Story Session 5
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Don Hester, FCSLA, MCIP, RPP SOUL - STORY SESSION, Saturday, July 21, 2018 Don Hester, FCSLA, RPP, MCIP Senior Planner and Landscape Architect 41 years with AECOM, Winnipeg 2 with Lombard North Group, Winnipeg Landscape Research Group, University of Manitoba Master of Landscape Architecture 1980, Bachelor of Environmental Studies 1973, and Certificate in Resource Analysis and Land Use Planning 1975, University of Manitoba Work with over 35 First Nation Communities in Manitoba, as well as First Nation Communities in Northwestern Ontario, Alberta and BC. 1974 – Molson Lake, Manitoba ROLE: Student, ground-truthing, terrain modeling. 1920’s: log homes on a small island facing southeast toward Molson Lake, including a log outhouse. 1974: Norway House Band Fishing Lodge 1974 – Molson Lake, Manitoba Indigenous people in Northern Manitoba once had a healthy, self-sustaining life-style with their own language and culture, and trade connections; then they were moved into Reserves: Poor land, poor housing; socia No jobs, and restrictions on movement and cultural practices. Some Bands in the South owned productive farmland before they were moved to small, unsustainable Reserves. 1975 & 1978 - Northern Flood Agreement (NFA) ROLE: Research Assistant – Landscape Research Group (1975) Documented destruction of pristine Rat River linking Southern Indian Lake (3 m rise) to the Burntwood-Nelson. ROLE: Community Consultation Lead working with Water Treatment Specialists (AECOM) Article 6.1 of the NFA (1977) – Potable Water Supply Five Reserves - Norway House, Nelson House, Split Lake, Cross Lake, York Landing: water supply pail in lake, limited standpipes. Heavy sediment loads from clear cutting, water from the northern Prairies. Solutions: basic water treatment processes, Water Truck delivery, Sewage Truck – pump-out tanks. 1975 & 1978 - Northern Flood Agreement (NFA) In addition to Reserves and Residential Schools, First Nations people had to deal with impacts on their physical well-being from large energy and mining projects with significant environmental effects. Difficult choices related to water and wastewater servicing in the North. Even now some Communities don’t have adequate electric power service. Fuel spills from tank farms and diesel generators are an ongoing concern. LEGEND: Northern Flood Communities (5) School Studies (22) Greenhouse Study (4) Planning Studies (32) Subdivisions (2) Environmental (3) Flood Mitigation Studies (1) Nursing Station Project (1) Recreation Centre Proposal (1) Rice River Road Consultation (3) LEGEND: School Studies Nursing Station Project Planning and Terrain Analysis Studies Environmental Studies Rice River Road Community Consultation Shoal Lake No. 39 Terrain Analysis Studies 1980’s ROLE: Terrain Analysis and Recreation Planning. Aerial Photo Interpretation and Resource Analysis and Land Planning courses 1984 Land Use Capability Analysis, an introduction to terrain analysis and airphoto interpretation (INAC) As well as educational seminars for First Nations Land Use Capability Analysis Terrain Analysis Studies 1980’s Importance of land-based planning: most Reserves have a significant proportion on unusable land - rock and muskeg, steeply sloping or poorly drained. Previously aerial photo interpretation, mapping; Now GIS provides most base information. NTS map > 1986 – 2002 Community Capital Planning Studies ROLE: Project Coordinator and Planner Population projections, inventories of Community buildings/ houses; housing needs projection; land requirements; Stakeholder & Community Consultation; Terrain Analysis; Alternative physical layout plans; Community Development Plan - roads and services, and facilities. Coordinated municipal engineering infrastructure. Prepared 5/20-year cost estimates – short, medium, long-term priorities. 1986 – Berens River Community Plan and 5-Year Capital Plan Community consultation - involve a range of individuals, in confidence. Different agendas, e.g. men’s vs women’s goals - telephones vs running water. Linked to Parallel Roads Study. Need: more compact development forms to address underground servicing considerations and related ISC requirements - maximum 30 m lot widths/ 7.5 du/ha density. Fire separation distances - development guidelines. 