been an invaluable member of the KGS IT team for many years. Over the years, his expertise has helped KGS navigate significant technological advancements, from the dial-up era to today’s complex digital landscape. He has helped shepherd KGS through major growth and exponential changes in software, hardware, digital security and more.

“Carlos has been instrumental in KGS’ growth over the years. He has made it all look effortless,” says Founding Principal Helmut Graumann. “He has brought about changes to KGS’ IT practices that have become fundamental in the way we do work.”

Colin Siepman

During his tenure with KGS, Colin has developed as a structural engineer and project manager, taking on leadership roles in some of the most significant projects KGS has ever undertaken.

He has also enjoyed his work as Department Head of our Winnipeg structural group. He has an open door and encourages people to come to him for help with their projects, or whatever it might be, even if it adds more work to his already full plate. In recent years, Colin moved into the role of Principal and has taken on increased responsibility in the organization while still nurturing relationships with his team.

Craig Rowbotham

As a professional, Craig’s career has revitalized neighbourhoods and cities. To name a few notable career achievements, he was a major part of the team that redeveloped Waterfront Drive in Winnipeg and was instrumental in bringing roundabouts to Kenora and Northwestern Ontario. “For the longest time, Craig was transportation at KGS Group. He is technically acute, and a true leader in the field,” says Ray Offman.

Craig has also taken on leadership roles at KGS and is a great mentor to staff. He served as Assistant Department Head of our municipal team in Winnipeg for many years before becoming the Assistant Department Head of our newly formed Transportation Department.

David Brown

Throughout his time at KGS, Dave Brown has excelled as a leader. According to Founding Principal Dave MacMillan: “Dave has created a model department at KGS for mentoring younger staff. As the Water Resources Department Head, he created a team that developed an appropriate level of mentoring responsibility and confidence and has allowed each individual to bring their unique talents and personalities together to make the team stronger as a whole.”

Dave also has an electric personality and loves working with clients. Now as a Principal, he has been instrumental in developing our business development and marketing functions.

Dustin Wilson

Dustin Wilson has had a willingness to help since his earliest days at KGS. Those early days were also where his interest in automation controls began. He gravitated towards that type of work from the beginning and has continued down that path throughout his career.

Dustin’s extensive expertise is incredibly valuable in his role as an Assistant Department Head and mentor to younger engineers. While he likes to let others come up with solutions on their own, Dustin won’t shy away from stepping in when it’s needed, and offering his expertise, suggestions and guidance to help get over difficult hurdles.

Gord Siebert

Gord’s expertise in the construction industry was needed across KGS. Until his retirement, Gord was involved with most projects KGS was contracted for that had a construction component, be it industrial, commercial or hydro focused.

Gord’s influence extended beyond project work to maintaining KGS’ head office space. In addition, his familiarity with handling different trades in a construction project was an instrumental part of developing KGS’ Health and Safety Committee.

Hugh Williams

With his extensive expertise and leadership abilities, Hugh moved up through the ranks, serving as the Mechanical Department Head in Winnipeg for many years. In his current role as Principal, Hugh continues to develop our mechanical teams and capabilities. He is a thoughtful, accessible leader who is a true asset to KGS.

As long-time colleague Ashley Dent puts it: “Hugh is an approachable leader that will always take the time to pass along his experience.”

Jason Bouchard

Hardworking, honest, and easy to get along with. In a nutshell, that is Jason Bouchard, but he is so much more. Jason’s years at KGS have been spent lending his growing expertise in electrical engineering to some of the most notable projects in KGS’ history.

Jason is also a skilled leader. As the Department Head for the electrical team in Winnipeg, he mentors and guides the next generation of engineers. Jason shares his knowledge and experiences in a supportive and approachable manner.

Jason Mann

Jason has been an instrumental part of our environmental team since he began his career at KGS, advancing to Department Head and now Principal. His expertise as a Professional Geoscientist and commitment to developing this area of our business has been invaluable.

