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32nd Annual Emerald Awards

The Emerald Awards showcase organizations, projects, and individuals from across Alberta that are working to address environmental and climate change issues.

The 32nd Annual Emerald Awards took place on June 7, 2023, at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton.

Check out the 32nd Annual Emerald Awards digital program

Emerald award recipients receive:

Nomination Process

All nominations are reviewed by a third-party panel of judges who choose a maximum of three nominations per category to be shortlisted, one of which will be named as the recipient.

Nominations are scored based on the following:

PLATINUM SPONSORS

Government of Alberta

GOLD sponsors   

City of Edmonton Logo

SILVER sponsors

Air

Award Recipient

Blindman Brewing First-in-Canada CO2 Capture and Utilization

Blindman Brewing

Blindman Brewing is the first in Canada to utilize carbon capture in the brewing process of craft beer. They’re taking CO2 that is produced via fermentation and capturing it and using it. This reduces GHG emissions from their brewery as well as reduces costs in a way that will lead to widespread adoption of the…

Shortlist

There are no other finalists in this category.

Business

Award Recipient

26 Years Building Sustainable Futures by Reimagine Architects

Reimagine Architects

For over 26 years, Reimagine Architects has been creating joyful journeys toward regenerative architecture! Formerly known as Manasc Isaac Architects, their core mission during the past two and a half decades remains unchanged: to create healthy and beautiful spaces for people, in a way that treads lightly on the earth. They live on the leading…

Shortlist

Eco-Flex Recycled Rubber Solutions

Eco-Flex uses recycled tires and creates products that will last for decades. These products can be used around the house, in the automotive industry, in the oil and gas industry and for municipalities and schools looking for a more sustainable solution. Eco-Flex reduces the number of tires going to waste or laying in stockpiles and…

Envirotech Geothermal – Alberta’s smartest way to Net Zero!

The #1 way to achieve Net Zero is by omitting the use of fossil fuels in buildings. Since 2006, Envirotech Geothermal has provided renewable heating and cooling solutions to all Albertans. Since then, Envirotech has grown to become one of the most experienced and highest voluming installers in the Province, and #2 Geosmart dealer in…

Community Group or Non-Profit

Award Recipient

Project Forest: Rewilding Canada, One Forest at a Time

Project Forest

Project Forest is rewilding Canada, one forest at a time. They are a nonprofit organization working in partnership with conservation groups, Indigenous communities and like-minded businesses to capture carbon naturally by transitioning non-productive agricultural land into forever forests. They’re passionate about creating positive change in our community by planting not just trees—but species-rich forests—that clean…

Shortlist

Alberta Bike Swap – supporting the circular economy before it was cool

Alberta Bike Swap

Alberta Bike Swap has facilitated the safe buying, selling, and donating of thousands of bikes since 2011; we were the poster child for the circular economy before it was cool. Our processes and patented fit-for-purpose software have helped the police recover stolen bikes from pawn shops and online sales. We’re fortunate to have over 70…

Alberta businesses are building a better Business-as-usual with Green Economy Canada

Green Economy Canada

Green Economy Canada (GEC) launches and grows Green Economy Hubs that bring together, support, and celebrate businesses of all sectors and sizes in setting and achieving sustainability targets. By doing this, they create stronger economies and more resilient communities across Canada. They also provide educational training on Green House Gas emissions, accounting, reduction planning, target…

Education

Award Recipient

Evergreen Theatre: A 32 Year Legacy of Inspiring Environmental Awareness & Action Through the Arts

Evergreen Theatre Society

Evergreen Theatre is a non-profit charitable organization which provides programming for youth, primarily within the school system throughout Alberta, aimed at inspiring environmental awareness and action through the medium of theatre. We perform environmentally-inspired original musical shows in elementary schools. These theatrical performances engage children from Grades K-6, with opportunities for students to perform in…

Shortlist

Eagle Point-Blue Rapids Parks Council Environmental & Outdoor Education Program

Eagle Point-Blue Rapids Parks Council

The Eagle Point-Blue Rapids (EPBR) Parks Council is a unique model of collaboration that provides a strong voice and important role for local community organizations and government in the planning, development, operation and long-term management of the Eagle Point Provincial Park and the Blue Rapids Provincial Recreation Area. The EPBR creates and facilitates positive outdoor…

Energy

Award Recipient

Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative, empowering community to transform Alberta’s energy

Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative

Bow Valley Green Energy Coop (BVGEC) is a grassroots, volunteer-run organization that is facilitating the creation of community-owned renewable energy generation projects in the Bow Valley and beyond. Their mission is to empower their community to reduce its environmental impact by pooling human and financial resources to foster the development of renewable energy projects, and…

Shortlist

Metis Nation of Alberta Climate Change Action Plan

Metis Nation of Alberta

The MNA Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) was developed following the Annual General Assembly (AGA) in 2017, where it was unanimously resolved to fully support and direct the MNA in “[…] designing and undertaking climate change initiatives and programs, including actions aimed at reducing GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions, increasing Métis involvement and awareness of climate…

Government

Award Recipient

Nose Creek Watershed Partnership – Celebrating 25-Years of Watershed Planning, Policy and Action

Nose Creek Watershed Partnership

The Nose Creek Watershed Partnership (NWCP) was formed in 1998 to protect riparian areas and manage streamflows in the Nose Creek watershed to mitigate the impacts of flood and drought and improve water quality for water users and aquatic life. The NCWP has positively impacted the environment and continues to build resiliency through watershed-scale collaboration,…

Shortlist

Violet Grove’s Constructed Floating Wetlands System with Aeration

Brazeau County

The Constructed Floating Wetlands (CFW) system uses natural wetland plants and oxygen provided by a solar powered aeration system to treat domestic wastewater. As the treated wastewater is inevitably discharged into the nearby creak, this system substantially improves the wastewater quality which proceeds to make the receiving stream safer for use by humans as well…

Environmental Achievements of the City of St. Albert

City of St. Albert

The City of St. Albert has been committed to reducing the community’s carbon footprint, becoming more resilient to the effects of climate change, and becoming a more sustainable city. The City of St. Albert has been accomplishing this in the following ways: The Clean Energy Improvement Program has committed $5,017,400 in funding for residents to…

Infrastructure

Award Recipient

Ecoplast Solutions: Building Houses from Recycled Plastic Bottles

Ecoplast Solutions

Ecoplast manufactures building materials made from 100% recycled plastic bottles and uses the product to design and build high-performance dwellings. This revolutionary green building technology provides a sustainable solution that enables circular economics in the highly wasteful construction industry. Depending on its size, one Ecoplast dwelling upcycles between 600,000 and 2 million plastic bottles and…

Shortlist

Solar Aquatic Systems Wastewater Treatment

Brazeau County

Brazeau County Council actively seeks innovative ways of treating wastewater in an environmentally friendly process. The goal of the Solar Aquatic Systems (SAS) Wastewater Treatment project was to treat wastewater to a high quality while keeping the facility footprint small and using green technology. The facility is 2000 square feet and is designed to treat…

SSRIA: Transforming the AEC Industry Towards a Net Zero Built Environment

Smart Sustainable Resilient Infrastructure Association

SSRIA is a non-profit association who is taking a collaborative and industry-led approach to accelerate the adoption of innovative solutions that reduce carbon in the built environment. They are actioning their mission through demonstration projects, business growth services, and sharing the latest expertise in innovative low carbon building technologies, products, and practices.  To date SSRIA has…

Land

Award Recipient

The City of Calgary’s Willow Plantation for Marginal Land Improvement and Carbon Capture

The City of Calgary

The City of Calgary’s biosolids demonstration project began in 2013 with a goal to assess the potential to improve Alberta’s arable land base through the beneficial reuse of biosolids recovered from leading-edge wastewater treatment processes. The City’s Wastewater Treatment Operational Performance Team worked closely with project consultant SYLVIS Environmental’s Biosolids Management Team and a private…

Shortlist

Ledcor Highway Maintenance Yard Upgrades

Ledcor Highway Maintenance Limited

With sustainability as one of their core values, Ledcor is well aware of the associated risks when using salt and sand in their winter operations. That is why their Highway Maintenance team is working hard to reduce salt contamination and prevent the chronic increase of salt concentration, a known risk posed by highway maintenance operations…

Lifetime Achievement

Award Recipient

Shortlist

There are no other finalists in this category.

