expresso: mentorship

develop an overall view. When you are fresh out of school, the hardest things to come to grips with are feasibility and working methods, but Luc knows how to help young engineers, and takes the time to explain how these jobs are done.” With junior engineers like Alyssa Quach, Luc stressed the importance of putting the client first. “He taught me to cultivate good relationships with clients and architects, and to manage contingencies and stress on the work site.”

Yacinthe Parent points out that Luc has not only contributed to the success of individuals, but to that of an entire department, by teaching new engineers and passing his technical knowledge on to them. He teaches them how to analyze technical problems thoroughly and how to think in a structured way. Luc has had a considerable impact on the whole team, but his legacy has been felt even more keenly closer to home. His son Charles has followed in Luc’s footsteps as an engineer and EXP employee. Charles’ feelings come across strongly when speaking of his dad. “I was very moved when I learned that the team, all six of them, had put my father’s name in for this expresso issue, because it says a lot about him. He’s a man of integrity, he’s genuine, he listens to people and he’s always ready to help. My father doesn’t see himself as a mentor. For him, helping others is natural. He doesn’t want young engineers to go through what he experienced when he started out as an engineer.” The final word goes to Pierre-François Giroux. “With his cheerfulness and his sense of humor, Luc makes his working environment enjoyable, despite stress, budgets and tight schedules. His retirement means that his co-workers are losing not just a mentor and a very well- liked colleague, but a real pillar of the department. And of course, no structural engineer likes to lose a pillar!”

Luc (right) teaches his team how to analyze technical problems thoroughly and how to think in a structured way.

MY FATHER DOESN’T SEE HIMSELF AS A

MENTOR. FOR HIM, HELPING OTHERS IS NATURAL.”

Luc’s son, Charles O’Neil, P.Eng.

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