British Columbia Chapter (Vancouver)
Email: BritishColumbia@tunnelcanada.ca
About the British Columbia Chapter
Primary Centre: Vancouver, BC
The British Columbia Chapter offers 8 to 10 evening presentations annually at Steamworks Pub in Vancouver, 375 Water Street, with invited speakers on a wide variety of topics (doors open at 5:30 pm and presentations begin at 6:15 pm). Active TAC members and non-members are welcome. The cost is $5 for members, $10 for non-members, and includes one drink (beer/wine) and appetizers (please bring your TAC membership card or payment receipt for the year).
See the upcoming events listings below to learn more about upcoming presentations. Please RSVP your interest in attending to Alexander MacKinnon at alexander.mackinnon@wsp.com and Julian Arambarri at jarambarri@aldeaservices.com. Last minute attendees are also welcome! And please let us know if you are interested in presenting (or know someone who might be).
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of the TAC British Columbia Chapter consists of the following members:
Chair (TAC Director, British Columbia & Young Members)
Nichole Boultbee
Aldea Services
Treasurer
Aaron Nickoli
Tetratech
Event Coordinator
Alexander MacKinnon
WSP
Member (TAC Past President)
Erik Eberhardt
University of British Columbia
Member (TAC President)
Bruce Downing
WSP
Member (TAC Director)
Connor Langford
Mott MacDonald
Event Coordinator
Julian Arambarri
Aldea Services
Upcoming Events
May 7 2025
Steamworks Brewpub – Uber Room, 375 Water St., Vancouver, BC
TAC BC Chapter Talk - "Jello-Mud: Innovative Ground Engineering Beneath a 1,800-Year-Old Temple"
Join the TAC BC Chapter for our upcoming presentation event featuring speaker Franck Peng of Balsam Laboratory.
Right next to a 1,800-year-old Buddhist temple, Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co. faced a tricky task in 2019 while building the Jing'an Temple Line Station for Line 14 of the Shanghai Metro. They had to use a giant 8.7 by 9.9-meter pipe jacking machine in soft ground, with the temple's delicate structure at risk. To avoid turning it into rubble, STEC teamed up with Balsam Laboratory, which came up with an innovative solution: an additive called BSP 70, mixed with bentonite to create a slippery, thixotropic material—dubbed "Jello-Mud" by Balsam’s Canadian team. This super-strong slurry was ten times more durable than regular bentonite, non-toxic, and water-resistant.
Franck Peng of Balsam Laboratory Canada will present case studies showcasing the benefits of Jello-Mud. Key highlights include a 50% reduction in designed thrust force, prevention of settlement, and successfully waterproofing an ocean-crossing tunnel boring machine under 0.84MPa pressure.
Event Details:
Date: May 7, 2025
Time & Itinerary:
5:30-6:30 PM – Social Hour with Food and Drinks
6:30-7:50 PM – Presentations
7:50-8:10 PM – Discussion/Q&A session
Location: Steamworks Brewpub – Uber Room, 375 Water St., Vancouver, BC
Registration Cost:
$5 for members, $10 for non-members, includes one beverage and shared appetizers (paid at the door)
Please RSVP your interest in attending to Alexander MacKinnon at
alexander.mackinnon@wsp.com and Julian Arambarri at
jarambarri@aldeaservices.com. Last-minute attendees are also welcome!
