Oliver Browning: A Big Fish in a Small Pond

For NSAC alumnus, Oliver Browning, now a professional engineer in Truro, Nova Scotia, there was really nothing to consider when it came time for post-secondary education. By the time he entered high school, he knew he would attend NSAC and he would take engineering. For this Truro native, engineering and NSAC was all he knew.

“Since my father was a professional engineer, I already had an idea of what the profession was about. I always seemed to enjoy the aspect of leadership in engineering, so I didn’t really think of any other options,” comments Oliver.

Oliver came to NSAC straight out of high school. He graduated with a Diploma in Engineering in 1998 and moved on to complete his Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) in 2001.

Although in his mind, there was no question of where to go to university, Oliver knows that he received the best possible education and start to his career by coming to NSAC. “At NSAC I was a big fish in a small pond,” he comments. Oliver, (who was one of 16 in his graduating class,) believes that small class sizes are one of the reasons why NSAC is so great. “The small classes make the transfer from high school much less abrupt. Plus you get to know people much better and get a lot of one-on-one with professors.”

As a student at NSAC, Oliver was no stranger to the campus community. Both of his parents graduated from NSAC and were employed with the Department of Agriculture. His mother, Rayona Stull, Class of 1974, graduated from the Agricultural Business Technology program and worked for the Agricultural Marketing Board for three years, then later for Financial Services at NSAC for ten years. Oliver’s father, David Browning, Class of 1972, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering, was a project engineer for five years while also teaching Agricultural Structures at NSAC. From there, David moved on to work with the Extension Engineering branch of the Department of Agriculture.

After leaving the Department in 1996, David went on to open his own design and consulting engineering business, D A Browning & Associates (Inc. 1999), where Oliver spent his summers. “Once I started my education in engineering I was able to apply what I learned in school to real work experiences because of my father’s company,” said Oliver. Throughout his education, D A Browning & Associates served as a co-op experience for Oliver.

Experience gained at the family firm gave Oliver a head start when he decided to look for work elsewhere after graduating from UNB. He quickly snatched up a position as a structural engineer and project manager for RKO Steel Ltd. in Burnside, NS where he stayed for a year before returning to his father’s company. In 2004 Oliver accepted a position with Eastern Canadian Structures Ltd in Truro, NS as an engineer and project manager where he stayed for two years. Presently, Oliver is employed with Horner Associates Limited, also in Truro, where he is a civil and structural engineer working on projects for clients all over the Maritimes.

Throughout his career with different organizations, Oliver has had the opportunity to work on a variety of local projects. Some of his projects include the design of Pye’s Chev-Olds Dealership & Showroom in Truro, structural steel building analysis and design for a dairy housing and production facility for MacGregor Farms Ltd. in Pictou County, a number of subdivision layouts of residential lots involving streets, sewer design, drainage systems within Colchester County and a vehicle and pedestrian traffic study for the Millbrook First Nations community. He has also been project manager for various projects including an underground parking garage facility for Village on the Green Condominiums and an operations building for the Chignecto Central Regional School Board, both in Truro. Currently, Oliver is involved in the design of the highly publicized new skate-park for the Town of Truro, scheduled to be constructed this coming summer.

Once taking on his latest position with Horner Associates, Oliver acted on the opportunity he was given to be the Colchester representative for the Association of Professional Engineers of Nova Scotia (APENS), an organization which he’s been involved since he was a student at NSAC. “Becoming involved in APENS as a student was one of the best things I’ve done, I really encourage engineering students today to also become members,” says Oliver. “It’s an excellent opportunity to network and get to know people within the profession.”

With the exception of working at RKO Steel Ltd., Oliver has spent his entire career to date in the local area. Even when he worked in Dartmouth, he lived in Truro and commuted. “I’ve never wanted to leave Truro if I didn’t have to,” adds Oliver, “a lot of people talk about going out West to work, but I’ve been fortunate to be able to successfully build my career right here at home. In Truro I can continue to be a big fish in a small pond.”

Oliver has no plans to leave Truro in the near future. He intends to remain in his community doing what he loves. “You can’t really rank different degrees or professions, as they all have their own importance in our society, but if you were, I’d have to say engineering would be highly ranked. It’s very challenging, demanding and rewarding, I love it.”