Saskatchewan Land Surveyors Association – President’s Message

It’s hard to believe it’s already been three weeks since many of us were able to get together in person or join virtually for the 112^th AGM of the Saskatchewan Land Surveyors Association at Dakota Dunes. Kudos to Calvin, Carrie & the convention committee for organizing such a wonderful event.

It’s an honor & a privilege to serve as the President of the SLSA, and one that I look forward to fulfilling, with the same honor, integrity & dedication as the many men before me. Thank you to the membership for bestowing me with this opportunity. My term on council, and last year as Vice President has not only provided me with a new appreciation, outlook & drive, but has highlighted the passion, dedication & wisdom that our membership exudes. We are fortunate.

I would like the thank the outgoing council, Regan Rayner, Darren Patkau & Wade Pennell, who worked hard and contributed many hours to a long list of ongoing SLSA discussions & consultations. With outgoing council, we started or continued with several initiatives in the last year, including but not limited to, obtaining a legal opinion regarding the SLSA’s authority in stetting Standards of Practice, supporting CBEPS modernization of the National Syllabus, considering Common Law of Accretion. These initiatives will continue along with a few others, which include succession planning for the SLSA office & our Public Member. I look forward to working with incoming council and the many volunteer committee members & chairs that are dedicating many hours to ensure the input, and when necessary, concerns of the SLSA are heard.

Since the AGM, I’ve been reflecting on the words spoken with respect to “Connexions” a brief history of the SLSA, and the words passed to us from the artist about how special the relationship between a surveyor & principal/master is to him. I know the same is true for me and likely for many of you, albeit most would think it would obvious that I would have a special relationship with my mentor, my father. Within a week I was reminded how special these relationships are, first when I proudly witnessed my first articling pupil, Blaine Thomson, receive his commission, and in the days following as we reeled in the loss my father’s principal, and my uncle, Jim Condon, who via the “connexion” I also owe my career in surveying to. If you have already dedicated your time to share your knowledge, wisdom & experience as a principal/master, thank you. If you haven’t yet had the opportunity, please do when the opportunity presents, there is truly something very special about it.

In closing, as I’m still in the infancy of my term as President, I haven’t had the opportunity to attend any of our sister associations AGMs yet, but I look forward to the tour, engaging in many discussions across country & communicating what’s happening to our membership in future editions of the Corner Post.

Thank you again & I hope you all have a wonderful summer.

Heather Maloney