Chris Thomson

CIHECP, President — CANIECA / Maritime Hydroseed & Erosion Solutions

Opening Remarks · Erosion & Sediment Control Case Study · Panel · Closing Remarks

Chris Thomson presents a case study from a highway project where a collapsed culvert forced reconstruction of long, steep slopes beside the St. John River. He details how biotic soil amendments were combined with hydraulic erosion control to stabilize the slope, improve soil performance, and support vegetation establishment — offering proven approaches for managing erosion on steep, high-risk sites in environmentally sensitive, regulated areas. As CANIECA's President, he also opens and closes the day and joins the closing panel.

Andrew Fata

M.Sc., P.Eng. — Urbantech Consulting

Risk-Based Approach for E&SC in Seaton, Pickering

Andrew Fata walks through how three different risk assessment frameworks — RUSLE, the MTO method, and a hybrid TRCA approach — were applied to plan erosion and sediment control for a development in Seaton, Pickering. Drawing on nearly 20 years in stormwater and water resources engineering, he compares how each framework identifies risk and shapes design decisions, giving attendees a practical way to weigh these approaches against their own project needs.

Jared Reinders

Estimator & Project Administrator — R&M Construction

Since 1976 — A Creek Contractor's Perspective on the Industry

Jared Reinders draws on nearly fifty years of field experience to trace how creek and waterway restoration has grown from basic erosion control into complex, multidisciplinary work balancing environmental stewardship, regulatory requirements, and constructability. He shares practical lessons on what has worked and what hasn't over the decades, and makes the case that closer collaboration between designers, regulators, and contractors leads to stronger project outcomes.

Scott Walker

President — DSW Enterprises and Consulting Ltd.

Enhancing the Soil and Plant Rhizosphere · Panel

Scott Walker brings 45 years in agriculture — from organic farming to orchard management to founding his own independent R&D consultancy — to a discussion of soil and plant health. He covers how soil sampling, nutrient balancing, and targeted biologicals and bio-stimulants can be combined to improve soil and plant performance across broad-acre, fruit, vegetable, and turf applications. He also joins the closing panel.

Wyatt Croucher

CAN-CISEC, EPt — Environmental Restoration Technologist, Project Lead, GEO Morphix Ltd.

From Inspection to Action: Effective Communication Strategies for ESC Monitoring

Wyatt Croucher argues that even as erosion and sediment control technology keeps advancing, project success still hinges on communication between inspectors, contract administrators, contractors, and owners. Using real field examples, he shows how consistent reporting and proactive, collaborative problem-solving keep control measures properly installed and maintained through every phase of construction — and why miscommunication is often the bigger risk, not technical limitations.

Joel Kennedy

BMusA — Flex MSE

Parks Canada and Erosion to Cape Breton

Joel Kennedy introduces Flex MSE, a vegetated retaining solution designed to stabilize slopes and control erosion while integrating naturally into the surrounding landscape. Drawing on over 12 years in civil geosynthetics, he discusses how the system was applied on a Parks Canada project in Cape Breton, and what it offers in long-term performance and reduced maintenance compared with conventional approaches.

Paul Villard

Director / Principal Geomorphologist — Geo Morphix Ltd.

Emergency Creek Diversion and Restoration with Bioengineering: 15 Years and a Really Big Storm Event

Paul Villard recounts a 2010 emergency response near Viden, Manitoba, where an oil release beside a fish-bearing creek required diverting the waterway and rebuilding the affected reach using natural channel design and bioengineering techniques. He walks through the initial crisis response, the restoration plan, and 15 years of post-construction monitoring — including how the rebuilt channel held up against a storm event exceeding a 1-in-400-year magnitude.

Caroline Serhal

P.Geo (NWT/NU, ON)

Erosion and Sediment Controls for Northern Mine Site Remediation and Rehabilitation

Caroline Serhal draws on more than 20 years as a professional geoscientist across Ontario, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, including work as a key team member on two of the largest mine remediation projects in northern Canada. She shares the specific challenges — and what has worked — for erosion and sediment control in northern and mine-management settings.

Jack Eaton

Carriff Engineered Fabrics

Biodegradable vs. Non-Biodegradable BMPs · Panel

Jack Eaton draws on 35 years in the green industry, including 20 years focused on erosion control and site stabilization, to compare biodegradable and non-biodegradable best management practices. He covers his hands-on experience manufacturing, installing, and monitoring compost socks and straw wattles, along with hydroseeding, mulching, and blanket-based restoration approaches used across linear infrastructure projects. He also joins the closing panel.