Room: Katimavik D

Additional Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations are being implemented in the Yukon, and considered in the Northwest Territories, as well as being implemented or expanded in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. They will change the landscape of solid waste management as they transfer the responsibility of collecting and recycling materials from municipalities to the companies that make these products. With the goals of preventing and reducing the waste that goes to landfill, and supporting the effective implementation of all EPR programs in the North, the workshop will bring together the range of stakeholders necessary to a well-functioning EPR ecosystem to:

• learn from success stories that have reduced and better managed waste in Northern, remote and Indigenous communities, in an EPR context; and,
• explore potential economic development opportunities within and between these communities – opportunities to prevent and manage more waste, and increase circularity in the Northern economy.

Sponsored by 

Buses sponsored by 

Tours sponsored by 

Tour 1 (SOLD OUT): Yellowknife Solid Waste Facility including ‘YKEA’, Transfer Station, City Compost site and Giant Mine Tour, 2:00 – 4:00 pm      

Northern waste challenges require northern solutions. In this tour, the City of Yellowknife’s Solid Waste Facility will share their experiences with managing solid waste as well as their plans for the future.  The tour of the Solid Waste Facility will include a visit to the beloved Public Drop Off Area, the engineered cells, the compost pad and other processing areas. Discussion topics include the progression from baling to compacting waste, waste wood to energy initiatives and long-term planning for the site.  

This tour also includes a trip down the road to Giant Mine, the biggest remediation project in Canada!  Many partners are working together in an effort to be stewards of the environment while ensuring that the project is done efficiently and effectively.

Waste management requires input from the private, municipal and federal entities in order to be successful.  Participants will see this first hand on this tour.

Tour 2: Yellowknife Solid Waste Facility including ‘YKEA’, Transfer Station and City Compost site
First group (2A) from 2:00 – 3:15 pm 
Second group (2B) from 3:00 – 4:15 pm

In this tour, the City of Yellowknife’s Solid Waste Facility will share their experiences with managing solid waste as well as their plans for the future.  The tour of the Solid Waste Facility will include a visit to the beloved Public Drop Off Area, the engineered cells, the compost pad and other processing areas. Discussion topics include the progression from baling to compacting waste, waste wood to energy initiatives and long-term planning for the site.  

Waste management requires input from the private, municipal and federal entities in order to be successful.  Participants will see this first hand on this tour.

Tour 3: Old Town Yellowknife Walking Tour, 1:30 pm – 4:00/4:15 pm

A bus will pick up participants at the Explorer hotel at 1:30 pm and drop participants at the Old Town Parking lot (at entrance to old town).  After a quick view of the Waste Diversion Station and the Old Town Community Garden, you will tour through the wood yard which is full of interesting stories and structures.  The short walk will pass by the Yellowknife Cultural Crossroad (outdoor mural) followed by a presentation at Old town glass works about how they recycle products (note the tour will bring people to the property and you are welcome to return for shopping at the end of the tour).

The formal tour ends with an ice cream (included) at the Sun Dog Trading Post.

After the formal part of the tour you are welcome to tour on your own – have a refreshment at the NWT Brewery, check out one of the local restaurants (Fishy People, Bullocks) or do some shopping on the 10 minute walk back to the Old Town Parking lot (1 hour for hanging out in Old Town and making your way back to the bus pickup location).  If you prefer more time you are welcome to walk back to the Explorer hotel (15 – 20 minute walk) when you are ready to return.

Tour – 1.5 hours plus 1 hour ‘on your own’ – 2.5 hours.

Walking required.

Tour 4: Yellowknife Boat Tour, 3:15 pm – 5:00 pm

A bus will pick you up at the Explorer Hotel at 3:15 pm and drop you off at Fishy People (Fishy People is a local restaurant with outdoor seating and is the only waterfront restaurant in Yellowknife).

The Boat Tour will be approximately half hour (20 minutes on the water) and will have 5 – 7 people in a motorboat that travels from Fishy People to Jolliffe Island with views of the houseboats and back.  You are welcome to hang out at Fishy People for appetizers, drinks or a meal (on your own), wander through Old Town or make your way back to the hotel (30 minute walk) – or wait for the buses which will pick you up at Fishy People between 4:30 and 5:00 pm. 

Note this tour is weather dependant, should we not be able to proceed we will do our best to reschedule during the week.

Some walking on uneven terrain/agility required for getting into the boats.

