CSA Group joins in commemorating CSA founder Sir John Kennedy as a person of
national historic significance of Canada

TORONTO, March 5 /CNW/ - CSA Group today joined Parks Canada, the Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC) and the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering (CSCE) in commemorating the national historic significance of CSA founder Sir John Kennedy and his contributions to Canada. On behalf of CSA Group, Hélène Vaillancourt, Chief Science and Engineering Officer, was in attendance as Senator W. David Angus, Q.C., unveiled a historic plaque at the Port of Montreal in recognition of Kennedy's significant contributions to Canadian history.

"CSA Group's founding father, Sir John Kennedy, has today been acknowledged with a very prestigious honour," says Ash Sahi, President and CEO, CSA Group. "His integrity, passion and dedication to engineering and standards development helped found this organization that is today known as CSA Group. Thanks in part to his vision and efforts, more than 90 years later CSA Group has grown into a leading international organization with more than 3,000 standards, codes and related products, renowned certification and testing programs and facilities, and thousands of volunteers and staff dedicated to a safer, more sustainable world."

Following direction from Britain, it was first suggested that a standards group be formed in Canada to provide a unique and national standards organization which would work closely with both the U.S. and Britain, but remain independent of Britain's rule. In 1917, Sir John Kennedy, one of Canada's leading pioneers in engineering, was singled out to lead a group in developing standards in the interests of the Canadian public. In 1919, this group of engineers was formally recognized by Canada's Secretary of State as the Canadian Engineering Standards Association (CESA), which went on to become the Canadian Standards Association and ultimately CSA Group.

In June 1919, the first official General Meeting of CESA's main committee was held in Ottawa. In 1920, Kennedy's efforts and those of others in engineering and standards development allowed the CESA to issue its first standard which was for the design of steel railway bridges. Only a few short years after forming the CESA, Kennedy passed away in 1921.

Sir John Kennedy was identified by Parks Canada for his significant role in Canadian history. Approximately 70 nominations are submitted yearly and a person is eligible to be listed 25 years after death (except Prime Ministers who may be designated any time after death).

About CSA Group

CSA Group is an independent, not-for-profit membership association serving business, industry, government and consumers. CSA Group consists of three divisions: CSA Standards, a leading standards-based solutions organization, providing standards development, application products, training and advisory services; CSA International, which provides testing and certification services for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas and a variety of other products; and OnSpeX, a provider of consumer product evaluation, inspection and advisory services for retailers and manufacturers. For more, visit www.csagroup.org

For further information: Marco A. Ouji, Media Relations Officer, CSA Group, T: [phone], E: [email protected]