20158 – Andrew Gower, P.Eng., PE, CMR 1991-1994 and RMC 1995-1996
When he’s not flying through the air or down a mountain on a bike, Andrew can be found running the Courtenay, BC branch of Wedler Engineering, LLP.
After graduation in 1996 from the Royal Military College with his Bachelor in Civil Engineering, Andrew was first posted to Chilliwack where he completed his Combat Engineer phase training. In between phases 3 and 4, he managed to fit in his basic parachutist course and a deployment to the Red River flood. Posted to Edmonton upon completion of his training, Andrew spent two years at 1 CER as the Intelligence Officer and the Heavy Equipment Troop Commander. His time included deployment to Quebec during the Ice Storm, a stint as course officer at the JNCO school in Wainwright and the regular field exercises of the western army.
After 1 CER, Andrew spent two years at CFB Suffield, learning to play hockey, and serving as the Base Engineering Second in Command when not on the ice. Andrew spent his last year in uniform back in Edmonton as the ASU Engineering Planning Officer. Following “retirement” in 2002, Andrew moved to California where he worked as a materials engineer for MACTEC gaining experience while working on the Richmond-San Rafael Seismic Retrofit project. While there, he wrote and passed the California engineering exams gaining his “PE” designation.
In 2004, Andrew and then wife Joy hopped on a plane and flew to Dublin, Ireland where Andrew managed to secure a position with Carl Bro Ireland designing highways projects. After a short stay, he travelled back to Canada via India, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand and San Francisco.
Andrew started at Wedler in March of 2005, and quickly advanced through the firm from design engineer to project manager to full partner and part owner in 2007. Andrew launched the company’s Courtenay branch in January of 2007, and moved to Courtenay in mid 2008 where he continues to raise his son, Cole in partnership with Cole’s mother.
Andrew’s latest venture is sports journalism with a focus on mountain biking and to date he has prepared several reviews of high end bikes, a report from a trip in the Thompson Okanagan and an interview of a local World Cup downhill mountain bike racer. Andrew hopes to build on this and eventually transition to journalism at least part time. In the mean time, Wedler continues to be a priority along with the odd downhill race.
You can read Andrew’s work at www.nsmb.com and follow his exploits at www.citizenclass.viviti.com. For more information on Wedler Engineering check out www.wedler.com.