JE Anderson

It was 1959.  The outgoing and entrepreneurial John (Jack) Anderson fixed his 16 year old son Gary with a knowing gaze and declared “We’re going to get you a driver’s license because you’re not going to be sitting around the house this summer!” Thus began the 54-year career of Gary Anderson, following his father’s footsteps into the respected profession of land surveying. 

He received his commission in 1974, having articled with Morgan Stewart and his father Jack, who were practicing land surveyors. Gary saw a lot of the country, highlighted by assignments in Yellowknife, working with Falconbridge Mines and working for the Legal Surveys Division of the BC Government in locations in southern British Columbia.

The first legal survey Gary participated in was the legal survey of Highway 1 from the north side of Nanaimo to Lantzville. Subsequent highway surveys were located at Shawnigan Lake, the Pat Bay Highway, Highway 1 at Thetis Lake, and a section near Agassiz.

“My personal career highlight” said Gary “was undoubtedly working with the innovative developers who designed Saanich’s Broadmead community.  Merv Mawson and Gordy Ralston brought innovations to lot and road design which resulted in new standards in Saanich.”

“That is one of the joys and challenges of the business” he said.  “You interact with such a broad spectrum of people. From architects, engineers, roadway design people to Indian Affairs and public officials it’s never dull.  Finding your way through these regulations and getting the very best results for the client is always the goal.”

J.E.A. is the kind of place where ideas are listened to. Most recently, surveyor Ken Kyler while working in the remote Kyuquot area on Vancouver Island, had the idea of creating a new survey pin that had the tribal emblem of the band on it, rather than the usual crown symbol.  He got the approvals and that unique pin was proudly pounded into the earth in the village of Kyuquot with native leaders and special ceremony completing their land claims settlement.

There are 8 partners presently at J.E. Anderson and Associates.  “It’s been a small miracle” observed Gary.  “We all work really well together. Right from the beginning there’s always been a family feel about the company.  Everyone has something different to offer, working in a different style.  The partners have always accepted this, respected it and recognized that this philosophy is what makes J.E.A. strong. Partners are carefully chosen with this spirit of cooperation in mind.”

What is Gary trading in his safety vest and GPS for?  Maybe it was all those years of peering through the crosshairs of the theodolites that prompted him to take up photography as a hobby.  Exactly two days after he officially retires January 31, he and his wife Bonnie Lee Wilkes head for Los Angeles to board the Carnival Splendor for a 48 day cruise circumnavigating South America. Friends will be treated to some stunning images when they return.

Said Gary “My wife and I are looking forward to more travel, enjoying music and movies and looking forward to more family time.”

J.E.Anderson & Associates has now been operating for 54 years. The firm has solid mix of both experienced and young professionals which will permit the firm to provide excellent service for many more years to come.

J.E. Anderson and Associates was founded in 1959 and has expanded to include busy offices in Nanaimo and Parksville.

The newest commissioned surveyor at JEA, Peter joined the firm in late 2002. Peter is a graduate of the Geomatics program from the British Columbia Institute of Technology. He received his certificate of completion from the Western Canadian Board of Examiners for Land Surveyors in 2006.

Peter is grateful to his mentor Mike Manson, BCLS for the numerous hours spent sharing interesting and unique surveying scenarios and helping to prepare for exams. He is also thankful to his fellow co-workers for their encouragement and providing an excellent working atmosphere.

The variety of tasks on his desk includes surveying for house layouts and building certifications, fee simple and bare land strata subdivisions, topographic surveys and construction projects including ongoing upgrades for the Department of National Defense and the Esquimalt Graving Dock. Prior to working with JEA, Peter gained experience surveying in the oil patch in northern B.C. and Alberta and has also been involved in First Nation’s land claims surveys including the landmark Nisga’a treaty settlement.

When not in the office or in the field, Peter enjoys family adventures with his wife and two children and stays active playing soccer with the Cordova Bay Bobcats Alumni’s as well as participating in corporate runs with coworkers such as the Times Colonist 10k and Good Life Fitness runs.

In November JEA  sponsored UDI’s Development Tour, “Overcoming Project Challenges,” a one-day event held in Victoria to highlight innovative approaches taken by local developers.

JEA is proud to sponsor the event because developing in the Greater Victoria region tends to be a long and complex task making developer collaboration extremely important. The event provided a unique opportunity for members to see and discuss those challenges with their colleagues.

The Urban Development Institute is a national association that works with developers and local governments to provide news, policy, research and a forum for discussion. “Events like the Development Tour in Victoria strengthen communication among its local members and make it easier for them to come together to address common problems or obstacles,” says senior engineer Ross Tuck, who is also a representative on the UDI Victoria board of directors.

For the sold out crowd it was a chance to discuss or walk through a number of interesting local projects. For the featured companies, it was a chance to showcase their best efforts in ground-breaking layout, design and technologies.