WEDNESDAY, October 30

• 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

  Conference Registration / Refreshments

  Refreshments sponsored by Reverse Logistics Group

   

  Grassroots, student, and general sponsorships provided by Aquatera Utilties, Cleanfarms, and Alberta Municipalities

• 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

  Workshops

  • Twilight Zone – Building Sustainable Procurement
    DC Coleman
    Join us for an engaging and interactive workshop, “Driving Zero Waste and Circularity by Leveraging Sustainable Procurement” designed to explore sustainable procurement and its role in helping local governments and institutions achieve zero waste goals. This workshop will delve into the green pillar of sustainable procurement, highlighting its critical role in reducing waste and advancing a circular economy.
    • Namrita Lamba (Reeve Consulting)

    Cost: $75/person

   

  • The Poltergeist of Plastics: Polymers 101
    Edward Beatty / Shawnessy
    Plastics have offered and continue to offer an unprecedented uplift in quality of our lives. This workshop will provide an introduction to polymers as the main component of plastics and elaborate on what makes plastics a unique class of materials. This will be followed by a discussion on the end-of-life options for plastic products and how we can minimize their negative impacts on the environment. The workshop will conclude by presenting the recent advances in recycling technologies that enable us to expand the amounts, types, and qualities of plastics waste that can be recycled.
    • Prof. João B. P. Soares and Dr. Arash Alizadeh, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Alberta

    Cost: $75/person

    Sponsored by Alberta Plastics Recycling Association

   

  • It’s Alive, It’s Alive – EPR 
    Van Horne A/B
    This workshop will provide updates on the implementation of the Alberta EPR regulation. Both ARMA and PROs will be on hand to discuss system details and help municipalities maneuver their way through the implementation process.
    Moderator: Jason London
    • Ed Gugenheimer (ARMA)
    • Allen Langdon (Circular Materials) – The Only Thing Scary are the Timelines: An Update on EPR Implementation in Alberta
    • Jason Brown (Call2Recycle)
    • Mannie Cheung (Product Care)
• 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

  Lunch - On Your Own

• 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

  Tour: An Eternal Life - Circular Community Spaces: Banff’s Library of Things & the Town’s Newest Sustainable Build

  On this tour, you will be dropped off at Banff’s Public Library where you will be given a tour of the Library of Things. With support from the RCA’s Circular Communities program, and in partnership with the Town of Banff, the Banff Public Library launched the Library of Things to provide residents with borrowing opportunities for a variety of items that are rarely used, hard to store, or expensive, such as tools, cooking appliances and hobby items. Attendees will then walk across the bridge to Banff’s Recreation Grounds and visit the Pavilion, which was the first building that adheres to the Town’s Municipal Sustainable Building Policy and will be certified as Passive House Low Energy Building due to its low energy consumption. You will also learn about unique accessibility features that earned the building Rick Hansen Accessibility Certification.

  Sponsored by City of Lethbridge

• 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

  Tour: A Walk Through the Swamp - Business Action & Biomass: Visit the Hotel Canoe & Suites + Sudden Sally and Waste Transfer Site

  ***tour is full, we are keeping a waiting list***

  On this tour, you will first visit the brand new Hotel Canoe & Suites + Sudden Sally, where you will have the chance to learn about the unique ways that they have designed the guest experience to be “zero waste”. This includes, but is not limited to, a zero waste coffee experience* as well as an overview of the Banff Borrows cup reuse program. You will then get back on the bus and make your way out to Banff’s Waste Transfer Site, where you will learn about the Biomass District Heat System. The system uses a boiler to burn waste wood (for example from wooden pallets) and heat water which is delivered through an underground pipe network to supply heat to four buildings: Roam Transit Operations & Training Centre, Fleet Services, Operations Maintenance Shop, and the Waste Transfer Station.

  *We encourage coffee lovers to bring their own travel mug to sample the coffee system.

• 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

  Tour: Not so Spooky - Banff Springs Hotel Environmental Programs

  Join Fairmont Banff Springs management on a tour that outlines the environmental programs integral to the hotel. A behind the scenes look at how your stay in Banff is minimizing environmental impacts.

