Press Releases

Hemmera Welcomes New Shareholders
April 24, 2013
Geographical Expansion: Hemmera Grows Presence in Yukon and Alberta
November 16, 2012
Another Brownie Award Win for Hemmera: SOLEfood Farm Project
October 22, 2012
Green Light for AltaGas’ McLymont Creek Project: Environmental Approval Secured
July 12, 2012
Hemmera Celebrates First-Ever Environmental Management Award: Brownfield Planning Charettes for Former Service Station Sites
June 26, 2012
Hemmera Celebrates Coveted Brownie Award - Prima Properties Wins for the Davie Village Community Garden
October 11, 2011
Tools for Changing Community Landscapes – www.brownfieldsbc.com
October 5, 2011
Hemmera Congratulates Community of Squamish in Next Phase of Brownfield Revitalization
June 21, 2011
Hemmera Secures Environmental Approval for Clean Drinking Water Source
June 13, 2011
One Step Closer to Creating a Toolkit for the Redevelopment of Former Service Stations
April 6, 2011

Vancouver, BC –  April 24, 2013 – Hemmera is pleased to announce that five long-standing, exemplary employees have become Hemmera’s newest shareholders: Anju Wicke, Malcolm Smith, Scott Weston, Greg Quandt, and George Meadows. These individuals were chosen because of their dedication, integrity and exceptional leadership.

“This change marks a new era for Hemmera. With this added leadership, we will continue to drive our growth and expand into new markets, sectors and geographies,” says President Paul Hemsley. “At Hemmera, our mission is to create opportunities for our people, our clients, and our business as we grow as a national environmental consultancy. The addition of dedicated shareholders is another step in the right direction.”

Hemmera is a Canadian boutique environmental consultancy that has been making a difference across the country and around the globe since 1994. Our 170 entrepreneurial, innovative staff have grown together and are leaders in environmental science, management and engineering. For Hemmera, creating opportunities for our clients and staff means going beyond technical services – we are trusted advisors to industry, First Nations and government, providing peace of mind through customized solutions.

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For more information:
Rhoni Whyard
Marketing and Communications Manager
604.669.0424 (264)
rwhyard@hemmera.com

Click here to view the related advertisement that appeared in the April 20th edition of the Vancouver Sun and the April 24th edition of the Calgary Herald.

Vancouver, BC – November 16, 2012 – Hemmera’s presence is growing across Western and Northern Canada, with the hiring of three senior staff members in our Calgary office, and the launching of a new corporate presence in Whitehorse, Yukon.
 
Michael Muller, M.Sc., P.Biol. has joined Hemmera as Director, Northern Projects, and will be leading projects and providing expertise to our clients from Whitehorse, Yukon. During his eight years as the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board’s technical lead for the implementation of the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Act, Mr. Muller developed detailed insight into the assessment process in Yukon. Mr. Muller’s previous roles have included working for First Nations, Governments and the private sector.  He has provided assessment support, managed technical interventions, acted on behalf of project proponents, and participated in local and regional programs to collect baseline data across the Western Canadian Arctic. He has also been involved in environmental site assessments, and has delineated and remediated contaminated sites in the Northwest Territories and in the Yukon.  
 
“I am particularly excited about the experience and talent that Hemmera can bring to bear for our Yukon clients,” says Mr. Muller. “My presence in Whitehorse will help us build connections that will benefit our clients and partners.”

In the last few months, we also welcomed two new project managers (both environmental engineers) and an environmental scientist to Hemmera’s Calgary office. By hiring three seasoned professionals, Hemmera hopes to strengthen relationships with existing and new clientele in Alberta. Our recent relocation to a larger, downtown office space will allow for future growth, be within close proximity to the business community, and improve our access to the Alberta marketplace.

“With our strong focus on safety and overall client satisfaction, these are indeed very exciting times for us in Alberta!” enthuses Don Wood, Hemmera’s Sector Leader for Oil and Gas. “We remain true to our company roots, but we are embracing the global changes to our business with a view to future growth.” 
         
The new additions to the Hemmera team will provide additional project reach and support for our valued clients, and will position Hemmera to increase our communications and services in all sectors.  With the development of Hemmera’s two newest staff locations, we are on target with our geographical expansion goals.

As a multi-faceted firm with a strong focus on people, we take pride in hiring and retaining some of the most respected professionals in the environmental industry. In addition to the Calgary and Whitehorse locations, offices in Vancouver, Burnaby and Victoria continue to strengthen all Lines of Businesses; we have many exciting career opportunities available on our website.

