The ESAA Office has Moved
On behalf of the Environmental Services Association of Alberta (ESAA), we are pleased to share that our organization has officially relocated as of June 1, 2025.
Our new address is:
16319 130 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB T5V 1K5
We kindly ask that you update your records and direct all future correspondence, invoices, and payments to our new location.
Thank you for your continued support. Should you have any questions or require further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
— The ESAA Team
ESAA Member News
Using science and technology to reduce tailings ponds
Alberta’s government has received the first recommendations to help speed up oil sands mine water management and tailings pond reclamation.
Under the leadership of former premier Peter Lougheed, Alberta harnessed advances in technology to drive development and innovation in the oil sands. That work was critical in allowing Canada and the world to benefit from some of our province’s greatest natural resources. Fifty years later, Alberta is again looking to innovators and knowledge-keepers to help develop long-term solutions to the mine water challenge.
Over the last year, the Oil Sands Mine Water Steering Committee has met with industry operators, technology providers, Indigenous community members, scientists and others to review evidence and explore viable options to improve mine water management and tailings pond reclamation in Alberta’s oil sands region.
The committee has submitted its first recommendations to begin addressing this challenge while protecting the environment and downstream communities. Alberta’s government accepts these recommendations and will immediately begin exploring them further to help create an accelerated plan to reclaim the water and eventually return the land for use by future generations.
“We need to start finding a path to more effectively manage oil sands mine water and tailing ponds. Doing nothing while mine water continues accumulating is not a sustainable approach. I want to thank the committee for their thoughtful work. We will immediately start to carefully evaluate these recommendations and determine how they can safely be put into action.”
“These effective and evidence-based recommendations help provide a roadmap to accelerate action to address tailings ponds and oil sands mine water. This will help Alberta better manage and reduce mine water while still delivering the most responsible energy in the world.”
“This committee’s recommendations are an important step forward. We cannot keep ignoring this challenge but need to find practical and effective solutions forward.”
The committee’s initial recommendations focus largely on improving water use efficiency, developing new measurement standards, and better managing or even reducing water accumulation at mine sites. The following recommendations reflect a year of rigorous, thoughtful analysis and engagement:
- Recommendation 1 calls for changes to help keep more water out of tailings ponds. Currently, much of the water collected has not actually been used in the oil sands extraction or separation processes. The recommendation calls for measures to more easily keep melting snow, runoff and other water separate, and for government to create clearer standards for this water’s safe release.
- Recommendation 2 advises government to promote more water-sharing between mine sites to minimize new withdrawals from the Athabasca River.
- Recommendation 3 advises government to focus on managing oil sands mine water within the watershed, not moving water across watersheds.
- Recommendation 4 advises government that deep well disposal be considered to manage low volumes of otherwise untreatable oil sands mine water and some legacy mine water, once all other options have been fully explored. Deep well disposal involves injecting oil sands mine water deep unground beneath many layers of impermeable rock, providing permanent storage that also protects the drinking water and land above.
- Recommendation 5 calls for government to develop a standardized method for measuring naphthenic acids, naturally occurring organics that are sourced from oil sands bitumen. Though no jurisdiction is known to have ever implemented such a method for regulatory purposes, being able to measure them is considered essential in assessing the effectiveness of mine water treatment options.
Read the recommendations in detail on Alberta.ca, along with a letter from Committee Chair Tany Yao. The committee’s work continues, and more recommendations will be shared in the near future.
Over the next six months, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas will work with the Alberta Energy Regulator and others to evaluate and explore these recommendations to put a plan in place that is realistic, safe and backed by research and evidence.
Government is committed to continue listening to Albertans and the people who brought forward solutions. The ongoing leadership and participation of Indigenous communities are vital to shaping how we manage tailings and protect the land and water for future generations.
Quick facts
- In Alberta and around the world, mining operations produce tailings. Tailings – a mixture of water, sand, clay and residual bitumen – are the byproduct of the extraction process.
- The committee assessed and evaluated options against feasibility criteria, including regulatory and policy alignment, environmental impact, economic viability, technical feasibility, and Indigenous community impacts.
- The province’s oil sands tailings ponds now contain more than 1.4 billion cubic metres. This includes non-process affected water, such as rainwater, surface runoff, muskeg dewatering, non-saline groundwater depressurization, and other water that has not been directly utilized in oil sands extraction or separation processes.