1996 – Marcel Colomb Community Plan and 5-Year Capital Plan Community consultation Personal interviews vs Questionnaire Surveys Traditional Ecological Knowledge – Elder interviews Lynn Lake - tailings concerns. Sustainability of truck delivery, with cisterns/ pump-out tanks - higher Life Cycle Costs Versus piped water and wastewater. Need to ground-truth, do geotechnical testing – provide rock allowances in cost estimates. Local involvement - mentored Band Coordinator. Develop local skills in a wide range of areas - capacity building important to long-term Community health Old Community New Community Location North Bamaji Lake 2002 – New Slate Falls Nation Community Capital Planning Study Terrain analysis – included lake soundings. Cluster development: Preferred option for family groupings; Not suitable for underground servicing; Difficult for householders to manage semi-independent servicing systems; O & M considerations in remote Communities - lack of training, spare parts. Soon after, Slate Falls Nation wanted centralized piped water and wastewater servicing. Significant costs to servicing dispersed development form. Low pressure sewer still needs grinder pumps. 1998–2018 - Community Planning for Sewer & Water Feasibility Studies ROLE: Project Coordinator and/or Senior Planner Population and housing projections - land requirements; GIS terrain analysis, field studies; community infrastructure analyses; Stakeholder and Community consultations, Questionnaire Surveys; Planning options; Community Development Plans with Development Standards; Infrastructure - identified water and wastewater treatment and conveyance systems, and road design issues and options; Cost estimating and Life Cycle Cost Analyses. 25+ includes Shoal Lake No. 40, Fairford, Pukatawagan, Little Grand Rapids, Pauingassi. 1998 – 2018 - Sewer and Water Feasibility Studies (Community Planning) Climatic and terrain considerations - deep pipe burial, rock blasting, heat tracing, recirculating water system. Community Planning - interdisciplinary approach. Followed by subdivision plans, fieldwork, detailed design and construction of Water Treatment Plants, lagoons, landfills and underground servicing systems. Water and Wastewater Operators Training Session Little Grand Rapids Sewer and Water Feasibility Study Bunibonibee Cree Nation Sewer and Water Feasibility Studies Infill and Densification; Flexible Plan; Two Updates, and Community Infrastructure Needs Assessment IR 24 Nisichawayasik Cree Nation Sewer and Water Feasibility Study New Subdivision Pauingassi First Nation Commmunity Development Plan Rock, peat bog and landfill constraints. 600 people – growth projections? Remote Communities - Access Eg. Little Grand Rapids, Pauinagassi, Wasagamack: Provincial Airports on islands, or in adjacent communities Boats in Summer, skidoos or trucks over the ice in Winter Helicopters in the Spring and Fall Short Winter Road season is getting shorter Need All-weather Road connections at least to airports. Pauingassi: float plane for personal transport and supplies, or helicopter, 40 Km boat/skidoo ride. Issues with emergency medical/evacuations; repairs and servicing. Logistics important part of any construction projects – Winter Road season is the time for getting materials into the communities. Rice River Road Functional Design Study (East Side Road) ROLE: Stakeholder and Community Consultation Lead Four communities, including Pine Falls, three First Nations (Hollow Water, Bloodvein, Berens River); KPI – various levels of government/agencies, industry, recreation and environmental groups; Three rounds of Community Meetings/ Open Houses; Questionnaire Surveys, and Media appearances. Rice River Road Functional Design Study (East Side Road) Pros and cons: all-weather road needed to provide First Nation Communities with better access to groceries, building supplies, medical appointments, but concerns about traditional hunting, and drugs and alcohol. Dangerous crossings of Lake Winnipeg in the spring and fall; Winter Road hazards and concerns. Environmentalists wanted to protect the “pristine wilderness”, not understanding that people lives are at stake. Nelson House School 1983 Architecture, Gaboury Architects Inc.; Planning, Land. Arch., Civil Engineering, AECOM 2002-2018 School Feasibility Studies/Facilities Studies - Evolution ROLE: Study Manager, Planner and Landscape Architect Approximately 20 Communities, some more than once. Landscape architectural and engineering site analysis (Nelson House, 1983) First Nation School Feasibility Studies (Pauingassi, 2002) Lake Winnipeg Bundle School Pre-design Studies (4 Communities, 2016). Unknown construction horizons (some studies redone 3 times) - more immediate delivery schedules - with 3 years. More stakeholder (Chief & Council, teachers) and Community consultation to determine local needs. 2002-2018 School Feasibility Studies/Facilities Studies - Team INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM: FN Student Enrolment Specialist – Student Enrolment Projections; Education Planner - Formal Plan of School Space based on ISC School Space Accommodation Standards. Architects, SME Engineers, LAs with experience in condition and capacity assessments, and school and schoolyard design.