With nearly 170 staff in five offices, Hemmera looks forward to further growth and advancement, both in terms of our depth of services and our geographical presence. With every step of our development, we further our vision of making a difference across the country and around the globe.

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Media Contact
Eric K. Pringle, Vice President, Development
Hemmera
604.669.0424 or epringle@hemmera.com

About Hemmera
Hemmera is a boutique environmental consulting firm that is recognized for its strong client focus, diverse expertise, and technical excellence. We act as a trusted partner to our clients, providing solutions that safeguard the environment and the community, while advancing economic opportunities. The strength of our team has made us the firm of choice for some of the largest environmental projects in Western and Northern Canada. www.hemmera.com 

Vancouver, BC – October 22, 2012 – Hemmera, in partnership with SOLEfood Farm, is thrilled to have received a Brownie Award for Best Large-Scale Project. The award was presented to “SOLEfood Farm: Interim Brownfield Use as Urban Agriculture” by the Canadian Urban Institute (CUI) at a gala dinner during this month's Canadian Brownfields conference. This is Hemmera’s second partnership to be recognized by the CUI; in 2011, Hemmera shared a Best Small Project Brownie Award for the Davie Village Community Garden with Prima Properties.

CUI’s annual Brownie Awards recognize leadership, innovation and environmental sustainability in brownfields redevelopment across Canada. The Brownie Awards are among the highest accolades in the Canadian brownfields industry.

Established in 2009, SOLEfood Farm is an innovative agricultural enterprise that provides employment and training opportunities for individuals from the downtown eastside of Vancouver. Farming is completed on vacant commercial or industrial brownfield properties that are contaminated and/or undergoing remediation. Five locations in downtown Vancouver currently sell SOLEFood’s fresh organic produce to local farmers’ markets and restaurants.

As SOLEfood Farm expands to additional properties, Hemmera’s Brownfield and risk assessment experts have been assisting with the evaluation and management of the sites and potential issues. In a first for Hemmera, we submitted an application on behalf of SOLEfood Farm to the BC Brownfield Renewal Strategy Program, and were delighted that SOLEfood was one of 24 successful BC recipients of the $1.64 million in total funding awarded. This funding will be used to conduct risk assessment activities on three sites in the City of Vancouver, and will potentially allow for an expansion of operations. Additionally, the City of Vancouver and several business development groups have been supportive of the SOLEfood initiative.  

“This is a great example of an interim land use on a former industrial or commercial property”, says Eric K. Pringle, Vice President of Development for Hemmera. “The triple bottom line aspects of the SOLEfood Farm work have resonated with so many people. It is another win-win-win project for the organization, the community, and the local government. The SOLEfood program is a great aspect of the City of Vancouver’s initiative to be the Greenest City by 2020.”

Mr. Pringle is also the Director and Vice President of the Canadian Brownfields Network, an organization that supported and participated in the CUI conference. While attending the two-day event in Niagara Falls, ON, Mr. Pringle and Peter Reid, who spoke on our work with SOLEfood Farms at the conference, received positive feedback from peers and industry professionals in regards to the success of the SOLEfood Farm project.  

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Project Information:
Eric K. Pringle, Vice President, Development
Hemmera
604.669.0424 | epringle@hemmera.com

About Hemmera
Hemmera is a boutique environmental consulting firm that is recognized for its strong client focus, diverse expertise, and technical excellence. We act as a trusted partner to our clients, providing solutions that safeguard the environment and the community, while advancing economic opportunities. The strength of our team has made us the firm of choice for some of the largest environmental projects in Western and Northern Canada. www.hemmera.com

About SOLEfood Farm
SOLEfood Farm is a non-profit urban agriculture initiative that employs and provides training opportunities for Vancouver’s inner-city residents. The enterprise presents a successful self-supporting model of innovative agriculture within an urban context. SOLEfood not only provides rewarding employment for persons with various challenges, but also revitalizes neighbourhoods and supplies fresh produce to city residents. http://1sole.wordpress.com/

 

Vancouver, BC – July 10, 2012 – Hemmera would like to congratulate AltaGas on obtaining their Environmental Assessment Certificate for the McLymont Creek Hydroelectric Project, located approximately 100 km north of Stewart, BC. The project will provide a reliable, long-term and renewable source of energy for the BC electrical grid. Hemmera was pleased to provide environmental assessment support to AltaGas though the provincial and federal processes and looks forward to working with AltaGas again in the future.

