Exceptional chapters and volunteers helped make 2004 a landmark year

With over 50 volunteers overseas, 6 major international and Canadian awards and growth to over 10,000 members, 2004 was a monumental year for Engineers Without Borders. Such success, though amazing, is not shocking when you meet the volunteers and chapters making it happen. Among the hundreds of volunteers and 22 chapters across the country, the University of Calgary and l'École Polytéchnique were voted the Chapters of the Year, and Chad Hamre (Saskatoon, SK) and Monica Rucki (Victoria, BC) have been recognized as 2004 Volunteers of the Year.

Chad Hamre works with a Filipino trainer on the Scala Computer Livelihoods Training Program.

Chad, known for his energy, dedication and commitment, was president of the University of Saskatchewan Chapter from 2002-2004 and became legendary for inspiring his chapter to raise $25,000 from charity barbeques, Frisbee tournaments and pie tosses. He was the Director of Fundraising for the Scala Computer Livelihoods Project, and is now in the Philippines for the second time coordinating and monitoring resources and education at the project's training centers.

Monica Rucki poses in East Timor with a member of the community she worked in.

Monica was also overseas with EWB, on placement in East Timor in 2003. While there, having noticed a need to preserve the fish and fruit that were staples of the local diet, she worked with local communities to design and build solar food dryers. She returned to the University of British Colombia as co-president of the chapter in 2003-2004. Following this massive commitment, she was once again front and centre in a major leadership role as co-chair for the 2005 National Conference in Vancouver.

University of Calgary Chapter Members at the 2005 National Conference in Vancouver.

Members of EWB at the 2005 National Conference voted for the 2004 Chapters of Year. The University of Calgary chapter as one of the winners. Between raising $35,000, donating 60 computers, adapting the university's engineering curriculum to incorporate a development module that reached 600 students, supporting long-term EWB projects in Zambia and the Philippines, sending three volunteers overseas, and bringing development presentations into the classrooms of 320 high-school students, the University of Calgary chapter certainly left its mark on EWB in 2004.

L'Ecole Polytechnique Chapter Members at the 2005 National Conference in Vancouver.

Also recognized as a 2004 Chapter of the Year, L'Ecole Polytéchnique was the recipient of the Forces Avenir Project par Excellence, the top price for student achievement in Québec. Their commitment to public education was exemplified both in their community, as presenters of the "Water for the World" program at 24 area secondary schools and cégeps, and on campus, through forums, documentary screenings and an EWB in-class presentation that even led to material being covered on the final exam! They have strongly promoted bilingualism within EWB — and they've actively sought to make this a reality by leading the translation of many documents.