ESAM Newsletter September 2020

As a volunteer organization, the support and input from our members is vital and with this input we can aim to bring the best value to our membership. Under the conditions we have found ourselves in this year, input and ideas on how we can work to bring value is even more crucial. We are actively looking for innovative ways to bring our members together and continue to bring value through connections in our organization and beyond, while also recognizing the constraints we are under.

Over the next year the board will be focused on a few key items including:

• Developing a 5 year strategic plan
• Surveying our members to hone in on value items we can add to our membership as appropriate
• Further developing our new website to add resources for our members
• Evaluating options to continue connecting our membership virtually through the pandemic

Although we find ourselves in a position where we have limited means of connecting in person, we are positioning ESAM to provide value to our membership regardless of these restrictions. We have a great board of directors for 2020/2021 and I look forward to working with all of them to further this organization. We are excited to present this newsletter summarizing some of the work completed over the last year and some upcoming events.

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Michael Doucet, B.Sc. , P.Ag (BC), EP

ESAM President

On January 23, 2020, ESAM’s annual Winter Mixer was held at the Brightwood Brewery in downtown Dartmouth. The event was attended by representatives of various government agencies, several consulting firms, industry partners, and members of academia for an evening of networking, socializing, and celebration to kick-off the New Year. Thank you to everyone that participated!

Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) sponsors the Atlantic Supplier Advisory Council (SAC), a body formed of federal procurement officials and representatives of industry associations, social business organizations (such as women-in-business groups, indigenous economic development groups, etc.), regional business bodies like Chambers of Commerce and individual private-sector companies who supply goods and services to the Government of Canada.  The group meets four times per year, once in each Atlantic province, to inform the membership about changes, improvements and directions in federal procurement, and to hear from suppliers and their representatives about their concerns, recommendations and views on a wide range of procurement-related topics.

ESAM is seeking interest from our ESAM Member Companies to provide a representative to participate in upcoming (virtual) Atlantic Supplier Advisory Council (SAC) meetings.  Interested companies are asked to submit the name, title, organization and email address for the representative recommended to attend from your organization to ESAM (contact@esamaritimes.ca).  ESAM will follow-up and confirm attendance prior to SAC meetings.

The January 2020 meeting consisted of presentations and discussions related to accessible procurement, socia-economic procurement, the PSPC Minister’s Mandate Letter, Electronic Procurement and Department of National Defence IDEaS Program.  Industry and associations discussed challenges, requested clarification on various procurement requirements and provided recommendations for continual improvement.

The Agri-Food Innovation Council (AIC) is pleased to announce its second panel for our Fall videoconference on Investment Environment – Agri-Food Research and Innovation.

The panel “Is there an investment gap for agri-food research and innovation?” session will feature:

• Laurie Dmytryshyn, Chief of Equity Investments, PIC Investments;
• Lynne Godlien, CEO, Perennia Food and Agriculture;
• Dave Smardon, President and CEO, BioEnterprise;
• Alison Sunstrum, Founder & CEO, CNSRVX Inc.

This videoconference series will feature four sessions over four weeks (Tuesdays from 1pm to 2:30pm ET):

• November 10, 2020 – Setting the stage: Importance of investments in agri-food research and innovation and their RoI;
• November 17, 2020 – Is there an investment gap for agri-food research and innovation;
• November 24, 2020 – Venture capital and banking: how they work and what they want;
• December 1^st, 2020 – A better investment climate: government investment and taxation.

We invite you to register here to attend the videoconference (you can register for one or all of the four panels).

You can also consider partnering for the event.  Look at the partnership opportunities here.

Aquaterra Resource Services Ltd., based in Waverley, Nova Scotia, has been a supplier to the environmental industry in the Maritimes for over 30 years. With a streamlined focus on environmental sampling, monitoring and drilling products, Aquaterra has developed relationships to become the East Coast distributor for industry leading manufacturers such as Waterra, Solinst, Johnson Screens, and Matex Control Chemical. With stock ranging from sampling tubing, filters, foot valves and bailers, to well casing, screen, covers and bentonite products, Aquaterra’s priority is to have the supplies on hand that environmental professionals need to complete their field programs, while also constantly adapting to source new and innovative products that the environmental industry demands.

In addition to the consumable supplies offered, Aquaterra also maintains a fleet of rental equipment tailored to the environmental groundwater industry including water quality meters, interface and water level meters, and a variety of pumps to accommodate water sampling, purging, and flow test programs. The ownership team is experienced in the operation and troubleshooting of environmental equipment and are consistently adding new products designed to improve and add efficiency to the field work process. Some recent additions include:

• YSI Water Quality Meters – Increased available units and expanded parameter probes including pH, temperature, ORP, DO, conductivity, and turbidity.
• Grundfos Redi-Flo 2 – A versatile pump perfect for projects with large depth or flow requirements. The pump can be lowered to a depth of 300’ and has flow rates ranging from 100mL/min – 30L/min.
• Low-Flow Pumps – Perfect for projects with sensitive parameter requirements such as VOCs or PFAS. Increased available units with self-contained battery packs.

Aquaterra also provides support services to environmental consulting firms throughout Atlantic Canada. Whether it is well inspections, flow tests, subcontracted monitoring programs, equipment repair, or training, Aquaterra strives to provide professional assistance in any environmental project that their customers may encounter. Some of their commonly used services include:

• Down-hole Video Inspections – 1,000ft down-hole camera complete with pan/tilt and 360° viewing rotation. Physical and digital video files available in 720p.
• Sampling & Monitoring Support – Aquaterra provides various support services to clients with environmental monitoring programs including on-site equipment training & troubleshooting, field sampling, and data management.
• Well Yield Tests – Ranging from short-term (1-4 hours) to industrial 72-hour tests, Aquaterra is experienced in the completion and management of flow tests across the Maritimes.

On October 5, 2020 ESAM will be offering a lunch ‘n learn presentation by the New Brunswick Department of Environment and Local Government Wetland Biologist Joanie Bertin. Joanie will provide an overview of new guidance documents, changes in wetland mapping, requirements for permitting in NB as well as delineation and compensation requirements. The presentation will be done over Skype on Monday, October 5th, at noon. The cost for this session will be:

• Member – $25 + two additional attendees attend for no additional charge
• Government Members – $20 + one additional attendee for no additional charge.
• Non-members – $30

Details will follow with the platform for the meeting, sign up and payment information.

PSPC has posted a Request for Supply Arrangement for construction services related to environmental remediation, abatement and storage tank work. The Supply arrangement is intended to last 3 years and covers all four provinces within Atlantic Canada.  Solicitation documents have been posted on Buy and Sell (https://buyandsell.gc.ca/procurement-data/tender-notice/PW-PWJ-003-5758) and the closing date has been set for September 29^th, 2020, at 2pm.