Canada North Environmental Services Limited Partnership is an 100% aboriginal-owned, multi-disciplinary environmental consulting firm, providing innovative environmental services for the resource fields of mining, forestry, agriculture, and infrastructure development.

CanNorth's client base includes Gold, Diamond, Copper, Graphite, and Uranium Mines, Provincial and Federal Governments, First Nations Governments, Crown Corporations, and Municipalities.

CanNorth's Corporate Objectives are to:
  Provide high quality cost-effective environmental services to Canadian and international resource developers and government agencies;
  Involve and train aboriginal people in environmental monitoring programs; and
  Facilitate effective communication of environmental issues between government, industry, and aboriginal people.

Our company people
  CanNorth is supported internally by a skilled team of aquatic and terrestrial ecologists, hydrologists, computer and information technologists. CanNorth prides itself on scientific and professional integrity. Approximately 50% of the companies field staff is of Aboriginal ancestry. The company strives to involve and train aboriginal people through environmental monitoring programs and facilitates the communication of environmental issues between government, industry, and aboriginal people. As a smaller environmental consulting firm, each project is important to the company, with the company manager active on most programs.

Peter Vanriel, B.A., B.Sc., M.Sc., P.Biol.
General Manager / Senior Aquatic Biologist

Peter Vanriel is the General Manager of CanNorth and has over 22 years of experience in consulting and environmental research.  He has a B.A. in Physical Geography, a B.Sc. in Biology, and an M.Sc. in Zoology.  In addition, he is a Professional Biologist registered with the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists.  His career focus has been on environmental issues related to natural resource developments.  His experience includes managing comprehensive EIS’ for numerous natural resource development projects.  In addition, he has specialty skills in fish population dynamics and aquatic ecosystem functioning, although his research experience also encompasses many other aspects of biology.  He has authored or co-authored over 150 technical reports.

Peter has extensive experience with many environmental issues, including environmental protection, public health, and safety risks.  In addition, he has provided expert witness testimony during public enquiries for various natural resource developments.  His many years of experience have provided him with extensive knowledge of environmental regulatory requirements and he has established excellent relationships with many regulatory agencies.  Peter’s current professional volunteer activities include the position of Special Advisor on the Environment for the Saskatchewan Government.

Kelly Wells obtained a B.Sc. in biology and a M.Sc. in aquatic toxicology from the University of Guelph.  She has over 8 years experience in environmental research and consulting and is currently employed as a Senior Aquatic Toxicologist and Project Manager at CanNorth.  Kelly’s specialty is in assessing the impacts of industrial contaminants on aquatic ecosystems and she has been involved in large-scale environmental impact assessments and environmental effects monitoring programs.  Kelly has managed monitoring programs, baseline studies, and special investigations for a variety of clients including Cameco Corporation, AREVA Resources Canada Inc., Shore Gold Inc., the Saskatchewan Research Council, and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment.  Specific duties have included study design preparation, project coordination, field work, client communication, cost control, and report preparation/review.

Cassandra Rees completed a four year honours co-op B.Sc. at Dalhousie University and has since gained over four years of environmental consulting experience.  She is currently employed as a Senior Aquatic Ecologist and Project Manager at CanNorth.  Cassandra has been involved with many programs assessing the effects of development on aquatic environments, including environmental assessments, state of the environment reporting, and environmental effects monitoring.  Cassandra now manages monitoring programs, baseline studies, and special investigations for a variety of clients including Cameco Corporation, AREVA Resources Canada Inc., and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment.  Specific duties have included study design preparation, project coordination, field work, client communication, cost control, and report preparation/review.