Past-Presidents

APEGA has existed for almost 100 years, and for every year of its existence, there has been a president of Council to uphold the pillars that APEGA stands for: integrity, accountability, innovation, and service. Through the decades of change and growth, the men and women listed below led APEGA’s Council.

They have worked across the globe, from Mississippi to Venezuela, but all settled their talents here in Alberta. Each came from different walks of life, from serving in the Second World War, to teaching aeronautics, to instigating first-time overseas ventures. This incredible group made its mark on the world and on APEGA.

All of these outstanding people helped make APEGA what it is today, and all were thanked for their service with an Honorary Life Membership award—a framed medallion memento—inducting them as life members of APEGA.

1923: Charles A. 'Baldy' Robb, P.Eng.

A native of Amherst, N.B., Dr. 'Baldy' Robb attended Mount Allison University then McGill University, graduating in 1909 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He continued his studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he later taught engineering before joining the University of Alberta in 1912 as a mechanical engineering instructor.

During the First World War, Robb served as consultant to the Canadian government and was involved in munitions production in Great Britain. Returning to the University of Alberta, he became resident engineer and the University's first professor of mechanical engineering.

In 1938 he received a doctor of engineering degree from John Hopkins University, then spent the early part of the Second World War as a power consultant to the Canadian government's Department of Munitions and Supply.

After a three-year stint with the Aluminum Company of Canada, Robb became chair of the mechanical engineering department at McGill University, where he remained until entering private practice in 1953. In 1956 he was awarded an honorary doctor of laws degree from Mount Allison University.

Elected to council of the Association of Professional Engineers of Alberta (APEA; now The Association of Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists of Alberta) in 1921, Robb served as association president in 1923. During his time at the University of Alberta he acted as a consultant to many western municipalities on steam and diesel power projects.

Robb was best known for modifying steam engine fire boxes so slack coal, which was very abundant in Alberta, could be used as fuel. This innovation brought great prosperity to the province's coal mining industry. Robb passed away in 1940.