Carson Morrison
Encyclopedia
Carson F. Morrison, P.Eng. (1902–1993) was a university professor, innovative engineer, magazine editor, co-founder of the North American firm Morrison Hershfield
, and president of a standards association. He was considered to be a touchstone for professional ethics and morality in engineering
. He is remembered for his ideas and advice, knowledge and imagination.
but then, in 1902, was called the Northwest Territories
. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan
in Structural Engineering
. He later taught there part time and then continued on to McGill University
where he received his Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering.
His masters thesis (1927) is titled “The Effect of the Manner of Support and of Certain Details of Construction on the Secondary Stresses in a Roof Truss”.
and Mathematics Lecturer, University of Alberta
(1927–1928). He was with the University of Toronto
from 1928 to 1968, first as a Lecturer and later as a Professor. His primary teachings were in the field of civil engineering. His knowledge and interests particularly lied in wood structures and guyed towers.
During the post-war years Morrison, along with fellow engineers Charles Hershfield, Joe Millman, and Mark Huggins responded to the building boom by establishing the firm Morrison Hershfield Millman and Huggins in Toronto in 1946. At that time the firm offered civil, structural, and mechanical engineering
services. With the company until the time of his death in 1993, Morrison’s roles included that of Principal, President and Chairman. The firm eventually grew to become the North American company Morrison Hershfield, providers and integrators of specialized multidisciplinary engineering and related expertise.
As a result of the engineering expertise of Morrison Hershfield’s co-founders, many of the projects were investigations and problem solving. An early project undertaken by Morrison was to provide a solution to the “galloping” of the guys supporting the newly constructed radio antenna array towers at the Canadian International Service short wave transmitter at Sackville, New Brunswick
. This phenomenon results under specific climatic conditions which causes the guys to oscillate in a dramatic fashion. Failure to provide appropriate damping exposes the structure to serious risk.
Morrison was also a published author and editor. One book he published that was of significant impact on the engineering community was “Professional Engineering Practice: Ethical Aspects” (1982). This book covered topics ranging from the Structure of the Code of Ethics to, Professional Engineers in the Manufacturing Industry, to International Engineering Work. Updated versions of this book are still used in engineering programs today as a basic guide to professional conduct.
Morrison was the founding editor of Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine and took a lead in establishing the Canadian Consulting Engineering awards. He held the role of editor from 1959 to 1978.
From 1973 to 1975, Morrison was president of Canadian Standards Association
.
Morrison Hershfield
Morrison Hershfield is an employee-owned professional services firm providing engineering and management consulting services in the areas of energy and...
, and president of a standards association. He was considered to be a touchstone for professional ethics and morality in engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
. He is remembered for his ideas and advice, knowledge and imagination.
Early life and education
Morrison was born on a farm in File Hills, in what is now SaskatchewanSaskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
but then, in 1902, was called the Northwest Territories
Northwest Territories
The Northwest Territories is a federal territory of Canada.Located in northern Canada, the territory borders Canada's two other territories, Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east, and three provinces: British Columbia to the southwest, and Alberta and Saskatchewan to the south...
. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan
University of Saskatchewan
The University of Saskatchewan is a Canadian public research university, founded in 1907, and located on the east side of the South Saskatchewan River in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. An "Act to establish and incorporate a University for the Province of Saskatchewan" was passed by the...
in Structural Engineering
Structural engineering
Structural engineering is a field of engineering dealing with the analysis and design of structures that support or resist loads. Structural engineering is usually considered a specialty within civil engineering, but it can also be studied in its own right....
. He later taught there part time and then continued on to McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
where he received his Master of Science degree in Structural Engineering.
His masters thesis (1927) is titled “The Effect of the Manner of Support and of Certain Details of Construction on the Secondary Stresses in a Roof Truss”.
Working life
Morrison was a Civil EngineeringCivil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
and Mathematics Lecturer, University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
(1927–1928). He was with the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
from 1928 to 1968, first as a Lecturer and later as a Professor. His primary teachings were in the field of civil engineering. His knowledge and interests particularly lied in wood structures and guyed towers.
During the post-war years Morrison, along with fellow engineers Charles Hershfield, Joe Millman, and Mark Huggins responded to the building boom by establishing the firm Morrison Hershfield Millman and Huggins in Toronto in 1946. At that time the firm offered civil, structural, and mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
services. With the company until the time of his death in 1993, Morrison’s roles included that of Principal, President and Chairman. The firm eventually grew to become the North American company Morrison Hershfield, providers and integrators of specialized multidisciplinary engineering and related expertise.
As a result of the engineering expertise of Morrison Hershfield’s co-founders, many of the projects were investigations and problem solving. An early project undertaken by Morrison was to provide a solution to the “galloping” of the guys supporting the newly constructed radio antenna array towers at the Canadian International Service short wave transmitter at Sackville, New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
. This phenomenon results under specific climatic conditions which causes the guys to oscillate in a dramatic fashion. Failure to provide appropriate damping exposes the structure to serious risk.
