BEST 2024

Bettering Environmental Stewardship & Technology
May 8 - 10, Fairmont Chateau Whistler 

Join us for the 11th annual Bettering Environmental Stewardship & Technology (BEST) Conference!

The British Columbia Environment Industry Association’s BEST Conference attracts environmental professionals every May for two and a half days of technical sessions, networking opportunities, and a sponsor exhibition.

Mark your calendars now so you don’t miss out on the “BEST” opportunity to network and learn about the current environment industry in BC.

Networking Opportunities

There are several networking opportunities at BEST because we know that is important to you. Two hosted delegate receptions, a reception in the Trade Show, along with coffee breaks and meals, will allow you to connect with colleagues, clients and friends over the 2 1/2 days.

The BEST 2023 delegate list is at the link on the right hand side of this page.

For information about BEST 2024, email: [email protected].

Check out our Happy Snaps video for a look at BEST 2023!

 

Delegate List

Whistler, BC

Fairmont Chateau Whistler

4599 Chateau Blvd, Whistler, BC V0N 1B4

The Fairmont Chateau Whistler is now sold out.

 

2023 Conference Speakers

Colonel Mike Mullane

Colonel Mike Mullane holds a Master's of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology and is also a graduate of the Air Force Flight Test Engineer School at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Mike was selected as a Mission Specialist in 1978 in the first group of Space Shuttle Astronauts. He completed three space missions aboard the Shuttles Discovery and Atlantis before retiring from NASA and the Air Force in 1990. Mike has been inducted into the International Space Hall of Fame and is the recipient of many awards, including the Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit and the NASA Space Flight Medal. His memoir, Riding Rockets: The Outrageous Tales of a Space Shuttle Astronaut, has been reviewed in the New York Times and on the Jon Stewart Daily Show.

Dr. Mark Jaccard

Dr. Mark Jaccard is a Distinguished Professor and Director of the School of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University. His Ph.D. is from the University of Grenoble. He researches the design and application of energy-economy models for assessing climate policies. He is an author with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a member of the Royal Society of Canada, and an advisor to governments and non-government organizations on climate policy. Dr. Jaccard’s latest book is The Citizen’s Guide To Climate Success: Overcoming Myths That Hinder Progress, which was shortlisted for the Donner Prize.

Presenter Info & Presentation PDFs

2023 Conference Program

12:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Registration/Information Desk Open
Macdonald Ballroom Foyer

1:30 pm - 3:30 pm

Pre- Conference Workshop
Macdonald F
Indigenous Awareness & Inclusion
Brad Spence & Lois Miller, Trace
(Space is Limited – Advance Sign-Up Required)
Open to Registered BEST Delegates Only
Sponsored by: Keystone Environmental

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

BCEIA Annual General Meeting
Macdonald E

5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Opening Reception
Sponsored by: McCue Engineering Contractors
Merlin’s Bar & Grill, Upper Village

Sponsored by McCue Engineering Contractors

7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Registration/Information Desk Open
Macdonald Ballroom Foyer

7:45 am - 8:45 am

Opening Breakfast (Macdonald Ballroom)
Sponsored by: Ausenco

8:45 am - 9:15 am

Welcome Remarks (Macdonald Ballroom)
Davide Kettlewell, President, BCEIA

Greetings
Carrie Nugent, Director, Land Remediation Section, BC ENV

9:15 am - 9:45 am

Networking/Refreshment Break
Exhibit Area

-

Digital Solutions
Macdonald E

Federal
Macdonald F

Case Studies
Empress C

9:45 am - 10:15 am

Digital Tools and Solutions to Save Time and Money on Environmental Programs

Joshua Dias & Kristopher Beaudet, Bureau Veritas

Federal Regulatory/Policy

Scott Tomlinson, PSPC

xʷəyeyət/Iona Island Foreshore Ecological Restoration Projects Preliminary Design Evaluation Process

Margaret Scott, Advisian

10:20 am - 10:50 am

A Case of Digital Transformation for Oilfield Operations Management

Vincent Lam, Matidor

Comprehensive Environmental Management at a Former Military Site: A Review of the Mary Hill Property

Mandy McDougall & Bim Dissanayake, Dillon Consulting

Watson Island Redevelopment – Proponent Driven Process with an Approval in Principle (Part 1)

