MEIA Info Bulletin for December 2021

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MEIA News and Announcements


Thank You for Helping Make Emerging Issues 2021 a Success!

Thank you to all attendees, presenters, sponsors and to the organizing committee for helping to make Emerging Issues 2021 a success! We had 130 delegates with 25 speakers and moderators over the course of the day, and a 30 year anniversary reception to cap it all off. All of the sponsorship levels sold out and all the vintage MEIA mugs found a new home, so we couldn’t be happier with how the day went!
     
It was wonderful to see people’s faces and network in person again. Thank you to everyone who came.


Would You Like Your Company Featured on MCP?

Manitoba Career Prospects (MCP) helps educators, parents and students discover different career opportunities in Manitoba. Their website features information about different industries in Manitoba and other resources to help in choosing a career path. 

The Employer Profiles on the MCP website reflect general information about the company and the types of job opportunities available. It is not meant to be a job ad or recruitment resource.

Click here to view the Miller Environmental Employer Profile
Click here to view the Recycle Everywhere Employer Profile

If you are interested in having your company featured, please fill out this form and send it to [email protected] or call MEIA at (204) 783-7090 for more information


Recommendations for the Contaminated Sites Remediation Act

Thank you to everyone who was able to join us on Nov 30 for the Info Session Recommendations for the Contaminated Sites Remediation Act. If you were not able to attend the session, a recording of the webinar can be viewed here.

MEIA is initiating a formal feedback process for all interested stakeholders to provide comments, concerns and questions of clarity on the thirteen recommendations focused on the Contaminated Sites Remediation Act. Please note that all submissions will be anonymous by default. Adding your name/organization is optional.

Click here to download the Industry Recommendations Template. 

Please submit recommendations to [email protected] by December 24, 2021.


Thank You Miller Environmental For Supporting the Deb Tardiff Scholarship Fund!

MEIA is very excited to announce our first Gold Level supporter for the Deb Tardiff Scholarship Fund, Miller Environmental! MEIA created the Deb Tardiff Memorial Scholarship in 2020 (awarded 2021) to honour the legacy of Deb Tardiff, the founder of MEIA’s Student Chapter, and to support talented new entrants to the environmental sector.

Thank you to Paul Bauer and Miller Environmental for your generous contribution!

There are only two Gold Level spots available, so contact MEIA right away to donate! Click here to find out more about the benefits of donating to the Deb Tardiff Scholarship Fund!


Did You Know? MEIA Courses and Events Qualify for ECO Canada Professional Development Credits! 

Professional development is essential to stay up-to-date in your field and gain the skills and knowledge you need to stay at the top of your game. MEIA training, conferences, and networking events are eligible for ECO Canada Professional Development (PD) Credits that registrants can claim towards maintaining their Environmental Professional designation with ECO Canada. Check MEIA event listings for available PD credits!


Manitoba Association of Regional Recyclers (MARR) Forum

MEIA was excited to participate again in the annual MARR Forum on November 2-3, at the Canad Inns in Winnipeg. The Forum was completely sold out and full of great presentations and networking opportunities. Thank you for another great Forum, MARR!

MEIA supports the MARR Forum as part of our role to work with Manitoba’s environmental industry sector to deliver practical and effective workforce development and training. For anyone who registered and wasn’t able to attend, MARR has organized a “replay” of the event so you can attend virtually. The second webinar “replay” will be on Tuesday, December 14, 2021 from 9:30am to ~12:30pm. Visit the MARR website for more information.


MEIA Student Chapter Alumni

Featuring Chelsey Gulak B.Env.St., Compliance Coordinator at Miller Environmental Corporation
 
During my time as an Environmental Studies Coop student at the University of Manitoba I was actively involved with the MEIA Student Chapter. I was on the committee for three years as the Event Coordinator and then as the Chair. Through my volunteering with MEIA and Co-op positions, I was able to grow my network which was how I was introduced to my current employer at Miller.
 
