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Chapter Reports

Alberta Chapter

The Alberta chapter held its annual Clarence White conference June 12-13, followed by two days of the Canadian Healthcare Construction Course. Turnout was impressive despite having reduced venue space. More than 170 delegates attended (98 new memberships sold) and there were 60 exhibitor booths with 150 vendors representing various healthcare organizations, engineering firms and related industry professions. The diverse range of participants contributed to a rich exchange of ideas, fostered collaborative efforts and expanded professional connections. The thoughtfully curated education program was comprised of keynote speeches, panel discussions and presentations led by esteemed experts in healthcare engineering. Attendees were exposed to cutting-edge research, emerging trends and innovative solutions in the field. The sessions provided practical insights that can be applied to enhance operational efficiency, improve patient care and address the evolving challenges of healthcare infrastructure. The conference received generous support from sponsors and exhibitors whose contributions greatly enhanced the overall experience for attendees. Sponsorship helped fund keynote speakers, venue arrangements, promotional materials and other logistics. The exhibitors provided an opportunity for delegates to explore and engage with the latest technologies, products and services relevant to healthcare engineering. The conference created an excellent platform for networking, fostering connections among professionals and facilitating knowledge exchange. Attendees had ample opportunities to interact with industry leaders, experts and peers through formal presentations, social events and dedicated networking breaks. This resulted in valuable collaborations, sharing of best practices and potential partnerships for future initiatives. Initial feedback gleaned from surveys has been overwhelmingly positive. Participants praised the event’s organization, content quality and relevance of topics covered, as well as the pre-event round of golf for 40 people. The conference was also commended for its ability to address current challenges and provide actionable insights. Its success should serve as a catalyst for CHES Alberta’s future endeavors. The positive outcomes demonstrate the chapter’s commitment to advancing healthcare engineering in the region and highlight the value it brings to its members and the broader healthcare community. I would like to express my gratitude to the dedicated conference planning committee, executive members, volunteers, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors and all those involved in making the event a resounding success. Your contributions and tireless efforts were instrumental in achieving the desired outcomes.

The Alberta chapter held its annual general meeting during the conference. New executive members were announced: Dave Attwood (vice-chair), Sarah Ahmed (treasurer) and Paul Perschon (secretary). Ideas were also presented, volunteers stepped forward to offer to help with next year’s conference and there was great interest in the promotion of the women in CHES initiative.

—James Prince, Alberta

chapter chair

Quebec Chapter

The Quebec chapter has added one new executive to the team to oversee the membership committee. The chapter is looking to add another executive to take part in the partnership and advocacy national committee.

On the topic of membership, our goal is to reach 100 members by 2024/2025.

With the advent of COVID-19, most education opportunities moved online (offered through webinars). After several years, we finally hosted our first in-person event — a special dinner conference held June 20. The topic of discussion was the recovery of anesthetic gases in healthcare facilities. Approximately 35 people attended. Other programmed in-person events will take place in September and November.

In order to learn from other chapters, I attended the Ontario chapter conference in Windsor. It was great to learn from the people who organized the event and to see so many people involved in CHES from all levels in healthcare.

The Quebec chapter is currently working to build a communication platform using social media like LinkedIn. With that in mind, do not forget to follow us and share with your counterparts.

Chapitre Du Quebec

Récemment le chapitre a ajouté une nouvelle personne à l’exécutif pour s'occuper du comité d'adhésion. Le chapitre est également en train d'ajouter une autre personne pour nous aider à participer au diffèrent comités nationals.

Cela dit, nous nous sommes fixé comme objectif d'atteindre 100 membres d'ici 2024/2025.

Depuis le COVID-19, la plupart des activités se sont déroulées en ligne via différents webinaires. Cependant, nous avons organisé notre premier événement en présentiel avec un dîner conférence le 20 juin. Un sujet unique a été choisi en lien avec la prise en charge de la récupération des gaz anesthésiques dans les établissements de santé. Environ 35 personnes étaient présentes. D'autres événements programmés auront également lieu tout au long de l'année en septembre et novembre.

Afin d'apprendre des autres, j'ai assisté à la conférence du chapitre de l'Ontario à Windsor. Ce fut une révélation d'apprendre des gens qui ont organisé l'événement. Ce fut définitivement un succès et je suis heureux de voir que les gens sont vraiment impliqués à tous les niveaux dans le réseau de la santé.

Le chapitre essaie également de construire une plate-forme de communication en utilisant les médias sociaux tels que LinkedIn. Dans cet esprit, n'oubliez pas de nous suivre et de partager avec vos homologues.

—Mohamed Merheb, chef du conseil d’administration du Québec