Richard Pucci and Paul Vendittelli, City of Prince Rupert; Alan McCammon, BC Environment

10:55 am - 11:25 am

Addressing the Need for Data Governance using Data Management Software as a Valuable Tool in Site Remediation

Bryan Shaw, CARO Analytical Services & Nick Tumney, EScIS

Market Survey and Business Case Evaluation of Waste Management Options – A Federal Perspective

Scott Irwin, Defense Construction Canada & James Mair, Stantec

Watson Island Redevelopment – Proponent Driven Process with an Approval in Principle (Part 2)

Richard Pucci and Paul Vendittelli, City of Prince Rupert; Alan McCammon, BC Environment

11:25 am - 1:00 pm

Lunch with Keynote Speaker (Macdonald Ballroom)
Sponsored by: The Environmental Services Association of Alberta
Countdown to Safety
Colonel Mike Mullane, Former NASA Astronaut

BCEIA Scholarship Awards
Sponsored by: Core6 Environmental

1:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Networking/Refreshment Break
Exhibit Area

-

Legal
Macdonald E

First Nations/Sustainability
Macdonald F

Waste Management
Empress C

1:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Environmental Case Law: A Year in Review

Luke Dineley & Rick Williams, Borden Ladner Gervais

Sustainable Construction Practices – Navigating the Envision Framework Construction Credits

Quin MacKenzie & Jill Roth, luuceo consulting inc.

Port Hope Long Term Waste Management Storage Facility Construction for Radioactive Waste

Stephen Pinto, Environmental Chemical Corporation & Ajit Ghuman, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories

2:05 pm - 2:35 pm

Environmental Laws and the Constitution Explained

Michael Manhas & Emma Russell, Norton Rose Fulbright Canada

Applying ESG Practices to Procurement Strategies & Project Approaches

David Meikle & Gavin Domitter, Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc.

Wastewater Sludge Management: Biodegradable Geobag R&D, Implementation & Patent

Jill Lam, Keystone Environmental & Seble Afework, Canadian National Railway

2:40 pm - 3:10 pm

Environmental Compliance Audits: A Technical and Legal Exercise

Mark Youden & Quinn Rochon, Gowling WLG

Building Relationships: Collaborating and Building Trust with Indigenous Communities in Central British Columbia

Marion Reid & Aaron Yaremchuk, Associated Environmental Consultants

Innovative, Low-Energy Solutions to Remove Environmental Contaminants from Mine Process Wastewater and ML/ARD

Kevin Bossey, Bishop Water Technologies

3:15 pm - 3:45 pm

The Legal Perspective on B.C.’s Site Identification System

Adam Way & Nicola Virk, Harper Grey LLP

Advancing First Nations’ Initiatives in Community Waste Management Services: A Case Study of the Stswékstem Engineered Waste Management Facility

Robert Maciak, Grassland Organics

Novel Laboratory Approaches and the Best Data from Biosolids

Kristopher Beaudet & Marriah Grey, Bureau Veritas

3:45 pm - 4:45 pm

Cocktails & Light Snacks in the Exhibit Area

4:45 pm - 7:00 pm

Networking Reception
Sponsored by AGAT Laboratories

Whistler Brew House, Lower Village

7:30 am - 2:00 pm

Registration/Information Desk Open
Macdonald Ballroom Foyer

8:00 am - 9:00 am

Networking Breakfast
(Macdonald Ballroom)
Sponsored by Ernco Environmental

-

Bioremediation
Macdonald D

BC Regulations
Macdonald F

9:00 am - 9:30 am

The Evolution of Bioremediation with Fungi

Venessa Kumpula, Clean Harbors Canada & Dennis Owens, SWT Consulting Inc.

Stage 14 Amendments/P19:
What We Heard

Kerri Skelly, MOE

9:35 am - 10:05 am

Optimizing Ex Situ Bioremediation of Recalcitrant Compounds in Canada’s Cold Climate

Malika Bendouz, Chemco

CSR Stage 14 Amendments – Here and Now: Measuring the Actual Impacts to Consultants and Industry in BC

Steve Boyce, Active Earth Engineering Ltd.

10:05 am - 10:35 am

Networking/Refreshment Break
Exhibit Area

-

Investigation/Remediation
Macdonald E

Risk Assessment
Macdonald F

10:40 am - 11:10 am

Using Multiple Geophysical Methods for Environmental Site Characterization: Principles and Case Studies

Brian Whiting, GeoScan Subsurface Surveys Inc.