- Oil sands operators are responsible for reclamation, but research and evidence on how best to reclaim these sites is still being refined.
- Oil sands mine operations in Alberta have reduced the amount of fresh water used per barrel by 23 per cent since 2017.
Technology transforming tailings ponds
Alberta is investing up to $50 million from the TIER fund into new technologies to help reduce oil sands mine water and reclaim tailings ponds.
Alberta’s oil sands produce some of the most responsible energy in the world and have drastically reduced the amount of fresh water used per barrel. Yet, for decades, operators have been forced to store most of the water they use on site, leading to billions of litres now contained largely in tailings ponds.
Alberta is investing $50 million from the industry-funded TIER system to help develop new and improved technologies that make cleaning up oil sands mine water safer and more effective. Led by Emissions Reduction Alberta, the new Tailings Technology Challenge will help speed up work to safely reclaim the water in oil sands tailing ponds and eventually return the land for use by future generations.
“Alberta’s government is taking action by funding technologies that make treating oil sands water faster, effective and affordable. We look forward to seeing the innovative solutions that come out of this funding challenge, and once again demonstrate Alberta’s global reputation for sustainable energy development and environmental stewardship.”
“Tailings and mine water management remain among the most significant challenges facing Alberta’s energy sector. Through this challenge, we’re demonstrating our commitment to funding solutions that make water treatment and tailings remediation more affordable, scalable and effective.”
As in other mines, the oil sands processing creates leftover water called tailings that need to be properly managed. Recently, Alberta’s Oil Sands Mine Water Steering Committee brought together industry, academics and Indigenous leaders to identify the best path forward to safely address mine water and reclaim land.
This new funding competition will support both new and improved technologies to help oil sands companies minimize freshwater use, promote responsible ways to manage mine water and reclaim mine sites. Using technology for better on-site treatment will help improve safety, reduce future clean up costs and environmental risks, and speed up the process of safely addressing mine water and restoring sites so they are ready for future use.
“Innovation has always played an instrumental role in the oil sands and continues to be an area of focus. Oil sands companies are collaborating and investing to advance environmental technologies, including many focused on mine water and tailings management. We’re excited to see this initiative, as announced today, seeking to explore technology development in an area that’s important to all Albertans.”
Quick facts
- All mines produce tailings. In the oil sands, tailings describe a mixture of water, sand, clay and residual bitumen that are the byproduct of the oil extraction process.
- From 2013 to 2023, oil sands mine operations reduced the amount of fresh water used per barrel by 28 per cent. Recycled water use increased by 51 per cent over that same period.
- The Tailings Technology Challenge is open to oil sands operators and technology providers until Sept. 24.
- The Tailings Technology Challenge will invest in scale-up, pilot, demonstration and first-of-kind commercial technologies and solutions to reduce and manage fluid tailings and the treatment of oil sands mine water.
- Eligible technologies include both engineered and natural solutions that treat tailings to improve water quality and mine process water.
- Successful applicants can receive up to $15 million per project, with a minimum funding request of $1 million.
- Oil sands operators are responsible for site management and reclamation, while ongoing research continues to inform and refine best practices to support effective policy and regulatory outcomes.
Wrong signal, wrong time: Minister Schulz
Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz issued the following statement on the Competition Bureau’s final guidelines on environmental claims:
“The Competition Bureau has moved forward on unleashing extreme, ideological guidelines that will hurt Canada’s economy, silence our hard-working businesses and punish families from coast to coast to coast. The guidelines will not reduce emissions or improve environmental performance, but they will make it harder for companies to attract investment and make our country less globally competitive, once again.
“Despite detailed submissions and calls for change from provinces, businesses and Canadians, the guidelines continue to hold companies to international standards that don’t even exist, and which the Competition Bureau is not qualified to dictate or able to assess.
“These guidelines aren’t just unfair; they enshrine a dangerous double standard. This federal government for years has freely allowed anti-energy and anti-business activists to spread misinformation and false claims with impunity, while effectively silencing and putting an undemocratic gag order on the very businesses working to reduce emissions, build pipelines and grow our economy.
