Thomas Kierans
Encyclopedia
Thomas William Kierans, FCSCE, P. Eng. is an engineer and innovator. He is the originator and principal proponent of the Great Recycling and Northern Development Canal
or GRAND Canal.
Kierans is a Montreal
native and 1939 McGill University
Mining Engineering graduate. As a student he prospected by canoe and bush aircraft across Canada’s northlands. From graduation to 1967 he lived in Sudbury, Ontario
working for eighteen years at Inco mines, smelters, and refineries and specializing in industrial safety and rock mechanics. From 1957 to 1967 he was mining and water resources consulting engineer and visited most mines in Canada twice each year. That experience led him to decide that his eventual home would be in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Kierans recognized the increasing greenhouse effects since the 1930s “dust bowl” were a clear indication that fast-growing Canadian and United States populations would require a new, large, controllable, environment-friendly source of fresh water to stabilize shared Great Lakes
and St. Lawrence River water levels and flows and end widespread and worsening water deficits and flooding in both nations. To meet this need, Kierans used proven Netherlands
and California
experience to design his Great Recycling and Northern Development Canal
concept in the 1950s. This would recycle (not divert) some of the now huge and harmful run-off to Canada’s Hudson Bay
to the Great Lakes from a new sea-level freshwater dike-enclosure in James Bay. This should substantially increase Canada’s freshwater supply and improve Hudson Bay and east coast environments, fisheries and shipping. However, despite Quebec’s past Premier Bourassa’s and prominent engineering groups’ endorsement of detailed study of his concept, as well as an invitation to outline it to the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2001, some Canadian authorities unfortunately fail to understand basic differences between run-off recycling as opposed to potentially harmful headwater diversions or simply fear any joint water management with the U.S.
In 1967, he was invited by project owner CFLCo to be Mining Engineer responsible for underground design at the 5500MW Churchill Falls Hydropower Project in Labrador
. His duties were expanded to include project safety and environment protection. He organized detailed studies on the environmental impacts of diverting some of the Naskaupi River headwaters to the project’s Smallwood Reservoir.
In 1973, he was appointed Professor of Engineering at Memorial University of Newfoundland
. While at MUN he worked with Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro
on the 1975 attempt at a hydropower only crossing of the Strait of Belle Isle, chaired the Environmental Committee on Brinco’s Kitts-Michelin uranium project, and was on the Editorial Board of the American Society Of Civil Engineers’ Manual on Nuclear Structures And Materials. In 1978 he proposed comprehensive underground and surface development of St. John’s Southside Hills and founded Friends Of St. John’s Harbour, the first public group to promote much-needed clean-up of that historic Canadian seaport. He was the founding Chairman of the Newfoundland and Labrador Peat Association and worked with MUN and several industry representatives to initiate the University’s Seabright Corporation cooperation with industry.
In 1978, he retired from MUN to be the Director of the Alexander Graham Bell Institute at the University College of Cape Breton. In 1983 he founded Deltaport Limited to create a very large, mid-ocean, floating, sea and air base using tetrahedral space frames. A floating dock built for such research on the MUN side of St. John’s Long Pond is still in use for recreational purposes. From 1989 to ‘91 he was technical advisor to Canada’s Environment Department for the Fixed Link to Prince Edward Island
. He is a life member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador (PEG-NL), Canadian Society Of Civil Engineers (CSCE), the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
, and other professional groups. He was awarded PEG-NL’s Order Of Merit for 2000 and in 2001 received a CSCE fellowship. He currently authors three websites that reflect his interest in large-scale joint North American water management, floating mid-ocean sea-air bases, and the proposed Newfoundland-Labrador fixed link.
Great Recycling and Northern Development Canal
The Great Recycling and Northern Development Canal of North America or GCNA is a water management proposal designed by Newfoundland engineer Thomas Kierans to alleviate North American freshwater shortage problems...
or GRAND Canal.
