Howie Salisbury

President's Service Award - Spring 2004

As the University of Saskatchewan campus has grown over the past quarter century, a caring and nurturing hand has ensured that its lifeblood - its extensive mechanical systems - are designed and operated in the best possible way for students, faculty and staff. 

Senior Mechanical Engineer Howie Salisbury, who joined the U of S as a mechanical engineer in 1978 and was promoted to the senior post in 1980, has applied what his colleagues call oustanding skill and dedication to his management of this key University infrastructure. In recognition of his 26 years of exemplary service, Salisbury is being presented with the President's Service Award at the 2004 Spring Convocation. 

Born and raised in Saskatoon, Salisbury graduated from the College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan in 1970. Over the next eight years he worked for a local mechanical consulting firm and operated his own consulting engineering company before beginning his career with the University. 

There are few indoor or outdoor nooks and crannies on campus that Salisbury hasn't been in over the years. His responsibilities include providing engineering expertise to the University's heating plant, with its boilers for steam heating and its water chillers for air conditioning. He also oversees the massive network of campus water lines, sanitary and storm sewers, steam and condensate mains, ventilation, fire suppression systems and natural gas lines. Salisbury also works with engineering firms and contractors on the systems for all new buildings on campus, ensuring they meet campus requirements. 

Salisbury has seen great change at the University since 1978, particularly the science buildings and the extent of computerized controls in all buildings. He has played an integral part in upgrading the many systems involved as new buildings were constructed, including VIDO, Dentistry, a major Engineering renovation, Place Riel, Geology, the Diefenbaker Centre, Agriculture, the Animal Resource Centre, the Spinks Addition and the Kinesiology Building. He is also credited with helping to develop energy conservation measures for the mechanical systems that have saved the University millions of dollars. 

For Salisbury the excitement is seeing an idea that begins just as a concept, is developed into a design and then becomes an actual operating structure on campus. Colleagues say that Salisbury's enthusiasm shows. He is a respected, positive co-worker and a great listener who goes well beyond the call of duty to apply his extensive engineering knowledge and common sense to develop solutions for people across campus. 

Salisbury is especially thankful for the tremendous help he has received all along the way from his co-workers in the Facilities Management Division - the designers, planners, back-shop tradespeople and many others. In his spare time Salisbury restores classic cars and builds custom hotrods, and admits that he's a "fairly fanatical" U of S Huskies football and hockey fan.