Meet UBCO 2026 BASc Civil Engineering Graduate Jeremy Laverdiere
Jeremy Laverdiere’s engineering journey began close to home. Born and raised in Kelowna, he chose to pursue civil engineering at UBC Okanagan, where he combined academic achievement with hands-on industry experience and three seasons as a member of the UBCO Heat golf team. Through determination, initiative and a strong network of peers, professors and mentors, Jeremy built a foundation for success that has already led to a career in land development engineering. As he graduates and begins the next chapter as an Engineer-in-Training in Calgary, he reflects on the lessons, relationships and experiences that shaped his path.
What initially drew you to UBC Okanagan and the School of Engineering?
I’ve always been good with numbers and analysis. Growing up in Kelowna, UBC Okanagan has a great engineering program, so it made a lot of sense to stay in Kelowna and attend UBC Okanagan and study civil engineering.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your time at UBCO?
The most rewarding aspect has been the connections and meeting new people, making new friends and turning them into real friendships that last beyond the school and then into the workforce, and seeing those familiar names in the workplace as well.
How did the community (classmates, professors, mentors, or campus life) shape your experience?
This definitely made it a way better experience. I was very fortunate to have a good circle of people throughout my whole schooling period. We helped collaborate on assignments, get through tough projects, and meet tight deadlines. I was also fortunate to have some very good professors who were really passionate about what they were teaching. It made a big difference in terms of how much was actually learned from those professors when there was passion, and I just appreciate having those people throughout my experience.
Did you participate in co-op, undergraduate research, or other hands-on experiences? How did they shape your path?
I wasn’t formally enrolled in co-op, but I did do self-led co-ops in the field for all of my summer terms, starting in the first year. This really helped shape my path in civil engineering. That’s where I started in my first summer. I got in with a really good company, made some really good connections, and really got to get some real good hands-on experience in the field. I really understood that my interests lie in civil engineering, and that helped me select my major. My co-op terms I worked in civil engineering, land development, and municipal engineering. I got lots of really good hands-on experience in the field as well as design and office work. That turned into an employment offer upon graduation as well.
What is one challenge you faced academically or personally, and how did you overcome it?
I would say one challenge was to find a summer co-op initially in my first year, when you don’t have any experience or you don’t really have the competencies that you gain in the later years. It was tough to find interested employers that were willing to take on a first-year. The way that I was able to overcome that was through basically going in person and knocking on doors to a bunch of companies all over Kelowna. What I learned from this is that this made me stand out from other applicants. Most people don’t go in person. This is something that I did to stand out, and it turned out to be really valuable because I did get a lot of interest from this. I was able to find a job in my field that I was really interested in doing for that summer.
What is something that didn’t go as planned during your degree, and what did you learn from it?
I would say that there was a first-year course, and I never failed an exam before, but I failed this mid-term exam, and that never happened to me before. That was a little bit scary for me and not what I was expecting, especially since I did study very hard for that exam. It was a bit of a wake-up call, just to be on alert and expect the worst, because some of these exams are hard and you need to be prepared. Understanding the concepts is key. Learning types of questions doesn’t help. You need to understand the concepts. That’s really what I took away from that experience. Ever since then, I never had anything close to a failure on any exam.
Can you share a project, course, or professor that had a lasting impact on you? Why?
One that comes to mind would be Advanced Water Treatment in fourth year with Dr. Nicholas Peleato. It really just stands out because Dr. Peleato is super passionate about his work, his research, and his teaching, and that shows. He’s a really good professor. And it stands out in the way that he delivers his lectures. By the end of the course, you think back and you really do: you can really see how much you learned and how much of that subject you understand. It feels good when you actually have something that you truly understand and you can take away from a course. I appreciate his effort and his passion, and that translates over to all the students learning in his classes, because I did notice this also in his third-year class as well.
What does being an engineer mean to you?
It carries a lot of value to me. It means something important. If you suggest an idea or a stamp, a drawing, or a design, that’s you showing your level of competency. Making sure that you are competent and knowledgeable and being diligent is really important, because ultimately, I want to be known as a good engineer. When someone sees my work, they know that it’s done to a high standard. That’s what it means to me, and that’s what I’m striving for.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’ve since relocated to Calgary, Alberta to work in civil engineering, I’ve been working as a civil engineer in training in land development in Calgary for Watt Consulting Group.
What advice would you give to future or current engineering students?
Meet people, make connections. The people that you share this experience with are going to make your experience better and easier, and you will have the support that you need to work through some of the challenges that you have with school. It’s fun to work through stuff together, and you can really make some meaningful connections that outlast the university experience.
How does it feel when you think about crossing the stage and all the hard work that led to this moment? Anyone you want to shoutout?
It’s exciting to be done and to think about all the experiences that I’ve had the last four years, the people that I’ve met. I’m really appreciative that all my friends were able to be a part of that journey. Ultimately, I’d have to shout out my parents for always supporting me and the choices that I made in my university journey.
You are receiving the Engineers and Geoscientists BC Achievement Award in Engineering Okanagan (CIVIL). What does this award mean to you?
It means a lot to me. It’s a culmination of four years of very hard work, so it’s nice to have a reward that indicates all the late nights and early mornings, long days, etc. You know, it’s not an easy degree. I would say that I was very dedicated and diligent in my studies to always make sure that I was understanding everything and doing well in school. It’s nice to have this award that basically is a small reward for all that hard work that was done these last four years.
Congratulations, Jeremy!
On behalf of everyone at the School of Engineering, congratulations on receiving the Engineers and Geoscientists BC Achievement Award in Engineering (Civil). This honour is a testament to the hard work, determination, and professionalism you have demonstrated throughout your degree. We are proud to celebrate this milestone with you and look forward to following your continued success as you build your career and work toward your Professional Engineer designation.