2005: L.B. (Larry) Staples, P.Eng., FEC, FCAE, FGC (Hon.)

Larry Staples graduated from the University of Alberta with a B.Sc. in civil engineering (1974) followed by an MBA (1975).

Upon graduation, he joined the Arctic Group of EBA Engineering Consultants Ltd., then worked for A.V. Carlson Construction Corp., providing building science advice to design teams. He was one of the founding employees of C-FER, and was instrumental in growing the industry research consortium to a 50-employee R&D service company with an international reputation.

As vice-president of Russell Technologies Inc., Staples led the spinoff of a high-technology business to inspect municipal water lines. He joined Acuren Group Inc. where he headed the engineering and laboratory operations for the prairie region. In 2006, he returned to C-FER Technologies as president.   

The volunteer leadership of Staples within APEGGA spans three decades, including five years on council. He served as APEGGA’s 86th president in 2005-06. Staples led the revitalization of the APEGGA strategic planning process, and he was a champion of the principle of personalized professionalism.

He was instrumental in opening a dialogue with the Association of Science and Engineering Technology Professionals of Alberta, then proposing a partnership to bring regulation of technologists under the umbrella of The Engineering, Geological and Geophysical Professions Act.  

Staples has chaired the strategic planning task force (2004-05), the discipline committee (1998-99), the permit to practice task force (1993-94), the practice review board (1990-92) and the career development advisory committee (1979-81). In addition, he has served as a member of numerous committees and task forces. In 2009, he was named a fellow of Engineers Canada and in 2013 he was named honorary fellow of Geoscientists Canada.

He lives in Edmonton with his wife, Moira.