“This sends the wrong signal to markets and industry at the worst possible time. The federal government has committed to Albertans and all Canadians to making Canada an energy superpower. More fancy rhetoric and mixed messages will not make Canada an energy superpower, especially while Ottawa is upholding censorship laws that prevent businesses from talking about the very work and goals needed to build us into that superpower.
“If Prime Minister Mark Carney is serious about attracting investment, building major projects and truly improving Canadians way of life, he should take steps to scrap these guidelines immediately.”
The Alberta Energy Regulator publishes its 2024 Pipeline Performance Report
CALGARY, AB – The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has released its 2024 Pipeline Performance Report, the latest in its annual series tracking industry performance on pipeline safety across the province.
The AER regulates more than 400 000 kilometres of pipeline within Alberta’s borders that transport natural gas, crude oil and refined products, diluent, produced water, and sour gas. The report covers incident data from 2020 to 2024 and forms part of the AER’s commitment to regulatory transparency and public accountability through its Industry Performance Program.
Highlights of the 2024 report include the following:
- Total pipeline incidents declined by 12% from 350 in 2023 to 307 in 2024, with the majority involving little to no fluid release.
- High-consequence incidents dropped from seven to five over the same period.
- Internal pipeline corrosion remains the leading cause of incidents.
- Most pipeline incidents (72%) resulted in little (less than one cubic metre or approximately six barrels) to no release of fluids at all.
The Pipeline Performance Report is one of five reports released annually under the AER’s Industry Performance Program, which monitors, measures, and publicly reports on the energy industry’s environmental and operational performance.
CCME: Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health: Lead
CCME has posted the Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health: Lead.
The 2025 factsheet is a revision of the 1999 Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Environmental and Human Health: Lead. It provides updated soil quality guidelines for human health, while the soil quality guidelines for environmental health have not been revised. The accompanying scientific criteria document describes the derivation of the revised soil quality guidelines for human health.
The factsheet and its scientific criteria document can be found here and here, respectively, or through CCME’s searchable resource browser. The guidelines can be searched using the Canadian Environmental Quality Guidelines Summary Table.
BC: Environmental assessment certificate granted for Highland Valley Copper mine expansion
A B.C. environmental assessment certificate has been issued to Teck Highland Valley Copper Partnership for the Highland Valley Copper Mine Life Extension (HVC) project near Logan Lake, following a joint decision by provincial ministers.
Tamara Davidson, Minister of Environment and Parks, and Jagrup Brar, Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals, made their decision after carefully considering the environmental assessment by B.C.’s Environmental Assessment Office (EAO).
The HVC project will extend the life of the operating Highland Valley copper mine from 2028 to 2043. The mine expansion is predicted to produce approximately 900 million additional tonnes of ore and nearly two million additional tonnes of copper.
The ministers noted in their decision that HVC will provide economic benefits to the province, the local community and First Nations. The mine expansion will increase local employment by adding 200 more permanent jobs, along with 500 to 1,250 jobs during construction. The mine currently employs 1,320 people. Without the expansion, the mine would end production in 2028 and wind down its operations.
To streamline and expedite provincial authorizations for this priority critical minerals project, the EAO co-ordinated with permitting agencies to enable Teck to submit a single application for the environmental assessment certificate and all major permits. The EAO and ministries of Environment and Parks; Mining and Critical Minerals; and Water, Land and Resource Stewardship reviewed the application together in the first fully combined review process under the 2018 Environmental Assessment Act.
The co-ordinated review is part of work by provincial regulators to achieve efficiencies in decision-making on priority projects. Conducting the assessment and permit reviews together can save as much as two years on provincial authorizations. Permit decisions are expected soon.
The project assessment involved extensive consultation with technical experts, First Nations, provincial agencies, local governments and the public. In making their decision, the ministers acknowledged that while the HVC project itself would not have significant adverse impacts beyond those of the existing mine, in operation since the 1960s, the expansion would exacerbate the combined impacts from this and other projects in the region on water quantity and First Nations’ access to land and cultural practices.
As a result, the ministers have included 17 legally binding conditions in the environmental assessment certificate, intended to prevent or reduce potential adverse environmental, economic, social, cultural and health effects from HVC, and mitigate impacts to First Nations.