“Our team at AltaGas is excited about the issuance of the EA certificate for McLymont; it is a major accomplishment for the Project team and another important milestone for our Northwest Projects. AltaGas would like to extend our thanks to the consultants that worked on McLymont Project on our behalf. Job well done,” says Travis Anderson, AltaGas’s Project Manager for the McLymont and Volcano Creek projects.

Hemmera’s environmental consultants are proud to be part of a project that will help off-set close to hundreds of thousands of tons of greenhouse gas annually, while providing power to the northwest region of the province of BC.

“Congratulations to AltaGas as they move forward with their plan to supply renewable energy to BC’s northwest. Obtaining an Environmental Assessment Certificate is a major milestone for this project, and we’re proud to have helped AltaGas with their success,” says Tobin Seagel, Hemmera’s project manager, who worked closely with the AltaGas project team.

McLymont Creek is the second renewable energy project for which AltaGas has received approvals in the region, following the Forest Kerr Project. Hemmera is providing support to AltaGas on their third proposed project – the Volcano Creek hydroelectric Project – which is currently undergoing a provincial environmental review.   
 
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Contact Information:

Tobin Seagel, Project Manager
604.669.0424 | tseagel@hemmera.com

Stephanie Hun, Marketing & Communications
604.669.0424 | shun@hemmera.com  
 

AltaGas Ltd.

AltaGas' McLymont Creek project will capture the energy produced by the natural flow and elevation drop of the creek to produce clean, renewable power to BC Hydro. The project has an impact benefit agreement in place with the Tahltan First Nation.
www.altagas.ca/

About Hemmera

Hemmera is a boutique environmental consulting firm that is recognized for its strong client focus, diverse expertise, and technical excellence. We act as a trusted partner to our clients, providing solutions that safeguard the environment and the community, while advancing economic opportunities. The strength of our team has made us the firm of choice for some of the largest environmental projects in Western and Northern Canada. Hemmera has office locations in Vancouver, Burnaby, Victoria and Calgary. www.hemmera.com  

Vancouver, BC – June 26, 2012 – Hemmera is thrilled to share our excitement as winner of the Environmental Manager’s Association (EMA) 2012 Environmental Management Award for best Organizational Environmental Program in BC.  We share in this award win with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, the BC Environment Industry Association and the Canadian Petroleum Producers Industry.

The EMA’s inaugural Environmental Management Awards program held last week at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver recognizes four distinct categories that have helped shape the province’s environmental industry: Environmental Assessment, Site Remediation, Emission Control, Technological Innovation, Regulatory Challenge Award and Organizational Environmental Programs. Amongst the winning entries showcasing environmental excellence in achievement and management are ALS in the category of Regulatory Challenge, Tervita for Site Remediation, Coast Mountain Bus for Emission Control and Exova for Technological Innovation. 

Vice President of Development, Eric K. Pringle accepted the award on behalf of the team, “We are proud of the accomplishments made in brownfield development throughout BC. To be able to create a collaborative environment bringing municipal representatives together with those who can provide guidance on how to move these sites closer to redevelopment was part of an ongoing effort for our province. Our goal is to encourage the redevelopment of brownfield sites and this is a milestone event for the brownfield planning charette team. The profile we are receiving for our work is critical to moving this agenda forward and brainstorming different interim land uses."

Hemmera with support from the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations helped to initiate this project through the BC Brownfield Renewal Strategy.  Facilitated by Hemmera, two charettes have taken place in the communities of Nanaimo and Vanderhoof. Seen as a unique opportunity, the project helped bring together municipal, community association, land development, petroleum and government agency participants for two days of collaborative discussion in an effort to outline opportunities for the revitalization of former service station sites within their communities. As a result, dialogue and feedback from the charettes has led to a centralized online resource hub - the BC Toolkit for Former Service Stations website. The website was formally launched by the Minister back in Fall 2011 at the Union of BC Municipalities Conference.

“We know that former gas stations are the most common type of brownfield in BC – and that addressing contamination can turn them from eyesores to amenities,” explains Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson. “By creating this toolkit website we’re helping local governments address these sites and turn them into opportunities for redevelopment.”

Hemmera was also pleased to have been selected as a finalist in the Site Remediation Category for our work on the South Fraser Perimeter Beta Landfill project. 
 
