Thank you to everyone who made it out to RemTech 2026
Looking forward to celebrating the next 25 years with all of you!
Environment and Industry News
Making every drop and acre count
Alberta is challenging innovators to tackle three of the province’s biggest environmental and economic challenges: growing more, saving water and restoring land. Through Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), up to $60 million is available for innovative technologies that can deliver practical solutions for Alberta’s farmers, industries and communities. The new Agriculture, Water and Land Challenge is one of ERA’s largest technology competitions. It is an open call for proposals, with funding to be awarded to the strongest projects that demonstrate real potential to deliver results in Alberta.
“Alberta has some of the best innovators in the world, and we’re challenging them to put their ideas to work. We want technology that helps our farmers produce more, makes our water go further and gets disturbed land back into productive use. We’re making up to $60 million available, but it’s up to innovators to show us what they can deliver.” Grant Hunter, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas
“Agriculture continues to be one of Alberta’s most promising sectors, contributing billions to the province’s economy every year. Alberta’s farmers and ranchers are always finding new, innovative ways to produce the world’s best crops and livestock. By increasing production, we can supply more products to customers around the world and create new opportunities here at home. I look forward to seeing the difference these projects make in the field and in new export markets.” Tara Sawyer, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation
A central part of ERA’s mandate is to support the competitiveness and growth of Alberta’s economy by accelerating the development and adoption of innovative technologies. This competition puts that mandate into action by seeking solutions in three key areas:
- AGRICULTURE: Produce more, more efficiently. Agriculture is the backbone of Alberta’s economy. New technologies can increase farm productivity, boost yields, reduce production costs and help farmers and ranchers produce more with fewer resources.
- WATER: Make every drop count. New technologies can conserve, and treat and reuse water, helping existing supplies go further and increasing water availability for Alberta’s farms, industries and communities.
- LAND: Put land back to work. New technologies can make it faster, easier and less expensive to clean up contaminated sites, reclaim inactive well sites and restore disturbed land to productive use.
“Canada has no shortage of promising technologies. The challenge is getting them into the market. ERA bridges that gap by helping innovators prove their solutions in the real world and build the partnerships they need to scale. We’ve invested in many agriculture and water technologies, and we’re committed to seeing this critical sector continue to grow. This challenge will help deliver economic and environmental benefits for Alberta and beyond.” Justin Riemer, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta
Applications for the Agriculture, Water and Land Challenge are open now until Dec. 16, 2026, at 5 p.m. ABT. Farmers, ranchers, technology developers, businesses, municipalities, Indigenous communities and other organizations are eligible to apply. More information about the challenge is available on ERA’s website.
2026 harvest: Minister Sawyer
For many farm families, harvest is the culmination of months of hard work and many long days. Whether they’re wrapping up harvest or working to bring in the last of this year’s crop, farmers and producers across Alberta continue to show the dedication and determination that keeps our agriculture sector strong.
“Despite weather challenges, crop yields are estimated to be above average, especially in the south and central regions. I applaud the perseverance, patience and hard work of farmers despite the circumstances with this growing season.
“Recent weeks have finally brought favourable conditions for harvest in many parts of Alberta, allowing producers to make significant progress. While slow maturity and periods of rain early in the harvest season and recent frost and snow have slowed work in some areas, producers continue to make the most of every opportunity to get crops off the field. Harvest of major crops is now 88 per cent complete across the province.
“As producers prepare for winter and begin looking ahead to the 2027 growing season, there are positive signs across much of Alberta. Soil moisture conditions remain above historical averages, pasture conditions continue to be strong and fall-seeded crops are off to a good start.
“Whether you’ve wrapped things up or you’re still in the field, I thank Alberta’s farmers for everything you do to feed Albertans, support your communities and help grow our province.”
Yellowhead Pipeline: Joint Statement
Today’s groundbreaking marks an important milestone for the Yellowhead Pipeline and another step toward securing Alberta’s economic prosperity and energy future.
“This $2.9-billion project will add more than one billion cubic feet per day of natural gas transportation capacity, helping to ensure Alberta’s Industrial Heartland has the reliable energy it needs to grow and create opportunities for future generations.
“Construction of 235 kilometres of pipeline and facilities is expected to support around 2,000 jobs. Once complete, the Yellowhead Pipeline will help attract new investment and support many industries, including petrochemicals, manufacturing, hydrogen, data centres and power generation.
