Ark (front row centre, 4th from left) pictured with City of Vancouver electrical inspectors at the AGM.It was business as usual for the Annual General Meeting of the British Columbia Electrical Inspectors of British Columbia on February 8, including a feature presentation by Ark Tssisserev, the former chief electrical inspector and safety manager for the City of Vancouver. Ark’s informative presentation, scheduled for the AGM months in advance, was delivered in his inimitable style with incisive wit and humour, on the topic of ‘safety, and the checks and balances that are the framework of the Canadian Electrical Code’.
One of the most highly respected individuals in the electrical field internationally, Ark was dismissed from his position recently amid an overwhelming response coming from individuals and organizations in the electrical community in Vancouver, the province, across Canada, North America and even Europe, who have reacted with outrage at his dismissal. Also of concern was, with safety being of such critical importance to the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, that his termination should come only three weeks before the event’s opening ceremonies. Not to mention, also, that it should come only months before his retirement.
Quoted in a CTV news item about Ark’s termination, Bill Burr, former chief electrical inspector for B.C. said, “Why would they let him go before the Olympics? The chief electrical inspector has all kinds of things to do in a busy time like this. There are all kinds of temporary installations going up, tents and all those activities that have electrical power in them.” Click HERE to view news clip.
A dedicated member of the electrical industry and a nationally recognized authority in the field of electrical and fire safety, Ark has made many contributions within the City of Vancouver as well as within B.C., the rest of Canada, and North America. As chair of the Canadian Electrical Code Part I committee for the past three editions of the Code and, as an active member on numerous other national and international technical and standards committees, he has made significant contributions to the safety of Canadians, and indeed other North Americans as well.
Included in Ark’s numerous technical awards, citations and fellowships are the Association of Professional Engineers and Geologists of BC Professional Service Award, and the prestigious Canadian Standards Association John Jenkins Award.
The John Jenkins award is given to those who have shown leadership in various areas through personal involvement over a period of years in the development, advancement, and application of voluntary standards; encouraged the development and advancement of standards both nationally and internationally; and through foresight and action, have helped to substantially advance the arts and sciences related to standardization.
For his life-long contributions to the engineering profession and betterment of electrical safety in Canada, he has been inducted into the Fellowship of the Engineers of Canada, and twice recognized by Vancouver City Council for his contribution to electrical safety in the City of Vancouver.
And it is certain that Ark’s contributions and influential presence in the industry will not end here.
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