Walter Salztberg
Walter Saltzberg P. Eng. BSc (Civil Engineering), Past President of the Association
Walter Saltzberg was born January 12, 1931, in Warsaw, Poland. Walter was a Holocaust survivor who lost both of his parents and an older brother. He, his parents and his brother who was 6 years older than him lived in a nice large apartment on Leszno Street in Warsaw. Walter was 8 years old when the war broke out on September 1, 1939. The Warsaw ghetto was built in November 1940 and the Saltzberg apartment was just inside. Dr. Kazimierz Weckowski smuggled Walter out of the Warsaw Ghetto when he was 10 years old and hid him in his home for two years. He last saw his parents and brother in the spring of 1942 when he was 11 years old.
At war’s end, Walter received surgery in a Russian military hospital, then reconstruction on his leg in Sweden, but was left permanently disabled. Walter walked sporting an elevator shoe on his shorter leg.
After a story about him and other orphans appeared in a New York Jewish newspaper, friends of his parents arranged for him to come to Winnipeg in 1947, where he had distant relatives. He was just short of 17 years of age having completed only up to Grade 2 in French immersion in Warsaw. He resumed his schooling in Grade 9 at Machray school in Winnipeg’s north end. With a great deal of difficulty, learning a new language and holding down part time jobs to finance his school and university education, he ultimately graduated with a BSC in Civil Engineering from the University of Manitoba in 1957.
Early Professional Career
He then began his 40 plus year career with the Manitoba Department of Highways and Transportation. Mr. Saltzberg rose quickly in the Department and became Chief Bridge Construction Engineer in 1960. In that position for 24 years, he was instrumental in the successful implementation of engineering works on more than 1000 structures on the Manitoba Highway system. Among those engineering works were major structures over the Lake Manitoba Narrows, the Saskatchewan River at The Pas, First Street at the Assiniboine River in Brandon, many crossings of the Winnipeg floodway, and highway interchange structures.
Mr. Saltzberg also performed emergency and special works such as the protection of river structures against ice damage through the removal of ice floes with explosives, and the repair of damaged and dangerous structures. During the fulfillment of these undertakings, he displayed ingenuity, skill and dedication beyond the call of duty.
A dramatic example of emergency engineering work was the successful, safe and timely repair to the Trans Canada Highway Bridge over the Symington Railway Yards after the structure was severely damaged by a train collision on December 15, 1983.
Mr. Saltzberg's career is a superb example and an inspiration to engineers working in the field of operations and construction.
Later Professional Career
In 1988, he was appointed to the position of Director of Bridges and Structures for the Province of Manitoba and held various other assignments including Acting Assistant Deputy Minister. He oversaw the design, construction, maintenance and safety of bridges in Manitoba mainly outside of the City of Winnipeg, including bridges designed by his staff and by consultants. Walter retired in September 1997.
Association Activities
Walter Saltzberg became active with the Association of Professional Engineers of the Province of Manitoba (now Engineers Geoscientists Manitoba) as early as1970 when he wrote a letter to the editor of the Bulletin. He was a member of council from 1974 to 1980 when he became President in 1980. While President, he oversaw the Association move to Hargrave Street. In 1981 he served for part of the year as Secretary and Registrar. Walter was recognized with many awards both on the Provincial and National scene. He was made a Fellow of the Canadian Society of Civil Engineers in 2007. He received the Association Merit Award April 26, 1984, and the Meritorious Service Award for Professional and Community Service from the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (1989).
Associated Activities
Upon retiring from the Department of Highways, Walter became International Liaison Officer with the Intelligent Sensing for Innovative Structures Research Network Canada (name changed to Structural Health Monitoring Support Centre (SHMSC) at the University of Manitoba in 2002) and Associate Professor Engineer-In-Residence at the University of Manitoba.
He was Past-President of the Optimist Club of Assiniboia, Past-President of the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society and Past Second Vice-President of the Canadian Schizophrenic Society.
Personal Background
Walter was the father of two sons and a daughter. In July 2017 Walter was recognized for his lifetime of contributions in volunteering as well as speaking about his experiences as a Holocaust survivor. He received the “Sovereign Award for Volunteers” from the Governor General of Canada, His Excellency David Johnston. This award was presented to him by Her Honour Janice Filmon, the Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba.
He died at Winnipeg on 8 March 2018.
References
- Free Press Obituary
- Memorable Manitobans: Walter Saltzberg (1931-2018), Manitoba Historical Society Archives (accessed 15 April 2025)
- Bulletin of the Association of Professional Engineers of Manitoba (now EGM) Oct. 1970, Feb. 1980, Aug. 1981
- Western Sydney University
- Everyone In Bombed Building Killed Except Him – How Walter Saltzberg Survived the Holocaust, Winnipeg Jewish Review, Accessed in January 2025 at https://www.winnipegjewishreview.com/article_detail.cfm?id=105,Rhonda J. Prepes, P. Eng.
- Association Merit Award April 26, 1984
Compiled by
Al Myska, P.Eng. (SM), FEC, January 2025
Review
- Glen N. Cook, P.Eng.(SM), FEC
Posted by
Glen N. Cook, P.Eng.(SM), FEC
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