“By strengthening our natural gas infrastructure, we are creating the conditions for greater industrial development, increased economic activity and a more competitive economy. This project alone will enable about $20 billion of investments in Alberta, including the DOW Fort Saskatchewan Path2Zero project. Projects like this are critical to Alberta’s long-term economic growth.” Danielle Smith, Premier
“Alberta continues to earn the confidence of job creators and investors from around the world. This investment reinforces that Alberta is the best place in Canada to invest, build and do business. Companies continue to choose Alberta because of our abundant resources, skilled workforce, competitive business environment and commitment to responsible development.
“I want to commend Canadian Utilities, ATCO and the project partners, as well as the Indigenous communities, municipalities, landowners and other stakeholders who contributed their time and expertise throughout the project’s development.
“Alberta’s government will continue supporting responsible infrastructure development that creates jobs, drives economic growth and builds lasting prosperity for people in Alberta. Congratulations to everyone involved in reaching this significant milestone.” Brian Jean, Minister of Energy and Minerals.
Alberta Energy Regulator Issues Suspension Order to Sumerian Oil & Gas Inc.
The Alberta Energy Regulator (the AER) issued a suspension order on October 5, 2026, to Sumerian Oil & Gas Inc. (Sumerian) based on a failure to comply with requirements related to reasonable care and measures of Sumerian’s sites as detailed in previous Orders issued in April and September of this year, failure to comply with requirements resulting from two releases as detailed in two previous Environmental Protection Orders issued in August and September of this year, and failure to pay the required security deposit for their 2025 mandatory closure spend quota as directed in an Order issued in July.
The regulator has authorized the Orphan Well Association (the OWA) to suspend the wells and facilities out of concerns Sumerian may not be able to provide reasonable care and measures to protect both public safety and the environment.
Within 14 calendar days from the date of this Order, the OWA shall ensure that all wells, facilities, and pipelines listed in the Order are shut-in, secured, discontinued and rendered safe in a manner acceptable to the AER. This is necessary to prevent impairment or damage in respect of Sumerian’s sites.
Sumerian will be responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by the OWA in relation to completing these actions.
Innovative approach creates fish habitat to compensate for bridge project impacts
Under Canada’s Fisheries Act, any activity that causes fish mortality or harmful alteration, disruption, or destruction of fish habitat requires a Fisheries Act Authorization (FAA) obtained from Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Securing an FAA is often unpredictable and time-consuming, creating significant risks for project schedules and budgets.
Offsetting, which involves restoring or creating fish habitat to compensate for project impacts, is one of the most complex components of the FAA process. Traditional approaches require contractors, or consultants, to identify suitable sites, design and construct restoration measures, and manage long-term monitoring and maintenance. This process is resource-intensive, highly uncertain, and often results in delays, cost overruns, and inconsistent ecological outcomes.
To address these challenges, Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (ATEC) and Associated Engineering (AE) introduced an innovative third-party offsetting model. This approach was successfully implemented on the Stu Hart Memorial Bridge replacement on the West Calgary Ring Road and the Ivor Strong Bridge twinning, as part of Deerfoot Trail Improvements.
Instead of consultants and contractors managing offsetting obligations, ATEC and AE partnered with Freshwater Conservation Canada (FCC), an environmental non-governmental organization (ENGO) specializing in aquatic restoration. FCC assumed full responsibility for all aspects of the offsetting. This included identifying offsetting sites, designing and implementing restoration measures, negotiating regulatory approvals, and conducting long-term monitoring and maintenance.
On the Stu Hart Memorial Bridge replacement project, the work required large temporary construction berms within the Elbow River at a critical habitat location for bull trout, which is a federally listed threatened species.
As a design-bid-build project, AE was responsible for obtaining permits, and the contractor would traditionally be responsible for following the conditions set out in those permits, including offsetting. However, FCC used their catalogue of potential offsetting locations, developed a comprehensive offsetting plan and negotiated its approval with Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Once accepted, the offsetting plan was included in the Fisheries Act Authorization application. Therefore, the contractor had no obligations to be involved in any part of the project offsetting requirements.
The third-party offsetting model is designed for seamless integration into current transportation systems and offers exceptional flexibility for future applications. With successful implementation across two distinct procurement models, design-bid-build and design-build, the model demonstrates adaptability to diverse project delivery frameworks.