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Contact Information:
Stephanie Hun, Marketing & Communications
P: 604.669.0424 or E: shun@hemmera.com  

About Hemmera

Hemmera is a boutique environmental consulting firm that is recognized for its strong client focus, diverse expertise, and technical excellence. We act as a trusted partner to our clients, providing solutions that safeguard the environment and the community, while advancing economic opportunities. The strength of our team has made us the firm of choice for some of the largest environmental projects in Western and Northern Canada. Hemmera has office locations in Vancouver, Burnaby, Victoria and Calgary. www.hemmera.com  

Vancouver, BC – October 7, 2011 – Hemmera shares our excitement with Prima Properties over the Brownie Award win given to the Davie Village Community Garden. This award, for Best Small Project, was presented by the Canadian Urban Insitute at the gala dinner during this week’s Canadian Brownfields conference.  The Canadian Urban Institute's annual Brownie Awards program recognizes leadership, innovation and environmental sustainability in brownfields redevelopment across Canada; the Brownie Awards are among the highest accolades in the Canadian brownfields industry.

The Davie Village Community Garden is made up of 135 plots which are licensed to gardeners and community groups. Locals are savouring the green public space. The lot, which is located at the corner of Burrard Street and Davie Street in downtown Vancouver, was once home to a Shell gas station and a mini mall.

Prima Properties is planning to redevelop the site, but regulatory processes and permitting will take time. At one point, a surface parking lot was being considered; however, through consultation with local business and resident groups, the developers became convinced that a garden was the best choice for the community. According to Prima Properties’ David Buddle, “The success of the garden can be largely attributed to the green thumbs of the local gardeners.  Prima is pleased to be able to provide this temporary community amenity for the benefit of the residents of Vancouver.”

Hemmera was retained by Prima Properties to provide environmental consulting services, and will assist with the regulatory processes that are necessary to enable site development.  “We are proud to have been part of this now nationally-recognized project”, says Eric K. Pringle, Vice President of Development at Hemmera. “The conference was an exciting event for Hemmera and for me. It was capped off with the award and public viewing of our Brownfield video. I want to congratulate Prima Properties and the many other winners and nominated projects. We were in great company." Eric is also the Director of the Canadian Brownfields Network, an organization that supported and participated in the event in partnership with CUI. In his brief comments after the award for Best Small Project was announced, Eric linked the award to Hemmera's commitment to their clients and their communities.

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Project Information:
Eric K. Pringle, Vice President – Development
P: 604.669.0424 or E: epringle@hemmera.com

 

About Hemmera
Hemmera is a boutique environmental consulting firm that is recognized for its strong client focus, diverse expertise, and technical excellence. We act as a trusted partner to our clients, providing solutions that safeguard the environment and the community, while advancing economic opportunities. The strength of our team has made us the firm of choice for some of the largest environmental projects in Western Canada. Hemmera is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. www.hemmera.com

About Prima Properties
The Prima Properties Family of Companies is an established, private real estate development company with its operations focused primarily in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. Prima’s experience in real estate development and construction began in 1987, providing a solid foundation, focus and direction in the industry.  Prima takes immense pride in our track record of award-winning landmark projects and continues our tradition of creating distinctive collections of quality homes in vibrant neighbourhoods.

Vancouver, BC – October 5, 2011 - Hemmera congratulates the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources’ Brownfield Renewal Strategy Group on the launch of the Former Service Station Toolkit. The new toolkit is a website with resources for local governments, private citizens, real estate professionals, and others interested in seeing former gas station properties revitalized.

Tools available on the new website include a roadmap to legislation and funding programs, directories of company contacts, and case study examples of interim uses for former service station sites. The site will create social, environmental and economic awareness, and support community based action on brownfield properties.

When left undeveloped and idle for long periods of time, former service stations can scar a neighborhood; however, once put back into productive use, these sites can fuel economic development, increase tax revenues and provide social benefits to a community. Following the official announcement at last week’s Union of BC Municipalities conference, a press release was issued by the Province of BC. Steve Thomson, BC’s Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, says, “We need to look at brownfields, such as former gas stations, as opportunities. The Province wants to help local governments tap into brownfields’ potential to revitalize neighbourhoods and contribute to local economies.”

