Toronto – (April 25, 2017) – An admired leader who has led major Canadian engineering advocacy and regulatory bodies, Catherine Karakatsanis, P.Eng., FEC, FCAE., of Toronto, has been named a Companion of the Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) Order of Honour. She was inducted into the Order at an April 21 gala in Thunder Bay.
A career-long volunteer leader, Karakatsanis is the only engineer in Canada to have led their provincial regulator, provincial advocacy body and national organization.
A devoted advocate for creating a more diverse profession, Karakatsanis worked hard to promote engineering to young people and increase the number of women in the profession during her tenure as president and chair of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers in 2002 -2003.
She then went on to lead or serve on dozens of PEO committees and task forces, ultimately guiding the association in the 2009-2010 council term as the fourth woman to be elected its president.
During her presidency, she inspired PEO to become a world leader in self-regulation—a vision the current council continues to live up to. She also influenced the most significant changes to the Professional Engineers Act since 1984. These changes harmonized PEO requirements with national requirements, made the act and PEO’s processes clearer and more transparent, and eliminated the Canadian citizenship or permanent residency requirement for licensure.
As president of Engineers Canada, she worked closely with the provincial regulators to deliver national programs that continue to have a positive impact on the profession and its public profile.
And she urges all engineers to get involved as volunteers. Not only will you be helping to further the profession, but “you will also get back much more than you give,” she says. “Besides the satisfaction, the more involved you get, the bigger your network grows, the more skills you will obtain, and the more opportunities will present themselves.”
The Order of Honour pays tribute to individuals who have rendered conspicuous service to the engineering profession. The Order of Honour's highest distinction, the rank of Companion reco gnizes contributions that exceed those of Officer. It is reserved exclusively for individuals whose distinguished service has profoundly influenced the profession.
About Professional Engineers Ontario
Under the authority of the Professional Engineers Act, PEO’s mission is to regulate and advance the practice of engineering to protect the public interest. Its vision is to be the trusted leader in professional self-regulation. Professional engineering safeguards life, health, property, economic interests, the public welfare and the environment. Professional engineers can be identified by the P.Eng. after their names. Holders of limited licences can be identified by LEL or LET after their names.
For additional information, please contact:
Duff McCutcheon, Manager, Communications
Tel: 416-840-1068; 800-339-3716, ext.1068
Cell: 416-797-8175
Email: [email protected]