  • Led by Patrick Jones and Scott Kelly (Fairmont Hotels)
• 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

  Tour: Nature Walk – led by Peter Duck

  WHEN YOU LIVE OUT IN THE WOODS TODAY…

  It’s scary living in a town surrounded by fuel that’s ready to burn. Join Peter Duck, local naturalist and retired resource recovery specialist, for a walk in the woods. We’ll stretch our legs on the trails leading from the hotel through the woods on the edge of town with just enough up-hill to get you invigorated by the fresh mountain air. We’ll talk about the nature of Banff and how a town that is integrated with the forest is being prepared for wildfire. We can talk nature, or we can also talk trash, it’s up to you.

  Bring comfortable walking shoes and warm clothing (toques and gloves are recommended – it is the end of October!).

  Sponsored by sonnevera international corp.

• 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm

  Frightfully Delightful Sustainable Flower Arranging

  David O’Brian Room (Floor 25)
  

  Cost: $100/person

  Join Becky Feasby from Prairie Girl Flowers for 2 hours of learning and creating! She’ll explain the sustainability issues in floriculture, share about sourcing flowers domestically, and lead the group in a how-to and hands-on session to create a classic European style hand-tied bouquet. You’ll need to bring a clean mason jar type “vase” for your arrangement! Be sure to rescue an item from your recycling bin for this purpose. If time permits, she will also talk about how to create arrangements without the use of floral foam or other plastics.

• 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm

  Not a Horror Movie - Reduce, Reuse, Ruminate

  Theatre

  Two showings – film starts at 1:15 pm and 1:45 pm

  During this session, you’ll be introduced to the short documentary “Reduce, Reuse, Ruminate” which highlights the amazing upcycling ability of cattle and their important role in diverting food loss and waste from landfills. Transforming beer byproducts and French fries into beef are two are of the incredible sustainability stories featured in the film, demonstrating the circular economy and zero waste strategies in our food system. Following the screening, there will be the question-and-answer session with a producer from the film. The full introduction, film and Q&A session is 30 minutes and will run two times consecutively.

  • Lynsay Beavers (Canadian Beef) – Intro and Q&A
• 2:30 pm - 3:00 pm

  Time for a Coffin Break

  Van Horne C

  Exhibit Viewing and Refreshments

  Sponsored by Viably

• 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

  PLENARY SESSION: Perpetual Circular (Economy)

  Van Horne A/B

  As municipalities evolve towards Circular Economy, innovative planning elements are emerging that move beyond waste management towards opportunities to embrace a regenerative approach where materials do not become waste. Learn about the approaches taken by some of the leading jurisdictions. 

  Moderator: Corey Pembleton (FCM)

  • David Merredew (City of Calgary) – City of Calgary Circular Economy Grants & Partnerships
  • Richard McHale (City of Austin)
  • Jordan Girling (Waste and Resources Action Programme / WRAP) – European Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation

  Sponsored by GFL Environmental Inc.

• 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm

  A Coven of Witches - RCA AGM

  Van Horne A/B

  Join us for the 2024 RCA Annual General Meeting as we celebrate our achievements from 2023-24, elect new board directors, unveil our Strategic Plan, RCA Vision 2030, and review the financial report. Enjoy networking over delicious food and drinks as we reflect on our successes and plan for the future. The AGM agenda, annual report, and list of candidates will be posted here this fall.

  MC: Blaire Gaalaas

  Refreshments sponsored by Glover International Trucks

• 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm

  Reception - featuring a tribute to Christina Seidel

  Lobby and Van Horne A/B

  Sponsored by Merlin Plastics

  Witch’s Brew – Reception drinks sponsored by CasCell Trading Group Inc.

   

  Join us for appetizers, drinks and a special tribute to the RCA’s outgoing Executive Director, Christina Seidel. A special program will start around 7:15 pm.

  
  Fright Night Haunted Castle Tour
  ***tour is full, we are keeping a waiting list***
  Embark on a captivating journey through time with our Haunted Hotel History Tour of Banff Springs that comes with a spooky twist. Led by knowledgeable guides, you’ll explore the storied halls and elegant spaces of this iconic hotel, hearing tales of its illustrious past dating back to its grand opening in 1888. Discover the fascinating stories of noteworthy guests, architectural marvels, and the rich heritage that has made Banff Springs a cherished landmark in the heart of the Canadian Rockies. However, be prepared to meet some of the notable guests who never checked out of the hotel.
  Cost – $40/person