Greenstone Waste Management Environmental Assessment

Upcoming/Ongoing Events

Ongoing

• Continued community engagement

Past EVents

2024

OCTOBER 2024

• Round 2 Workshop in Geraldton for Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek
• Round 2 Community Event at Ginoogaming First Nation
• Round 2 Community Event at Aroland First Nation
• Indigenous Cultural Values Mapping session conducted by Matawa First Nations with Long Lake #58 First Nation

Past EVents

september 

• Round 2 Engagement Booth at Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek Annual General Meeting

AUGUST

• Indigenous Cultural Values Mapping session conducted by Matawa First Nations with Ginoogaming First Nation

JULY 

• Round 2 Public Online Event
• Round 2 Website Online Survey (closed on July 31, 2024)
• Indigenous Cultural Values Mapping sessions conducted by Matawa First Nations with Aroland First Nation

JUNE 

• Round 2 Online Event for First Nations
• Round 2 In-Community Event at Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek

May 

• Round 2 Public Open Houses at Geraldton, Longlac, Nakina and Beardmore

FEBRUARY-APRIL 

• Indigenous Cultural Values Mapping sessions conducted by Nokiiwin Tribal Council with Animbigoo Zaagi'ign Anishinaabek, Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek and Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek
• Indigenous Cultural Values Mapping sessions conducted by Métis Nation of Ontario
• Indigenous Cultural Values Mapping sessions conducted byRed Sky Métis Independent Nation

January

• Round 1 Red Sky Métis Independent Nation Leadership Engagement

  Métis Nation of Ontario Leadership Update

2023

August-September

• Round 1 Métis Nation of Ontario Leadership Meeting, Geraldton Open House Event and Thunder Bay Open House Event

July

• Project update to Greenstone Waste Management Steering Committee

April-June

• Round 1 In-Community First Nation Leadership Meetings and Community Events at Ginoogaming First Nation, Long Lake #58 First Nation, Aroland First Nation, Biinjitiwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek, and Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek

March

• Round 1 Thunder Bay Open House for First Nations

February

• Project update to Greenstone Waste Management Steering Committee

2022

November

• Round 1 Public Open Houses at Geraldton, Longlac, Nakina and Beardmore

August 26

• Public Notice of Commencement

2021

KGS Group and Scatliff + Miller + Murrray join the project

2014

Greenstone Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Plan Environmental Assessment Terms of Reference Approved

There are four municipal operated landfills in the communities of Geraldton, Longlac, Nakina, and Beardmore. 

The life expectancies of the three current facilities are based on the current volumes of waste.

Current Capacity

• Geraldton landfill was closed in 2021.
• Longlac landfill has an estimated 5 years of capacity remaining.
• Beardmore landfill was near capacity but received an expansion in 2023 and now has approximately 37 years of capacity remaining.
• The Nakina facilities has approximately 50 years of capacity remaining.

WHY IS THIS PROJECT NEEDED?

A long-term solution is need for the management of solid waste for the region. Development of this solution requires initiating an Environmental Assessment study to evaluate alternatives for waste management, identification of a preferred system, and selection of a preferred site. 

The Environmental Assessment process is guided by the Municipality of Greenstone Municipal Solid Waste Disposal Plan Environmental Assessment Terms of Reference. The Terms of Reference was completed in 2013 and approved by Ministry of Environment in 2014/15 . It acts as a road map for the current process including steps required in the study and consultation process.

The primary goal of Round 2 is to introduce the Waste Management System (WMS) and site selection process to the public in the four sub-areas and surrounding Indigenous communities.

Round 2 engagement was initiated in February 2024 after the completion of Round 1 engagement. Cultural Values Mapping with Indigenous communities is happening simultaneously.

ROUND 2 OBJECTIVES

• Explore and discuss types of waste management systems and evaluation criteria.
• Collect feedback on preferred waste management systems.
• Present site exclusion criteria and potential sites for the future waste management system.
• Collect feedback potential on sites for the future waste management system.
• Present site evaluation and final selection criteria.

To learn more about Round 2 engagement content please review the following documents:

• Round 2 Factsheet
  
• Round 2 Engagement Boards
• Maps of Potential Eight Sites Currently Under Consideration
  

Unable to attend Round 2 in-person or virtual events? Learn more about the project by viewing the online presentation video.

