Heritage Community Foundation Presents
Alberta Online Encyclopedia
Albertans
HOME ABOUT PARTNERS SEARCH SITEMAP

   
Dr. Hans R. Kivisild

Hans Kivisild Dr. Hans R. Kivisild was born in Tartu, Estonia, in 1922. He grew up in the Estonian capital of Tallinn. He left Estonia to escape the Soviet reoccupation of his homeland. He studied at the Royal University of Technology (RUT) in Stockholm, Sweden, graduating in 1946. One year later, he married Livia Martna, who was also from Estonia. Dr. Kivisild worked for a Swedish engineering firm until 1950 when he immigrated to Canada. In 1954 he completed his PhD in hydraulics from RUT. Dr. Kivisild's innovation won him great acclaim for his invention of artificial ice islands. Dr. Hans R. Kivisild was instrumental in developing ice platforms for petroleum drilling in the Canadian Arctic. He was also known for his exceptional work in designing the earthquake-proof George Massey Tunnel under the Fraser River in Vancouver. Perhaps his most fitting contribution to the engineering world was his designs that helped make his native Estonian port of Paldiski in to a year-round harbor for international traffic. Throughout his life, Dr. Hans R. Kivisild was given many prestigious and well deserved awards. In 1976, he won the Engineering Medal of the Professional Engineers of Ontario, and in 1977, he was awarded Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal. His honours also include the Ernest C Manning award of Merit in 1985, and the Government of Alberta Achievement Award of Excellence in 1987.
Back |  Top
 
Visit Alberta Source!
Heritage Community Foundation
Canada's Digital Collections

This digital collection was produced with financial assistance from Canada's Digital Collections initiative, Industry Canada. timeline » 

Albertasource.ca | Contact Us | Partnerships
Copyright © Heritage Community Foundation All Rights Reserved