Hemmera is proud to have played a role in this endeavour; we were engaged by the Province of BC and partnered with the BC Environment Industry Association to create the toolkit. The result of this partnership is a website that will guide, inform, and support stakeholders with their former service station redevelopment projects. ”Much of the brownfield focus to date has been on large former industrial properties,” says Kate Branch, Project Director and one of Hemmera’s brownfields experts. “In many cases, however, it’s the small, centrally-located, idle properties that truly impact communities.  By fully engaging owners, stakeholders, local leaders, government agencies and others in the toolkit development process, we believe we have compiled a useful suite of resources that will help stakeholders take a pro-active role in redeveloping of old gas station sites.  Encouraging and realizing new uses for these old properties – whether it be for full redevelopment or an interim use – will provide economic, social and environmental benefits for entire communities.”

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Contact Information:
Kate Branch, Project Director
P: 604.669.0424 or E: kbranch@hemmera.com

Eric K. Pringle, Vice President – Operations
P: 604.669.0424 or E: epringle@hemmera.com

About Hemmera
Hemmera is a boutique environmental consulting firm that is recognized for its strong client focus, diverse expertise, and technical excellence. We act as a trusted partner to our clients, providing solutions that safeguard the environment and the community, while advancing economic opportunities. The strength of our team has made us the firm of choice for some of the largest environmental projects in Western Canada. Hemmera is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia. www.hemmera.com

About the BC Brownfield Renewal Strategy
The purpose of the Strategy is to help reduce risk and uncertainty in brownfield redevelopment and create a more streamlined approvals environment for brownfield projects. Since 2007, the Brownfield Renewal Funding Program has supported 21 local governments and regional districts to begin brownfield redevelopment projects.   For more information visit: www.brownfieldrenewal.gov.bc.ca or call the B.C. Brownfield Renewal Information Line at: 1 877 787-9730.

Squamish, BC – June 21, 2011 - Hemmera congratulates the Squamish Oceanfront Development Corporation (SODC)’s GBA site on being one of 14 redevelopment projects accepted into the 2011 Brownfield Funding Renewal Program, administered by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. Formerly used for industrial operations such as railway and logging, this site will benefit greatly from funding. This will feed into the site’s proposed renewal as a residential area as part of the SODC’s overall park, employment and residential development plan for the 59 acres of former industrial land extending from downtown Squamish and forming a peninsula fronting Howe Sound, the Mamquam Blind Channel and the Cattermole Slough.

This acceptance is an enormous opportunity for the District of Squamish. SODC Board Chair Bill McNeney enthused, “This exciting project is an important part of the redevelopment and renewal plan for the SODC lands. The SODC is grateful to the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations for their significant contribution towards bringing this project into reality and initiating a key transformational step for the Community of Squamish.”

Brownfield Renewal Funding will move the environmental investigation and remediation process forward at this Site, with funding granted specifically for Stage 1 and 2 Preliminary Site Investigations and a Detailed Site Investigation. Hemmera project staff have previously worked with the SODC on different parts of these Brownfield lands, including managing the decontamination and decommissioning of a former waste water treatment plant (the ‘Blue Barn’, which received 2010 Brownfield Renewal Funding), and the application for an approval under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act for the development of an Oceanfront Park. “We’re thrilled that SODC received this funding. It will allow them to address more of their Brownfield areas, ultimately contributing towards the development of this unique and sustainable community” says Greg Quandt, Business Leader at Hemmera, who has facilitated work between Hemmera’s planning and management, and engineering and sciences groups, on behalf of the SODC.

The final step in the project process could include an application for a Certificate of Compliance from the BC Ministry of the Environment, the awarding of which would signify that the risks associated with the site have been addressed. Once a Certificate is obtained, the site will be ready to be re-incorporated into the community of Squamish, and will help create a vibrant, sustainable, world-class “work-live-recreate” community showcasing the spirit, cultural heritage, and values of surrounding Squamish citizens.

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Contact Information:
Claire Lewis, Senior Environmental Engineer
P: 604.669.0424 or E: clewis@hemmera.com

About Brownfield Funding Renewal Program
Since the Brownfield Funding Renewal Program’s inception in 2007, 44 projects in 32 communities have received $3.4 million to support Brownfield redevelopment. As one of 14 successful projects in 2011, the GBA Site Renewal project has received $121,500 of funding towards the revitalization of this Brownfield, which will provide economic, environmental, and social benefits for the community of Squamish.  www.sodc.ca

Vancouver, BC – June 13, 2011 – Hemmera has secured another environmental approval, this time for a groundwater extraction project in the City of Abbotsford. The Bevan Avenue Wells project will provide a clean, reliable source of water for Abbotsford and Mission over the next five years.

