expresso 14 - en

expresso 14 | winter 2018

I am passionate about women helping women. We need to build each other up , support one another, and not be judgmental.”

becoming an engineer by accident Chantal Wing, P.Eng., BSc Project Manager | Calgary, Alberta

Chantal holds a bachelor of science in civil engineering from the University of Calgary, but her studies could have gone in a very different direction. While working towards her biomedical engineering specialty, she had dreams of going to medical school, but was unsure of the definition of ‘civil-biomed’. “My biomed internship was stem cell research and I did not enjoy it. We were dependent on government research grants and I developed a strong distaste for bureaucracy,” recalls Chantal. “In my civil internship, I worked 12 hours north of Winnipeg on the Wuscwatim Generation Project in Taskinigup Falls. We built a 50-kilometer access road for a dam project under Manitoba Hydro. I was doing sieve analysis and survey. I loved being outside. I loved seeing the progress of construction. I tell people that I accidentally became a civil engineer!” After graduating, she joined a small land development start-up, gaining valuable experience as a project manager. Chantal brought her diverse experience to EXP in 2014, where she is currently on maternity leave with her first child. If that wasn’t enough, she is also completing her masters in business administration with a Real Estate Studies Major at the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. She is also an active member of CREW Calgary – Commercial Real Estate Women, co-chairing the Events Committee for 2017. “I am passionate about women helping women. We need to build each other up, support one another, and not be judgmental. There are many business opportunities that come from CREW and the relationships I’ve made will enhance my career long-term.”

Bring on the difficult projects As a project manager in land development, Chantal enjoys difficult assignments, the more complicated the better. Finding the right solution that works for the developer and the community at large is a challenge that she can’t resist. “Heartland by Apex Land Developments is a multi- phase development in Cochrane, Alberta, that includes single and multi-family residential lots, and a commercial component. The unique design features include a sanitary lift station, an infiltration basin for stormwater management, multiple highway intersections with Alberta Transportation, and a potential connection to a Canadian Pacific Railway crossing. The biggest challenge on this project was retrofitting non-typical designs between the original developer and the current owner. Mentoring Chantal’s development has been guided by two primary factors; having a mentor and continuing education. Her advice to starting engineers is that it is so important to find a good mentor that will help you grow your confidence in your career and navigate ideas for all aspects of life. When asked about her future and what she wants to accomplish, Chantal’s path is very clear. “I’m taking my MBA, so I think it’s pretty obvious that I want to be in management. I appreciate my projects, design work, and managing land developments, but I love leading teams, business development, and contributing to the ongoing success of the company. I want to be involved in the bigger picture.”

Heartland by Apex Land Developments is a multi-phase development in Cochrane, Alberta, that includes single and multi-family residential lots, and a commercial component.

women at EXP | 21