Climate resilience and sustainability are increasingly central to infrastructure planning, and this model addresses both by prioritizing ecological integrity and reducing carbon-intensive activities associated with traditional offsetting. By leveraging Freshwater Conservation Canada’s expertise and restoration sites, the model streamlined regulatory reviews, reduced costs, reduced risk, and delivered superior ecological outcomes.
The model’s scalability further enhances its future applicability. It can be deployed across regions and project types, from bridge replacements to water intakes, without significant modification. Financial predictability and risk reduction make it attractive for public agencies seeking cost-effective solutions under tightening budgets.
The model also accommodates changing regulatory requirements and societal expectations for environmental stewardship. As conservation priorities evolve, ENGOs can adjust restoration strategies, without imposing additional burdens on project owners or contractors. This adaptability ensures that offsetting remains effective and relevant in the face of emerging challenges, such as climate change, habitat fragmentation, and protecting species at risk.
Designing for the operator is key to WWTP reliability
Every piece of rotating equipment in a wastewater treatment plant will eventually require service. Wear components degrade, seals fail, and adjustments become necessary over time. Reliability is not simply a measure of how long equipment operates before maintenance is required, it is also defined by what happens when maintenance begins.
Maintenance challenges are often compounded by aging infrastructure with limited access and tight layouts, seasonal extremes, limited redundancy in smaller municipal systems and geographic isolation in northern or rural communities.
The gap between theoretical performance and real-world maintainability is becoming more apparent, as municipalities expand capacity within existing footprints. While facilities are growing more complex, maintenance teams often do not scale up at the same rate. As a result, there is increasing emphasis on equipment designs that minimize service complexity, while maximizing accessibility.
For example, conventional pump designs often require removal of discharge piping and extensive disassembly, before accessing key wear components such as rotors and stators. These processes can be time-consuming and labour-intensive under normal conditions and even more challenging in cold or confined environments.
However, maintain-in-place designs offer a practical solution by allowing operators to access and replace wear parts, without removing connected piping. This approach reduces total maintenance time, labour requirements and exposure to difficult working conditions
For facilities with limited redundancy, even modest reductions in service duration can prevent cascading disruptions across treatment processes. More importantly, streamlined maintenance procedures reduce the burden on operators, who have to manage multiple critical systems simultaneously.
DESIGNING FOR SAFER MAINTENANCE
Maintenance safety is also a concern, shaped by stringent occupational health and safety standards at both provincial and federal levels. As wastewater equipment sizes increase to accommodate growing populations, so too do the risks associated with servicing them. Larger assemblies involve heavier components, tighter tolerances, and more complex handling procedures. These risks are often intensified by seasonal conditions.
Many safety challenges are not the result of equipment failure, but of design decisions made during early project stages. For example, equipment installed with insufficient clearance may function effectively during operation, but create significant hazards during maintenance. Operators may find themselves working in awkward positions, without adequate room for lifting equipment, or safe component removal.
As such, maintainability and safety considerations must be integrated early in the design process. Increasingly, municipalities, consulting engineers, and equipment suppliers are collaborating during preliminary design phases to evaluate service access requirements, lifting and handling considerations, equipment placement/orientation and clearance for maintenance activities.
These early-stage discussions help ensure that installations are not only compliant, but practical and safe to maintain over the long term.
SIMPLICITY IMPROVES RELIABILITY
In theory, highly engineered systems can deliver improved performance. However, in practice excessive complexity often creates avoidable operational challenges, particularly in facilities with limited staffing or specialized expertise. Municipalities, especially smaller ones, frequently rely on lean teams responsible for managing multiple aspects of plant operation.
In some cases, operators must cover a wide range of responsibilities, from process control to mechanical maintenance and compliance reporting. In these environments, overly complex equipment can slow down maintenance, increase the likelihood of errors, and extend downtime.
Operators benefit from designs that require minimal specialized tools, use accessible and standardized components, follow intuitive, repeatable maintenance procedures and can be serviced efficiently in varying environmental conditions. Simplicity does not imply reduced performance. Rather, it reflects thoughtful engineering that prioritizes usability, alongside technical capability.
