Michael McPhie

Conditions for Qualified Environmental Professional Certification

Michael McPhie is a founding partner at Falkirk Environmental Consultants, Ltd. and former chairman of the board of directors at IDM Mining, Ltd. An environmental management specialist, Michael McPhie provides consultancy to resource sector organizations and financial firms in Canada and internationally to achieve sustainability in their respective industries. He received certification as a Qualified Environmental Professional in 2001.

The Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) certification sets the competency standard for existing and emerging environmental professionals. The Institute of Professional Environmental Practice (IPEP) is the international body that awards the certification; applicants undergo a written and oral assessment.

The minimum requirements to apply for the QEP written exam are a baccalaureate or corresponding degree in engineering or mathematics, earth, natural or physical sciences; and five consecutive years of professional ecological work experience. Alternatively, applicants need eight consecutive years of professional environmental work experience if they have a degree in a discipline other than those listed above.

However, the minimum prerequisites for the oral exam are much higher. They comprise a baccalaureate degree and fifteen subsequent years of professional environmental work experience and at least one reference from a current QEP on the application form. The candidate must also demonstrate that a minimum of ten of the qualifying years of work experience were in a position of responsible charge (leadership role with job responsibilities).

Candidates who have passed both parts of the exam and have met all of the full QEP certification requirements will be issued a certificate, and be formally confirmed as QEPs by IPEPs Board of Trustees.

Fun Activities While Boating in the Gulf Islands

In addition to his work as a founding partner Falkirk Environmental Consultants, which focuses on environmental science, resource, and infrastructural fields, Michael McPhie has also won an award for Top 40 Under 40 in Business Leadership in 2008 and 2009. In his spare time, Michael McPhie can also be found boating, particularly in the San Juan Islands and the Gulf Coast Islands.

Boating in the Gulf Islands gives way a to a number of distinct sights and activities from fishing to exotic gardens to beautiful beaches. One large draw of boating in the Gulf Coast Islands is the salmon fishing. With varieties that have runs throughout the year, the salmon season starts in February with Chinook Salmon. The Coho and Pink Salmon varieties begin to show up later in the year, usually around August. It is best to check with local governments for their fishing rules and regulations.

For those uninterested in fishing, there is also Butchart Garden, a 55-acre garden. Coming from Mediterranean, Japanese, and Italian influences, the garden has over 900 different species of plants. The Gulf Islands also have a number of beaches to relax for the day or camp out at night that are only accessible by boat. One such island, Cabbage Island, is known for its remote beauty as a part of the Gulf Island National Park Reserve. It has five different campsites and is home to bird species such as oystercatchers and bald eagles.

Understanding Ski Slope Ratings

As a founding partner of Falkirk Environmental Consultants, Michael McPhie spends his time working in environmental and management consulting. Providing resources both locally in Canada and internationally, Michael McPhie works with a number of different governmental, financial, and indigenous groups by informing and supporting a number of infrastructure and resource development projects. In addition, Mr. McPhie spends his time enjoying outdoor recreational hobbies such as boating, running, and skiing.

Firstly, the easiest slopes are denoted with green circles for beginners, and are wide with a low gradient of less than 25 percent. With beginners in mind, these slopes are often groomed which packs the snow down, leaving the trail a little easier to ski down. Next are blue squares for the intermediate skiers. These slopes have 25 percent to 40 percent gradient, and because of their popularity, the ski lifts can go twice as fast as the ones found on the green circle slopes.

After intermediate difficulty, North America diverges from the system Europe and the rest of the world uses regarding the difficulty of ski slopes. Although mostly similar, Europe uses a red rating to indicate a difficulty between intermediate and advanced, while the North American system has no such delineation.

Finally, the black diamond runs are for the expert skiers due to their ungroomed snow and very steep gradients of over 40 percent. There are also double-black diamonds that often contain hazards such as trees, steep drop-off, or high winds. Because each run is designed dependent upon the mountain itself, it is not uncommon for the difficulty of black diamond slopes to vary greatly across different ski resorts.

British Columbia’s Labor Sector Starts Recovery Amid Pandemic

With a master’s degree in environment and management, Michael McPhie is a founding partner of Falkirk Environmental Consultants, Ltd., a management and consulting firm that specializes in indigenous issues, regulatory affairs, public policy, and mineral resources sustainability issues.

In May 2020, 43,300 jobs were opened in British Columbia according to The Labour Market Survey. This was a pleasant surprise for economists considering that in late March, BCBC reported two recession scenarios that the province will most likely experience following the coronavirus pandemic. In that report, BCBC described the first scenario as “bad,” and the second as “worse.”

The survey was taken just before the provincial government decided to start the re-opening of the economy for Phase 2 of the economic recovery efforts. Experts explained that, most likely, the numbers showed the BC businessmen’s anticipation for the re-opening and started rehiring employees.

The 43,300 hires in May were fairly grim in comparison with the 400,000 jobs BC lost in March and April. Accordingly, the young workers were particularly hit hard with the closing down of non-essential businesses. Most industries that employ young workers belong to the tourism and hospitality sectors, which were considered non-essentials during the pandemic.

Although the figure does not change BCBC’s prediction in March, it offers optimism about the economy of BC going through Phase 2. BCBC experts will be watching closely as recovery takes place in the coming months.

The Four Phases of the Mineral Value Chain

Founding partner of Falkirk Environmental Consultants, Ltd. and mining industry consultant Michael McPhie has over two decades of experience in executive positions within the sector. Michael McPhie has worked in natural resources all over Canada and is an expert on regulatory and sustainability issues relating to large-scale mining projects.

