News

It is with deep sadness and regret that we report that Ed Alvarez, our Registrar, passed away suddenly on Saturday, October 31, 2009 at the age of 71.

Ed’s career spanned many years with the Department of National Defence (DND), starting at the Quality Engineering Test Establishment (QETE), wherein he worked at various capacities. At the time of Ed’s death, he was the Head, Environmental and Physical Risk Management Program at the DGAEPM Division of DND.

Ed joined the Council of the ACPO in 1991, as District councillor for Ottawa. He became Secretary from 1996 to April 1998 while still serving as District councillor. Ed was elected President of the ACPO in May 1998 and served two terms of two years in that position. In May 2002, he became Registrar, a position he held until present. Ed served on most of ACPO’s committees, and worked with many organizations and individuals to promote chemistry, the profession of chemistry, and the ACPO. Some of his collaborations, by no means exhaustive, are listed below:

In Oct. 1999, he planned and ran a joint ACPO/QETE booth at the National Chemistry Week activities to show the public a simulation of the distillation process. Ed used every opportunity to promote the ACPO and help project a professional image.

In Feb. 2000, Ed participated in the CSC accreditation process when he joined Anthony Poë, Emeritus Professor, University of Toronto and Masad Damha, Professor of Chemistry, McGill University, of the visiting accreditation committee.

In the Spring 2000, he and Rick Wilson, Executive Director for the Canadian Association of Environmental Analytical Laboratories (CAEAL), were engaged in on-going discussions with regards to ACPO’s Occupational Health Proficiency Testing Program. In June of that year, he joined the workshop with the ACPA on professional ethics for chemists at the CSC conference in Calgary.

Ed was a proud member of the Association of the Chemical Profession of Ontario (ACPO), the Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO), the Canadian Association for Laboratory Accreditation Inc. (CALA) and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Throughout all his endeavours, Ed held fast to the belief of communicating the importance of the ACPO through increased public awareness. His presence will be sorely missed at council’s meetings.

Beloved husband of Carmencita (nee Asistores); loving father of favourite daughters Christine, Patricia Alvarez-Sabbagh (Abbas) and Katrina (Michael Walsh); much loved grandfather of Marcel, Brittany, Micheline, Maahleek and Mattheo; and favourite brother of Carol Cruz, Carmelita Spittal, Wilhemina Asistores and Catherine Puno. He will be fondly remembered by all of his extended family.

Visitation at McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home, 1411 Hunt Club Road (at Albion), from 7-9 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2nd and from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3rd. Funeral Mass Wednesday, November 4th, at 11 a.m. in St. Bernard’s Church, 1720 St. Bernard Street, Ottawa. Tributes/Condolences may sent through www.mem.com. You may also view and sign the online guestbook.

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