Overview
West Canitest R&D Inc (WestCaRD®) is an economic development Research & Development Manitoba Corporation that leverages private industry and government investments to create technical capacity, job growth, and economic impact in the aerospace & defence, aero-engine testing, research & development, evaluation (RDT&E), engine repair, and related industrial sectors, by:
- Attracting & leveraging expertise and high-value technologies to create technology transfer & commercialization opportunities
- Stimulating collaborative, innovative R&D projects creating new skills, products & services
- Developing technical competencies for emerging markets through collaboration with academia
- Growing and maximizing benefits to Western Canada of advanced, world leading engine testing infrastructure & equipment
- Facilitating HQP skills development & advanced technology training in environmental testing sector
- Pursuing technical growth opportunities in other related sectors
While WestCaRD’s business and technology focus continues to be heavily directed towards aero-engine RDT&E, WestCaRD will
actively pursuing new and unique opportunities in other sectors, specifically in digital or cyber-physical manufacturing domains as well as in green aerospace initiatives.
WestCaRD’s growth strategies can be summarized as being:
- To increase WestCaRD’s beneficial economic impact and continue to contribute substantially to Manitoba’s industrial and technology base
- To build and strengthen strategic relationships within aerospace, land transportation, energy, agricultural and manufacturing sectors.
- To continue to work closely with academic and industrial communities to help grow technical capabilities and commercial opportunities .
Vision & Mission
The WestCaRD Vision Statement:
We will be a recognized facilitator of world leading developmental, environmental and certification testing and multi-sectoral applied research & technology commercialization that contributes to Manitoba’s economic growth.
The WestCaRD Mission:
- To stimulate and coordinate the performance of strategic applied R&D as well as technology demonstration and commercialization in Manitoba
- To expand Manitoba’s accessible and unique test and developmental facilities and expertise to meet emerging market requirements and technology drivers in aerospace and other market sectors;
- To promote and support the development of the human capital necessary to manufacture and support emerging materials, technologies and products;
- To be a Manitoba commercialization team builder, enabling collaboration between large and small Manitoba, Canadian and international entities as well as government and other private sector research and technology organizations; and
- To strengthen Manitoba’s industrial and technology base by promoting international collaborative enterprise.
Organization/Governance
Board of Directors
The WestCaRD Board of Directors is comprised of five independent, community-based professionals having backgrounds covering finance, accounting, law, business development, engineering education, aviation & aerospace operations. The Directors bring substantial experience and in-depth knowledge of Manitoba’s socio-economic, environment and bring a strategic focus on maximizing our benefits in Manitoba and Western Canada. WestCaRD Board Directors are:
- Vic Gerden, President, AeroPlus STM Services Inc.
- Chair of WestCaRD Board of Directors
- Kathryn Atamanchuk, University of Manitoba Aero-Engine Test Engineer in Residence
- Director and Chair of WestCaRD Governance Committee
- Andrea Legary, Chief Scientist and Technology Officer at The Recoup Group
- Director and Chair of Finance
- Marc Groenewegen
- Director
- Mike Hudek, President Polyvations Inc
- Director
- Mouhab Meshreki PhD., Director NRC Aerospace Research Centre
- Director
- Bob Hastings, President, PointMan Canada Ltd
- CEO WestCaRD
Vic Gerden
Chair of WestCaRD Board of Directors
Vic Gerden has a background as an engineer and pilot with extensive experience in multifaceted aviation operations and aerospace-related projects. His early career was with the Canadian Forces where he held positions of increasing responsibility dealing with national and international aviation operations including fighter operations, surveillance & defence systems, aerospace technology, flight and leadership training. After reaching the rank of Colonel he transitioned to a career with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada where he held the positions of Regional Manager Central Canada, national Director of Air Investigations, Chief Investigator of the Swissair 111 Investigation, and Senior Advisor for National and International Operations. His next career was as Executive Director of the Manitoba Aerospace Association, followed by four years as the CEO of West Canitest R&D Inc (WestCaRD) whose objectives are to assist the growth of the economy of Manitoba by facilitating investment, innovative research, and workforce development initiatives in support of technology development in multiple specialty sectors including aviation engine environmental testing, advanced manufacturing, and green aviation initiatives.
He is President of AeroPlus STM Inc, providing executive management and consulting services to the aerospace industry and related support sectors. He is the past-Chair of the Board of Directors of Southport Aerospace Centre Inc, and current Chair of the Finance Committee of the WestCaRD Board of Directors.
Kathryn Atamanchuk
Kathryn Atamanchuk, P.Eng., MBA, PMP
Kathryn is the Aero-Engine Test and Advanced Digital Manufacturing Engineer-in-Residence and Industry Partnerships Facilitator for the Price Faculty of Engineering at the University of Manitoba. In these roles, she develops and delivers industry related courses (focused on Applied Aerospace Instrumentation, Project Management, and Career Design), provides mentorship to students, and acts as a facilitator to help strengthen collaborations between the University and Manitoba’s various industry sectors.
