Ontario engineers salute Seeley

Ontario engineers have honoured Lawrence (Larry) Seeley for transforming Lakefield Research into one of the largest commercial metallurgical testing and research firms in the world.

Seeley received the Engineering Medal for Entrepreneurship, presented by the Professional Engineers of Ontario and the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers in a recent ceremony in Toronto.

The award recognizes individuals who contribute to a company’s economic growth. In 1995, Seeley spearheaded the management buyout of Lakefield Research from Toronto-based Falconbridge and oversaw its growth from 120 employees at its headquarters in Lakefield, Ont., 200 km northeast of Toronto, to more than 900 employees with locations in Canada, Australia, South Africa, Brazil and Chile.

Under Seeley’s guidance, Lakefield Research won the 1997 Ontario Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Business Achievement Award.

In 2002, Lakefield was acquired by Swiss engineering firm Socit Gnrale de Surveillance, which employs more than 30,000 people. Seeley remains president and CEO of what is now known as SGS Lakefield.

Seeley is widely respected for having developed cleaner mining processes that help protect the environment and for promoting new technologies.

Seeley graduated with a bachelor of applied science degree from the University of Toronto in 1966. Six years later, he received a PhD from the same institution and began his career with Falconbridge as a research metallurgist in hydrometallurgical laboratory and pilot plant studies. In 1976, Seeley was transferred to the smelter and placed in charge of technical services, which had a workforce of roughly 400 people. A year later he became the smelter’s operations superintendent.

In the early 1980s, Seeley managed the Falconbridge smelter complex in Sudbury, and in 1984, became manager of metallurgical technology. Five years later, he became director of metallurgical operations and rounded out his career with Falconbridge as vice-president of environmental services.

Seeley has presided over the Canadian Metallurgical Society and is a fellow of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy & Petroleum. In addition, he served two 2-year terms as president of the Canadian Association of Mining Equipment & Services for Export.

Seeley is an honorary life member of Science North, an educational group based in Sudbury, and has served on the board of governors of Cambrian College and Trent University. He was invited to sit on engineering advisory boards at the University of Toronto and Queen’s University.

The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers acts as the advocate of engineers, whereas the Professional Engineers of Ontario licenses professional engineers, and regulates engineering. There are more than 66,000 engineers registered in Ontario.