MANITOBAN Construction firm sues U of M for U of M researchers elected to Royal nearly $2.6 million Legal action over Churchill Marine Observatory Society of Canada Milan Lukes, staff
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approximately $43,000 for an electrical control panel that was required but was allegedly absent in the phase 1 contract documents. During phase 2 of construction, Penn-co and its drilling subcontractor encountered underground sand pockets which stopped drilling that was necessary for the project. The lawsuit claims that these sand pockets were not identified in the geotechnical report and the contract advertised the site as entirely dominated by bedrock. The university later directed Penn-co to proceed with a different drilling method which was completed in-part during winter months. The company claims it is entitled to nearly $2 million in additional costs. Lastly, the lawsuit alleges that the university did not obtain a Manitoba conservation work permit which would require a review by the department of fisheries and oceans. This led to a delay which Penn-co is seeking an additional $167,000. As of Sept. 12, the university has yet to file a statement of defense.
photo provided / University of Manitoba
he U of M is being sued by a construction firm that was contracted to build the Churchill Marine Observatory — a multidisciplinary research facility located in Churchill. In a lawsuit filed on Aug. 30 in the Court of King’s Bench, just three days after the facility’s grand opening, Penn-co Construction is seeking nearly $2.6 million. The company claims it is entitled to compensation for costs associated with compliance with COVID-19 protocols, inadequate design plans and delays in acquiring a necessary review by the department of fisheries and oceans. According to the lawsuit, “the university has been unjustly enriched to the detriment of Penn-co.” “It is the university’s position that all legitimate and eligible costs to Penn-co have been paid. In addition, the university has a significant claim against Penn-co for deficient work that will be set out in our statement of defense and counterclaim,” said the university’s general counsel
in a statement. The university and Penn-co entered contracts in 2017 and 2019 for phase 1 and phase 2 of the construction project, respectively. Altogether, contract work for the project was to amount to approximately $20.5 million. The lawsuit mentions that Prairie Architects Inc. was hired to serve as a consultant during the construction. The architecture firm was responsible for providing administration “in an impartial and fair manner,” according to the lawsuit. Penn-co alleges that requirements introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic led to significant costs and delays. The lawsuit states that Penn-co incurred approximately $400,000 to implement and comply with pandemic protocols. In April of 2020, the lawsuit mentions that Penn-co notified the university of cost and schedule impacts, with the intent to claim these additional costs. The project’s consultant disputed entitlement to these costs. Penn-co is also seeking
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Sylvester Delali Agbado, staff Two U of M professors, Dr. Lori Wilkinson and Dr. Juliette Mammei, have been elected to the Royal Society of Canada (RSC), one of the country’s highest academic honours. The RSC recognizes excellence in arts, social sciences and sciences, while promoting knowledge and innovation both in Canada and globally. Alain-G. Gagnon, president of the RSC, commented to UM Today that “the RSC is proud to welcome these inspiring scholars, artists, and creators whose peers have recognized their exceptional contributions to the world of science and culture and the well-being of Canada.” He added, “the impact of their work will continue to be felt in the development of public policies for years to come, while contributing to the well-being of our society.” Dr. Juliette Mammei is an associate professor in physics and astronomy and holds a Ph.D. in nuclear physics. She is an international leader in subatomic particle research, advancing knowledge in nuclear and nucleon structure. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at El Paso and her M.Sc. and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech, and at the U of M, she has taught introductory physics courses in addition to some upper level physics courses. Her current research focuses on nucleon structure and testing critical theories of the standard model of particles and interactions. “I think that the recognition is partially from my research, I am a world-known researcher in subatomic physics or nuclear physics, but I think it’s also partially because of my outreach work,” said Mammei. Mammei actively engages
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in outreach programs aimed at introducing Indigenous students in Canada to nuclear physics and broader science concepts. One of her main goals is to increase Indigenous representation in science by addressing a significant barrier — meeting the requirement to entering the physics program. According to her, many rural high schools lack teachers for physics, math and science as they “have a hard time keeping teachers.” Her proposed program aims to substitute high school physics requirements with university-offered alternatives to help students overcome this hurdle. “One of my goals would be to increase the numbers of Indigenous students particularly in science because I am a scientist,” said Mammei, reflecting on her passion for the field. Mammei’s interest in science was sparked early, influenced by her parents’ love for science fiction, especially Star Trek. “I’ve always wanted to be a scientist,” she said. Despite her passion, financial support was not available. Mammei also highlighted the gender imbalance in her field, specifically noting that within the MOLLER collaboration of around 100 collaborators, she is one of only two female professors. Currently, Mammei is working on a major experiment totaling US$60 million — largely funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation and the Canadian Foundation for Innovation. Mammei said that the experiment intends to measure the weak charge of the election, which has previously been measured, but the experiment will measure it five times more precisely. Cont’d p. 3 / Further
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Sustainable solutions
Overcoming obstacles
Identity and belonging
Resilience and survival
Time to say goodbye
U of M secures $7.6 million grant
How disability drives change
A name’s true meaning
A fight for family
Legendary coach Brian Dobie to retire
September 18, 2024
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VOL. 111, NO. 06