“Throughout the EA process for the Bevan Wells Project, Hemmera provided expert advice and guidance to the Abbotsford Mission Water Sewer Commission on environmental issues, First Nations and stakeholder consultation activities, and mitigation plans.” said Tracy Kyle, Director of Water and Solid Waste at City of Abbotsford. “Their work on this project has been a key factor in the resulting environmental approval from the Province.”

About The Bevan Wells Project
The Bevan Avenue Wells Project is part of the Abbotsford Mission Water & Sewer System, which supplies water to over 200,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Fraser Valley. The system includes a mix of surface water and groundwater sources. Faced with water shortages from recent dry summer months, an interim groundwater source was needed to meet demands for the City of Abbotsford and the District of Mission.

“The Bevan Wells are a crucial component of the Abbotsford and Mission water supply system,” said Mayor George Peary, Chair of the Abbotsford Mission Water Sewer Commission. “Our communities are facing major water supply issues and Bevan Wells will assist with helping to address those shortages until a new water supply is secured.”

The capacity of four existing water wells will now be upgraded to allow an increase in capacity of over 300 percent more litres per second, creating an opportunity to meet summer peak demands. With the Bevan Avenue Wells moving forward, the system is now prepared to tackle increased demand on the system due to seasonal dry weather and unplanned outages in other parts of the water system.

Hemmera Helps Make It Happen
Hemmera’s role in preparing the application submissions included conducting environmental and social impact studies, developing mitigation, and liaising with local communities and First Nations. After a thorough review of the environmental assessment, the Environmental Assessment Offices (EAO) gave the project the green light last month, concluding that the project would have no significant environmental, social or health effects on the surrounding areas.

Some creeks in the Abbotsford area are connected to the aquifer from which the Bevan Wells will draw water. Hemmera helped to secure approval from Fisheries and Oceans Canada by developing a way to ensure that fish and fish habitat are not affected by the use of the Bevan Wells. During dry periods when creek flows are low, the City of Abbotsford will supplement the flows in two creeks by drawing from two new nearby mitigation wells, and by using a sophisticated real-time monitoring system that activates the mitigation wells as soon as the creek flows fall below a threshold.

“This approval is the result of several years of work to identify and address any potential environmental issues in order to help this project move forward,” said Brian Yates, Hemmera’s Business Leader of Planning & Management. “Responsible management of groundwater resources is an important issue for the Province of BC. We’re thrilled to see this project obtain approval, and happy that the end solution will provide a much-needed additional clean water source in the Fraser Valley.”

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Media Enquiries
Sheila Jordan, Director, Marketing
Phone: 604.669.0424 ext. 138 or sjordan@hemmera.com
 

Nanaimo, BC – April 6, 2011 – The harbour city of Nanaimo hosted two days of collaborative discussion as part of a Pilot Brownfield Planning Charette on Former Service Stations. The first of its kind in BC, the Charette is part of an ongoing project initiated by the Ministry of Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations through its BC Brownfield Renewal Strategy to develop a toolkit to assist with the redevelopment of former service stations. The event was facilitated by Hemmera’s leading brownfield experts, Eric Pringle and Kate Branch and the charette received positive reviews from many participants. Rob Lawrance, Environmental Planner with the City of Nanaimo comments, “I have gained a much better understanding of the perspective from the energy companies, as well as the provincial government on what their needs are to consider a reuse for these properties. I was pleased to see that there was interest to begin a dialogue which can lead to some innovative ideas on how to move forward”.

The Pilot Brownfield Planning Charette was a unique opportunity to bring together municipal, community association, land development, petroleum and government agency participants. Discussions were focussed on options available for vacant service station sites within the City of Nanaimo. The outcomes of the event will be used as building blocks in the creation of the toolkit for other municipalities to provide guidance in restoring sites back into useable land. Facilitator, Eric Pringle noted, “The two days were very productive, we had an open dialogue between everyone around the table and the information shared will be valuable in creating a respected framework for future use”.

The toolkit is being developed by Hemmera in association with the BC Environmental Industry Association, the Province’s Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Resources Operations, Ministry of the Environment, and the Canadian Petroleum Products Institute. Just recently, the BC Brownfield Renewal Strategy and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations launched the 4th intake of the Brownfield Renewal Funding Program. Applications are being accepted until the end of April. This is a program that will strengthen the brownfield community and provide additional advantages towards redeveloping former service stations.

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Contact Information:
Kate Branch, Project Director
E: kbranch@hemmera.com P: 604.669.0424