Attending Student Chapter events helped me learn how to network – 3 out of my 4 student positions were obtained through networking and 2 out of the 4 student positions were a direct result of being a Student Chapter committee member. The Student Chapter also connected me directly with peers and industry professionals that provided a reference or hired me.
 
Talking to mentors that are recent graduates that can help guide you through the transition into the workforce. Now that I’ve graduated and am working in the industry, I get to give back to the organization that helped me to get where I am today by participating in events as a mentor to the next generation of students.

Check the MEIA website for more Student Chapter alumni bios!


The Rock Circle Radio Show

Tuesdays at 6:00 pm on 105.5 NCI FM

MEIA is proud to support The Rock Circle Radio Show – an innovative two-way reconciliation dialogue with the goal of building lasting understanding and partnerships between the minerals sector, Indigenous communities, and the public in general. Tuesdays at 6:00 pm on 105.5 NCI FM



If you missed it when it first aired, you can still catch episodes of the Rock Circle Radio Show by visiting the MEIA website – click here!


Upcoming MEIA Training & Events


HAZWOPER / NFPA 472

Monday, Jan 31 – Thursday, Feb 3, 2022
$900 +GST
Venue TBD

MEIA is pleased to be able to offer this course at a reduced rate to help everyone get back into a safe work environment.

The 4-day HAZWOPER/NFPA 472 (1072) course offered by HAZ-MATTERS falls within the recently approved Essential Services mandate across Canada and substantially improves employee hazard understanding at the worksite while empowering a Technician level of response competency for employees exposed to any form of chemical hazard.  Delivered by Bart Taylor, a senior HazMat Specialist, this specific course unifies internationally used “Best Practice” techniques employed by Industry, Fire Services, First Responders and CBRN technicians and provides a clear understanding of the entire process.  Attendees will receive certification in:

  • 40 Hour HAZWOPER Environmental Technician
  • Transportation of Dangerous Goods, TDG
  • 2015 Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, WHMIS
  • Incident Command System, ICS 100 & 200
  • Fire Safety & Extinguishers

Requirement: Students must bring a laptop/tablet with them each day of the course to access course materials. Participants will receive a USB Drive that has the student manual and all pertinent supplements included. Masks and proof of immunization are mandatory.

Registrants for this event are eligible to claim 3 PD credits towards maintaining their EP designation with ECO Canada


Member News and Announcements 


Essential, Not Optional: Skills Needed to Succeed in Canada’s Environmental Industry

Webinar presented by ECO Canada
Available for download December 17, 2021
Free


What skills are essential to succeed in the environmental profession?

ECO Canada recently asked employers, employees, and experts what knowledge, technical and soft skills are most needed or desired to succeed in Canada’s environmental industry. Join us as we share findings from our latest labour market information and skills need assessment as well as go-forward solutions for bridging workforce and skill gaps.

This is a recorded webinar, available on demand. The webinar access link will be sent via email once your purchase is complete.

Click here to register


Efficiency Manitoba Indigenous Small Business Program

Efficiency Manitoba is working with the Manitoba Métis Federation and the Louis Riel Capital Corporation (LRCC) to promote their Indigenous Small Business Program to help improve the energy efficiency in Métis Nation small businesses. Together, they’re promoting this offer of free lighting and other energy efficiency upgrades to Red River Métis citizens who own a qualifying business registered with the LRCC.  

Click here for more information


#MBpoli Power Hour ft. Hon. Jon Reyes, Minister of Economic Development and Jobs

Presented by Manitoba Chambers of Commerce and 6P Marketing
December 15, 2021
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Minister Reyes will present an update on his portfolio, followed by a Q&A lead by MCC President & CEO, Chuck Davidson. 

Click here to register


Telpay Holiday Season Offer

Telpay congratulates MEIA for hosting the recent Emerging Issues conference, NET-Zero Future: Investing in Sustainability. As conference sponsors, Telpay was proud to attend and share information about our all-in-one electronic payment service and Environmental Action Plan. The conference covered many pressing issues that businesses face in light of global net-zero commitments, Covid recovery, Indigenous leadership and issues coming from the next generation of Environmental Studies students.  For more reflections on the conference please see Telpay’s latest blog (link to come.)
 
