Projects

Impact Assessments (IA) – CanNorth provides extensive services supporting the preparation and regulatory acceptance of Project Descriptions, Technical Proposals, and IAs enabling successful project development. Our participation has included completing multi-year baseline environmental and heritage studies, effects assessments, risk assessments, socio-economic studies, mitigation and monitoring planning, habitat compensation planning, report preparation, and regulatory, community, and Indigenous peoples engagement. Client examples include Shore Gold Inc., Serafina Energy Ltd., SaskPower, and Fission Uranium Corp.

Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) – CanNorth routinely completes EEM studies at metal mines and has been involved in all stages from the study design of Phase 1 assessments through to Investigation of Cause (IOC) studies. Client examples include Cameco Corporation, Orano Canada Inc., Golden Band Resources Inc., and SSR Mining Inc.

Environmental Monitoring Programs – CanNorth is an industry leader in Environmental Monitoring Programs and Environmental Performance Reporting to fulfill provincial and federal licensing requirements for mining operations. We also provide on-site environmental monitoring and auditing services to ensure regulatory compliance. Client examples include Cameco Corporation, Orano Canada Inc., K+S Potash Canada, Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, SaskPower, and SaskEnergy.

Environmental Baseline Studies – CanNorth designs and conducts comprehensive terrestrial, aquatic, heritage, and hydrological baseline studies for large-scale projects. Select examples include the Roughrider Project (Rio Tinto Canada Uranium Corp.), the Thompson Ultramafic Project (Vale Canada Inc.), the Patterson Lake South Project (Fission Uranium Corp.), and the Rook I Project (NexGen Energy Ltd.).

Risk Assessment – CanNorth provides a full range of services in human health and ecological risk assessments for a variety of sectors including mining operations, contaminated and industrial sites, power generation (natural gas and nuclear), and public health. This includes experience in the assessment of metals, petroleum hydrocarbon compounds, persistent organic pollutants, volatile organics, emerging contaminants, and radiation, as well as specialized expertise in water and sediment quality modelling.

Environmental Screening – Every project begins with identification of issues that may pose project constraints during construction and operation. CanNorth completes thorough desktop screenings to identify species at risk, vegetation community, wetlands, fisheries, heritage resources, soil stability, existing level of disturbance, and any other environmental features that are unique to a project area. Site visits are used to verify desktop studies. Client examples include SaskTel and Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure.

Focused Biological Surveys – CanNorth designs and conducts a wide variety of specialized biological surveys using a combination of traditional field methods and technology. Select examples include targeted species at risk studies, breeding bird studies using point counts and autonomous recording devices, and mammal studies using aerial surveys, pellet/browse transects, winter tracking surveys, trail cameras, and specialized autonomous recording devices for bats.

Soil Survey and Assessment – CanNorth completes specialized soil surveys and assessments to provide information for reclamation activities and best management practices. We also complete soil, biological, physical, and chemical (including nutrient) sampling. Recommendations are provided for project routing, access, and site maintenance, and developing site-specific erosion and sediment control programs.

Heritage Resources Impact Assessments and Mitigation (HRIA and HRIA-M) – CanNorth regularly completes HRIAs and HRIA-Ms for Crown Corporations, and oil, gas, and mining companies.  Some of our clients include SaskPower, SaskEnergy, Cenovus Energy Inc., Crescent Point Energy Corporation, Rio Tinto Canada Uranium Corporation, and K+S Potash Canada.

Ecological Classification – CanNorth geomatics specialists perform spectral analysis on satellite images to estimate habitat in study areas for environmental baseline studies. Habitat analyses have been completed for numerous clients including Rio Tinto Canada Uranium Corporation, Foran Mining Corporation, Hanson Lake Sands Corporation, Golden Band Resources Inc., and Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan.

Environmental Management Support – CanNorth provides regulatory liaison services to ensure that project permissions are obtained in a timely manner. We prepare technical proposals, oil and gas proposals, DFO applications for Authorization, permit applications, private land checklists, and much more. We have obtained numerous permits and approvals for clients in the mining, oil and gas, transmission and distribution, municipal development, facility development, road works, and bridge works sectors.

Habitat Compensation Planning – Habitat compensation planning can be used to mitigate or offset impacts to fisheries, wetlands, and upland habitats, when avoidance is not feasible. Detailed habitat and population information is used to calculate the quantity of compensatory measures such as habitat improvements or restoration. Wetland, upland, and fish habitat offset plans have been developed for Shore Gold Inc., Saskatchewan Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure, K+S Potash Canada, and Nutrien Ltd.

International Projects – CanNorth has been involved with environmental studies, research and development programs, local collaboration, and community liaison services in several countries including Colombia, Greenland, Kyrgyzstan, Panama, Portugal, and the USA.