Geoscience and Exploration

Chairs: Gideon Lambiv Dzemua (GNWT-NTGS) & Barrett Elliott (GNWT-NTGS)

This session will showcase a variety of mineral prospects in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, summarise mineral-exploration activities that took place in both territories over the past year, and provide the latest results of geoscience research and mapping projects. Presenters are from government, academia, and industry.

Energy in Canada’s North

Chairs: Talha Qadri (GNWT-NTGS) & Yaqub Adepoju (GNWT-NTGS)

This year’s Energy Geoscience Session will feature energy resource topics that will range from petroleum geoscientific studies in the Mackenzie Valley and Mackenzie Delta regions, to geoscience-related alternative energy resources such as geothermal energy and natural gas. Speakers from government, academia, and industry will highlight current research pertaining to resource exploration and energy-related issues.

Permafrost

Permafrost thaw is the main cause of climate-driven landscape change in the north and has a major effect on ecosystems and infrastructure. This session will showcase research that contributes to understanding the distribution of thaw-sensitive terrain across the north. This is critical to predict the future state of the environment and water resources of the Northwest Territories and for climate change adaptation planning. Data collection, processing, storage, and dissemination strategies are essential to effectively address permafrost thaw-related issues. This session will feature monitoring efforts across the NWT, data management and database development, and strategies to coordinate the workflows. We invite Northerners, data generators, data users, and other permafrost practitioners to contribute to this session.

Environmental Monitoring and Research

The Northwest Territories is experiencing rapid and cumulative environmental changes driven by climate, natural disturbances, and human activity. This session highlights research and monitoring that improves understanding of these changes and their implications for terrestrial, aquatic and atmospheric systems. By highlighting a range of research, monitoring, remediation and reclamation projects this session will explore strengths, emerging challenges and persistent issues in tracking and responding to environmental change in Northern Canada.

Northern Lakes in a Changing Climate

Lakes are an essential resource supporting cultural, subsistence, and recreational activities for communities in the Northwest Territories.  Lakes are also under increased and cumulative pressures from climate change and municipal and industrial activities.  This session will showcase research across a diverse spectrum of disciplines that address emerging and persistent threats to lakes in the Northwest Territories. 

Community Engagement

This session targets presenters involved in community engagement, outreach programs, and capacity-building initiatives in resource development. We invite abstracts and summaries that showcase a variety of perspectives for community training and learning, and supporting the development of sustainable communities related to exploration, mining, and petroleum development in the north.

Regulatory and Policy Updates

Chairs: Julie Ward (GNWT-ITI) & Jen Potten (MVLWB)

This session will feature talks on the regulatory operating environment in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, including recent changes in legislation, policies and guidelines, both to the territorial and federal regimes. This session will also focus on some important aspects of land use planning and the linkages with northern regulatory boards.