Timothy Edward Koepke - P.Eng., FEC, CLS, BCLS
During his undergraduate years (1962-1966) he trained as a B.C. Land Surveyor at Underhill & Underhill doing general survey field work related to mineral claims, transmission line rights-of-way, microwave networks, engineering, and construction projects. In 1967 he graduated from UBC with his B.A.Sc. (Civil Engineering).
Tim received his commission as a Dominion Lands Surveyor on May 27, 1972 (now called a Canada Lands Surveyor). In 1968 he obtained his commission as a British Columbia Land Surveyor. 1970 proved to be a very busy year for Mr. Koepke -- he was registered as a Professional Engineer in B.C. and the Yukon, he became a partner at Underhill & Underhill, and was established as the manager of their new Whitehorse office. In Whitehorse he developed a widely diversified engineering and survey group to service the expanding economy in Northern Canada. During this period, Tim worked on the Aishihik Power project, the Whitehorse Rapids Hydro Dam, the Aishihik to Whitehorse power line construction, and numerous mines within the Yukon Territory. Tim left Underhill & Underhill in 1987 to accept a position as a Chief Federal Negotiator under contract to Canada for 27 years. He was involved in the attempts to conclude land claim and self-government agreements with the Yukon First Nations in 1987 under the Comprehensive Claims mandate approved by federal cabinet in 1986. After finishing the last of 11 land claim settlements in Yukon, he was appointed by the Yukon Legislative Assembly as Ombudsman and Information and Privacy Commissioner for Yukon, a role which he completed in 2013. Tim has been active on boards of Crown corporations and tribunals, including membership on the Minister of Justice's Advisory Committee for Federal Judicial Affairs, and has served on a number of Regional and National professional organizations all of which have named him a life member.
Tim is a Life Member of Engineers Yukon (formerly the Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon). He served as President from 1974-75, Past President from 1976-78 and Secretary/Treasurer from 1973 to 1993. He was also active on many committees during this time. A comment from fellow Council members when he was secretary treasurer was that there was no point in typing up any meeting minutes - Tim's handwriting was as good as any typewriter!
In 2005, Tim was awarded an Honorary Life Member by the Association of Canada Lands Surveyors (ACLS). Tim was appointed to and was a pivotal member of the federal and ACLS Board of Examiners from September 1978 to December 2011 - a span of more than 33 years. Tim was the first recipient of the 'The Tim Koepke Award of Merit' by the ACLS Council in 2013.
In 2008, Tim was presented with a 'Fellowship' by Engineers Canada for his contributions to the Association of Professional Engineers of Yukon/Engineers Yukon. He was also awarded a Life Membership in Engineers Yukon.
In 2011, Tim was awarded Life Membership by the Association of British Columbia Land Surveyors.
He currently lives in Whitehorse with his wife Jan. His two adult children Jane and Mark also live in Whitehorse with their families.