As a project leader, Jason is dedicated to ensuring everything is done right. And as a people leader, he makes sure his team never feels like they’re left out on their own. In tricky situations, Jason is there, helping the team succeed, and making sure that every aspect of the project is done well. According to Bonnie Hoffensetz: “Jason always has the overall picture in his head. He wants what’s best for KGS and for his team. He is confident, decisive and supportive.”

Josephine Rokyta

Josephine is one of the original members of KGS, starting out at the office on Roblin Boulevard. She was the third member of the administrative team.

Josephine has become an irreplaceable support for the Winnipeg Environmental Department. She is well-known for being caring, hardworking, and an amazing person overall. As her boss Pina Di Canio puts it: “We can always rely on Josephine. She is trustworthy, always willing to help and always gets the job done with a smile on her face.”

Prasan Silva

Of all the engineers at KGS, Prasan Silva might just have one of the most diverse portfolios of projects worked on by any one individual. Prasan originally started on our commercial team, but after a few years moved over to the mechanical industrial side of KGS and has never looked back. According to Hugh Williams: “Prasan is a very versatile engineer, maybe the most at KGS. He has a lot of different design abilities.”

Working on award-winning projects isn’t out of the ordinary for him either. Prasan has provided his knowledge and skills to several renowned projects in KGS’ portfolio.

Rick Carson

The sheer depth of Rick’s knowledge is beyond comparison. As a world-renowned expert in ice engineering, he’s represented KGS well, enthusiastically sharing his knowledge at conferences, with countless clients and with staff. According to Dave Brown, his influence extends even further: “Rick didn’t grow at KGS, as much as he grew KGS. The legacy of his engineering work stretches across Canada, but his true legacy is mentoring and growing the water resources group at KGS.”

Rick remains a valuable resource to clients and staff. He’s always ready to offer advice and guidance whenever someone needs it.

Rob Sinclair

Rob has always been a caring and supportive mentor, in addition to an expert in hydrogeology. He has served in several roles throughout his time at KGS including Department Head and Specialist Advisor for our Winnipeg environmental team.

Rob’s exceptional expertise was recognized when he was one of only two engineers chosen from outside of Ontario to help alleviate the Walkerton e. coli outbreak in 2000. He also played a pivotal role with CN, providing technical support and logistics for their environmental work. Today, Rob is focused on his passion for geothermal work.

Scott Larson

While Scott Larson brings a wealth of knowledge to his work as a structural engineer, it’s his fun loving, positive demeanour that truly shines through, and has had a lasting impact on KGS. Scott’s colleague said it best: “Scott is an approachable, personable person. He’s an expert in post-tension anchoring and dam safety, but another strength he has is handling clients. I can think of a few clients that have stayed glued to Scott because they love the way he works.”

Scott is also a great mentor and takes pride in the success of the young engineers that he works with.

Werner Rempel

Werner excels at the full spectrum of hydro structural services KGS offers. He is technically skilled and very thorough with extensive experience in the hydro field. He’s also known for his dedication, having lived at a job site for nearly two years when the work required it.

Young engineers working under Werner have the opportunity to learn from one of the best mentors at KGS. “Werner instills a good framework and work ethic into the young engineers. He helps mould their technical knowledge into something that can help them succeed in their careers,” says Gord McPhail.

Recently KGS Group brought home the Canadian Dam Association’s Constructed Project Award of Excellence. Working alongside Ontario Power Generation, Kiewit Corporation and WSP Canada, KGS acted as the owner’s engineer to complete the award-winning Little Long Dam Safety Project.

This award is offered annually by the CDA to recognize teams that have made significant contributions to the dam industry in Canada and society. This is a major achievement for KGS and everyone who worked on this project. Well done team!

You can learn more about the project below.