DESIGNING WITH THE OPERATOR IN MIND
A notable shift within Canada’s wastewater sector is the growing recognition that operators must be considered key stakeholders in system design. Operators bring valuable insights into system design. These include real-world maintenance challenges, access limitations within existing facilities, recurring service inefficiencies and practical considerations for day-to-day operation.
By incorporating this knowledge early in the design process, project teams can identify potential issues before they become long-term operational constraints. These discussions may lead to adjustments in equipment configuration, piping arrangements, or spatial layout to improve service accessibility.
For municipalities expanding within existing sites, this proactive approach is essential. Designing with maintenance in mind from the outset helps avoid costly retrofits and operational compromises later.
RELIABILITY CAN BE PSYCHOLOGICAL
Beyond mechanical performance, reliability also has a human dimension. Operators develop perceptions of equipment based on their maintenance experiences. Systems that are difficult to service, or associated with prolonged downtime, often become sources of frustration and hesitation. In contrast, equipment that is accessible, predictable, and straightforward builds trust.
For example, conventional pump designs often require removal of discharge piping and extensive disassembly, before accessing key wear components such as rotors and stators. These processes can be time-consuming and labour-intensive under normal conditions and even more challenging in cold or confined environments.
However, maintain-in-place designs offer a practical solution by allowing operators to access and replace wear parts, without removing connected piping. This approach reduces total maintenance time, labour requirements and exposure to difficult working conditions
For facilities with limited redundancy, even modest reductions in service duration can prevent cascading disruptions across treatment processes. More importantly, streamlined maintenance procedures reduce the burden on operators, who have to manage multiple critical systems simultaneously.
Remediation services to be showcased in the capital and in Top 25 Report
Ottawa, ON—Nelson Environmental Remediation, a leading environmental remediation company, is showcasing its capabilities for addressing complex contaminated sites at the 2026 RPIC National Summit in Ottawa on October 27–29.
The Summit brings together leaders and technical professionals from across Canada. As Canada’s federal government continues to identify, assess and remediate contaminated properties across the country, it is actively addressing environmental liabilities accumulated over decades while preparing for emerging challenges.
Nelson will exhibit technologies spanning mobile thermal remediation, high-resolution site characterization, in-situ remediation and industrial water treatment. The company is also advancing research and development into treatment solutions for persistent PFAS contamination in a project with NATO.
“Canada has an enormous range of contaminated-site challenges, from petroleum hydrocarbons and legacy industrial contamination to PFAS,” said Warren Nelson, CEO of Nelson Environmental Remediation. “There isn’t one technology that solves every site. The important thing is having the experience and range of tools to build the right solutions around complex problems. As a Canadian company, Nelson is equipped for these global challenges.”
For more than three decades, Nelson has deployed remediation solutions to contaminated sites in Canada and internationally. It now deploys the world’s largest mobile thermal remediation fleet. The company’s experience includes large-scale contaminated-soil projects, direct-fired and indirect thermal treatment, and applications in which remediation can also enable recycling or resource recovery in the energy, mining and automotive sectors.
Nelson has also expanded its below-ground capabilities, combining high-resolution site characterization with technologies including multi-phase extraction, soil vapour extraction, air sparging, thermal enhancement and chemical and biological amendments, along with industrial water treatment. Nelson representatives will be available throughout the RPIC National Summit to discuss federal contaminated sites, thermal remediation, in-situ treatment, water treatment and complex environmental projects.
The 2026 RPIC National Summit takes place October 27–29 in Ottawa. For further information on this event. Nelson Environmental’s remediation work on the Louis Bull First Nation project was featured in Environment Journal’s Top 25 Remediation Projects Report.
“SDTC had a big impact on the Toronto Stock Exchange. We used to have Industry Days and bring qualified investors in,” said Sharpe. “We had a portfolio of 290 cleantech companies and intellectual property from 44 different countries. We gathered global investors and Canadian companies to bridge the gap between research & development and venture capital.”
The latest entry is alarming: Canada’s Changing Climate Report 2026 (CCCR) was published by the federal government in September 2026, revealing that Canada has warmed 2.0°C overall (and 2.6°C in the North) over the past 75 years—rising at double the global rate. It warns that western Canadian glaciers are projected to lose more than 55% of their mass and largely disappear by 2100.
Join Environment Journal in recognizing over 200 years of environmental progress by exploring the timeline and sharing your contributions at: environmentjournal.ca/the-history-of-the-environment-in-canada/historical-timeline.
