Bettering Environmental Stewardship & Technology Conference (BEST)will take place on Wednesday, May 9, 2018 to Friday, May 11, 2018, at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler​ in Whistler, BC. The British Columbia Environment Industry Association's BEST Conference attracts environmental professionals every May for two days of technical sessions, networking opportunities, and a sponsor exhibition. Conference registration includes a welcoming reception, technical sessions, keynote presentations, an off-site networking reception, and all meals and coffee breaks.

BEST Speakers and Abstracts

• Mike Harcourt is a passionate believer in the power of cities and communities to improve the human condition. He has steadfastly maintained his focus on conservation and sustainable development and because of his efforts has played a significant role in promoting quality of life for those in Canada and abroad. He has held significant urban posts his entire adult life and his interest in civil society, urban design, conservation and sustainable development have made him the leader he is today in advancing livability in our cities.
• Dr. Ken Coates is Canada Research Chair in Regional Innovation, Johnson-Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan and Senior Fellow, Macdonald-Laurier Institute. His work focuses in Indigenous engagement in the resource economy, the social and economic impact of science and technology, and strategies for economic development in rural and remote regions.
• Jo-Ann Aldridge, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada, Introduction to a Tool to Develop Conceptual Site Models for Contaminated Sites
• Mafalda Arias and Associates , Re-Defining Environmental & Safety Consultation, A Social Innovation for Sustainability
• Tadd Berger, Pinchin West Ltd., A Unique Approach to Excavating Limited Access Areas
• Raman Birk, Public Services and Procurement Canada Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP) Phase III- Recap of Year 1 and Forecast to 2020
• Cassandra Caunce, Ministry of Environment New Structured Application Process
• Ashley Cedzo, REGENESIS Field Performance of Dispersive Colloidal Activated Carbon – Lessons Learned from Multiple Geological Settings
• R. Pete Craig, Geo-Solutions Inc. Sediment Remediation/Risk Management by In Situ Stabilization/Treatment (ISS/T) with Deep Soil Mixing (DSM)
• Stephen G. Custeau, Matcon Environmental Ltd. Remediation and Site Soil Management of Industrial Brownfield Site in Burnaby
• Luke Dineley, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Case Law Update
• Karey Dow, Hemmera Envirochem Inc. BC CSR Omnibus Amendments: A case study on the impacts to environmental investigation and remediation at various sites
• Chris Gill and Jeff Robertson, Stantec Consulting Ltd. Spill Response – Lessons Learned and Deciding When to Build an Ark
• Monireh S. Hedayati, University of British Columbia, Removal of PAHs Compounds from Aqueous Solution by Modified Zeolites
• Anna Henolson, Trinity Consultants New Canadian Air Quality Standards and Implications for Industry in B.C.
• Dave Hill/Gavin Domitter, QM Environmental Developing Long Term First Nations Employment and Economic Activity through Emergency Response and an Integrated Environmental Services Model
• Michael James, DeepRoot Canada Corp. Suspended Pavement Systems and Stormwater Management: Monitoring Results
• Andy Jeves, NUCOR Environmental Solutions Ltd. Stewart Center Fire
• Kelli Larsen, Ministry of Environment Identification of Contaminated Sites in BC: Creating a Results-Based Provincial Process that Balances the Needs of Affected Parties and Ensures Remediation of Contaminated Sites Prior to Redevelopment
• Nelson Lee, Green Sky Sustainability Consulting Inc. Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Support
• Tara Macdonald, Biologica Environmental Services Ltd. Advances in Taxonomy and Biomonitoring
• Chris McDonald/Elyse Sandl, Fisheries and Oceans Canada/Core6 Environmental Ltd. Bunker Oil - Post Remediation Investigation: Steveston Small Harbours
• Trish Miller, Golder Associates Ltd. Overview of the Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment, Mount Polley Mine Tailings Breach
• Dave Munday, Coastline Technologies Inc. New Vibracore Technologies to Manage Georeferenced Sediment Samples
• Stephen Munzar, Core6 Environmental Ltd. Bedrock has its faults! How We Characterized Fracture Hosted Groundwater at a Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminated Site
• Melanie Piorecky, Associated Environmental Consultants Inc. How to go from Moonscape to Garden of Eden
• Elena Ranyuk, Stormtec Filtration Inc. Economical Approach to Treatment of Soluble and Particulate As, Cu, Zn, and Cr in Stormwater Runoff to Meet BCWQGs AW
• Cedric Robert, Ecofish Research Ltd. 20,000 Hours: A preliminary quantitative review of the performance of the hydropower sector through the lens of an Independent Environmental Monitor (IEM)
• John Sankey, True Blue Technologies Treatment of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Soil and Water
• Tanya Shanoff, Stantec Developing a Large-Scale Field Experiment to Measure Fate, Behaviour and Toxicity of a Controlled Diluted Bitumen Release in a Canadian Boreal Lake
• Kerri Skelly, Ministry of Environment Addressing Current Challenges of the Provincial Soil Relocation Process Through Regulatory Change to Better Promote Compliance and Beneficial Re-use of Soils
• Kelly Sveinson/Lynda Smithard, Langara College/McCue Engineering Contractors Evaluating Biochar as an Adsorbent for Metals in Wastewater
• Ardice Todosichuk & Jake Tynan, BC Auditor General’s Office Evaluation of Risks to the Environment: An Audit of the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Energy and Mines Compliance and Enforcement Activities at Major Operating Mines in BC
• Scott Tomlinson, Public Services and Procurement Canada Environmental Procurement with PWGSC – Procurement Processes and Navigating buyandsell.gc.ca
• Mark Youden & Wally Braul/Dino Rossi, Gowling WLG/Borden Ladner Gervais LLP A Lawyer's Guide to Marine Emergency Spill Response

Click here to register.