Bert Wasmund

Today, on the fourth anniversary of his passing, we pause to remember Dr. Bert Wasmund, a man whose technical brilliance, leadership, and mentorship over a 56-year career at Hatch continue to inspire.

Bert helped shape modern metallurgical practice around the world, but his greatest legacy is how he encouraged people to think deeply about engineering, leadership, and responsibility.

Raised on a farm near Bancroft, Ontario, Bert never lost the grounded perspective those early years gave him. After studying chemical engineering at Queen’s University and the University of Toronto, he joined Hatch in 1966 and quickly became a driving force behind the company’s growth and technical reputation. He had a rare ability to see both the big picture and the smallest practical detail, and to know which one mattered most in the moment.

Bert was behind innovations that changed how plants were designed, started up, and operated. His work improved ramp-ups, increased productivity, and significantly reduced environmental impacts in the mining industry.

He and his colleagues spearheaded innovative sulfur dioxide abatement processes that resolved acid rain in the Sudbury, Ontario region. They also revolutionized platinum smelting by designing an electric smelter that tripled daily production and cut energy use by 25 percent. Many of the technologies he helped bring to life are still in use today, a testament to their quality and relevance.

But if you asked Bert what mattered most, he wouldn’t have pointed to patents or awards. He cared deeply about people, especially young engineers. He never stopped thinking about how to challenge, support, and inspire the next generation. He had an extraordinary interest in their development and took real joy in seeing others succeed. Over the years, he mentored hundreds of engineers, including CEO John Bianchini and many of Hatch’s current board of directors.

“I was fortunate to be mentored and supported by Bert as a young engineer starting my career at Hatch,” said Randy McMeekin, Global Managing Director, Transit. “Every day, Bert instilled upon us the importance of technical excellence, innovation, and commitment to our clients’ projects and our colleagues. These principles were foundational to my growth as a professional and every success I have achieved in my career.

“Bert’s vision and creativity not only transformed the metallurgical industry for the better but also inspired multiple generations of engineers who strive to follow in his footsteps with the same level of passion and enthusiasm. His legacy continues to shape our industry and drive us toward greater achievements.”

Bert’s passion for mentorship extended beyond the workplace. Through scholarships at Queen’s University and the University of Toronto, Bert invested in future engineers he would never meet, simply because he believed education mattered and opportunity should be shared. That belief continues to resonate deeply within the academic communities he supported.

“Dr. Bert Wasmund made a global impact through engineering, but never forgot his alma mater or his community,” said Queen’s University Engineering Dean Kevin Deluzio. “He believed in the transformative power of education. Here at Queen’s, and among alumni, he is remembered as an ally, mentor, and leader. Through his support of student scholarships, he has had a transformative effect on so many lives.”

Bert received many well-deserved honors, including the Noranda Airey Award in 1998, induction into the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame in 2011, the Professional Engineers Ontario Gold Medal in 2012, and appointment to the Order of Canada in 2017.

Although he passed away in 2022, he is still very present in the technologies that endure, in the cleaner environments his work helped create, and in the countless careers he shaped along the way.

He is deeply missed and deeply appreciated.