Following graduation from the engineering programme in building sciences at the University of Guelph, Mr. McEwen received his commission in the Canadian Armed Forces, as a Military Engineer and Base Engineering Officer.
Mr. McEwen's responsibilities while working with the army, both as a commissioned officer and as a civilian, included the operations of buildings; water and sewer, and electrical services for the military facilities; design and construction management of buildings, grounds and utility distribution systems; and investigations of damage to Department of National Defence buildings and equipment.
With over fifty years of design and project management experience, and as a CEO of a multi discipline consulting engineering firm, Mr. McEwen has, to date, also carried out in excess of four thousand forensic investigations pertaining to fire loss, structural, and mechanical/electrical failures.
Mr. McEwen has qualified as an "Expert Witness" and given testimony in civil court on a variety of matters related to fire and its affect on building components; electrical and mechanical equipment failure; has served as both an appraiser and umpire in hearings conducted under the Insurance Act, and has been appointed as "mediator" concerning technical matters in dispute.