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Shifting Sands: Shaping Sustainability in Northwestern Saskatchewan
Report on a public outreach workshop
September 23-25, 2009
Residents of Saskatchewan have a golden opportunity to consider whether and how to plan for the sustainability of the province's northwestern region in the face of rapid environmental, economic, and social changes brought on by present and proposed resource development, including the possibility of largescale oil sands extraction. Saskatchewan's neighbour to the west, Alberta, has gained impressive wealth due to its oil sands developments, but the province has also experienced some undesirable environmental and social changes. Because oil sands development in Saskatchewan has not yet proceeded to full production, residents still have time to plan ahead. On September 23-25, 2009, the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan hosted a public forum and workshop to address the following questions:
- What lessons can we learn from the Alberta experience that will apply to the Saskatchewan context?
- What do we know about Saskatchewan's environment, economy, and society that will have implications for accelerated development in northwestern Saskatchewan?
- What are the issues of greatest concern for people living in the region and in the province?
- What opportunities and needs exist for establishing a development plan based on the principles of sustainability and resilience?
- How should an integrated, interdisciplinary research program be crafted to address these considerations?
While regional development in northwestern Saskatchewan will include activities beyond oil sands development, most of the discussion at the event focused on oil sands issues.
The workshop opened on the evening of Wednesday, September 23, 2009, with a public forum that focused on the Alberta experience. Approximately one hundred twenty-five people were in attendance. Dr. Robert (Bob) Gibson from the University of Waterloo moderated the forum, while three speakers, award-winning journalist Andrew Nikiforuk, Simon Dyer (The Pembina Institute), and George Poitras (Mikisew Cree First Nation), described experiences from the perspective of environment and community, and then participated in a panel discussion. Unfortunately, representatives from industry and government were not able to participate as panelists. The three speakers encouraged residents of Saskatchewan to think and act like owners of the province's resources and to become leaders in determining the future for northwestern Saskatchewan.
On Thursday, September 24, 2009, stakeholders from academia, industry, communities, and governments were invited to participate in sequential workshop sessions. Topics included biophysical and social conditions in northwestern Saskatchewan, as well as industry, environment, community, and policy perspectives on potential oil sands development. Faculty members from the School served as discussion leaders in each session. Friday, September 25, 2009, featured a keynote speaker, Dr. Bob Gibson, who identified key considerations when undertaking a regional sustainability assessment.
The School of Environment and Sustainability would like to acknowledge and thank the primary sponsor of this event, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada; the participants who came from near and far to provide thoughtful ideas and debate; and the many people and organizations who provided technical, logistical, and financial support for the workshop.
