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Executive Message
I was at the Foothills Hospital recently and was looking at the new Cancer Centre that is being built and expected to start offering services to Alberta patients in 2024. The building itself is quite majestic: it looks strong and holds much purpose within those walls. I think it looks like hope.
We have had so many members of the geosciences community affected by cancer. The Alberta Cancer Foundation, the University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services are coming together to raise $250 million to accelerate the new Cancer Centre’s mission of providing world-leading cancer care, education and research.
Why am I bringing this up? Part of their initiatives is a campaign called “Own Cancer” and I saw on social media yesterday that one of our geosciences colleagues will be sharing her story to help raise funds and awareness. She is also doing this to show that she is powerful and has overcome her challenges. She kicked cancer’s ass. We all know that Alberta and Calgary were built on oil patch money. It is a driver of our economy and critical to our lifestyles. I also know that some of the biggest supporters of the new Cancer Centre will be people that we work with, and the energy companies that we work for… it is us.
Our contributions are vital to our city, our province and our country. Never forget that. Our sector is the backbone. If you’d like to donate, check out www.owncancer.ca.
On the CGDMS: thanks to all who came out to the Winter Social (and thanks to Trish Mulder for organizing). Being back in person, just even for socials, is most welcome. We have two educational sessions this month, with Jason Schweigert telling us about his Oak Island experiences on the 8th (thanks to those that attended) and Karena Brawley will be helping us to “Be Your Own Disruptor” on February 22nd. We are always looking for educational opportunities, so please reach out with your ideas.
Thanks for reading.
Kristy Manchul
CGDMS President
Latest submissions .....
Committees Build Community
One of the biggest benefits of becoming involved in societies like the CGDMS, CSEG and CSPG is the opportunity to build community. Over the last two years we have experienced what it’s like to be isolated without access to the personal and professional relationships we have grown accustomed to having.
Choosing to volunteer is a great way to reintroduce yourself to industry professionals you haven’t seen for a few years, to network with new potential colleagues and clients. Countless times individuals have highlighted the benefits of getting to know industry professionals, for collaboration, mentorship, employment, and continual learning to mention a few points. I often find these communities provide a refreshing outlook on industry, intelligent insight, and an energy that motivates.
Winston Churchill is quoted as saying: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”.
A great way to start the year is to simply put your hand up and volunteer. See, where you can get involved. Stand with executives of our societies who are giving their time, energy, and expertise. Give them your vote of confidence with some of your time. We have incredible geoscience communities, and we want them to continue to grow and thrive. If you don’t have the time to volunteer just now, then sign up for a course, a talk, or a networking event. There are so many ways to be involved.
The Mission of the CGDMS is “To provide online resources, learning events and networking opportunities for Calgary Geoscience Data Managers. To foster the exchange of ideas, resources, and expertise”. Individual’s involvement is foundational to this growth. Join the many passionate volunteers and reach out about getting involved.
Stephen Kotkas
Sigma Exploration
2022
In an effort to make lives a tiny bit easier we are happy to gather multiple educational opportunities, short courses, events, online learning and webinars from the following organizations and most are hyperlinked to registration for ease of use. If you have an event that may be of interest send a note to info@cgdms.ca
- CGDMS ~ Calgary GeoScience Data Managers Society
- CSEG ~ Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists
- CSPG ~ Canadian Society of Petroleum Geoscientists
- PPDM ~ Professional Petroleum Data Management Association
- PUG ~ Petroleum Users Group
- CSUR ~ Canadian Society for Unconventional Resources
- SPE ~ Society of Petroleum Engineers
- DAMA ~ DA Management Association International – Calgary Chapter
- GeoWomen ~ GeoWomen.org
- APEGA ~ Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta
- ASET ~ Association Of Science & Engineering Technology Professionals Of Alberta
- ARMA ~ Alberta Records Management Association
- CWLS ~ Canadian Well Logging Society
- CAGC ~ Canadian Association of Geophysical Contractors
- CAPP ~ Calgary Association of Petroleum Producers
- KEGS ~ Canadian Exploration Geological Society
- AGS ~ Atlantic Geological Survey
- GSC ~ Geological Survey of Canada
- PDAC ~ Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada
Please note: to return to the calendar you must click on the little calendar to the left of the month!
Interested in receiving updates, newsletters and invitations? No cost to you!
CGDMS is working on generating new benefits for our members and volunteers. We are actively working on developing arrangements with partners to provide benefits for our members.