Development of Preliminary Conceptual Site Models for Contamination Related to the 2021 Atmospheric River Event

Patricia Carmichael, SNC-Lavalin

11:15 am - 11:45 am

How To Resolve Risk of Cross Contamination to ASTM Standards Using PFAS and 1,4 Dioxane Free Products

Bud Ivey, Ivey International Inc.

Sumas Prairie Preliminary Regional Risk Assessment for Contamination Related to the 2021 Atmospheric River Event

Tara Kennedy, SNC-Lavalin

11:50 am - 12:20 pm

The In Situ Treatment of PFAS at the Air-Water Interface Using Colloidal Activated Carbon

Ben Galbraith, InSitu Remediation Services Ltd.

In-Vitro Bioaccessibility of Arsenic: A Case Study and Lessons Learned from Multiple Bulk Fuel Facilities Impacted by Sandblasting Grit

Ryan Black, Ausenco Sustainability Inc.

12:20 pm - 1:45 pm

Closing Lunch with Keynote Speaker (Macdonald Ballroom)

Mark Jaccard, Professor, Sustainable Energy, Simon Fraser University
The Citizen’s Guide to Climate Success: Overcoming Myths That Hinder Progress

Sponsored by Bureau Veritas

Registration is Closed

BEST 2023

Conference registration includes: Pre Conference Workshop, Wednesday Welcome Reception, Technical Sessions, Thursday Networking Reception, Breakfast, Lunch and Coffee Breaks on Thursday and Friday

• 

BCEIA Member Rate

$750

Non-Member Rate

$900

Government Rate*

$750

Student Rate**

$150

*The government rate is open to employees of a national/federal, state, provincial, or local government entity, including public higher education institutions. Attendees registering under the government rate may be required to provide proof of government employee status in order to receive the discounted rate.

**Student must be 19 years of age or older, and currently enrolled in, and taking classes at, a post secondary institution.

All registration rates are exclusive of GST.

BEST 2023 Sponsors

A few sponsorships are still available (see below).
Email [email protected].

Gold Level Sponsors

Wednesday Opening Reception


Thursday Reception


Silver Level Sponsors


Bronze Level Sponsors



Indigenous Awareness & Inclusion Workshop


Thursday Keynote Luncheon


Friday Keynote Luncheon


Lanyards


Drink Tickets - Wednesday


Drink Tickets - Thursday


Post Secondary Scholarship Recipient Support


Breakfast - Friday


Conference App


Concurrent Session Room Sponsor


Concurrent Session Room Sponsor


Opening Breakfast


BEST 2023 Exhibitors

15   AGAT Laboratories
4   ALS Environmental
21   Bureau Veritas
24   CARO Analytical Services
5   Chemco
16   Clean Harbors
3   Contec Investigations
25   Drillwell Enterprises
17   Earth Drilling
6   ECO Canada
10   Element Materials Technology
1   Envirogreen Technologies Ltd.
12   ERIS - Environmental Risk Information Services
20   ESdat Software by EScIS
22   GeoScan Subsurface Surveys
7   Geotech Drilling
11   Hoskin Scientific
18   Iron Creek Group Inc.
26   McCue Engineering Contractors
13   Omega Environmental Drilling
27   Public Services & Procurement Canada
2   QM Environmental
14   Rice Earth Sciences
9   SECURE
23   Summit Earthworks Inc.
28   Trace Associates Inc.
8   TRIUM Environmental Inc.
19   VanMars Drilling Ltd.

2023 BEST Activities

Golf at Nicklaus North!

 

 

Thank you to all who participated in the golf. What a beautiful day it turned out to be! We hope to see you back at BEST 2024!

Mountain Bike Ride

 

 

 

Thank you to those who joined us for the bike ride and post-ride beverages! We look forward to seeing you at BEST 2024.

BEST 2023

What a time it was!

BEST 2019

Memories from our 2019 Conference

2018 BEST Conference

Memories from our 2018 Conference

2017 BEST Conference

Memories from our 2017 conference

2016 BEST Conference

Memories from our 2016 conference.

2015 BEST Conference

Memories from our 2015 conference.

2014 BEST Conference

Memories from our 2014 conference.