CSA Group, a leading standards-based solutions organization, today officially announces Ralph Guinn, as the recipient of the 2013 John Jenkins Award. The award is CSA Group’s most prestigious honour, bestowed upon the person who is judged to have rendered distinguished service in the development, advancement, and application of voluntary standards.

The 2013 John Jenkins Award was presented to Ralph Guinn by Bob Cook, Chair of the Board, CSA Group, at a special awards ceremony held during the CSA Group Annual Conference in Calgary, Alberta. The award recognizes his extraordinary leadership, tireless participation, exceptional facilitation skills and unrelenting advancement of CSA plumbing standards.

“Ralph Guinn, one of CSA Group’s strongest advocates, has contributed significantly to a variety of standards and committees, especially in the area of plumbing, and has tirelessly shared his expertise on numerous issues in both Canada and the U.S.,” says Bonnie Rose, president, Standards, CSA Group. “Through factual testimony and his steadfast ability to act impartially, Mr. Guinn has helped increase the credibility of CSA standards and their acceptance into both the National Plumbing Code of Canada and the Uniform Plumbing Code.”

Mr. Guinn is the current chair for Plumbing Technical Committees (TC) B79/B481, B137 and B126 while he is the Vice-Chair for TC B55. He was previously Chair of TC B126 where he applied his facilitation skills to resolve some long-standing issues and kept development on track. He acts impartially to ensure all stakeholders have equal opportunity to express their viewpoints; an essential skill in the consensus based process of standards development.

In addition to his service with CSA Group, Mr. Guinn also lends his knowledge and experience to other Standards Development Organizations including ASTM, IAPMO, ASME, UL, NSF, NFPA, and ICC.

Previously Mr. Guinn was the Manager of Codes Approvals and Specifications at Canplas Industries Ltd., a position he held for nearly 25 years. Currently, he continues to actively participate, at all levels of multiple standards, in multiple disciplines. He sits as a consumer representative and participates on the Consumer Advisory Steering Panel where he ensures consumer views are well represented in the development of CSA standards for water management products and services.

About the John Jenkins Award

The John Jenkins Award is CSA Group’s most prestigious honour. Nominations for the Award are open to individuals who have: shown leadership in various areas – through personal involvement over a period of years – in the development, advancement, and application of voluntary standards; encouraged the development and advancement of standards both nationally and internationally; and through foresight and action, helped to substantially advance the arts and sciences related to standardization. CSA Group employees are not eligible.

Established in 1978 in memory of Dr. John Jenkins, the award commemorates the devotion and commitment demonstrated by Dr. Jenkins’ more than 27 years of voluntary service to CSA Group and standards development. Dr. Jenkins immigrated to Canada from England in 1912 and went on to graduate from the University of British Columbia in 1923 as the country’s first Forest Engineer. He served as a Colonel and Director of Military Planning at Defence Headquarters during World War II and, before his retirement in 1966, he was Director of the Forest Products Research Branch for the Federal Department of Forestry.

During his time with CSA Group, Dr. Jenkins served as President – now Chairman of the Board – from 1967 to 1969, Chairman of the Standards Policy Board from 1969 to 1977, and Chairman of all major Standards committees related to lumber and building products. On June 19, 1975, Dr. Jenkins was inducted as an Honorary Member of CSA Group in recognition of his outstanding service. He passed away at his Ottawa home on November 7, 1977.

About CSA Group

CSA Group is an independent, not-for-profit member-based association dedicated to advancing safety, sustainability and social good. We are an internationally-accredited standards development and testing & certification organization. We also provide consumer product evaluation and education & training services. Our broad range of knowledge and expertise includes: industrial equipment, plumbing & construction, electro-medical & healthcare, appliances & gas, alternative energy, lighting and sustainability. The CSA mark appears on billions of products around the world.

Contact

Jennifer Lui
Communications Officer
CSA Group
416-747-2615
[email protected]