How CEOs are positioning for clean energy growth in Canadian communities
The conference program, presented by the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), puts investment, grid modernization, energy security, AI and data centres, and the need to build ahead of demand at the centre of the discussion, with energy operators facing mounting pressure to modernize while managing industry pressures.
The panel entitled “From the CEO’s Chair: Positioning Canada for clean energy growth” provided executive-level insight into the trends shaping Canada’s clean energy sector, including procurement activity, investment flows, satisfying new demand like AI data centres, Indigenous partnerships, supply chain dynamics and infrastructure readiness was illuminating.
The powerhouse panel included: David Eva, Chief Executive Officer of Capstone Infrastructure; Annette Verschuren, Chair of NRStor Inc; Manav Sharma, CEO of Nordex North America; Vincent Liu, Partner, Co-head CVC DIF North America, Infrastructure CVC DIF; and, Pierre-Olivier Perras, Managing Partner of Power Sustainable Energy Infrastructure Inc.
A few key takeaways:
- Energy Outlook – Canada’s installed capacity of clean energy stands at 25 gigawatts out of 150–160 gigawatts total. This is expected to rise to 37.5 gigawatts in five years and reach 100 gigawatts within ten years. Panelists highlighted the strength of the Canadian market due to long-term PPA stability, often spanning 25 to 35 years. Regarding procurement activity, there are strong signals in Quebec, BC, Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Manitoba, with a first project planned for New Brunswick next year.
- Demand Drivers – There are concerns regarding the massive electricity demand driven by AI and data centers, noting it could potentially outpace the needs of the rest of the economy. Decentralization and distributed energy resources, such as home batteries and solar panels, might be necessary solutions. While data centres fuel demand, significant infrastructure challenges remain regarding grid integration and interprovincial transmission agreements, particularly in the Maritimes. Alberta remains a primary opportunity due to its deregulated market.
- Community Partnerships – Successful project development requires building capacity and establishing equity ownership with First Nations. There was an emphasis on the importance of providing communities with equity positions to fund medical and educational facilities, the need for developers to listen to communities through a “seven generations” lens,and moving beyond mere consultation to true capacity building and profit-sharing.
- Challenges remain regarding how to effectively integrate large-scale data centre loads into existing grids and how to manage the debt and inflation challenges currently facing some industry startups.
- Financing big builds
- The session on “$200 billion and counting: Financing the big build” focused on how Canada has assembled one of the most ambitious clean energy financing toolkits in its history. Investment tax credits covering up to 30 per cent of eligible capital costs, low-cost public financing and expanded Indigenous loan guarantee programs are expected to help mobilize more than $200 billion in private capital investment over the next decade.
- For project developers, investors and Indigenous partners, however, navigating this growing capital stack can be complex. This session provides a practical guide to the financing tools available today, how they interact with one another and the role they can play in supporting successful project development and financing.
- Robert Nicholson, Canada Head and Managing Director of Power, Utilities, and Infrastructure at RBC Capital Markets and Jackie Forrest, Executive Director of the ARC Energy Research Institute had a dynamic discussion about financing challenges and solutions.
- “These days change is driven by two things: the adoption of electricity for transportation and the data centre issue,” said Robert.
- Jackie asked if he thinks financing will actually reach the $200B mark. “Yes, and I advise my three daughters get into the power business. It will be bigger than $200 billion.”
- However, Robert clarified some assumptions. “When we talk about capital it’s not all the same. It’s a matter of risk and a risk profile that generally includes these components,” he explained. He outlined the various components: development equity; interim equity capital, which includes getting deposits and developing the vision; construction equity; and operating equity. The debt factors into the construction part of the project, and “when you’re building an asset, the lender wants you to have equity in the deal.”
The conversation turned to specific projects, including Fervo Energy (Nasdaq: FRVO), a leader in next-generation enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). The company went public in May 2026 with the largest clean energy IPO in Wall Street history.
“We caught lightening in a bottle – we aimed to raise 1.5 and we got 2.2 billion. There’s a lot of momentum,” said Robert, who attributes this to the expectations of consistent load growth in geothermal and the need to service massive energy needs for projects such as data centres – it doesn’t depend on wind or sun.
