Press Releases

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
Banding Together to Develop a Service Station Toolkit
September 14, 2010
Hemmera Contributing to a Charitable Cause
August 25, 2010
Celebrating Our Waters on World Oceans Day
June 11, 2010

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.

- ### -
 

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.”

- ### -

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.

- ### -

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.”

-### -

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.

- ### -

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

Vancouver, BC – September 14 – The Province of BC, along with its partners the Canadian Petroleum Producers Institute and the Union of BC Municipalities are engaging Hemmera and the BC Environment Industry Association to develop BC’s  first-ever Redevelopment Framework and Toolkit for former service station properties.  

Approximately 40% of the calls to the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands’ Brownfield Renewal Strategy information line are regarding former service stations.  The need for increased knowledge and reduced uncertainty has been identified as a priority by government, industry, and the private sector.  
 
In the coming months, we will host interactive engagement sessions with stakeholders to obtain guidance on what is needed to facilitate remediation and ultimate redevelopment of former service station properties. Some of the posed questions will include: "What are the challenges and barriers facing individuals trying to bring under-utilized and abandoned properties into productive use?” "What products, tools, policies, education materials, and funding are needed to create value and increase the potential for redevelopment?” Sessions will be held in late October, January and May. 
 
We encourage property owners, provincial and local government officials, developers, real estate professionals, contaminated sites specialists, and anyone interested in promoting the redevelopment of former service station properties to participate in these interactive workshops.
 
If you are interested in being involved, please feel free to call or email any of the contacts listed below.
 
- ### - 
 
Contact Information:
 
Kate Branch, Project Director
Hemmera
E: kbranch@hemmera.com
P: 604.669.0424
 
Virginia Holden, Manager, Brownfield Implementation
Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
E: Virginia.holden@gov.bc.ca
P: 250.896.1054
 
Tami Fur, Manager, Brownfield Implementation
Ministry of Agriculture and Lands
E: Tami.Fur@gov.bc.ca
P: 250.387.3707

Metro Vancouver, BC – August 25 – Hemmera staff across the company recently donated billable time to complete an environmental assessment for the future site of a Canuck Place Children’s Hospice in Abbotsford, BC. The Campus of Care site will provide 24/7 assistance and world-class palliative and respite care services in a warm and inviting environment. 

Hemmera’s team has assessed the site for potential contaminants, prior to the site being fully built-out. "We are proud to be a part of a special project that will give back to our community”, said Greg Quandt, business leader for environmental sciences and engineering at Hemmera. "This project will contribute to the growing legacy in long-term care Canuck Place has provided to over 370 children and teens with life threatening illnesses throughout the province”.
 
Hemmera has completed the work and has issued a report that summarizes if there are any environmental risks at the site. The Campus of Care site will be home to a children's hospice, an adult hospice and a long-term respite home for children with chronic illnesses. 
 
"On behalf of the Campus of Care partners, Abbotsford Hospice Society and Matthew's House, and Canuck Place Children's Hospice, I want to thank Hemmera for their assistance as we prepare the site of our future projects", stated Filomena Nalewajek, CEO of Canuck Place Children's Hospice.  
 
- ### - 
 

Relevant Links
Canuck Place
 

Vancouver, BC – June 11, 2010 – BC’s glass sponge reefs were recently announced this week as an Area of Interest in a special World Oceans Day announcement made by Fisheries and Oceans Minister Gail Shea. Hemmera has been working to support the protection and conservation of these reef systems, positioning them for designation as potential Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). Project director, Brian Yates comments, "Hemmera welcomes the World Oceans Day announcement by Minister Shea, and is proud to be working with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to move such an important initiative forward.”

While currently working with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Hemmera will continue to help develop an Overview and Assessment Report (OAR) on BC’s globally unique glass sponge reefs, located on the Pacific North Coast. The OAR will provide important knowledge on the ecological characteristics of these reefs, as well as information on the social, cultural and economic characteristics of the region around Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound that could be influenced by an MPA designation.

Hemmera’s work will provide a concise account of key information about the reefs and a broader understanding of human activities in the region. This research is important for subsequent decisions leading up to the government’s commitment of expanding, and establishing a national network of MPAs.

- ### -
 
Relevant Links

World Oceans Day, Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Move to Protect BC’s Glass Sponge Reefs, Globe and Mail
Canada’s Oceans, Government of Canada
World Oceans Day, The Oceans Project