Kierans is a Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
native and 1939 McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
Mining Engineering graduate. As a student he prospected by canoe and bush aircraft across Canada’s northlands. From graduation to 1967 he lived in Sudbury, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
working for eighteen years at Inco mines, smelters, and refineries and specializing in industrial safety and rock mechanics. From 1957 to 1967 he was mining and water resources consulting engineer and visited most mines in Canada twice each year. That experience led him to decide that his eventual home would be in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
Kierans recognized the increasing greenhouse effects since the 1930s “dust bowl” were a clear indication that fast-growing Canadian and United States populations would require a new, large, controllable, environment-friendly source of fresh water to stabilize shared Great Lakes
Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are a collection of freshwater lakes located in northeastern North America, on the Canada – United States border. Consisting of Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario, they form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by total surface, coming in second by volume...
and St. Lawrence River water levels and flows and end widespread and worsening water deficits and flooding in both nations. To meet this need, Kierans used proven Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
experience to design his Great Recycling and Northern Development Canal
Great Recycling and Northern Development Canal
The Great Recycling and Northern Development Canal of North America or GCNA is a water management proposal designed by Newfoundland engineer Thomas Kierans to alleviate North American freshwater shortage problems...
concept in the 1950s. This would recycle (not divert) some of the now huge and harmful run-off to Canada’s Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay
Hudson Bay , sometimes called Hudson's Bay, is a large body of saltwater in northeastern Canada. It drains a very large area, about , that includes parts of Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Alberta, most of Manitoba, southeastern Nunavut, as well as parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota,...
to the Great Lakes from a new sea-level freshwater dike-enclosure in James Bay. This should substantially increase Canada’s freshwater supply and improve Hudson Bay and east coast environments, fisheries and shipping. However, despite Quebec’s past Premier Bourassa’s and prominent engineering groups’ endorsement of detailed study of his concept, as well as an invitation to outline it to the American Society of Civil Engineers in 2001, some Canadian authorities unfortunately fail to understand basic differences between run-off recycling as opposed to potentially harmful headwater diversions or simply fear any joint water management with the U.S.
In 1967, he was invited by project owner CFLCo to be Mining Engineer responsible for underground design at the 5500MW Churchill Falls Hydropower Project in Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
. His duties were expanded to include project safety and environment protection. He organized detailed studies on the environmental impacts of diverting some of the Naskaupi River headwaters to the project’s Smallwood Reservoir.
In 1973, he was appointed Professor of Engineering at Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Memorial University of Newfoundland, is a comprehensive university located primarily in St...
. While at MUN he worked with Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro
Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro is a provincial Crown corporation that generates and delivers electricity for Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, and the north-eastern areas of the United States. It also delivers voice and data services to customers in some areas...
on the 1975 attempt at a hydropower only crossing of the Strait of Belle Isle, chaired the Environmental Committee on Brinco’s Kitts-Michelin uranium project, and was on the Editorial Board of the American Society Of Civil Engineers’ Manual on Nuclear Structures And Materials. In 1978 he proposed comprehensive underground and surface development of St. John’s Southside Hills and founded Friends Of St. John’s Harbour, the first public group to promote much-needed clean-up of that historic Canadian seaport. He was the founding Chairman of the Newfoundland and Labrador Peat Association and worked with MUN and several industry representatives to initiate the University’s Seabright Corporation cooperation with industry.
In 1978, he retired from MUN to be the Director of the Alexander Graham Bell Institute at the University College of Cape Breton. In 1983 he founded Deltaport Limited to create a very large, mid-ocean, floating, sea and air base using tetrahedral space frames. A floating dock built for such research on the MUN side of St. John’s Long Pond is still in use for recreational purposes. From 1989 to ‘91 he was technical advisor to Canada’s Environment Department for the Fixed Link to Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is a Canadian province consisting of an island of the same name, as well as other islands. The maritime province is the smallest in the nation in both land area and population...
. He is a life member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador (PEG-NL), Canadian Society Of Civil Engineers (CSCE), the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum
The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum is a technical society of professionals in the Canadian minerals, metals, materials and energy industries. It was founded in 1898. In 2006, the organization had 12,000 national members...
, and other professional groups. He was awarded PEG-NL’s Order Of Merit for 2000 and in 2001 received a CSCE fellowship. He currently authors three websites that reflect his interest in large-scale joint North American water management, floating mid-ocean sea-air bases, and the proposed Newfoundland-Labrador fixed link.