MTO engineer wins CCIL Leadership Award for building collaboration

Ontario Construction News staff writer

A former head of the Ministry of Ontario’s concrete section has received a prestigious leadership award from the Canadian Council of Independent Laboratories (CCIL).

Hannah Schell, who retires at the end of May, was chosen for her contributions to the development of engineering standards for concrete in highway infrastructure construction and rehabilitation, including concrete testing standards, and for her leadership in encouraging the full partnership of industry stakeholders.

“In my role at MTO and also from the perspective of developing national standards through the Canadian Standards Association, I have been a strong supporter of CCIL’s laboratory and technical certification programs,” Schell said in a statement. “It was always a pleasure and an education to work with individuals from CCIL whose knowledge and expertise is so strong.”

Schell directed a group of expert engineers and technicians responsible for developing ministry-specific technical standards and specifications for public infrastructure in Ontario, troubleshooting concrete performance and testing issues, and incorporating new products and technologies in MTO construction and quality assurance operations.

When CCIL acquired the Concrete Laboratory Certification program from the Canadian Standards Association in 2009, Schell was chair of the CSA 283 technical committee and was instrumental in helping in a smooth transition.

She was also integral to the development of CCIL’s policies and was an active participant on its concrete certification program administration committee, which oversees the national concrete testing laboratory and technician certification program.

“For more than 40 years, Schell has been a driving force in fostering consultation and collaboration between government and the private sector,” said Trevor Gluck, president of CCIL.

“This partnership approach has allowed us to work together in ensuring that we have the highest standards for concrete construction, materials, and testing methods, and that our highways are among the safest, most durable and best performing in the world.”

Schell has been a licensed professional engineer in Ontario since 1981, taught a post-graduate course on infrastructure renewal at the University of Toronto’s department of civil and mineral engineering and served as a member of the Ryerson Civil Engineering Advisory Council.

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