About RATS
Rotating and Turbomachinery Society
Our mission
Building community and comradery in the rotating equipment industry by sharing acquired knowledge, fostering education, and career development through organized events with the support of industry sponsorship.
Background
The Edmonton Section of RATS was founded in 2004 by Chandra Sivapuram (formerly of Shell Canada) to promote the social networking of the local rotating equipment industry. Nick Agius (formerly of Motion Canada) took the reins until 2008, when Pedro Cones (formerly of Smith Cameron) arrived on the scene to establish a volunteer board of directors. The annual golf tournament was in augurated in 2009, the biennial MRO Technical Conference & Workshops began in 2014, and student awards were introduced. In 2018, Andrew Ma (formerly of ITT Goulds Pumps) stepped up to chair the board that is made up of an exceptional mischief of representatives from manufacturers, vendors, and end users. RATS is a non-profit organization.
In 2023, we expanded our Technical Sessions to the Calgary section, lead by Steve Chwyl (Allied Industrial Dynamics) and Duane Dys (Benchmark PDM). Their dedicated team is doing a great job growing RATS’ presence in Calgary.
The Legacy Calgary RATS section also started in 2004 and still meets at the Marda Loop Brewing Company on the first Thursday of every month. Contact Myron Hildebrand for more info and to confirm their gathering schedule. Please note that they are a separate social group.
Our Team
The board of directors and other volunteers collectively makes every aspect of RATS happen. It is passion that drives us to give back to the community and bring industry peers together.
Sponsorship
RATS corporate sponsors provide financial support for the Technical Sessions and contribute to the successful execution of every event, including the annual golf tournament and the MRO Technical Conference & Workshops. We thank you for many years of collaboration.
Community Support
WIN House (Edmonton Women’s Shelter, Ltd.) was founded in 1968 and has since grown to be Western Canada’s largest and oldest shelter for victims (with or without children) fleeing domestic violence. We operate three confidentially located shelters including two that are emergency-based with a maximum 21-day stay, and a second stage that provides refuge for immigrant, refugee, and human trafficked women for longer periods. WIN House offers clients programs, services, resources, and guidance to help them move forward in their journey to living abuse-free.
Community Support
The Veteran’s Association is a volunteer driven organization that helps Veterans and serving military members, RCMP members, and their families across all of Alberta. The wide range of services includes food hampers, assistance with Veterans Affairs, housing assistance, and emergency financial help.