The Little Long Dam Safety Project was a significant initiative by Ontario Power Generation to rehabilitate and enhance the spill capacity at the Adam Creek Sluiceway to meet new dam safety standards. The project aimed to provide an increase of 40% from 6,090 m³/s to achieve an overall discharge capacity of 8,680 m³/s at the Little Long headpond.

There were three main components to the project:

1. The addition of four new concrete sluiceway bays, providing the additional discharge capacity
2. The replacement of 10 existing sluice gates, gate hoist systems, and superstructures to improve operational safety and reliability
3. The installation of an upstream splash wall to protect against wave and debris overtopping

More information about the Little Long Dam Safety Project can be found on the project page.

We are excited to announce that Dan Sims has been appointed Geotechnical Department Head in our Vancouver office.

Dan joined KGS in July 2023 with over 13 years of international experience as a geotechnical consultant, and two years of experience as a specialist civil contractor. He is a team player, a competitive athlete and strives for successful outcomes no matter what situation he finds himself in. We look forward to seeing what the Geotechnical Department in Vancouver can accomplish under Dan’s leadership.

Please join us in congratulating Dan!

We are proud Platinum Sponsors of the Canadian Dam Association’s 2024 Annual Conference & Trade Show in Niagara Falls.

Several KGS Group employees are presenting at this year’s event, so be sure to stop by and watch.

Little Long Dam Safety Project – General Challenges and Lessons

September 24, 10:15 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.
Presented by Brian Peter along with colleagues from WSP and Kiewit

Ontario Power Generation’s goal for completing the Little Long Dam Safety Project was to increase the discharge capacity of the existing Adam Creek Spillway structure. To meet this objective, the project required the addition of four new spillway bays and the replacement of all mechanical and electrical components of the existing spillway bays, as well as stabilizing the existing Adam Creek concrete structures.

The panel will share the main challenges for this project, risks that were mitigated, lessons learned and successes encountered. They will also discuss the owner’s project management, the design build contractor’s construction management, as well as the engineer of record engineering management processes.

Rehabilitation of a Deteriorated Fixed-Crest Concrete Gravity Overflow Dam

September 24, 3:15 p.m. – 3:35 p.m.
Presented by: Jon Friesen

A 2014 assessment of the Wanipigow Dam, originally constructed in 1930, concluded the dam was in poor condition and did not meet Canadian Dam Association performance criteria. The deteriorated condition necessitated the detailed design and major rehabilitation of the dam.

The rehabilitation addressed previous dam safety deficiencies of the original structure. The dam was realigned and extended, and the deteriorated stoplog bay was demolished and replaced with a new control structure. The original concrete was also repaired to address active seepage through cracks.

The rehabilitation of the Wanipigow Dam was completed in January 2024, approximately six months ahead of the approved construction schedule.

The Kainji Dam in Nigeria: A Story of the Success of an Evolving Dam Safety Management Program

September 24, 3:55 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Presented by Dami Adedapo

The Kainji hydroelectric station is the first largescale and the largest hydroelectric plant in Nigeria. Following construction, the condition of the dams and the generating facilities gradually deteriorated due to several factors, including the absence of a dam safety management plan. By 2016, when Mainstream Energy Solutions took over ownership, only two of the eight generating units were functional, the dams had fallen into a state of disrepair, the flow control equipment was largely unreliable, most of the instruments were not functioning and no inspections were being performed.

Through repairs, maintenance, testing and the investment in technology and staff culture, the Kainji dam underwent a remarkable transformation to a structure that is safe, and once again fulfills its intended functions.

Design for Repair: Lessons Learned from Major Rehabilitation of PFRA-era Structures

September 25, 2:25 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Presented by Derek van Nes

In November 2020 the Water Security Agency engaged KGS Group to act as Owner’s Engineer to help reduce their maintenance and capital project backlog. As part of the work, KGS Group studied the construction, operational and repair paradigms of the original designers of 72 dams and water conveyance structures.