With these legally binding requirements, and requirements applied by other regulatory bodies for other provincial authorizations if granted, the ministers determined that significant adverse effects can be prevented or mitigated. Key requirements include developing plans, subject to EAO approval, to:
- manage and mitigate impacts on surrounding watersheds;
- avoid or reduce the loss of wetlands and riparian ecosystems;
- reduce the impacts of the project on Nlaka’pamux Nation food sovereignty to support food, social and ceremonial needs;
- minimize light pollution prior to and throughout operations; and
- reduce the impact of construction workers on the availability of accommodations in local communities.
Under the Environmental Assessment Act, First Nations participating in the process have the opportunity to provide consent or lack of consent for the project. Of the 17 First Nations that engaged in the environmental assessment, 10 consented to the project and two groups representing six First Nations initiated dispute resolution.
Every project that undergoes an environmental assessment is assessed thoroughly on the specific and individual aspects of that particular project, including its potential environmental, economic, social, cultural and health effects, and impacts on First Nations and their rights.
Learn More:
Ministers’ reasons for decision: https://www.projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/api/public/document/6851ab2677f64d00222decb2/download/HVC_Reasons_For_Decision.pdf
Documentation ministers considered in making their decision: https://www.projects.eao.gov.bc.ca/p/5cd9b4b56a15600025df0cc8/documents?keywords=HVC_Decision
For more information on the environmental assessment process, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/natural-resource-stewardship/environmental-assessments
Nuclear Waste Management Organization begins site selection process for 2nd deep geological repository
(Source: CBC News) The Canadian government has yet to decide whether it would allow recycling spent nuclear fuel in the country, as the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) announces it will be engaging with the public to choose a site for the nation’s second deep geological repository.
The nuclear energy organization has launched a two-year public engagement process — which will focus on both technical safety and community willingness — to refine the site selection strategy. The formal site selection process is expected to begin around 2028.
Akira Tokuhiro, a nuclear engineering professor at Ontario Tech University, said the announcement reflects strategic foresight, but he said Canada is still focused on permanent disposal, unlike other countries who are pursuing a different approach — reprocessing and reusing spent nuclear fuel.
“One thing that I learned on my visit to the French site in 2013, is used fuel or nuclear waste or the spent fuel has to be reusable or retrievable,” he said.
“They have the technical means today to reprocess that fuel and put it back in the reactor and to extract more energy.”
Finland is one of the first countries to license a permanent repository with the option of retrieval. France goes further, reprocessing its spent fuel to extract more energy, a practice rarely discussed in Canada despite being technically feasible.
“Canada certainly has the technical capability. It doesn’t mean that it has the facilities, but it has the capability and the know-how and the smart people to recycle that or reuse that spent fuel,” said Tokuhiro.
“Even today, Canada is choosing not to make that commitment.”
While reprocessing is more expensive up front, he said, it’s arguably more climate-friendly. But Canada, like many nations, has embraced a “once-through” cycle: mine uranium, use it once, and store the waste indefinitely.
The reason Canada hasn’t followed France’s lead, Tokuhiro said, comes down to economics.
“That is overall cheaper than it is to recycle. This is the same problem as plastic,” he said.
Dave Novog, professor, engineering physics at McMaster University, said the current Canadian model has “proved pretty attractive” because it means Canada does not rely on anyone else in the world for its fuel or for reprocessing technology.
“I think that’s been a good decision so far when it comes to fuel recycling and the sort of advanced reactors that are needed to do that,” Novog told CBC Thunder Bay.
“Those reactors, at least in my opinion, are in their infancy and it would be a huge risk for us to sort of say those reactors will eventually come and save our waste problem.”
Novog said he likes the government’s and the NWMO’s approach, noting that “these repositories take anywhere from 30 to 40 to even 50 years to construct. And so by that time, if these advanced reprocessing technologies are attractive and commercially viable, we can always move in that direction.”
Novog added that by reprocessing spent nuclear fuel would still generate some waste.
“We will still have to deal with and solve a lot of that waste, so I think if nuclear is really going to double or triple its capacity like they talked about in the COP agreements, we’re going to be generating more waste and it’s important that we have a solution for it,” he said.
Commissioning a second deep geological repository is part of an initiative aimed at addressing the long-term storage of intermediate- and non-fuel high-level radioactive waste from equipment and components used inside nuclear reactors and medical isotope byproducts, as well as waste from future nuclear reactors. The first repository in the Township of Ignace will store used nuclear fuel from used reactors.
