Milestone, Sudliq Developments, and Salumaq Celebrate 2025 Brownie Award for Partnerships and Community Engagement

Press Release

Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc., together with partners Sudliq Developments Ltd. (SDL) and Salumaq Environmental Contracting, is proud to announce that the Coral Harbour Remediation and Inuit Capacity Building Project has been awarded the 2025 Brownie Award for Community Engagement.

Located in Salliq (Coral Harbour), Nunavut, the former Cold War radar station at the centre of this project was abandoned after decommissioning, leaving behind fuel contamination, hydrocarbon-impacted soils, hazardous materials, and deteriorating infrastructure. Under the Federal Contaminated Sites Action Plan (FCSAP), the site required a remediation approach that respected local priorities, supported Inuit leadership, and acknowledged the realities of northern work.

A defining feature of the project was the Coral Harbour Inuit Capacity Building Program, designed and delivered by Salumaq Environmental Contracting, a majority Inuit-owned company created through a partnership between SDL and Milestone. The program delivered 34,987 hours of Inuit employment and 5,138 hours of hands-on training, strengthening community capacity in field operations, equipment screening, first aid, incinerator operations, and project administration.

Reflecting on the unique realities of life and work in Nunavut, Dino Bruce, President of Salumaq Environmental Contracting Ltd., shared:

“Travelling in Nunavut can be a challenge because of the remoteness, availability of airline(s), and infrastructure (accommodations). This was a perfect example of how travelling can change in a moment and is such a critical part of our everyday life in Nunavut/Arctic.”

He also emphasized the importance of collaboration:

“We would like to emphasize the importance of working together to make life easier for people around us and in our communities. When we surround ourselves with like-minded individuals, and when individualism is put aside….personally, corporately, professionally, and in Governance, this makes for healthier communities.”

Accepting the award on behalf of SDL, Tim reflected on the origins and growth of the partnership:

“I first met Dino Bruce ~5 years ago through a referral related to a previous project in Nunavut completed over 10 years ago. We started small and explored the first phase of the remediation project in Coral Harbour together.”

That early collaboration set the stage for a long-term, trust-based partnership:

“Since then, mutual understanding of our values and the building of trust has occurred. The projects grew to include the multi-year full-scale remediation of the complex former military site in Coral Harbour with great not only technical success but also tens of thousands of hours of local Inuit employment, training and capacity building on the project.”

He continued, describing the creation of Salumaq:

“Speaking of this, we often talk about capacity building in the north, from the development of this relationship and demonstrated trust, a new company was born in partnership with Sudliq Developments and Milestone Environmental. This company is called Salumaq Environmental Contracting, meaning ‘Cleanup’.”

Since Coral Harbour, Salumaq, SDL, and Milestone have continued to collaborate on additional northern projects:

“The partnership has grown to include abatement and remediation projects in Cambridge Bay, Pond Inlet and Pelly Lake, plus the remarkable construction of a full-scale potable water treatment plant for the most northern and remote community in Canada, Grise Fiord.”

The Brownie Award recognizes transformative work in brownfield revitalization across Canada, celebrating projects that demonstrate innovation, collaboration, and long-term community benefit. The Coral Harbour project exemplifies these values by integrating environmental remediation, Inuit-led training, community involvement, and deep partnership.

Milestone extends its congratulations to Sudliq Developments Ltd., Salumaq Environmental Contracting, and the Coral Harbour community, whose involvement, leadership, and commitment made this achievement possible.

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