To help businesses understand the environmental benefits of electronic payments, Telpay has developed a carbon calculator. New and existing Telpay customers help to plant trees each spring and fall as part of Telpay’s commitment to Winnipeg’s Million Tree Challenge. To date, Telpay has saved over 80,000 mature trees through elimination of paper and planted over 35,000 new trees as part of its Environmental Action Plan.

Special Offer to MEIA members!  
Schedule a call to learn more about how we can work together and we’ll send you holiday treat coffee card. Plus, we will waive our set-up fee for MEIA members who sign up for Telpay’s premium payment service. We’d love to learn more about your business to see how our services can support you. Book a call now!


Case Study: Village of Dunnottar’s Asset Management Plan is Creating a Sustainable Future

With a yearly influx of seasonal cottagers, The Village of Dunnottar, MB realized it needed a formal asset management plan to better support both its vital tourism industry and permanent residents. After receiving support from our Municipal Asset Management Program, the village hired a consultant, trained its staff, completed an inventory of local assets, and more. With this asset management plan in place, plus a 10-year capital budget to balance its activities, Dunnottar is planning for the future.  

Read the full case study to learn more about the Village of Dunnottar.


The Next Generation of Giving

Presented by World Trade Centre Winnipeg and the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce
Dec 10, 2021
9:00am – 10:00am

How to engage young philanthropists, why it’s important, and what the National trends are saying when it comes to young people and giving back.
You will learn:

  • National trends in philanthropy with respect to Millennials and Gen Z
  • Why it’s important to engage youth and help connect People with Causes
  • Big Picture understanding of The Philanthropic Sector and how each generation relates

Click here for more information and to register

Other News and Events


Call for Submissions: Indigenous Perspectives Case Studies

After a successful pilot, the Canadian Institute for Climate Choices would like to build on the momentum from its first case study series, and invites interested Indigenous independent researchers, Knowledge Holders, PhD and postdoctoral researchers, and consultants to apply to create case studies. These case studies will serve to broaden conversations about climate policy recommendations from an Indigenous lens.

Successful recipients will receive a stipend of $15,000 to complete their research.

The 2021-2022 completed Indigenous Perspectives are available on the Institute website: Indigenous Perspectives | Canadian Institute for Climate Choices. To see an example of a successful case study that was completed in 2021-2022, please view Unnatural Disasters – Canadian Institute for Climate Choices.

Click here for more information


Free BRACE/MCRT Courses Offered This Winter

The Building Regional Adaptation Capacity and Expertise (BRACE) / Manitoba Climate Resilience Training (MCRT) is underway and this project has now developed six (6) climate resilience capacity building course modules for business sector stakeholders serving northern regions of Manitoba. These courses are all delivered online, so you do not need to consider traveling, COVID-19 restrictions or leaving your workplace to take in each of the free, online Climate Resilience Training Modules. or more info on the overall course program

These courses will give engineers, planners, geoscientists, Northern businesses, and Indigenous organizations a shared foundation of the most up-to-date climate science information. In the new year, the BRACE/MCRT infrastructure sector will offer three courses of particular interest to engineers, geoscientists, and infrastructure decision-makers: 

  • Infrastructure Climate Risk Assessment and How to Conduct an Assessment Featuring PIEVC
  • An Introduction to Climate Change through Codes, Standards, and Regulations
  • Nature-based Infrastructure Solutions to Enhance Resilience

Click here for course details and registration


Indigenous Youth Paid Internship

Apply be December 20

Are you an Indigenous youth between the ages of 18 and 30 or know someone interested in joining the clean energy sector? 

Indigenous Clean Energy (ICE) has some exciting paid internships for you! This is a great opportunity for you to kick start your clean energy career and gain valuable experience. 