“There is international scientific consensus that a deep geological repository is the safest way to manage intermediate- and high-level waste over the long-term,” said Laurie Swami, president and CEO of the NWMO, emphasizing the need for a permanent solution.
“Canada is planning for the future.”
Currently, Canada’s intermediate- and high-level waste is stored on an interim basis, so these solutions are not considered suitable for long-term containment. The new repository will be designed to store waste deep underground, in line with international practices for managing high-level nuclear waste.
Site selection for the second repository will be guided by both technical criteria, such as geological suitability and community support. The NWMO has emphasized that community consent and Indigenous consultation will be central to the process.
The two-year engagement period will include public consultations, cultural verification studies, and collaboration with Indigenous communities.
“We understand that many communities are getting a lot of requests to engage on major projects. And so, we want to make sure that we have the time to get meaningful input and have a meaningful discussion on the siting process before implementing it,” said Joanne Jacyk, director of site selection at the NWMO.
For now, the NWMO is encouraging Canadians and Indigenous peoples to learn more or take part in the engagement process by visiting the NWMO’s website or contacting the organization at ILW@nwmo.ca.
Search for gold to offset cost of disaster at Yukon mine, government says
WHITEHORSE — A court-appointed receiver plans to start sifting for gold in cyanide-laced water stored at the Eagle Gold Mine in Yukon.
The Yukon government says proceeds will be used to help pay for some of the cleanup after a disaster at the mine a year ago.
The failure of the mine’s heap-leach facility, which contained millions of tonnes of cyanide-laced ore and water, set off the disaster and subsequent takeover by the receiver.
A statement from the territory says the gold being recovered is found within cyanide water stored in ponds at the mine site and the process will also destroy some cyanide, helping treat the contaminated water.
It says work continues at the gold mine to manage a large amount of additional water from the spring snowmelt, and contaminated water is being treated and discharged.
The government says it’s too early to say what the value of the gold being recovered might be but the receiver will report those results in further reports to the court.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 13, 2025.
‘It’s scary’: Residents say their groundwater is contaminated by firefighting foam from Newfoundland airport
Torbay, N.L. — A group of homeowners near the St. John’s International Airport say runoff from foam used in decades of firefighting training has contaminated their drinking water and left them fearful of long-term health effects.
Residents in Torbay, N.L., are attempting to bring a class-action lawsuit against Transport Canada, claiming the federal department didn’t do enough to remediate and contain PFAS chemicals from contaminating their drinking wells.
PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are often called “forever chemicals” in reference to their resistance to breakdown and extremely long life. They’ve been linked to cancers and other serious health risks.
A statement of claim, filed last month at the Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador, alleges the department knew the PFAS were present in the environment surrounding the airport, but didn’t notify nearby residents until Health Canada began to lower exposure guidelines in 2023.
Torbay resident Dean Pike would be included in the class-action lawsuit should it be certified at Newfoundland and Labrador’s Supreme Court. He and his family, including all pets, are not drinking the well water, relying instead on 5-gallon bottles.
He says a Transport Canada representative tested his well water in December and found that the PFAS concentration was below Health Canada’s 30 nanogram per litre guidelines. But Pike says he and his family are refusing to drink the water at any PFAS concentration.
“In my opinion, my water is contaminated regardless if it’s 0.1 or five hundred [nanograms per litre],” Pike said. “We should not be consuming PFAS in our system.”
Pike says he’s been left to wonder whether his diagnosis of prostate cancer was influenced by potentially drinking contaminated water through his well.
“We do not have a family history of it,” he said. “So, it makes you wonder, was it because I was drinking water here for the last 20 years that was contaminated by what happened at the airport?” Pike said.
In a statement to CTV News, Transport Canada said it would respond to the claims included in the class-action lawsuit in a courtroom. The department hasn’t yet had to file a statement of defence in the lawsuit.
“Transport Canada takes its responsibilities seriously,” a spokesperson wrote. “The department will continue to work with local health authorities and support potentially impacted residents and communities.”
