Woodbridge-area contractor fined $5,000 for unauthorized use of a professional engineer’s seal


TORONTO, Sept. 25, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On September 15, Dole Contracting Inc. of Woodbridge, Ontario, was convicted of breaching the Professional Engineers Act by the Ontario Court of Justice and fined $5,000 for use of a professional engineer’s seal.

Dole was retained as the contractor for a building retrofit in Toronto in April 2015, and was working under the supervision of the project architect. As part of the project, Dole was responsible for the demolition of a non-loadbearing cinder block partition wall. Dole was required to install temporary shoring, for which a professional engineer was needed to prepare drawings and review its installation. The partition wall was demolished without temporary shoring or the involvement of a professional engineer. 

A Dole employee submitted two letters to the project architect stating the temporary shoring had been installed and had been reviewed by a professional engineer. These letters bore a professional engineer’s seal without the affected professional engineer’s knowledge or consent. 

Dole was convicted of two offences relating to use of the seal. 

Nick Hambleton, associate counsel, regulatory compliance, represented PEO in this matter.

How to verify licensure
To check whether an individual is licensed or a firm holds a Certificate of Authorization (C of A), search the directories of practitioners (licence and C of A holders) at www.peo.on.ca. To report unlicensed individuals and unauthorized companies, contact PEO’s enforcement hotline at 416-840-1444 or 1-800-339-3716, ext 1444, or email enforcement@peo.on.ca.

About Professional Engineers Ontario
Under the authority of the Professional Engineers Act, PEO governs over 85,000 licence and certificate holders and regulates professional engineering in Ontario. PEO’s mission is to regulate and advance the practice of engineering to protect the public interest. Its vision is to be the trusted leader in professional self-regulation. Professional engineering safeguards life, health, property, economic interests, the public welfare and the environment. Professional engineers can be identified by the P.Eng. after their names. Holders of limited licences can be identified by LEL or LET after their names.

For additional information or interviews, please contact: 
David Smith, Director, Communications
Professional Engineers Ontario
Tel: 416-840-1061; 800-339-3716, ext.1061
Cell: 416-458-4140
Email: dsmith@peo.on.ca