b'q MAX ROBINSON 16Max is a junior water resources engineer at Golder Associates. In his work, Max strikes a careful balance between protecting the environment and accommodating urban development. His projects at Golder Associates take him to a variety of different settings as he assesses the companys environmental impact.Max Robinson 16 remembers a formative moment back in Grade 9Stefan Crampton 07 works with the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada that shaped his career interests. He recalls watching a Government ofto determine the environmental, Canada commercial that urged civil engineers to create sustainablesocial and economic impact of various practices in order to protect the environment for future generations.infrastructure projects.I instantly felt compelled to answer the call as I felt passionate about preserving the quality of the lakes and rivers that made my childhoodm STEFAN CRAMPTON 07so memorable, Max says. After Greenwood, he studied at Queens University where his fourth-year capstone project gave him theStefan is a project manager with the Impact Assessment opportunity to explore coastal engineering. He designed concepts toAgency of Canada (the Agency). Operating out of the address the Toronto Islands flooding issues.Agencys Vancouver office, Stefan analyzes proposed major After graduating from Queens, he found a position with Golderinfrastructure projects for their environmental, social and Associates where he could design solutions to mitigate impact oneconomic effects. The Agencys reports go on to advise the water resources. His work takes him to various locales to conductfederal Minister of Environment and Climate Changes decision research about water bodies to create low-impact developmenton project proposals. (LID) plans. This past summer, he spent five weeks in Thunder Bay toNature and its wonders have fascinated Stefan from an early assess the impact that proposed transmission lines would have onage. Ever since I was a kid, Ive always had an interest in nature, the aquatic ecosystems in the region. Some of the research had tosays Stefan. His time at Greenwood helped nurture that passion be very hands-on. Many times this meant getting our hands wet andthrough various Outdoor Education trips. When he was looking conducting electro-fishing tests to catch fish and take a closer look atfor postsecondary programs, Stefan found McGill Universitys them, says Max. Other times we werent as lucky and had to climbEnvironment Major really intriguing. After his application was down steep cliffs or pull our ATVs out of thick bogs among the trees.accepted, packing up and moving to Montreal was a no-brainerBut it was fun either way.for Stefan. It was really eye-opening because at that time,Today, Maxs work is even more integral to the development processthe [focus on] environment wasnt really what it is today, he says. due to shifting political and environmental needs. I believe thatToday, all of our politicians are speaking about it, but back inprocesses are changing with sustainability in mind and a lot of that2007, it wasnt as popular.has to do with the continued pushback from conservation authoritiesWhile at McGill, Stefan had the opportunity to do a field study and concerned residents who want to protect the environment aroundabroad program. For four months, healong with 25 other students them, Max explains. This helps drive the discussion to improve the stayed in Panama to gain practical field experience studying sustainable practices and designs being implemented in residentialtropical ecology, biology, development and sustainability. It was an and aggregate developments throughout the GTA. There is a goodincredible experience and I highly encourage any student to do a mixture of challenge and innovation that comes with planning LIDsstudy abroad program if theyre able to, Stefan recommends. in order to ensure that the ecosystem still maintains balance in some form. For example, building a building may result in less groundwaterOnce he graduated from McGill, Stefan took a year to go solo-absorption and thus, Max will need to consider strategies in thebackpacking around South America, as his time in Panama development plans to ensure that the groundwater is replenished. made him excited to explore more of the continent. During his backpacking adventures, Stefan also carved out time in internet Max credits his success at school to the efforts that Greenwood staffcafes to research and apply to graduate programs. One day inmade to be available when he needed more clarity on certain topicsthe Bolivian Amazon, I found an internet cafe and I saw that one of or feedback on assignments. His time at Greenwood also helped himmy applications had been accepted, he recalls. develop soft skills in time management and communication. I was able to grow as a communicator and see a positive growth in myAt the time, there were only two reputable graduate programs writing and time management skills, Max recalls. These skills help himin Resources and Environmental Management: one at Dalhousie in his day-to-day tasks at work and in life. Looking forward, Max hopesUniversity and the other at Simon Fraser University (SFU). Because to one day work in the coastal engineering field.he was eager to experience life out on the west coast, Stefan gladly accepted SFUs offer to their Masters program. While he completed his Masters thesis, Stefan applied to many co-op positions and interviewed with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (now the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada). He started working with the Agency as a co-op student and then contract employee, before he was offered a permanent position.As a project manager for the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada, Stefan reviews project proposals for major infrastructure projects such as ports and large mines. Along with his team, he consults with the public and Indigenous groups that would be potentially impacted by the development. During this multi-Max Robinson 16 is aphase process, the Agency will review the proponents proposals Junior Water Resources(including their mitigation proposals) and assess the environmental, Engineer at Goldereconomic and social effects. What I find most rewarding is that Associates, where heeach project is never the exact same, he says. Youre engaging designs engineeringwith different interest groups and looking at something different. plans to minimize environmental impact from developmentEven though hes always had a deep interest in the environment, projects. Greenwood helped him to apply his interest outside of intellectual pursuits. He fondly remembers a Grade 11 OE trip kayaking in British Columbia and his winter OE trips. Those experiences were really instrumental to give me the confidence to be in nature, Stefan says. If I could do this in Grade 11, then of course I can do it now. Living in Vancouver, he applies his adventurous spirit to back-country camping and many other outdoor activities.Greenwood13GRWD211_Evergreen_2022 r4.indd 13 2023-01-12 11:51 AM'