The mining supply chain is usually spoken of in four broad operational steps. The first is exploration, which refers to prospecting, deposit appraisals, equipment purchasing, and any regulatory actions related to starting extraction operations.

In the development phase, mining companies enter into agreements with consulting firms to arrange the construction of infrastructure to support mining operations. Development takes place over five to ten years.

The operations phase typically lasts between two and twenty years and encompasses all the production and supply chain processes related to the mine’s everyday functioning.

Finally, when the mine is depleted, a multi-stage closure process begins. It starts with shutting down and removing equipment followed by reclamation and site restoration and the eventual remediation of the space.

Overview of the QEP Credential

A resident of Vancouver, British Columbia, Michael McPhie is the former president and CEO of Curis Resources, Ltd. Michael McPhie has a master’s degree in Environmental Management and Business and is a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP).

The QEP certification is an international and cross-disciplinary credential earned after completing a comprehensive application and testing process. It also serves as a continuing professional development education program required for recertification. The QEP aims to establish a professional standard to assess environmental professionals and creates a career path for those entering the industry. It is a specialized credential that strives to link the different areas of environmental practice.

Professionals who have earned a QEP certification have proven their experience and knowledge of solving complicated environmental problems and have demonstrated insight into environmental issues. The QEP examination is provided in an oral format to professionals who have been in the industry for 15 years or more and in a written format to those who have worked more than 5 years but less than 15 years in the industry.

What to Expect When You Visit San Juan Island

An experienced environmental professional, Michael McPhie is the former President and CEO of Curis Resources, Ltd. Aside from his professional interests, Michael McPhie enjoys a range of hobbies including boating in the San Juan Islands.

The most populated of the 172 islands in San Juan County, San Juan Island is a part of an archipelago in the Pacific Northwest and a popular destination for tourists. Residents and tourists on the island enjoy a pleasant climate year-round, excellent air quality, and a range of interesting attractions. One of the popular tourist spots is Friday Harbor.

Friday Harbor, the entranceway to the island, is a historic walkable area spanning one square mile and the site of a large marina. This bustling area features fresh seafood vendors, dining options, and adventure tour outlets offering whale watching tours, kayaking expeditions, and more. Other attractions on the island include lighthouses, antique retailers, museums, art galleries, bookstores, and cafes. Vineyards, lavender fields, and hiking trails also highlight the beauty of the island which is also home to a large herd of alpacas and other animals.

Opioid Crisis – Drastic Times Call for Drastic Measures

Falkirk Environmental Consultants, Ltd. co-founder Michael McPhie is known for his work in the environmental and mining industries. Michael McPhie’s advocacy also extends to supporting healthy communities. In 2017, he wrote an opinion piece that was published in the Vancouver Sun titled “Leadership on drugs desperately needed-now.” In the article, he urged Vancouver and other provincial and federal elected officials to take action regarding the city’s escalating opioid epidemic.

Today, while the city still has an opioid problem, it has also done several things to reduce the number of overdoses in the past few years. While many might view the measures lenient, many of the strategies seem to focus on curbing the overdose rate due to people purchasing drugs that are laced with dangerous ingredients like fentanyl.

The first measure, referred to as drug checking, allows users to have their drugs checked to make sure there are no harmful substances before they take them. Users can visit supervised consumption sites to have their drugs checked for harmful substances. Drugs that do contain harmful substances will then be reported in Vancouver’s RADAR system, which alerts the community about these strains.

Other measures to curb the incidence of overdose include harm reduction services that allow people to take drugs under supervision. Supervised Consumption Sites provides users with a safe place to take drugs under the supervision of staff who are trained to respond to overdose events.
Overdose Prevention Sites also provide users with several services. In addition to supervising consumption, they distribute harm reduction supplies including naloxone kits (for those who are at risk of overdosing), provide drug checking, and provide referral services.

Finally, the city has installed opioid vending machines as a part of the MySafe project. These machines provide users with a prescribed dose of medical quality hydromorphone, a drug twice as powerful as heroin.

BCBC Issues Confidence In Canada Statement

Michael McPhie is a mining professional who serves as vice president, sustainability and external affairs and who, until recently was chair if the board of directors of Ridley Terminals. Alongside this, he is involved with the British Columbia Business Council (BCBC), an organization that aims to promote business growth in the region.

In a statement from Confidence In Canada, the BCBC highlights that indigenous, community, and business leaders have faced weeks of disruption and uncertainty. The organization claims that this has been driven by road blockades and other issues, each of which has negatively affected supply chains.

In addition, BCBC claims that there are broader issues affecting companies, such as uncertainty about major upcoming projects, many of which may have to be postponed or canceled. As such, the BCBC has called on business leaders across the country, indigenous and otherwise, to help build a more modern and sustainable country that can be more competitive in the years to come.

AMEBC Highlights Results Of Zero Emissions Survey

With experience at a diverse range of organizations and businesses, Michael McPhie is a business leader who holds more than three decades of experience. Alongside this, Michael McPhie is involved with the Association for Mineral Exploration of British Columbia (AME), where he was previously the chair of the board.

The AME recently highlighted the results of a public opinion survey conducted by Research Co., which asserts that 63 percent of British Columbians believe that mining companies have a role to play in achieving emissions targets by 2040. The target of zero-emissions has seen large-scale support across the region, with the provincial government passing legislation focused on reducing emissions released by trucks and light-duty cars over the next two decades. As the AME notes, respondents believe that, as mining and mineral exploration firms provide raw materials for these vehicles, such as gas, then they will be vital in reducing these emissions long-term.