Environmental and Social Assessment Forum

Start Date: February 23, 2016
End Date: February 24, 2016
Time: 8:00 am
City: Cranbrook, BC
Venue: College of the Rockies

Forum description

Assessment of potential environmental effects is part of the regulatory application process for a broad range of infrastructure, natural resource development, and other land-use projects. The Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology organized a Forum to address recent changes in environmental assessment legislation, policy and process. This was a unique two day modular event where participants learned how to work through the process from either a stakeholder or proponent position. Attendees choose from five different seminars to learn the tools required to successfully engage in or navigate through the environmental and social assessment process. The purpose of this forum was to provide attendees with practical “hands-on” experience and skills. It included networking opportunities, a trade show/poster session, a keynote speaker and a incredible panel discussion.

The forum summary document is here.

Seminar Topics

Seminar Options:

A guide for proponents to the federal environmental assessment processes

A guide for proponents to the BC environmental assessment process

A guide for First Nations, stakeholders, and the general public on the federal environmental assessment process

A guide for First Nations, stakeholders, and the general public on the BC environmental assessment process

Everyone’s guide to social assessment in environmental assessment processes

Considering species at risk & migratory birds in environmental assessments

Panel Discussion

A panel discussion took place, moderated by Kathy Porter of the Collaborative Global Initiative. The panel discussion included people from different perspectives and areas of expertise to address the question: “How do we improve the process of Environmental and Social Assessment?” A list of panelists may be found in the schedule posted above, and panelist bios may be found here.

Keynote Presentation & Film Screening

Dr. Cam Owens delivered a thought-provoking keynote talk: “Politics, Geography and Environmental Assessment: Reflections on the Struggle over the Jumbo Valley.” Cam is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Victoria and Director of the Cascadia Sustainability Field School Program. Dr. Owens’ scholarship focuses on political, cultural and pedagogical dimensions of environmental assessment and sustainable community development. His doctoral dissertation interrogated land use planning and environmental assessment in the province grounded in an in-depth case study of the contentious Jumbo Glacier Resort review. A screening of the film “Jumbo Wild” also took place, co-hosted by Wildsight, followed by an open question and answer period. This whole portion of the event was open to the public and well attended.