Developing mega projects
When it comes to “Renewables + transmission: Unlocking bankable electricity megaprojects,” Canada’s best renewable energy resources are only valuable if the electricity can reach customers. Transmission is not a supporting piece of the clean energy transition; it is the backbone. Without it, projects are delayed, investment is constrained and clean energy potential remains stranded.
This session explored how developers, utilities and investors are structuring projects that combine renewable generation with transmission expansion. Speakers will discuss emerging development models, financing considerations and the role integrated infrastructure planning can play in unlocking Canada’s next generation of electricity megaprojects.
Charlene Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of Energy NL and Frank Davis, Canada Country Head of Pattern Energy provided insights into the state of the industry.
“Everyone is excited for the big builds ahead – it’s akin to the building of the national railway,” said Frank, discussing the massive U.S. infrastructure initiative SunZia Wind and Transmission. Developed by Pattern Energy and completed in June 2026, it is the largest renewable energy infrastructure project in U.S. history.
“Partnership and execution are critical,” he said. “Now bold leadership and innovation will take this to a whole new scale.”
Charlene noted how Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Tim Hodgson and Prime Minister Mark Carney are using Churchill Falls as a model for how we see major project, how to create new markets for energy. The clean energy project is the centrepiece of a historic nearly $70 billion trilateral agreement announced in August 2026 by Canada, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador. It replaces the contentious 1969 deal, backed by $10 billion in federal financing, to expand total renewable capacity to 14,000 MW.
Charlene asked about one important area to focus on for the next 25 years.
“Private capital is important. We have looked to rate payer to finance our projects. Is it even possible for the New Brunswick rate payer to shoulder the cost of these big expensive projects? We have massive electricity load and demand due to AI and data centres and it is transformational to our society but ratepayers would be challenged to pay for this change,” stated Robert.
Environment Journal will continue to report on key takeaways from ETC 2026 over the coming weeks.
ETC puts clean energy development front and centre
The conference followed the release of CanREA’s Clean Power Nation report, which found that affordability is Canadians’ top priority when it comes to new electricity supply. With electricity demand growing, wind, solar and energy storage offer affordable, reliable, clean and quickly deployable solutions that can help keep costs down for Canadian families and businesses. Speakers at ETC emphasized that stable policies, effective regulations and timely procurement must be the foundation of Canada’s big electricity buildout.
“Canadians want affordable electricity, and that’s what wind, solar and energy storage can help deliver,” said Vittoria Bellissimo, President and CEO of the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA). “This week’s conference showed an industry ready to build the affordable, reliable, clean power Canada needs, creating jobs, supporting Canadian businesses and strengthening our energy security.”
ETC kicked off with a keynote conversation on the state of the global wind industry with Bellissimo and José Luis Blanco, CEO of the Nordex Group and Chair of WindEurope from 2023 to 2025. The program also featured Perry Bellegarde, former chief of the Assembly of First Nations, and Jigar Shah in conversation with Lindsay Patrick, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at RBC Capital Markets, who discussed the technological, policy and regulatory innovations critical to accelerating the energy transition.
Other featured speakers included Annette Verschuren, founder and chair of NRStor; Carolyn Calwell, CEO of the Ontario Energy Board; and Jennifer Williams, president and CEO of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro.
The show floor featured new exhibitors and innovations from companies in solar, wind and energy storage. The Indigenous Pavilion once again showcased the Indigenous-led projects and partnerships shaping the country’s clean energy transition. The Brazilian and Italian Pavilions, new to this year’s event, spotlighted companies from each country bringing their technology and expertise to Canada’s clean energy market.
The week opened with the second annual CanREA Awards, which recognize the projects, companies and people moving Canada’s clean power sector forward. This year’s winners span four provinces, from Saskatchewan to PEI.
“The growth at ETC this year tells a clear story, that the people and companies expanding Canada’s clean energy industry want to be in the same room, solving problems together,” said Stephen Miner, President & CEO of RE+ Events. “We’re grateful to our attendees, exhibitors, sponsors and partners, and we can’t wait to be back in 2027.”
Beyond the main stage, delegates chose from five conference streams covering everything from capital, procurement and Indigenous economic partnership to social licence, grid modernization and the supply chain behind Canada’s big build. In CanREA’s cross-country checkup, the association’s regional policy directors compared notes on procurement, policy and public opinion from coast to coast.
