This past July, the CSVA visited Calgary to introduce City of Calgary staff and managers to Value Analysis.

CSVA Past-President Ted Lane presented four sessions of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation's award winning Value Analysis in Action training program to 125 City of Calgary staff and managers representing a broad spectrum of the city's business areas. The participants came from various City business units namely, Transportation Infrastructure, Water Resources, Water Services, Information Technology, Fleet Services, Waste & Recycling Services, Land Use Planning & Policy, Corporate Properties & Buildings, Transit Planning and Community Services & Protective Services.

The day-long Value Analysis in Action program introduces participants to the Value Analysis process through a fun and busy day of hands-on experience with the VA process, tools and techniques.

As part of each session, CSVA Director, and City of Calgary VA coordinator, Mushtaq Rabbi described the City's recently completed RFP, establishing a roster of VA Practitioners onboard to undertake Value Analysis studies of City projects.

The training coincided with Stampede week in Calgary. All Calgary participates in Stampede fever, and many training  participants attended in Stampede attire in which adding a uniquely western flavour to the sessions.

The visit to Calgary supports of CSVA's newly formed Western Chapter, and plans for CSVA's 2012 conference proposed to take place in Alberta.

The past few years have seen tremendous growth in Value Analysis in Alberta, and the CSVA hopes the City of Calgary training will further support  the advancement of VA in Western Canada.

The CSVA appreciates the support of the Ontario Ministry of Transportation, and its VA Program Coordinator Steve Holmes for sharing the ministry's Value in Action Training course, and Mushtaq Rabbi, and the city of Calgary for coordinating and hosting the training.