Brownfield Workshop May 21 2026 Edmonton - Canadian Brownfields Network

The CBN, Alberta Municipalities (ABMunis), and ESAA. hosted a one-day workshop on May 21, 2026 at the Edmonton Valley Zoo. The workshop was designed for municipal staff, planners, engineers, and economic development professionals working on brownfield and contaminated site redevelopment across Alberta. The session took participants from policy to practice, providing a clear understanding of the regulatory framework, municipal roles, and practical tools needed to advance redevelopment projects.

Through expert presentations, case studies, and panel discussions, attendees explored site assessment, risk management, remediation approaches, financing, and innovative interim uses, while gaining insights into how planning, environmental, legal, and development perspectives come together on real projects.

Brownfields & Contaminated Sites: From Policy to Practice

One-Day Municipal Workshop 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

8:30 – 9:00	Breakfast
9:00 – 9:05	Welcome & Objectives	Workshop objectives and agenda overview Introductions and participant expectations	Meggen Janes
9:05 – 9:20	Brownfield (BF) & Contaminated Site (CS) Overview	Definitions and distinctions Why brownfields matter to municipalities (housing, intensification, fiscal impacts) Common myths and barriers (benefits of brownfield redevelopment) “Sizzle reel” of redevelopment examples	Meggen Janes
9:20 – 10:10	Regulatory Framework	Provincial regulatory framework (ESA, RA, applicable standards) Engagement with municipalities and alignment with redevelopment What triggers Action/What pathways exist/Where municipalities intersect	Alberta Environment Lisa Fairweather Michael Lapointe, Director for Contaminated Sites Section Robyn Kuhn, Manager Operational Practice and Education Unit, Contaminated Sites Section
10:10 – 10:45	Municipal Responsibilities	Municipal roles and responsibilities Legal considerations and risk allocation Where municipalities have discretion Where risk sits/What you are responsible for/What you should do about it	Anand Srivastava, Partner, Willms & Shier Environmental Lawyers LLP
10:45 – 11:45	Municipalities Mechanisms, Challenges & Solutions	Development approvals and brownfields in practice Municipal tools, conditions, and policy Internal coordination (planning, engineering, environment, legal) Examples of redevelopment projects Lessons learned from municipal experience (success factors)	Paul Leong, City of Calgary Kelsey Blanchette, City of Calgary
11:45 – 12:30	Lunch
12:30 – 1:30	ESAs, Risk Assessment & Remediation	Phase I/II ESAs: what municipalities should expect in a development application Risk Assessment vs. remediation vs. risk management (managing in place) Applicable standards and decision points Cost and schedule drivers (soil, groundwater, liability) Remediation concepts/Remediation Certificate	Louise Burden, Ashwell Consulting Inc. Ailsa Le May, University of Saskatchewan
1:30 – 2:15	Unlocking Value: Interim Uses and Financing	Municipal applications and future potential Interim Uses and Case Studies Financing tools – Edmonton	Interim Uses and Incentives: Liam McClellan, City of Edmonton
2:15 – 2:45	Policy to Practice		Adam Derry, 360 Environmental and Engineering
2:45 – 3:15	Break
3:15 – 4:00	Brownfield Case Studies	Former gas station: challenge, approach, outcomes Site assessments and funding strategies Development pathway and outcomes Key lessons learned	Nathan Flanders, Imperial Oil
4:00 – 4:25	Panel Discussion & Q&A	What municipalities can do tomorrow Where support is most needed Audience questions	Panel (Speakers from the day)
4:25 – 4:30	Wrap-Up & Next Steps	Key takeaways Resources and follow-up	Meggen Janes

Introducing CBN's Corporate Members