Order of Canada appointment recognizes UCalgary alum Nima Dorjee’s optimism and community leadership

A Schulich School of Engineering alum has been appointed a Member of the Order of Canada. 

Nima Dorjee, BSc (Eng)’92, has joined the ranks of other University of Calgary alumni who have received this prestigious recognition, which is bestowed upon leaders, pioneers and innovators who make extraordinary contributions to Canada. 

On being named a member of the Order of Canada

Last spring, Dorjee received notice of his appointment. For him, this came as a “complete shock, as I had no idea that I was even under consideration.” Once the shock subsided, Dorjee felt truly honoured. 

“Beyond the aspect of ‘wow,’ you feel good for the accomplishments you have completed,” he says. “It’s nice to know that someone noticed and acknowledged me for my work and effort.” 

Yet, with great recognition comes excellent accountability. “You feel a sense of responsibility as well, of course,” says Dorjee. “There is an expectation of at least being a role model where others can look at this and be encouraged or take inspiration.”

Cultivating passion through curiosity 

The word “extraordinary” perfectly sums up Dorjee’s successful and inspiring engineering career.

Dorjee came from humble beginnings. Born in a Tibetan refugee settlement in India, he moved to Calgary in 1981 and has called Canada home ever since. Following his passion, he enrolled at the University of Calgary to study engineering. 

“Following passion sounds cliché, yet it truly makes sense,” says Dorjee. “You will develop passion by being curious, so always be curious.” 

His passion and curiosity are evident to all who have met him. Greatly admired by his peers, Dorjee was elected president of the UCalgary Students’ Union in 1989. Through hard work and dedication to his studies, Dorjee successfully graduated with a BSc in chemical engineering in 1992 and went on to achieve his professional engineer certification. 

Entrepreneurship fascinated Dorjee and, leveraging his engineering education, he founded EngIT Engineering Services, connecting engineers-in-training to employers for short-term contracts. This was an incredible opportunity for many engineering scholars who were looking to gain real-world experience. 

“When you are aware of the problems around you, solutions become more apparent, and I think that is perhaps one of the best pieces of advice in engineering — that you are taught to be a solution-seeker — and that you apply this in every aspect of your life,” says Dorjee. This desire to help connect young minds with engineering mentors led him back to the Schulich School of Engineering. In 1995, he was appointed assistant director of the award-winning Engineering Internship Program. 

Under his leadership, the program became the largest of its kind in Canada. “Creating choices broadens your horizons and opportunities, and affords you the most happiness,” Dorjee says. 

“The ones with choices are the happiest. By preparing our students to graduate with ample choices, we are providing happiness.” The program, which remains an integral Schulich offering, has helped many students obtain engineering roles post-graduation. 

Dorjee was also recognized with the Schulich’s Champion Award in 2008 for his dedication and service to the school. 

An empathetic and devoted citizen, Dorjee has always strived to spark happiness. “It will show if you are not authentic,” he says. “Follow through; you will make a difference and be happier in the end. It’s all about happiness.” 

Never forgetting his Tibetan roots, Dorjee has devoted much of his time to projects related to the Dalai Lama’s work on human rights, and had the opportunity to work at the private office of the Dalai Lama in India. Since 2011, he has also served as president of the Project Tibet Society. This organization has assisted in the resettlement of more than 1,000 Tibetan refugees from northern India to Canada. 

For his efforts, Dorjee was recognized with the YMCA Canada Peace Medal in 1997 and the Calgary Freedom of Expression Award in 2007. He went on to be named a Fellow of Engineers Canada and an honorary Fellow of Geoscientists Canada in 2017 and became president of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA) in 2018.

Optimism for the future 

The trajectory of Dorjee’s career is both extraordinary and inspiring. He continues to uphold his dedication and commitment to the broader community through ongoing service and activism. For Dorjee, the future is full of promise and potential, and he hopes that others recognize this in their own lives. 

“Be authentic, be aware of your surroundings. Recognize that there is a universal responsibility that each and every one of us has in relation to one another. At the end of the day, be a contributor no matter where and how. Everybody has that potential, no matter what,” says Dorjee.