Room: Katimavik ABCD

Conference Welcome Event and Tradeshow Sneak Peak

Sponsored by 

in Conference Center Foyer

Room: Katimavik ABCD

Drummers sponsored by  

Bobby Drygeese and the Dene Drummers
Opening prayer from Elder
Welcome from the City of Yellowknife
Opening remarks

Keynote:  “Permafrost Dynamics in a Changing Climate”
Steve Kokelj, PhD. Senior Permafrost Scientist, Northwest Territories Geological Survey, Government of the Northwest Territories

Room: Katimavik A

This session will tell the story of historical landfills and dumps being converted modern facilities. Join us for earned wisdom on facility improvements.

Moderator: Molly Fyten

• “Clean Up Clean Start: NWT Regional Solid Waste Improvement Projects”, Gerald Enns, GNWT Department of Municipal and Community Affairs
• “Converting Dump Sites into Resource Management Centres”, Stan Lozecznik, KGS Group
• “Illegal Dumping – Addressing an Ugly Eye Sore One Site at a Time”, Roschell Clarke & Constable Arnold MacKinnon, Cape Breton Regional Municipality

Room: Katimavik B

This session provides an update on the latest and greatest in compost facilities and regulations.

Moderator: Roshni Sebastian

• “Curbside Organics Collection in Smaller Communities: Best Practices & Some Lessons Learned”, Jeff Ainge, Jeff Ainge & Associates Inc
• “Small-scale Composting in Rural and Remote Regions”, Amy Smith, Green Action Centre
• “What’s Changed in the Alberta Compost Game”, Steve Johnson, AECOM

Room: Katimavik C

Moderator: Brent Boss

• “Rayrock Mine Remediation”, Joël Nolin & Rob McCollough, AECOM
• Angela Bigg, Diavik Diamond Mine
• “Waste Management at Giant Mine: A Tale of Many Streams”, Patrick Schmidt and Natalie Plato, Crown Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

Room: Katimavik ABC

• Agenda for the meeting
• DRAFT Minutes from the 2022 AGM
• NLC’s Strategic Plan

Room: Katimavik D and Foyer

Sponsored by 

Room: Katimavik D & Foyer

End your day of learning by networking with your colleagues.

Join us at the Gold Range for “Amateurs night”.  It is a short walk to the Gold Range and we are told it is “something everyone needs to see”.  No pressure but note you can walk home at midnight and it will still be daylight!  (Note there are also 4 cab companies and 24/7 cab services).

Room: Katimavik A

Learn about making technologies work at a small scale.

Moderator: Steve Johnson

• “Incineration as a feasible SWM solution in a remote northern community”, Mario Poveda, KGS Group
• “Autonomous micro-grids: a climate solution for small-medium landfill methane emissions”, Jamaal Montasser, Perdico Energy
• “Achieving Circular Economy Through Composting”, Faith Green-Mykituk, City of Whitehorse

Room: Katimavik C

There are many aspects to consider in closing landfills. From covers to leachate come here to see how communities are addressing closure.

Moderator: Ash Raichura

• “Spyhill Waste Management Facility (WMF) Stage 1 Evapotranspiration (ET) Cover”, John MacKenzie, AECOM
• “Long-Term Strategic Planning to Modernize the Design and Operational Practices of a Mature Landfill Facility”, Jeff Chan, Associated Engineering Alberta
• “Leachate Quantity Analysis as a Budget Planning and Final Landfill Cover Performance Assessment Method for Closed Landfill Cells”, Jeroen Pieterse, City of Calgary

Room: Katimavik C

This session will include young and experienced professionals for a panel discussion on bringing in the next generation of solid waste practitioners and distributing the knowledge of experienced leaders.

Moderator: Lauren Quan

• Eric Nielsen –  Regional Sales Manager, QED Environmental Systems
• Lytasha Bastine – Shepard Waste Management Facility Operations Superintendent, City of Calgary
• Michelle Tomasiewicz – Environmental Engineer-In-Training, AECOM
• Sonya Adams – Landfill Manager, Drumheller & District Solid Waste Management Association

Room: Katimavik A

Moderator: Mario Poveda

• “The long and Winding Road to Building a Safety Culture – Lesson learned the hard way”, Patrick Peck, South Central Solid Waste Authority (Las Cruces, New Mexico)
• “Beyond Size: Exploring Safety Challenges and Solutions in Small Landfills”, Sarah Keith, Tetra Tech

Room: Katimavik ABCD

Lunch sponsored by