Dr. Karim Nasser
Kay graduated in civil engineering from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon in 1949. Immediately thereafter Karim started his career in the oil business where he worked for the Trans Arabian Pipe Line (Tapline) company building their new terminal and tank farm in Sidon, Lebanon. Tapline is a subsidiary of the Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco).
A few years later the North America world beckoned and Kay relocated to the USA and later to Canada in 1960 and to Saskatchewan in 1961.
Karim dedicated his time to teaching and acquiring a Ph. D. from the University of Saskatchewan in 1965. He spent 33 years teaching hundreds of engineers, doing research on concrete and consulting locally and overseas. At the same time he founded his own company, Victory Construction, later Victory Majors, a company that built homes and a solid portfolio of real estate, apartment blocks, strip malls and others.
Having had real financial struggle going through schools and universities, Karim decided to
be of assistance to University students who need financial help to start and complete their
education. In 1967 he started a fund at the University of Saskatchewan to help deserving
and needy students, and recently he donated $12 million dollars to benefit students and
the University of Saskatchewan as a whole.
Karim is a member of APEGS, the Canadian Engineering Society, the American Concrete Institute, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and the American Society of Testing and Materials and he served on a few of their executive committees.
In 1971 Kay was awarded the Wason Medal of Research by the American Concrete Institute and in 1985 he was appointed a member of the Science Council of Canada.
Kay had several inventions and patents for testing concrete and for improving the quality,
consistency, strength, durability and economy of concrete. One of his inventions, the KSiump tester was used in building the CN Tower in Toronto.
Karim has been active in civic affairs. He was president of the Canadian Club for two terms
and was Chairman of the Saskatoon Convalescent Home from 1976 to 1988. Kay was the
driving force behind building the new 60 bed excellent facility for the Home which was
dedicated in 1986.
In 1985 he was awarded the APEGS Engineering Achievement Award and in 1995 was elected Fellow of CSCE. In 1995 he was awarded the Rotary Golden Wheel of Excellence for commerce and industry. In 1986 Karim was director of the committee that overlooked the design and construction of the Saskatchewan Pavilion at the World Expo in Vancouver.
In 2010 Karim was the recipient of the Brian Eckel Distinguished Service Award by APEGS Karim Nasser was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2011 and the Queen
Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012.
I believe that Dr. Karim Nasser would be a very worthy recipient of the honour of
Fellowship in the Canadian Society for Senior Engineers.