CGDMS is also looking for volunteers to help out with our current and future initiatives.
- Staying connected with people who share common interests and work experiences
- Experience in team projects and team building
- Networking opportunities with others in the industry and in other industries.
- Advanced training in Zoom and LinkedIn, and other platforms as the need arises.
- Becoming proficient with Board operations and etiquette.
- Opportunities for project and people management to increase your skillset
- Being on the frontline of new technologies and information regarding our industry and data management, as well as new and emerging industries.
- Being visible in your skills and expertise to potential employers.
- Opportunity to be a leader and set direction for our profession in the future.
Follow logo to find out more about member benefits!
CGDMS Sponsors
New Assessment Tool Helps Determine Who Needs Permit to Practice
The Professional Governance Act has introduced the requirement for Engineers and Geoscientists BC to regulate firms that engage in the practice of professional engineering or geoscience. Firms will be required to register for a Permit to Practice with Engineers and Geoscientists BC beginning July 2, 2021 and must complete their registration before September 30, 2021.
We understand that Alberta Health Services is urgently looking for multiple people to help input and manage COVID19 data being collected. For those of us who have time on our hands who are looking for a data management role with purpose – this is a great opportunity! This role was found on Indeed. We will post more details as they become available.
I have the pleasure of being a founding member of the Calgary Geoscience Data Managers Network and then Society since the beginning with Sean Callaghan. That was about 10 years ago, and I have learned so much since then. I have been able to get experience in every role in the CGDMS. Volunteering has created opportunities and connections that I had never imagined.
What I do in the Petroleum Industry is valuable and it saves companies time and money. It is sometimes hard to articulate that value to employers, but I think that if we stand together, we can use the same value proposition to get the message out there. The time and cost of data specialists is much less expensive to a company that the time and cost of a geoscientist trying to manage the data as well as find oil and gas.
Early in my career I learned about ‘Best Practices’ and ‘Continuous Improvement’ and have tried my best to implement those in my everyday life and to share them with my colleagues. The other thing I learned is that you cannot create an efficiency by simply moving the work to someone else – you must analyze it and make it better. Asking a service provider to follow a poor process that makes work for them or a service provider sending a product that makes more work for a tech or data manager is not creating an efficiency or best practice. The CGDMS was initiated to help start the discussion between all of us to create true efficiencies and continuously improve. We all depend on the data and we are all looking for ways to save time and money!
Please join me and the CGDMS Team to continuously adapt how we bring value to our members and our industry. We need input from all our members to move forward and stay current, especially in these challenging times.
Denise Freeland
President CGDMS
The Calgary Geoscience Data Manager Society (CGDMS) started with Sean Callaghan, a former surveyor and person who gathered geoscience technicians and technologists to talk about common problems and issues. It was Sean’s desire to share with others, that fostered the creation of this society. Today, CGDMS is a society for geoscience technicians, technologists and data managers, all of whom touch, use and manipulate geoscience data as it evolves from being just data, to information and knowledge used to find and develop oil and gas resources. Whether it be seismic data, well-log data, thin sections or laboratory measurements of rocks, the data collected is used to enhance information and knowledge and thereby mitigate future drilling risk. Technicians, technologists, and data managers play a vital role in this process.
The society continues to foster comradery and the sharing of knowledge through its newsletter and educational sessions. None of this is possible without the dedication and support of the society’s volunteers. With the Annual General Meeting forthcoming on September 15th, the society needs volunteers. A list of open positions is noted below. We encourage you to volunteer and to make a difference. This society is whatever you make it to be. The society is here to serve, support and share but we cannot do it without you!
As a frequent and recurring volunteer for the Canadian Society of Exploration Geophysicists (CSEG), I learned a lot about myself and expanded my skills as I volunteered in numerous roles and capacities. I grew as a person! I also accomplished a lot for the society working beside my colleagues.
The time is now for the members of the CGDMS to step up to the plate and volunteer to make a difference. Make the society what you want it to be. Who knows, you may learn something about yourself and grow personally through the experience.
Doug Uffen, P. Geoph (APEGA), P. Geo (APEGBC)
CGDMS Board Member
Look here for information coming soon……
Most of us are working from home these days and our personal computer systems are more important than ever. Eric Keyser, geophysicist, has documented a method of setting up a personal cloud system for a very modest cost. We all have data to manage. We have put this on our website – check it out here and on the Resources Page!