A statement of claim filed in May alleges that Transport Canada received test results indicating an elevated level of PFAS in the groundwater at the firefighter training site and in nearby surface water in 2011. Those results came in higher than the previous Health Canada objective of 700 nanograms per litre, and significantly higher than the current objective of 30 nanograms per litre.
The statement of claim further alleges that Transport Canada “knew that PFAS is characteristically capable of travelling long distances in groundwater.”
Lawyer Alex Templeton said Transport Canada didn’t inform homeowners they knew PFAS was in the area when they began a testing project in the nearby subdivisions in 2024.
“They didn’t say that ‘we’ve been sitting on monitoring data that shows for the past decade, annually, PFAS has been in the deep water aquifer, supplying this groundwater system,” he said.
“They didn’t disclose that to any of these residents.”
According to health surveys, nearly every Canadian has some PFAS concentration in their bloodstream. Health Canada wrote in its document laying out it’s 30 nanogram per litre objective that exposure to PFAS does not “necessarily mean that health problems will occur,” and exposure length, intensity and frequency are important considerations.
Eddie Sheerr, the lead plaintiff for the proposed class-action, has also been living off bottled water. But his bottles are being delivered by Transport Canada, after tests in their water well in 2024 showed PFAS concentrations at about 100 nanograms per litre, well higher than Health Canada objectives.
“It’s definitely scary because we’ve lived in the house since 2017,” he said. “My kids are in the house. We’ve been bathing in the water, we drink the water, we cook with the water and so it gets you questioning a whole bunch of things.”
New ESAA Members
ESAA welcomes the following new member. If you are not a member of ESAA you can join now via: https://esaa.org/join-esaa/
BioNorth Solutions
76 Twin City Crossroad
Bldg C
Rosslyn, ON P7K 0C6
Phone: (807) 627-8702
Amber Kivisto, President
amber@bionorthsolutions.com
BioNorth Solutions is a green, environmental biotechnology company that identifies and manufactures naturally occurring bacterial strains (or microbes) which carry out important natural, environmentally friendly processes. More specifically, we identify bacteria strains that naturally (i) consume contaminants – such as diesel fuel, gasoline, motor oil, or crude oil; (ii) improve soil conditions; (ii) stimulate plant and crop growth; and (iv) protect plants and crops from disease and drought. In the case of remediation, our technical expertise lies in the selection and combination of bacterial strains that work synergistically in order to efficiently and effectively digest contaminants. For soil, plants, and crops, our technical expertise is found in the selection and combination of bacterial strains that support healthy soil biomes while triggering plant growth process such as nutrient uptake and hormone production and also providing greater drought tolerance, resistance to disease, improved germination, and greater biomass or yields.
Ground Effects Environmental Services Inc.
2251 Industrial Dr
RM of Sherwood, SK S4K 0A6
Phone: (306) 580-0714
Karly Flynn, Director of Business Development
kflynn@groundeffects.org
Ground Effects Environmental Services Inc. is an award-winning trailblazer in wastewater contaminant removal and solids control, revolutionizing industries from oil & gas to mining, industrial, municipal, and agriculture. Since 1998, we’ve introduced over 70 groundbreaking innovations, setting new standards for performance. With a relentless focus on precision engineering and cutting-edge technology, we lead the way in delivering powerful, reliable solutions that drive environmental and operational excellence.
Upcoming Industry Events
Information Session for the Code of Practice for Solar and Wind Renewable Energy Operations -June 19th Webinar Registration
An information session for the recently published Code of Practice for Solar and Wind Renewable Energy Operations is scheduled for June 19 from 1:30-3:00pm MDT.
This session will:
- Provide information about regulatory updates published in January 2025.
- Explain solar and wind operator’s registration process and components within the Code
- Provide you with an opportunity to ask questions
To attend, please register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/yFaTkwmUQaiPhUPqvb_wxQ
If you have any questions about the information session, please contact renewables.reclamation.security.engagement@gov.ab.ca.
ESAA Red Deer Mixer
Alberta Springs Golf Course – Club House
38302 Range Road 283
Red Deer, AB
3:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Webinar: Join us for a conversation on Excess Soils in Western Canada
June 25th

Join Us!
Next month, the 𝐸𝑛𝑣𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝐽𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑎𝑙 will be hosting our next 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫 on Soil Rules Roundup in Western Canada, supported by the Environmental Services Association of Alberta (ESAA).