 Upcoming Events:

Cultural Values Mapping with Indigenous communities is a critical step that will inform the site selection criteria for the New Waste Management System (WMS) in Round 3. It was initiated at the end of Round 1 engagement and will be completed during Round 2 engagement.

Cultural Values Mapping is being conducted independently by community leadership or the Tribal Council associated with the First Nation with support from the project team as needed. The process developed aims to protect access and ownership of Indigenous cultural values data.

Communities involved in this process include:

• Nokiiwin Tribal Council
  • Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek 
  • Biinjitwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek 
  • Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek 
• Matawa First Nations
  • Aroland First Nation  
  • Ginoogaming First Nation 
  • Long Lake #58 First Nation 
• Métis Nation of Ontario 
• Red Sky Métis Independent Nation 

The primary goal of Round 1 was to introduce the project and EA process and engage the public in the four sub-areas and surrounding Indigenous communities on an overall vision for the new system and gather input on potential opportunities and challenges for the new Waste Management System (WMS).

Round 1 engagement was initiated after the distribution of the Notice of Commencement in September 2022 and was completed in January 2024. In addition, Cultural Values Mapping was introduced to all Indigenous communities and initiated in Round 1.

ROUND 1 OBJECTIVES

• Explore and discuss types of waste management operations and systems.
• Explore waste diversion strategies.
• Explore local vs regional services/operations.
• Gather information of existing systems, wants, and needs.
• Identify priorities on different opportunities and criteria on the evaluation of potential short-listed sites as well as local/regional types of services.
• Introduce the need for value mapping in future rounds of engagement.

To learn more about Round 1 engagement content please review the following documents:

• Round 1 Factsheet
• Round 1 Engagement Boards and Activities

ROUND 1 PUBLIC EVENTS

• Longlac – November 7 Longlac Sportsplex 200 Picnic Point Road 3-7pm
• Nakina – November 8 Nakina Community Centre 206 North Ave 3-7pm
• Geraldton - November 9 Geraldton Community Centre 200 Wardrope Ave 3-7 pm
• Beardmore – November 10 100 Main St 3-7 pm

ROUND 1 INDIGENOUS EVENTS

• First Nations (conducted in coordination with Nokiiwin Tribal Council and Matawa First Nations)
  • Thunder Bay First Nations Open House Event
    • March 20, 2023 | 4:00 to 8:00 pm | Victoria Inn, Thunder Bay
  • Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek (AZA) Engagement
    • Conducted by AZA leadership
  • Ginoogaming First Nation Leadership and Community Event
    • April 19, 2023 | 5:00 to 8:00 PM | Ginoogaming First Nation Training Centre
  • Long Lake 58 First Nation Leadership and Community Event
    • April 20, 2023 | 5:00 to 8:00 PM | Long Lake 58 First Nation Community Centre
  • Aroland First Nation Leadership and Community Event
    • April 26, 2023 | 5:00 to 8:00 PM | Johnny Therriault School Gym
  • Biinjitwaabik Zaaging Anishinaabek Leadership and Community Event
    • April 27, 2023 | 4:30 to 7:00 PM | Community Hall
  • Bingwi Neyaashi Anishinaabek Community Meeting Booth
    • June 24, 2023 | 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM | Prince Arthur Hotel, Thunder Bay
• Métis Nations
  • Métis Nation of Ontario Leadership Meeting
    • August 1, 2023 | 6:00 to 7:00 PM | Online Meeting
  • Métis Nation of Ontario Geraldton Community Open House
    • September 26, 2023 | 3:00 to 7:00 PM | Geraldton Community Centre
  • Métis Nation of Ontario Thunder Bay Community Open House
    • September 28, 2023 | 4:00 to 8:00 PM | Oliver Road Community Center, Thunder Bay
  • Red Sky Métis Independent Nation Leadership Meeting
    • January 26, 2024 | 10:00 to 11:00 AM | Online Meeting

• Round 2 Online Input Form - NOW CLOSED
• Map of Eight Potential Sites Identified in Round 2
• Round 2 Did You Know? Factsheet
  
• Round 2 Engagement Presentation Boards
• Round 1 Fact sheet: Project overview
• Round 1 Engagement Presentation Boards
• Notice of Commencement
• Environmental Assessment (EA) Terms of Reference (ToR) (2015)