Morrison was also a published author and editor. One book he published that was of significant impact on the engineering community was “Professional Engineering Practice: Ethical Aspects” (1982). This book covered topics ranging from the Structure of the Code of Ethics to, Professional Engineers in the Manufacturing Industry, to International Engineering Work. Updated versions of this book are still used in engineering programs today as a basic guide to professional conduct.
Morrison was the founding editor of Canadian Consulting Engineer magazine and took a lead in establishing the Canadian Consulting Engineering awards. He held the role of editor from 1959 to 1978.
From 1973 to 1975, Morrison was president of Canadian Standards Association
Canadian Standards Association
The Canadian Standards Association, also known as the CSA, is a not-for-profit Standards organization with the stated aim of developing standards for use in 57 different areas of specialisation...
.
Notable projects
- Pinetree LinePinetree LineThe Pinetree Line was a series of radar stations located across the northern United States and southern Canada at about the 50th parallel north, along with a number of other stations located on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Run by NORAD , over half were manned by United States Air Force...
and Mid-Canada LineMid-Canada LineThe Mid-Canada Line, also known as the McGill Fence, was a line of radar stations across the "middle" of Canada to provide early warning of a Soviet bomber attack on North America. It was built to supplement the less-advanced Pinetree Line, which was located further south...
site supervision and engineering in Ontario’s far north - Widening of the Leaside Bridge in Toronto, Ontario
- Investigation into the tragic 1959 collapse of the Listowel Arena, Listowel Ontario, which took 8 lives. This led to changes in the building codes to recognize the effects of non-uniform snow loading, together with the establishment of a requirement for regular inspection of all arenas.
- Investigation into the 1966 collapse of Heron Road BridgeHeron Road BridgeThe Heron Road Bridge is a bridge in Ottawa Canada. It connects Baseline Road and Heron Road passing over both the Rideau River and the Rideau Canal just south of Carleton University. The bridge was built in 1966, and its construction saw one of the worst accidents in Ottawa history...
in Ottawa, Ontario. The collapse took nine lives. Using two models, Morrison demonstrated that a properly-braced falsework could hold two times the weight of one with inadequate bracing. Just like the bridge, which was under construction at the time, the model that was not properly braced crashed to the ground. - Site selection for the Prince Albert Radar LaboratoryPrince Albert Radar LaboratoryThe Prince Albert Radar Laboratory was a radar research facility operated by the Defence Research Telecommunications Establishment , part of the Canadian Defence Research Board. Its primary purpose was to test long-range radio propagation and radar techniques in the presence of the aurora borealis...
in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.
Awards and achievements
- Honorary Member, Ontario Association of Architects, 1963
- Professional Engineering Gold Medal, Professional Engineers OntarioProfessional Engineers OntarioProfessional Engineers Ontario, PEO, is the self-regulatory body that governs Ontario's 73,000 professional engineers, and sets standards for and regulates engineering practice in the province. It has a statutory mandate under the Professional Engineers Act of Ontario to protect the public interest...
, 1974 - Elected as a Fellow of the Engineering Institute of CanadaEngineering Institute of CanadaThe Engineering Institute of Canada is a federation of twelve engineering societies based in Canada, covering a broad range of engineering branches, and with a history going back to 1887...
, 1974 - Canadian Silver Jubilee Medal, 1977
- The Canadian Standards AssociationCanadian Standards AssociationThe Canadian Standards Association, also known as the CSA, is a not-for-profit Standards organization with the stated aim of developing standards for use in 57 different areas of specialisation...
John Jenkins Award, 1980 - Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada / Canadian Consulting Engineer Magazine Carson F. Morrison Award, 1984 (an award named in Morrison’s honour)
- Professional Engineers OntarioProfessional Engineers OntarioProfessional Engineers Ontario, PEO, is the self-regulatory body that governs Ontario's 73,000 professional engineers, and sets standards for and regulates engineering practice in the province. It has a statutory mandate under the Professional Engineers Act of Ontario to protect the public interest...
admitted Carson Morrison to the Order of Honour in 1984. The highest distinction, the rank of Companion recognizes contributions that exceed those of Officer. It is exclusively given to individuals who have profoundly influenced the engineering profession through their service. - Standards Council of CanadaStandards Council of Canada- About the SCC :The Standards Council of Canada is a federal Crown corporation with the mandate to promote efficient and effective voluntary standardization. Located in Ottawa, Ontario, the Standards Council has a 15-member governing Council and a staff of approximately 90...
Jean-Paul Carriere Award, 1984. Awarded for distinguished service to Canadian standardization.