Discipline Notice: Ian Colquhoun
In April 2017, Mr. Colquhoun registered as an EIT with Engineers and Geoscientists BC. In 2018, his registration as an EIT lapsed. Mr. Colquhoun re-registered as an EIT in 2020 as he had not yet completed all of the requirements to become registered as a professional engineer (P.Eng.) with Engineers and Geoscientist BC.
In 2021, a mining consulting firm offered Mr. Colquhoun a short-term contract for the position of electrical engineer. Mr. Colquhoun previously worked with the same firm as an EIT in 2017. Mr. Colquhoun accepted the offer for the position and did not inform the firm that he was still registered as an EIT.
While employed with the firm in 2021, Mr. Colquhoun was asked to sign and affix his seal to a portion of a report that the firm had prepared for one of its clients. As Mr. Colquhoun was an EIT, he did not have a P.Eng. seal and was not authorized to authenticate documents. As a result, Mr. Colquhoun forged a P.Eng. seal and applied this unauthorized seal to the report. The document Mr. Colquhoun sealed did not contain any engineering work and did not require authentication. Mr. Colquhoun resigned from the position shortly after authenticating the report.
In the Consent Order, Mr. Colquhoun agreed that he engaged in conduct unbecoming, which is defined in section 1 of the Professional Governance Act (PGA) as conduct of a registrant that brings the regulatory body or its registrants into disrepute. Mr. Colquhoun also admitted that his conduct was contrary to the Code of Ethics of Engineers and Geoscientists BC which requires that registrants provide accurate information in respect of their qualifications and experience and conduct themselves with fairness, courtesy, and good faith towards all persons whom the registrant has professional dealings.
As outlined in the Consent Order, Mr. Colquhoun’s registration as an EIT with Engineers and Geoscientists BC was cancelled. Mr. Colquhoun paid the maximum fine for a trainee under the PGA of $2,000. Mr. Colquhoun also paid $1,200 toward the legal and investigation costs of Engineers and Geoscientists BC.
The full text of the Consent Order can be found in the Disciplinary Notices section of our website.
Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s website contains information on the complaint, investigation, and discipline processes. You can contact us at 604.558.6647 or toll-free at 1.888.430.8035 ext. 6647, or by email at [email protected].