Lester receives 2007 Canadian Engineering Leadership Award

Olympic Oval and Confederation Bridge flagships in Canadian engineering career

On November 29, 2007, Barry Lester, BSc'69, MSc'71, was recognized as a role model for his outstanding achievements, leadership and generosity with the 2007 Canadian Engineering Leadership Award, awarded by the Schulich School of Engineering. The award is presented annually at the Dean's Holiday Reception in Calgary.

Lester began his career as a structural engineer specializing in concrete structures, and gradually becoming involved in engineering management in Calgary. He played key leadership roles in many significant projects, including two benchmark infrastructure undertakings: the U of C's Olympic Oval and the Confederation Bridge. He was chief engineer in the design of the Olympic Oval, which was the first indoor long track speed skating oval in the world, built for the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games. Today, the Olympic Oval is a city landmark.

Barry LesterLester was later involved in the construction of the Confederation Bridge, linking New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island. In 1999, the Confederation Bridge was recognized as one of Canada's top five engineering achievements of the 20^th century. Both the Calgary Olympic Oval and the Confederation Bridge subsequently received the coveted Schreyer Award from the Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada.

Lester was the 1990 recipient of the University's Distinguished Alumni Award. After 35 years as a professional engineer, he recently retired from his position as vice-president and chief operating officer of Stantec Consulting Ltd., Canada West. He was the first individual to have served both as President of the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists, and Geophysicists of Alberta and the Association of Consulting Engineers of Alberta. Lester was an inaugural member and remains an active member of the Engineering Associates Program of the Schulich School of Engineering. He has also served as the Stollery Executive in Residence for the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Alberta. In addition, he has authored several articles published in professional and trade journals.