If you live in or visit newly constructed buildings in New Brunswick, you expect them to be safe. A Moncton structural engineer recently admitted her design work failed to meet that standard. Hélène Thériault agreed to surrender her licence and pay $75,000 in fines after acknowledging her incompetence put public safety at risk.

The Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of New Brunswick regulates the profession. They released a joint submission signed by Thériault. In it, she confirms her work caused a serious risk to public safety over multiple years.

Dangerous Design Flaws Exposed

Concerns surfaced in early 2024. A building owner in Dieppe asked Halifax engineer John Richardson to review concrete cracks in a structure under construction. Richardson reported his findings to the engineering association. He concluded some of the structures risked collapse.

Richardson identified the main issue as concrete transfer slabs over parking garages. He found them too thin and lacking adequate supporting steel.

“What I saw was some of the most dangerous engineering that I’ve ever seen by a mile, like not just by a little bit,” Richardson told CBC News. He noted it was a widespread issue across multiple buildings.

Widespread Impact and Lawsuits

The City of Dieppe linked 22 buildings in the municipality to Thériault. Officials initially believed 19 required reinforcement. Crews permanently reinforced 12 of those structures and added temporary supports to another. The remaining six do not require reinforcement.

Property owners installed temporary wooden or steel posts in several parking garages to shore up the buildings while engineers designed long term fixes.

The fallout extends beyond structural repairs. Developers filed at least 14 civil lawsuits across the province over the last two years. These lawsuits name Thériault and her Moncton firm Match Engineering. The ongoing cases allege millions of dollars in damages. In most cases, Thériault filed statements of defence admitting she under designed parts of the buildings.

Significant Disciplinary Action

Lia Daborn is the CEO and registrar of the engineering association. She called this one of the most significant discipline matters the association handled in recent years.

The discipline committee imposed a $10,000 fine and ordered Thériault to pay $65,000 to cover association costs. Thériault recognizes her actions caused serious financial harm to her former clients and the association.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Hélène Thériault lose her engineering licence?

Hélène Thériault agreed to surrender her licence after admitting her structural design work was incompetent and posed a serious risk to public safety.

What were the specific problems with the buildings?

Reviewing engineers found concrete transfer slabs over parking garages were too thin and lacked enough supporting steel. This created a severe risk of structural collapse.

How many buildings are affected?

The exact provincial total remains undisclosed. The City of Dieppe identified 22 buildings linked to her work. Thirteen of those required permanent or temporary reinforcement.

What are the financial penalties for the engineer?

The engineering association ordered Thériault to pay a $10,000 fine and $65,000 to cover the costs of the disciplinary process. She also faces at least 14 civil lawsuits alleging millions of dollars in damages.