If you are interested in any of the following positions please apply here  

Click here for more information


Lake Winnipeg Basin Program Virtual Symposium

Save the Date! January 18, 19 & 20, 2022
10:00am – 3:00pm CST
Online
Free


Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is hosting three half-day virtual sessions to highlight project activities and research undertaken through the Lake Winnipeg Basin Program. The sessions will focus on:

  • Sharing research findings from ECCC-led research related to nutrients and water quality in Lake Winnipeg and its basin
  • Featuring program accomplishments including highlights of projects undertaken by funding recipients to reduce nutrient loading to the lake, enhance collaboration throughout the basin and engage Indigenous peoples on water quality issues related to Lake Winnipeg
  • Gathering feedback on research presented and on research gaps, as well as future program priorities for the Lake Winnipeg Basin Program

The virtual sessions are intended for a wide audience including scientists, researchers, watershed practitioners, governments, Indigenous partners and other organizations that have an interest in the ecological health of Lake Winnipeg and its basin. Participants are invited to attend any or all sessions, according to your individual interest. The event is FREE, but participants will be asked to register as space is limited.

Registration details to come
 


Virtual Bioenergy Symposium

Presented by Biomass Energy Network
December 15
1:00pm
Online


Virtual Bioenergy Symposium featuring Geoff Tauvette, Vice President Operations and Sustainability of FSM Management Group and Executive Director of the Canadian Council for Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Click here to register
 


Canada Opens Call for Research, Development and Demonstration Projects on Industrial Decarbonization and Low-Carbon Fuels

The Government of Canada announced a new call for expressions of interest to support low-carbon fuels research, development and demonstration (RD&D) projects.

The intent of the expressions of interest is to provide research funding to help industry address its emissions in hard-to-abate sectors, including iron and steel, chemicals and fertilizers, smelting and refining, and cement — which accounted for 11 percent of Canada’s total emissions in 2019. Selected projects are expected to reduce GHG emissions in these sectors, leading to cleaner air and water, better health outcomes for Canadians and improved community resiliency, while helping Canada reach its goal of achieving a net-zero economy by 2050.

Funded under the Energy Innovation Program, the projects funded through this call target three technology areas: industrial fuel switching, pre-commercial production of clean fuels, and the development and upgrade of hydrogen codes and standards. Applicants must demonstrate how their project has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as well as how it addresses a gap in Canada’s energy systems. 

The call for expressions of interest for low-carbon fuels RD&D projects will remain open until February 2, 2022


Accessing and Using Healthy Cities Data

December 15, 2021
Online


In collaboration with Statistics Canada, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and the Canadian Urban Environmental Health Research Consortium (CANUE), the CIHR Healthy Cities Research Initiative (HCRI) is pleased to announce an upcoming webinar focused on healthy cities data holdings.

This webinar will cover how to access and use data related to a number of healthy cities research areas including housing, health indicators, air quality and greenness. The intent of this webinar is to highlight and encourage the use of previously funded cohort, administrative, and survey data in order to advance the objectives of the HCRI. This webinar is being held in anticipation of future funding opportunities focused on the use of healthy cities data, including the HCRI Data Analysis Using Existing Databases and Cohorts Operating Grant.

Click here for more information and to register


EcoAction Community Funding Program

The EcoAction Community Funding Program is now accepting applications for funding until January 11, 2022 at 12:00p.m. PST / 3:00p.m. EST for projects beginning summer 2022.

The Program provides financial support to non-profit and non-government organizations for Canadian communities to take on local action-based projects that produce measurable, positive effects on the environment and to build the capacity of communities to sustain these activities in the future.

Your project must address the following priority result:

  • Canadians contribute to improving freshwater quality through actions that reduce harmful substances in freshwater and/or restore and protect freshwater ecosystem health.

Click here for more information and to apply


Manitoba Prospectors and Developers Association (MPDA) Reconciliation Gala

February 24, 2022
5:00 pm CST
Assiniboia Downs


Join in the first annual MPDA Reconciliation Gala! Reception starting at 5pm. Dinner beginning at 6pm with entertainment from Indian City. Click here to register