Through careful study and work on these structures, KGS Group was able to learn how cultural paradigms in the 1930s informed the design of these structures with real impacts to engineers in the present. KGS was also able to better understand the challenges of maintaining legacy structures built from 1930 to the 1960s and how these learnings can inform the design of future dams.

We look forward to seeing you in Niagara, Ontario from September 22 – 25!

Our Mississauga office has a new home!

We must be eating our vegetables, because our team keeps on growing. Our Mississauga office has moved into a new home, one that will better hold their expanding team, and allow them to continue providing KGS quality work for our clients.

Our new Mississauga office can be found at:
14th Floor – 2 Robert Speck Parkway
Mississauga, ON L4Z 1H8

Click here for our complete contact information.

We are excited to announce that Jon Friesen has been appointed Department Head of our Winnipeg geotechnical group.

Jon started at KGS Group in 2000 and worked full time while pursuing his B.Sc. and his M.Eng. from the University of Manitoba.  During his tenure at KGS Jon has held various roles, specializing in water resources and dam safety projects. For the past three years, he has served as the Assistant Geotechnical Department Head.

Jon has developed excellent working relations with several of our major clients across Canada and has shown himself to be a project manager that exceeds expectations. He has increasingly taken on greater responsibilities mentoring staff members and managing projects of all sizes, and constantly shows himself to be a self starter, hardworking and reliable. These are all qualities that make him more than deserving of this position.

Please join us in congratulating Jon!

2024 has been a successful year for KGS in Vancouver. We’ve expanded our team and need more space. As a result, we’ve found a new home to accommodate our growing numbers and to better serve our clients.

We’re not moving far – just down the street. Our new address is:

Suite 110 – 2925 Virtual Way
Vancouver, BC V5M 4X5

Our phone numbers and email addresses remain the same.

Click here for our complete contact information.

In 2024 we proudly celebrate the 11th annual International Women in Engineering Day (INWED). INWED is a global celebration of female engineers, honouring their successes and contributions to the engineering world.

KGS is committed to supporting Engineers Canada’s goal of having 30% of newly licensed engineers be female by 2030. Today, we are recognizing the inspiring and talented women working at KGS Group who are helping build towards a brighter future.

Lindsay Ruel P.Eng., Electrical Department Head

Lindsay joined KGS Group in March of this year but has been working in the consulting engineering industry nearly her entire career. Her focus is on heavy industrial and mining projects. When asked what she would tell the next generation of female engineers pursuing leadership roles, she said:

“There are no stupid questions. When I started out in my career 20 years ago, I didn’t like to admit that I didn’t know something or didn’t know how to do something. But now, I’m a firm believer in owning what you don’t know. It’s always best to ask the question, even if you’re embarrassed. There’s never an expectation that people know everything, so ask the question, learn something from it, and grow professionally.”

Lee Peters M.Eng., P.Eng., PMP, Associate Principle & Geo-Environmental Department Head

Lee has been with KGS for over 19 years and leads the Geo-Environmental Department in KGS’ Saskatchewan offices. She is also an Associate Principal and serves on the Board of Directors. When asked what changes she has seen in the industry towards women, Lee said:

“I think there is more global support to understand what issues women might face that are different than their male colleagues and if these issues create barriers to involvement and growth. There are concerted efforts now to understand why the numbers of women in engineering are still less than males to help facilitate change.”

Melissa Haresign M.Sc., P.Eng., Water Resources Assistant Department Head

Melissa joined KGS Group 12 years ago as an E.I.T. Since then, she has worked on a variety of projects, and has transitioned to leading and managing large water resources and multidisciplinary projects. Currently, she is getting settled into her new role as the Assistant Department Head, a new and exciting challenge she is looking forward to. When asked how she is helping to build towards a brighter future for women in engineering, she said:

“Overall, I try to be a positive female role model at KGS. I actively mentor and sponsor emerging female engineers, providing them with the guidance, support, and opportunities to grow and excel in their careers. I advocate for diversity and inclusion within KGS by speaking up when I see areas for improvement and supporting policies that promote gender equity and work-life balance. By doing this, I aim to create a more inclusive and supportive environment where women in engineering can really thrive.”

