2017 Winner - Wayne Clifton, P.Eng

Wayne Clifton, P.Eng., M.Sc., D.SC.

In Saskatchewan, the name Wayne Clifton is synonymous with engineering.

A professional engineer since 1966, Wayne has consulted on more than 3,000 projects related to geotechnical and environmental issues throughout his career. One of his greatest professional achievements is establishing and growing Clifton Associates, the largest independent, specialist consulting engineering firm headquartered in Saskatchewan. Founded in 1978, it now boasts six offices and 250 staff across Saskatchewan and Alberta. Under Wayne’s leadership as President and CEO, Clifton Associates provides engineering, science and technology solutions to clients across Canada and internationally. He continues to be the first choice for many clients seeking sound knowledge to address difficult variations on geotechnical and environmental engineering projects.

Despite the firm’s global project list, the one that stands out for Wayne is of great local significance. The “Big Dig”, a design and construction management project, was a complex $18 million project to deepen Wascana Lake in the heart of Regina. The community turned to Wayne for his expertise and leadership to ensure the project’s success. His ability to build consensus was critical in bringing together all levels of government, community leaders, environmental activists, and the citizens of Regina and Saskatchewan. His inimitable style was without doubt one of the key factors in the project’s success. Wayne has an enduring commitment and personal interest in developing the next generation of engineers. He has generously shared his knowledge and expertise as an adjunct professor at the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Regina, and by authoring several hundred technical reports that have been published in journals and conference proceedings. By way of the firm, Wayne has provided financial support to more than 45 employees pursuing graduate degrees.

An active member of many industry associations, he is a Past Chair of ACEC-Saskatchewan and Past President of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS) and was a Director on the ACEC-Canada Board and the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (now Engineers Canada). These are but a few of the many leadership roles Wayne has held in support of the profession. In 2003, ACEC-SK recognized his contribution to the profession by presenting him the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, Meritorious Achievement Award. An active leader in his community, Wayne is a member of the Saskatchewan Baseball Association and a national leader of Scouts Canada as well as other youth sports groups. In recent years, he has provided leadership in the implantation of an Environmental Code as the basis for environmental regulation in Saskatchewan. He has served on the Prime Minister’s Scientific Advisory Committee, as a member of the National Research Council, and the Standards Council of Canada Advisory Committee on Trade.

Wayne follows a code of ethics in his professional and his personal life. He is a trusted and respected member of his profession and a dedicated family man. If Wayne commits to doing something, you can depend on it being done.

As the recipient of ACEC’s 2017 Beaubien Award, Wayne Clifton is recognized by his peers for his exemplary service to the consulting engineering industry and the engineering profession.

The Beaubien Award was created by ACEC in 1984 in honour of Dr. James de Gaspé Beaubien, who founded ACEC in 1925.

Press release