The 2025 Annual CBN Conference "From Legacy to Opportunity: The Evolution and Integration of Brownfield Reuse" is officially in the books, and by all accounts, it was a resounding success. Held at the Humber Polytechnic Barrett Centre for Technology Innovation, the new venue set the tone for the day with its bright, open spaces, offering attendees a refreshing environment for networking, learning, and connecting. The program featured a diverse lineup of speakers and panelists representing the full spectrum of brownfield stakeholders from developers and regulators to legal advisors and environmental professionals. Sessions ranged from high-level strategic planning to deep dives into technical innovation, all reinforcing CBN’s mission to put #BrownfieldsFirst.

Content highlights included sessions on site strategy from a developer’s lens, waterfront redevelopment insights, interim brownfield uses, solar redevelopment, and evolving legal risks and regulations from the 1990s to the present day. More technical sessions included lessons learned from remediating brownfields with Persulfate, leading-edge techniques like soil mixing, the chemist’s role in cleanups, and exploring the extent practicable requirement. A new stream dedicated to municipal issues tackled local strategies, challenges, and opportunities in brownfield redevelopment. Among the standout moments were a welcome video from Toronto City Councillor Dianne Saxe and a powerful keynote by Jen Angel, CEO of Evergreen. Jen shared invaluable perspectives from her work transforming urban brownfields into vibrant public spaces, including Evergreen Brick Works in Toronto, Peggy’s Cove Visitor Centre in Nova Scotia, and the Halifax waterfront.

The day concluded with the presentation of CBN’s annual HUB Awards, celebrating individual excellence in the brownfield sector, followed by a well-attended networking reception. The success of this year’s conference reflects the generous contributions of time, expertise, and sponsorship from all corners of the brownfields industry.

To all our speakers, moderators, and sponsors, thank you for making this event possible and memorable!

Stay tuned for details on our 2026 CBN Conference!