As OSPE celebrates 25 years of advocacy, leadership, and impact, we reflect on the contributions of members who have shaped our organization and the engineering landscape in Ontario. One such member is Michael Monette, P.Eng., a visionary leader whose nearly two decades of volunteer service have left a lasting mark on the profession.
Michael Monette has been a dedicated member of OSPE since its inception in 2000, and he is this year’s esteemed winner of the Ontario Professional Engineers Lifetime Achievement Award.
His unwavering commitment to OSPE’s mission has made him a member known for his passion and impact on the community. Michael’s first foray into OSPE leadership was when he ran for the Board of Directors in 2005—he was elected, and his journey began. Over the next 12 years, Michael played a vital role in shaping OSPE’s identity, impact, and strategic direction. He served as Chair in 2008, 2009, and again in 2016, Vice Chair in 2007 and 2015, and Past Chair in 2009, 2010, and 2017.
Throughout his time with OSPE, Michael served on numerous leadership committees including the Executive Committee, Board Development Committee, and Strategic Planning Committee. He helped establish key frameworks that continue to guide OSPE’s operations and long-term vision to this day.
His contributions to OSPE’s advocacy work are especially notable. As Chair of the Advocacy Priorities Committee and a core member of the Climate Change Committee, Energy Strategy Committee, and Energy Task Force, Michael helped define OSPE’s voice on critical issues such as infrastructure, innovation, energy efficiency, and climate change mitigation. His ability to unify engineers across sectors and disciplines has been instrumental in advancing policy conversations and influencing provincial direction on sustainable development.
Michael’s vision extended far beyond committee rooms. Early in his OSPE leadership, while working in strategic planning for a printing company, he simultaneously took on an ambitious $3.1 billion initiative aimed at positioning Ontario as a global leader in green energy and zero-carbon power production. His vision included the development of 2,500 MW of industrial wind power, local steel tower manufacturing, biomass processing across southern Ontario, and hydrogen generation for mobility solutions. This ambitious public-private partnership demanded engagement with government, industry, and academia—a feat made possible through the relationships and experience Michael built at OSPE.
“Working on the OSPE Board, and two terms as President and Chair, opened doors to key decision makers that allowed this ambitious project to move to the preliminary funding stage with an initial 80MW wind power project to power the Stelco steel facilities at Nanticoke on Lake Erie,” said Michael Monette, P.Eng., past OSPE Chair and President of Rinion Consulting Inc.
Michael has also been a passionate advocate for mentorship and leadership development. He has guided countless engineers in navigating their careers, engaging in public discourse, and stepping into leadership roles within OSPE. His dedication to inclusivity, transparency, and respect for diverse perspectives continues to shape OSPE’s culture and community.
As a Professional Engineer since 1982, Michael has embodied the values of service, excellence, and professionalism. His knowledge of the energy sector, his strategic foresight, and his collaborative leadership style have earned him the respect of colleagues, public officials, and industry leaders alike. His legacy is woven into the fabric of OSPE’s evolution and its growing influence in shaping public policy and the future of engineering in Ontario.
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