Meet Iain Avis, Environmental Compliance Consultant, a 2021 addition to our Blue Heron Environmental team.
Mr. Avis joined Blue Heron Environmental in June 2021. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Degree in Environmental Science with a specialization in Ecology from the University of Waterloo.
Mr. Avis has been working in the environmental and resource-based industries since 2016.
We asked Iain Avis to answer a few questions to help our clients get to know him better.
During my first co-op at a mine in 2012, some of my coworkers in the environmental department were Blue Heron alumni, however it wasn’t until working for a Gold Mine in 2019 that I got to collaborate with Blue Heron directly.
Removing valuable minerals out of the earth and refining them into materials that are actually usable is tough, complicated work.
From geochemistry, construction management, chemical engineering and biological monitoring, there are many technical aspects to mining, and as an Environmental Compliance Consultant, I get exposed to many of them. It makes for interesting work, and each new project teaches you so much.
A myth that I’ve encountered is that mining personnel sometimes consider that production activities take precedence over environmental protection. I haven’t been in the game that long, but I have encountered this at some mining operations, so we are sometimes bearers of bad news and plans need to be modified to meet regulatory requirements.
Once non-environmental personnel understand the requirements, there is usually no resistance.
My first job as a teen was as a dishwasher in an Italian restaurant. My first environmental job was as a summer student at an engineering firm dealing with contaminated sites.
I’d learn French. I was not a fan of French class in school, but my teacher Madame Nichole was right – it’s really useful.
“As time goes by in this give and take,
As long as I learn I will make mistakes”
-Just A Test, by the Beastie Boys off their album “Hello Nasty”
#1 – Go hunting. I’ve had my PAL (gun license) for years now, but it was frowned upon by a previous partner – so now’s my chance to try it!
#2 – Start gardening. I live in an apartment, so it may be a bit difficult, but the idea of growing my own food is very attractive to me.
North Cascades National Park in Washington state. It was the hardest hiking that I’ve ever done, but every painful meter of altitude was worth it. The cute marmots alone justify a visit.
During my first co-op at a mine in 2012, some of my coworkers in the environmental department were Blue Heron alumni, however it wasn’t until working for a Gold Mine in 2019 that I got to collaborate with Blue Heron directly.
Removing valuable minerals out of the earth and refining them into materials that are actually usable is tough, complicated work.
From geochemistry, construction management, chemical engineering and biological monitoring, there are many technical aspects to mining, and as an Environmental Compliance Consultant, I get exposed to many of them. It makes for interesting work, and each new project teaches you so much.
A myth that I’ve encountered is that mining personnel sometimes consider that production activities take precedence over environmental protection. I haven’t been in the game that long, but I have encountered this at some mining operations, so we are sometimes bearers of bad news and plans need to be modified to meet regulatory requirements.
Once non-environmental personnel understand the requirements, there is usually no resistance.
My first job as a teen was as a dishwasher in an Italian restaurant. My first environmental job was as a summer student at an engineering firm dealing with contaminated sites.
I’d learn French. I was not a fan of French class in school, but my teacher Madame Nichole was right – it’s really useful.
“As time goes by in this give and take,
As long as I learn I will make mistakes”
-Just A Test, by the Beastie Boys off their album “Hello Nasty”
#1 – Go hunting. I’ve had my PAL (gun license) for years now, but it was frowned upon by a previous partner – so now’s my chance to try it!
#2 – Start gardening. I live in an apartment, so it may be a bit difficult, but the idea of growing my own food is very attractive to me.
North Cascades National Park in Washington state. It was the hardest hiking that I’ve ever done, but every painful meter of altitude was worth it. The cute marmots alone justify a visit.
Blue Heron is an environmental consulting firm based in Timmins, Ontario, with satellite offices in Sudbury, Red Lake, and across the province. The company was established with the express interest of providing practical, trusted, and cost-effective assistance to resource-based industries for all aspects of environmental management.
Blue Heron staff have extensive experience working in the environmental field, primarily in Northern Ontario. The company offers a wide array of specialized expertise to support organizations’ environmental management needs. Our professionals are currently engaged in a variety of environmental studies and permitting initiatives and are actively involved in different facets of project management and implementation of environmental compliance programs, as well as providing assistance with external stakeholder engagement.
