Leadership & Governance

For more than six decades the PLCAC has provided continuous industry leadership and a forum for Canada’s unionized pipeline contractors in matters of labour relations, safety, training, quality, standards, and legislative and regulatory engagement.

Governance practices are informed by the bylaws of the Association, which are published annually within the Membership Directory.

Governance

Board of Directors

2026-2027

The PLCAC board of directors are elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in conjunction with the Annual Convention in the spring of each calendar year.

The board of directors conducts quarterly meetings and a series of standing committees of the board are tasked with considering policy, service and procedural issues in greater detail, with a model of committees reporting to the board. A financial audit and annual committee reporting is completed in the first quarter of every calendar year and an Annual Report is presented to representatives of the membership at the Annual General Meeting.

Officers
President

Neil K. Waugh
President
NPL Canada Ltd.
Vaughan, ON

First Vice President

James Nixon
President
OJB Energy Solutions
Nisku, AB

2nd Vice President

Paul Mease
Executive Chairman
Robert B. Somerville Co. Ltd.
King City, ON

Treasurer

Paul R. Shultz
Senior Vice President
Premay Pipeline Hauling L.P.
Edmonton, AB

Executive Director

Kevin A. O’Donnell
Pipe Line Contractors Association of Canada
Mississauga, ON

Directors

Immediate Past President
Wesley Waschuk
President
Waschuk Pipe Line Construction Ltd.
Red Deer, AB

David W. Johnstone
President
T.W. Johnstone Company Limited
London, ON

Lyall A. Nash
President
TESTCO Western Ltd.
Calgary, AB

Michael R. Prior
Senior Strategic Advisor
Michels Canada Co.
Nisku, AB

Eric MacDonald
Executive Vice President
Aecon Utilities
Toronto, ON

Associate Directors

Blake D. Shultis
Brand Manager
PipeLine Machinery International
Acheson, AB

Colin Schmidt
Chief Executive Officer
and President
TerraPro Inc.
Sherwood Park, AB

Executive Office

The PLCAC operates with a core executive office staff complemented by a network of co-sourcing partners and outsourced arrangements.

We are pleased to serve you. We ask you to reach us using the Contact Us options.

Kevin O’Donnell

Executive Director

Brian Butler

Labour Relations Manager

Karman Jiri

Office Manager
& Convention Coordinator

Stanley Okpara

Staff Accountant

Standing Commitees

Under the bylaws of the Pipe Line Contractors Association of Canada (PLCAC), the Board of Directors constitute and maintain standing committees to support the affairs of the Association and the work of the Board.

Executive Committee:
This committee is comprised of the PLCAC president, vice president, treasurer, immediate past president and executive director. It acts upon the affairs and management of the PLCAC when requested by the president or the executive director during the interim between meetings of the board of directors.

Convention Planning Committee:
This committee is responsible for planning and arranging all social functions, food, beverage and entertainment. The committee chair prepares a convention budget for submission to the Directors and works closely with the many associate members who sponsor or co-sponsor functions. The committee coordinates all catering and convention services with the hotel and outside agencies throughout the convention.

Education & Training Committee:
This committee, through consultation with the PLCAC members and affiliated unions, determines the appropriate training needs to keep the industry at the forefront of innovation and compliance. Members arrange for equipment, materials and courses instructors; determines course content and coordinate course management and administrative functions.

Innovation Committee:
This committee is responsible for highlighting and showcasing new technology within the pipeline industry. The committee’s goal is to promote collaboration between regular and associate members, and union partners. The committee strives for operational efficiencies and excellence, continued safety advancements and the resulting cost savings to the clients.

Negotiating Committee – Distribution:
This committee (a sub-committee of the National Labour Relations Committee) is responsible for the negotiation of the Distribution Pipeline Agreements for Canada.

Negotiating Committee – Mainline:
This committee (a sub-committee of the National Labour Relations Committee) is responsible for the negotiation of the Mainline Pipeline Agreements for Canada.

Negotiating Committee – Maintenance and Service:
This committee (a sub-committee of the National Labour Relations Committee) is responsible for the negotiation of the Maintenance and Service Agreements for Canada.

Membership & Promotion Committee:
This committee promotes membership in the association by those firms who may qualify as regular or associate members. The committee chair reports to the board of directors on the qualifications of applicants, the status of existing members and changes in corporate name, structure or operation of members. The committee also publicizes and promotes the image of the PLCAC and its members to the public, Federal and Provincial Governments, clients, other associations or agencies, and potential members.

National Labour Relations Committee:
The National Labour Relations Committee has full authority in all labour matters, including the negotiation and administration of collective agreements covering construction, installation, maintenance, reconditioning and treating of pipelines. Committee members serve on joint labour-management committees and boards of trustees and also act on regional subcommittees appointed to carry out specific assignments such as the resolution of grievances and jurisdictional disputes. The committee has adopted Rules of Procedure in order that it may provide fair representation to all employers represented by the PLCAC in labour matters under provincial accreditation, designation and/or registration certificates.

Pipeline Standards Committee:
This committee is responsible for liaison with industry organizations and corporations in codification, design and specification writing. Members of the committee serve as the Association’s representatives on technical committees of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA).

Safety Committee:
This committee includes representatives from all areas of the PLCAC, including mainline, distribution, and maintenance and service. It functions to promote the development of various industry safety initiatives aimed at improving worker safety awareness and worksite processes. The committee works closely with our union partners, energy clients, industry associations and various regulatory bodies on matters that impact our industry. This committee also oversees the production of the PLCAC safety video series and is the liaison with Buildforce Canada on the distribution and administration of the Pipeline Construction Safety Training (PCST) program.

Governance

For more than seven decades, the PLCAC has provided continuous industry leadership and a forum for Canada’s unionized pipeline contractors in matters of labour relations, safety, training, quality, standards, and legislative and regulatory engagement.

Governance practices are informed by the bylaws of the Association, which are published annually within the Membership Directory.

The board of directors conducts quarterly meetings, and a series of standing committees of the board are tasked with considering policy, service and procedural issues in greater detail, with a model of committees reporting to the board. A financial audit and annual committee reporting are completed in the first quarter of every calendar year, and an Annual Report is presented to representatives of the membership at the Annual General Meeting, which is held in conjunction with the Annual Convention.