Prior to joining the University in 2012, Kathryn worked at StandardAero for 13 years in various engineering and technical leadership roles. In 2010-2011, as Director of the StandardAero Technical Services group, she was part of the team that helped establish the GE Test, Research and Development Centre at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport.
Kathryn is passionate about women in engineering, manufacturing, and aerospace and volunteers on several committees promoting these professions. She is one of the founders and coordinators of the Women in Engineering & Geoscience Mentorship Program that aims to create a community of women in engineering and geoscience – from undergraduate students to seasoned professionals. In 2020, Kathryn completed a Master’s of Science in Biosystems Engineering where her research focused on understanding career persistence of women in the engineering workforce.
Andrea LeGary
WestCaRD Director and Chair of Finance
As a Professional Engineer (P.Eng) and Chief Scientist and Technology Officer at The Recoup Group, Andrea provides assistance to companies in a wide range of industries to access the Scientific Research & Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax credit to fund the advancement of their technology. Prior to working in SR&ED, Andrea worked as an Engineer, participating in several of Canada’s leading Space and Defense projects. These include the opportunity to design the thermal system for CASSIOPE, a Canadian Space Agency commissioned satellite, oversight of the production and delivery of Black Brant sounding rockets utilized by NASA, management of the engineering projects and capital budgets for the Joint Strike Fighter F-35 Program, and coordination of the procurement of structural components for the RADARSAT Constellation Mission at Magellan Aerospace.
Andrea feels strongly that investments in research are critical to global competitiveness and to creating and maintaining fulfilling career opportunities in Manitoba. In order to give back to the community she volunteers her time on several non-profit boards whose mandates align with investing in research for the economic benefit of the province.
Marc Groenewegen
WestCaRD Director
Marc Groenewegen has been engaged in the Manitoba Aerospace industry for over 35 years. He enjoyed a long and successful affiliation with Boeing Canada as a Technical Leader, Senior Manager and as a member of the Executive Leadership team. Marc understands the winning formula for organizational success. At Boeing he collaborated with others to build a high-performance organization that is a recognized leader in operational efficiency within the aerospace industry.
Mr. Groenewegen has been active in the Province supporting Manitoba Aerospace initiatives to develop the local supply chain and to explore aerospace and manufacturing business opportunities for First Nations groups. He also served as a Director with the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) Manitoba, Advisory Board from 2008 through 2016.
Mr. Groenewegen currently provides management consulting to clients in the aerospace and manufacturing sectors. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Southport Aerospace Centre in Portage la Prairie.
Mike Hudek
WestCaRD Director
Mike has been working in the aerospace and manufacturing sector for over 20 years and brings experience from a diverse range of positions in Industry, Institutional, Academic and Not-For-Profit environments.
Mike is currently the President of Polyvations, a consulting company that works with manufacturers to drive and sustain growth through strategic alignment, new product innovation and coordinated operational improvement across business functions. As a Co-Director of the Composites Knowledge Network he is helping to drive growth in the Canadian Composite Industry with connections to leading-edge technology and knowledge.
Prior to Polyvations, Mike worked with the composites industry across many different sectors:
Aerospace, Ground Vehicles, Civil Infrastructure, Thrill Rides and Sporting Goods during his 15 years at the Composites Innovation Centre. He has worked directly in the Aerospace industry at an OEM, Boeing, MR&O, Acetek Composites, and Tier 2 supplier, Cormer Group, and worked with Manitoba Aerospace. Mike has substantial experience with industry focused not-for-profits due to his experience as part of the teams that established, grew and led the Composites Innovation Centre, the Canadian Composites Manufacturing R&D Inc. aerospace consortium and the Composites Research Network.
Mike brings a diverse network in industry, academia, industry support and technology organizations, and related government programs.
Mouhab Meshreki
WestCaRD Director
Dr. Mouhab Meshreki is the Director General of the Aerospace Research Centre at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). He is also an adjunct professor at the
Mechanical Engineering Department at McGill University. Previously, he was the Director of NRC’s Aerospace Manufacturing Technologies Centre.
Dr. Meshreki has played a key role in the development of the Aerospace Research Centre’s strategy. He brings a breadth of scientific competence and an empathetic and inspirational leadership style with a demonstrated experience in building and nurturing stakeholder relationships with industry and academia. He has over 20 years of experience in national and international research and development in aerospace and non-aerospace sectors.
Dr. Meshreki has a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University and has published more than 50 publications including journals, conferences, book chapters, and technical reports.
Executive
WestCaRD Executive Management
Bob Hastings became the Chief Executive Officer of WestCaRD on June 1st, 2015. Bob has extensive experience in defence, aerospace, and high technology business in both public and private sectors. He has been working extensively on aero-engine icing research and development since 2003 and has extensive multi-disciplinary teambuilding and project management as well as business development experience.
Mr. Hastings served in the Royal Canadian Air Force for 17 years, headed a Canadian Department of National Defence aeronautics research program and was the first Director of the National Research Council of Canada Gas Turbine Laboratory. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Bob Hastings has been President of PointMan Canada Ltd since its incorporation in October 1999.