AWARDS: BBA engineers a better Canada at Detour Lake

OTTAWA – Twenty-one Canadian consulting engineering firms received the highest recognition last week at the 2014 Canadian Consulting Engineering Awards Gala. The awards, which are presented jointly by the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Canada (ACE) and CMJ's sister publication Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine. Winners are consulting engineering firms across Canada recognized for their work on complex engineering projects that enrich Canadian society, the economy and the environment.

There were a total of 26 awards, five of which were Special Achievement Awards for demonstrating a high level of technical innovation, environmental stewardship, Canadian expertise abroad, engineering that enhances Canadians' quality of life, and company benevolence in Canada or internationally. The award for Engineering a Better Canada went to BBA Inc. of Mont-Saint-Hillarie, QC, for its accomplishments at Detour Gold's Detour Lake gold mining project in northern Ontario.

The citation noted that BBA was engaged to complete a feasibility study, detailed engineering, equipment purchasing and technical support for the open pit mine complete with greenfield gold recovery process installations, conceptualized to become the largest Canadian gold mine with a capital of $1.5 billion. BBA's design exceeded operating expectations and implemented industry leading innovations while providing effective environmental solutions.

The remaining awards were Awards of Excellence, and one of them for project management was won by SNC-Lavalin of Montreal for its work at Sherritt International's Ambatovy nickel project in Madagascar. In part the award was made because SNC-Lavalin successfully provided comprehensive engineering, procurement and construction management services for the  US$5.3 billion project. Ambatovy, apart from its size, represented significant location, infrastructure, labour, environmental and climatic challenges. SNC has a 5% equity interest in the project.

Visit CanadianConsultingEngineer.com for the complete list of winners.