Our 60 years of combined know-how include engagement and public consultation work on green energy, flood mitigation, pipeline, and major infrastructure projects.
Some examples include:
Heartland Transmission Project
Played a key role in the Public Consultation for EPCOR’s largest project, the Heartland Transmission Project from proposed concept to construction. Created an innovative tool to engage and educate stakeholders about transmission power projects in Alberta. This tool was used to help identify issues regarding the route and impacts of the transmission line. It was also used to learn about stakeholder’s values and their priorities, for example what was more important to a landowner: wildlife or property values. This was one of Alberta’s largest and most robust consultation program. A large number of approaches were used to maximize the opportunities to engage all stakeholders including various satellite public consultation locations to allow people to drop in during office hours to learn about the project as well as voice their issues and concerns. This project had many stakeholders that were engaged, more than 240,000 households were sent newsletters and project updates. We also led and organized more than 20 open houses and engagement activities in and around the Edmonton region.
Dates: 2008-2012
Capital Costs: $596 million
Oxbow Sulphur Canada
We developed and implemented Aboriginal engagement, public engagement and communication strategies for a sulphur processing facility in Northern Alberta. We engaged with numerous community organizations including the Regional District of Wood Buffalo, local community groups, MPs, MLAs, First Nations and Métis communities, where we were the primary point of contact. We provided Aboriginal awareness training, Ambassador training and media relations training to their staff. We also organized and hosted an open house and developed all of the coordinating communication materials such as Project Descriptions, newsletters, brochures, fact sheets, key messages and open house presentation boards.
BC Government
Participated in cross-government strategic policy on the LNG Environmental Stewardship Initiative that focused on a consensus decision making and capacity building model. We also lead the development of an Aboriginal Consultation Plan for a campsite expansion initiative with the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations where we provided strategic advice on Aboriginal engagement.
Quicksilver Fortune Creek Gas Plant
– BC EAO Application
Provided strategic senior counsel and management of the First Nations engagement process supporting the Quicksilver B.C. EAO application for a gas processing plant in northeastern B.C. This included planning, organizing, overseeing and messaging First Nation and public consultation initiatives with a subsequent evaluation of each consultation that includes comments, input and attendance. In addition, our team was responsible for the development of both the Public and Aboriginal Consultation Plans.
Our team participated directly in many of the First Nation meetings including multiple meetings with the Fort Nelson First Nation, Dene Tha’ First Nation, Acho Dene First Nations (Fort Liard, Yukon – Treaty 11) and other members of B.C. Treaty 8, as well as community meetings with Fort Nelson and various members of the EAO Working Group.
We developed the initial drafts (for Quicksilver internal review and approval) of all external communications support materials, including project brochure, fact sheet, web content, questions and answers, key messages, open house story boards and other related materials. Our group also managed all of the stakeholder information management requirements for this project.
Dates: 2011-2013
Capital Costs: $600