When it comes to Excess Soils, Western Canadian provinces have a fragmented system that lacks consistency and clear rules. What has been the impact of new regulations concerning soils management in B.C. and Alberta? How are leading experts in the industry applying best practices to achieve compliance and resource recovery?
Join us to get the lowdown on dirt management in Western Canada!
Register Now
Wetlands in Alberta’s Peace Region – A Wetlands in the Boreal Workshop Series Workshop
Start Date: Jul 15, 2025
End Date: Jul 16, 2025
Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance (MPWA) are teaming up to host an exciting two-day workshop all about wetlands in the Peace Region!
Location: Grimshaw, Alberta
Exact venue and field sites to be confirmed closer to the event date.
Dates: July 15 & 16, 2025
Doors Open: 8:30 a.m.
Programming Begins: 9:00 a.m.
Cost: Free
Lunch provided
Day 1
The morning of the first day will be spent inside learning about all the different wetlands we have in Alberta and how to identify them.
Then, you’ll learn about the Alberta Water Act and the Alberta Wetland Policy via an interactive session unpacking the effects of wetland drainage on watershed health, current provincial wetland policy, approvals under the Water Act, and wetland restoration resources and opportunities.
In the afternoon, we’ll take it outside! Put your new knowledge into action as we identify different wetland types and chat about policy applications in the field.
Day 2
The morning will delve into key wetland services such as water regulation and purification, biodiversity support, climate regulation, and carbon storage. The afternoon will continue with a wrap-up discussion, offering participants a chance to learn about emerging wetland best management practices and to reflect on challenges and opportunities for wetland stewardship in the region.
We are excited to provide this workshop free of charge to participants, thanks to the Alberta Government’s Watershed Restoration and Resiliency Program. We appreciate that some participants may be coming from farther away and may require accommodations for this workshop. For that reason, we are able to provide a group rate at the Coast Grimshaw Hotel and Suites – Ask for the Ducks Unlimited Canada Rates!
Website Link To Register: https://www.cclmportal.ca/
Wetlands in the Boreal Transition Zone – A Wetlands in the Boreal Workshop Series
Start Date: Aug 12, 2025
End Date: Aug 13, 2025
Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Lakeland Industry and Community Association (LICA) are teaming up to host an exciting two-day workshop all about wetlands in the Beaver River Watershed!
Location: Lac La Biche, Alberta
Exact venue and field sites to be confirmed closer to the event date
Dates: August 12 & 13, 2025
Doors Open: 8:30 a.m.
Programming Begins: 9:00 a.m.
Cost: Free
Lunch provided
Day 1
We’ll start indoors with a deep dive into Alberta’s incredible variety of wetlands. You’ll learn about the Alberta Water Act and the Alberta Wetland Policy, and how they apply to you. We’ll also explore the many opportunities and resources available for wetland restoration and replacement.
In the afternoon, we’ll take it outside! Put your new knowledge into action as we identify different wetland types in the field and chat about the valuable services wetlands provide to our communities and environment.
Day 2
This day is all about experiencing and enjoying wetlands. We’ll explore the beautiful wetlands around Lac La Biche, connect with others, and discuss the opportunities, challenges, and ecosystem benefits wetlands bring to the LICA region.
We are excited to provide this workshop free of charge to participants, thanks to the Alberta Government’s Watershed Restoration and Resiliency Program.
Website Link To Register: https://www.cclmportal.ca/
ESAA Job Board
Check out the new improved ESAA Job Board. Members can post ads for free.
Current Listings:
- Senior Technical Specialist – Summit
- Environmental Specialist – Summit
- Environmental Consultant – Nichols Environmental (Canada) Ltd.
- Senior Environmental or Geotechnical Engineer – Trace Associates Inc.
- Director, Geotechnical Engineering – Trace Associates Inc.
- Reclamation Specialist – AECOM
- Project Technologist – Pinchin Ltd.
- Intermediate/Senior Environmental Specialist – Summit
- Intermediate Environmental Consultant – Ecoventure Inc.
- Business Development Manager – Prairies – Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc.
- Intermediate Environmental Scientist, Real Estate & Development – Trace Associates Inc.
- Intermediate Regulatory Advisor – Trace Associates Inc.