Richard Andrew (Dick) Bassil

(By Jim Halliday on the occasion of the presentation of Honorary Life Membership to Dick Bassil, 2004)

Richard Andrew Bassil received his commission as an Alberta Land Surveyor, #318, on May 18, 1967. He was active for 29 years before retiring from the government. But as his wife, Jill, will attest, Dick Bassil has done anything but retire.

Dick was born in Minnedosa, Manitoba and is a graduate of SAIT. It’s always nice to see a Manitoba kid do well.

Dick articled to Morley Kolomyjec from 1961 to 1967 and articled Harold Von Hollen and Elwyn Koehler.

As many of you know, Dick worked for Alberta Environment as Manager of Control Surveys from May 1974 to June 1990 and was the ninth Director of Surveys from 1990-1996.

Dick has been very active in Association affairs. You know Dick today as the Association’s Registrar and one of the directors of the JH Holloway Scholarship Foundation.

But throughout the course of his career, Dick was:

ALSA Councillor from 1980-1982
ALSA President, 1983-1984
Auditor, 1977, 1978, 1979
Chair, Education Committee, 1980
Chair, Legislation Committee, 1981
Chair, Committee on the Future, 1985
CCLS Director
Member, Standards Committee, 1993-1997
Member, GIS/GPS Symposium Committee, 1996-1998
Acting Executive Director, 1997
Represented the ALSA to Government during the digital plan submission process, 1999-2000

Outside of the profession, he has been involved in his church and the Good Sam Society. His hobbies include hunting and fishing.

In 1998, Dick was awarded the President’s Award by Stan Longson for going above and beyond the call of duty. Today, we recognize Dick in a more permanent way by presenting him with honorary life membership in the Association – the 58^th Alberta Land Surveyor and the 8^th former Director of Surveys to be so recognized.

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