Taunya Ernst P.Eng., P.E., P.G., Civil Geotechnical Department Head

Taunya joined KGS Group in 2017 as a Senior Geotechnical Engineer, after a 20-year career in the United States. Now, Taunya is the Civil Geotechnical Department Head, and leads the civil-geotech group, roughly half of the team of over 50 geotechnical engineers in Winnipeg. When asked what leadership means to her and what makes a leader great, Taunya said:

“A great leader is someone who puts others before themselves, takes the time, is attentive and truly listens. A leader should be available and easy to approach. A leader can recognize individuals’ strengths and will act on setting people up for success, as well as proactively recognize and engage when additional support is needed. Leadership means leading by example and supporting in any and every way possible to help colleagues develop their knowledge base and grow professionally.”

Congratulations to Destiny Piper, a Transportation Engineer out of our Regina office, who was named an ITE Young Leader to Follow for 2024 and the ITE Canada District Rising Star!

The 2024 Young Leaders to Follow class is comprised of 20 transportation professionals under 35-years-old who have demonstrated leadership and innovation within the transportation industry and ITE. Recipients were chosen from a competitive pool of young professionals based upon their experience, professional successes, and recommendations.

ITE is an international membership association of transportation professionals who work to improve safety and mobility for all transportation system users and help build smart and livable communities. To advance and promote the transportation industry, ITE is dedicated to cultivating and recognizing the up-and-coming talent and future generation of transportation professionals.

Please join us in congratulating Destiny!

KGS Group won four Awards of Excellence and one Award of Merit at the annual Association of Consulting Engineering Companies Manitoba (ACEC-MB) Awards!  

Congratulations to the teams who worked on these projects in all capacities, roles and responsibilities. Read more about each of the projects and the work our team did below. 

Rehabilitation of the Davis Diversion Intake: A Novel Environmental Solution

Award of Excellence (Environmental Category)

Operation of the original Davis Diversion has, in the past, resulted in stranding of at-risk fish species. KGS Group developed the design and oversaw construction of a new weir with a Coanda fish exclusion screen combined with a new fishway. 

Read more. 

RAS Piping Refurbishment – Extending the Life of Critical Process Piping

Award of Excellence (Industrial Category)

KGS Group spearheaded the structural renewal of almost 2,000 feet of over 30-year-old, leaking Return Activated Sludge (RAS) piping at the City of Winnipeg’s North End Water Pollution Control Centre, which treats 187.5 million litres of wastewater daily. 

Read more. 

Newton Force Main River Crossing

Award of Excellence (Municipal & Water Technology Category)

This project replaced a failing system to ensure the safe, daily conveyance of over 2.3 million litres of wastewater across the Red River in Winnipeg. An alternate alignment was developed to both reroute the Newton force main and install it safely within the bedrock below the river. 

Read more. 

Pioneering Sustainable Solutions: University of Manitoba Fort Garry Campus Riverbank Asset Management

Award of Excellence (Infrastructure Category)

Uncontrolled water discharge from a culvert was threatening the integrity of the riverbank and a significant portion of Sifton Road on the University of Manitoba Fort Garry campus. KGS Group provided engineering expertise to rebuild the culvert, Sifton Road and an innovative reconstructed dike system with a lightweight fill material anchored with helical piles. 

Read more. 

Swimming Towards Sustainability: Crossing Enhancements on Beaver Creek at Historic Fort Ellice

Award of Merit (Small Projects Category)

This project focused on modifying a concrete ford crossing that impedes fish migration on Beaver Creek, enhancing bi-directional fish passage, while maintaining structural integrity and minimizing ecological disruption. 

Read more.