ETC is a partnership between the Canadian Renewable Energy Association (CanREA), RE+ Events, and the Italian German Exhibition Company Canada. The event will return to the Enercare Centre in Toronto, October 25–27, 2027. For further information about ETC 2027.
ECCO Recycling Facility Fire: updates and progress
The landfill fire was reported on Sept. 6, 2026, at the ECCO recycling facility in southeast Calgary. Unlike structure fires, landfill fires can burn deep below the surface for extended periods. These fires require specialized suppression methods, heavy equipment, continuous monitoring and significant amounts of soil to isolate and extinguish burning material.
With an estimated volume of one million cubic metres, the affected area is approximately 43,000 square metres, about the size of eight Canadian Football League (CFL) football fields, with some areas reaching 20 metres in height.
It is estimated that over 27000 cubic meters of soil have been applied to the slope since the start of the operation. Fire crews have not required water to extinguish any hot spots for over two weeks as soil capping has been effective at suppressing the fire. Heavy equipment has been used to reshape areas for more effective soil capping, and the soil cap is estimated to be at 95%.
Residents may continue to see smoke, odours or occasional visible flames. These flare-ups are an expected part of the suppression process as crews access and extinguish buried burning material.
Our efforts remain focused on actions that reduce smoke impact on neighbouring communities. This includes identifying hot spots, applying water where required and using soil to cap and smother remaining areas of fire.
Remediation Technology News and Resource
(The following are selected items from the US EPA’s Tech Direct – http://clu-in.org/techdirect/
Upcoming Live Internet Seminars
October 27 – ITRC: Introduction to Hydrocarbons
October 28 – Federal Facilities Online Academy: Role of Superfund Performance Measures
November 3 – Vapor Intrusion Mitigation (VIM-1) – A Two Part Series: Session 2
November 12 – PFAS Sorption Based Technologies for Separation & Concentration of PFAS from Water
November 18 – Federal Facilities Online Academy: Coordinating with Tribes at Federal Facilities
December 2 – Federal Facilities Online Academy: Determining Applicable or Relevant and Appropriate Requirements (ARARs) in RODs
December 3 – Understanding Vapor Intrusion -Introductory Concepts & Fundamentals – A Two Part Series: Session 2
December 15 – FRTR Fall 2026 General Meeting: Recent Developments in PFAS Remediation Technologies
Focused Remediation Seminars – CLICK HERE
November 5 – Focused Remediation Seminars (FRS) Virtual Webinar
New Documents and Web Resources
New ESAA Member News
ERA FUNDING CALL INFORMAITON – CLICK HERE
ECO CANADA – 15 FREE hours of HR Consulting with ECO Canada and the Government of Alberta –CLICK HERE
** If you have any questions contact ECO Canada @ MEDIA@ECO.CA
New ESAA Member
ESAA welcomes the following new member. If you are not a member of ESAA you can join now via: https://esaa.org/join-esaa/
** Membership Renewals for 2027 will be coming soon **
Upcoming Industry Events
Do you have an upcoming event? Be sure to add it to the ESAA Calendar – CLICK HERE
Do you have an upcoming event? Be sure to share it on the ESAA Calendar –
- Wilder Voices – November 5, 2026 – CLICK HERE
- ECOWorks Career Fair – November 18, 2026 – CLICK HERE
- CBN Brownie Awards – November 24, 2026 –CLICK HERE
- CANECT West 2026 – November 25/26, 2026 in Calgary – CLICK HERE ESAA Discount Code ESAA26
Upcoming Procurement Opportunity – Fall 2026 -The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP);
Identification of Remediation Options for Mercury Contamination in the English and Wabigoon Rivers System and Development of a Long-Term Monitoring Plan – ** CLICK HERE
ESAA Job Board
ESAA Members can post ads for free. – CLICK HERE
Current Listings:
- Environmental Project Manager, Arletta Environmental Consulting Corp.
- Project Manger – Remediation and Reclamation Team, North Shore Environmental Consultants Inc.
- Environmental Professional, City of Edmonton
- Senior Project Lead – Impacted Sites (Environmental Site Assessment & Remediation), Omni-McCann Inc.
- Intermediate Environment Specialist, Summit, An Earth Services Company
- Labourer – Summit Decommissioning Services (x3)
- Equipment Operator – Pipeline/Facility Abandonment and Pipeline Repairs – Summit Decommissioning Services
- Biologist Consultant, Summit, An Earth Services Company