Shared Footprints Award

Award Recipient

Highfield Regenerative Farm: Growing an alternative food community on a foundation of healthy soil

Highfield Regenerative Farm

Highfield Regenerative Farm (HRF) is located on 15 acres in the heart of an industrial community in the city of Calgary. In partnership with the Compost Council of Canada and the City of Calgary, the HRF is transforming under-utilized industrial land into a vibrant and productive urban farm through soil revitalization, food production and community programming. The HRF…

Shortlist

Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition: Working Together to Protect the North Saskatchewan River Valley

Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition

The Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition (ERVCC) supports the conservation and restoration of Edmonton’s North Saskatchewan River valley and ravine system through a systems-level focus on biodiversity, the ecological integrity of the corridor, and history. This philosophy reflects the river valley bylaw, which states its first goal: “to ensure the preservation of the natural character…

Waste Management

Award Recipient

Shortlist

Earth Warrior

Earth Warrior strives to live in harmony with the planet. By repurposing textile waste into new, sustainable items, they’re taking steps towards a more sustainable future, every single day. In their repurposing process, Earth Warrior takes post-consumer textiles (used clothing, curtains, bedding, etc.), as well as post-manufacturing textiles (fabric roll ends and fabric scraps), and…

Microgreens Club – A Zero Waste Initiative

Micro YYC

Micro YYC is an urban indoor microgreens farm that provides microgreens to local markets, grocers, and restaurants. Their latest initiative: The Microgreens Club, is an entirely zero-waste service that delivers microgreens directly to customers in reusable containers. Containers are returned each week, sanitized, and reused indefinitely. In the world of packaging, a reuse model –…

Water

Award Recipient

LakeKeepers: Community Based Monitoring of Alberta’s Lakes

Alberta Lake Management Society

The Alberta Lake Management Society (ALMS) works to improve our understanding of lakes, reservoirs, and watersheds. In 2018, ALMS developed the LakeKeepers program. Participants in the program are equipped and trained to collect water quality measurements and samples from their waterbody of choice. Participants are provided with a sampling kit which includes a water quality…

Shortlist

Safe water and water sustainability in Alberta

University of Calgary

Pristine water supplies are being threatened by population growth, climate change, and increasing water demands by economic activities. Dr. Kimura-Hara’s research helps to develop, apply, and share cutting-edge science to continue to provide safe water and address the growing concern of water sustainability for future generations. Dr. Kimura-Hara’s research contributes to the future of Canadian…

Forest industry collaboration cultivates sustainability around vital wetland ecosystems

Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), Alberta Pacific Forest Industries Inc., Canfor, the Forest Products Association of Canada (FPAC), Tolko Industries Ltd., West Fraser, and Weyerhaeuser Company

Wetlands are prominent features in forests and are often part of interconnected systems that link all forest ecosystems. Alberta’s wetlands help maintain forest productivity (water/ nutrient flow) and provide numerous ecosystem services that benefit the forest industry and society. The Forest Management Wetland Stewardship Initiative’s (FMWSI) mission is to advance wetland stewardship in the boreal…

Wildlife & Biodiversity

Award Recipient

Shortlist

Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society – Sikome Beaver Coexistence Project.

Friends of Fish Creek Provincial Park Society

The Fish Creek Beaver Coexistence Project is aimed at balancing beaver and human needs throughout the park, and challenging negative perceptions about beavers. Coexistence devices, also known as pond levellers, and culvert exclusion fencing have been installed in some areas where current beaver activity is creating problems for visitors and for land managers responsible for…

Youth

Award Recipient

New Myrnam School | Energy & Environmental Sustainability Projects in Action

New Myrnam School

For the past 6 years, New Myrnam school has undertaken a series of challenging projects that have not only educated their students and community but have had a lasting environmental impact. Over the years the School has worked on numerous sustainability projects, including: A Sustainable Greenhouse Project Designing Renewable Energy Systems Reducing New Myrnam School’s…

Shortlist

Monica Figueroa: Edmonton youth climate activist

Edmonton Youth For Climate

EYFC is a grassroots youth organization whose mission is to educate, engage, and empower all people in the Edmonton area to take action on climate change. They have organized over 10 student climate strikes in the City of Edmonton and engaged with the municipal government to legislate and fund Edmonton’s Energy Transition Strategy. Monica Figueroa has been a leader in…

Strathmore High School Community Greenhouse

Strathmore High School

The SHS Community Greenhouse is a public space that is rich in learning opportunities around nutrition, soil health, renewable energy, composting, and agriculture among others.  This space was designed and built by Strathmore High School students and staff beginning in the fall of 2021 in collaboration with community members. SHS staff and students wanted to…