The Engineering Award is presented to an engineer who has achieved distinction in the practice of engineering. The achievement may be a single event or a series of events that set a benchmark for others in the profession. 

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Wade Pottie, P.Eng., P.E., has built a distinguished career delivering innovative solutions for some of Canada's most challenging bridge construction, rehabilitation, and demolition projects. Through his leadership on complex infrastructure assignments, he has advanced the practice of bridge and construction engineering while contributing to the delivery of critical transportation infrastructure across Canada and beyond. 

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A graduate of Dalhousie University with a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering, Wade began his career with YMCL Engineering before joining Harbourside Engineering Consultants in 2011. He became a partner in 2017 and has since established himself as a leader in construction engineering and bridge infrastructure. Recognizing the growing international scope of his work, Wade independently pursued and completed the rigorous examinations and requirements necessary to become licensed to practise engineering in the United States, expanding his ability to serve clients and projects across North America. 

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One of Wade's earliest landmark projects was the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge Suspended Spans Replacement Project, known as the Big Lift. As a member of both the permanent design and construction engineering teams, he helped develop the bridge components and temporary systems that allowed the bridge to reopen safely to traffic each day during construction. The project became a defining achievement in Nova Scotia infrastructure and received a Lieutenant Governor's Award for Engineering Excellence. 

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Since then, Wade has contributed to the design, rehabilitation, construction, and demolition of complex bridge projects across Canada and internationally. With more than 25 bridge designs to his credit, he has also led the assessment and rehabilitation of critical structures, including repairs to damaged components on the Seal Island Arch Bridge in Cape Breton. He developed an innovative solution to replace non-redundant members on the Callender-Hamilton through-truss bridge over Newfoundland's Exploits River, extending the bridge's service life and avoiding a costly replacement. He also served as Designer of Record and Contract Administrator for the replacement of the maintenance travellers and traveller rail system on the South Channel Suspension Bridge connecting New York and Ontario. 

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Wade's expertise was further demonstrated on the deconstruction of one of Canada’s busiest bridges, the Old Champlain Bridge, a 3.4-kilometre crossing of the St. Lawrence River connecting Brossard and Montreal. As design lead for the steel span removals, he was responsible for the engineering behind the synchronized lowering of a 120-metre, 2,200-tonne span onto barges in the St. Lawrence Seaway. The project earned national recognition, including the Canadian Consulting Engineering Schreyer Award, Canada's highest honour for consulting engineering achievement, as well as a Canadian Consulting Engineering Award of Excellence and a Lieutenant Governor's Award for Engineering Excellence. 

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Most recently, Wade led the development and design of an innovative modular gantry system for rail bridge replacement projects in Ontario. The system enabled bridge spans to be removed and replaced during short rail closures along one of Canada's busiest transportation corridors, reducing operational impacts, improving construction efficiency, and creating opportunities for component reuse. This project also earned national recognition with a Canadian Consulting Engineering Award of Excellence. 

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Beyond his project accomplishments, Wade is committed to advancing the profession through technical presentations, industry involvement, and mentorship. At Harbourside Engineering Group, he works closely with junior engineers and engineers-in-training, helping them develop the technical expertise, practical judgment, and confidence needed to succeed on complex projects. 

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Outside of engineering, Wade has devoted many years to Hockey Nova Scotia's officiating program. Progressing from local minor hockey assignments to the Junior A and university levels, he has mentored younger officials and served in leadership roles within the officiating community, demonstrating the same commitment to excellence, teamwork, and mentorship that has defined his engineering career. 

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The impact of Wade's career can be seen not only in the infrastructure he has helped deliver, but also in the innovative methods he has developed, the professionals he continues to mentor, and the communities he serves. Through technical excellence, leadership, innovation, and service, he has made significant contributions to the advancement of engineering practice in Canada. 

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For his distinguished achievements in structural and bridge engineering, his leadership in delivering innovative construction and demolition solutions, his commitment to technical excellence and mentorship, and his contributions to advancing engineering practice in Canada, Wade Pottie, P.Eng., P.E., receives the 2026 Engineering Award.