As the newly elected president of the Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association, I’m honoured to serve during a time of significant transition—both provincially and nationally. This message is my first of many touchpoints with the membership over the coming year. I hope to keep you informed, engaged, and included as we navigate some important developments affecting our profession.
 
Challenges and Opportunities at Home
There are several pressing issues here in Alberta that deserve our collective attention:
 

• NAIT’s Surveying & Geospatial Engineering Technology Program (September 2026): The recent announcement that NAIT will potentially pause intake into its Geomatics Engineering Technology program is a blow to our profession’s local talent pipeline. The ALSA is actively engaging with NAIT and government stakeholders to better understand this decision and hopefully overturn that decision so as to ensure continuity in geomatics education and maintain the flow of capable technologists into the profession.

 

• Registration Reform: Council continues its work toward reforming the registration process to ensure it remains fair, accessible, and rigorous. These efforts are aimed at maintaining high professional standards while improving transparency and efficiency of proving the competencies demanded of future Alberta Land Surveyors. I believe we can make the process better.

 

• The Professional Governance Act: As the government’s Professional Governance Act (PGA) has passed third reading for professional regulators the ALSA is well poised to have all the proverbial “I”s dotted and “T”s crossed to implement and comply with the required changes by mid-2026. We are ready.

 
National Dialogue and Collaboration
Across the country, the conversation around mutual recognition is gaining momentum. Federal and interprovincial pressure is building for greater labour mobility between jurisdictions. While this offers exciting possibilities for cross-border practice, we must ensure that any agreements maintain the standards and integrity of our profession.
 
Another pressing issue on the national stage is how we attract the next generation of land surveyors. Across Canada, our associations are increasingly aligned in recognizing the need to connect with high school students and promote land surveying and geomatics as rewarding and meaningful career paths. In the past, the ALSA and other associations developed tools like the “Surveyor in a Box” — an engaging, hands-on resource that surveyors could bring into classrooms to introduce students to the profession. It may be time to revive that initiative or create new resources that empower professionals to inspire future talent. These efforts could play a pivotal role in helping young people see land surveying as a compelling option as they begin to explore their career possibilities.
 
Learning from Each Other
Finally, I want to express my sincere appreciation for the opportunity to meet with fellow presidents and representatives from other provincial associations across Canada. These conversations have been invaluable. Hearing diverse perspectives—from licensing challenges in one province to successful youth engagement strategies in another—reminds me that while our contexts may differ, our common goal remains the same: to strengthen the profession of land surveying in Canada.
 
Closing Thoughts
As we look ahead, I encourage each of you to stay engaged, offer your voice, and help advocate for the future of land surveying. Whether it's mentoring a student, attending a town hall, or simply sharing your perspective with Council—we all have a role to play in shaping the future.
 
Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in me. I look forward to serving our profession in the year ahead.
 
Victor G. Hut, ALS
President, Alberta Land Surveyors’ Association