Agnes Wietrzynski, President and CEO of QM Environmental, outlines the company’s ongoing projects whilst emphasizing its deep-rooted commitment to safety and Indigenous inclusion.
BUILDING CAPACITY TOGETHER
Characterized by continuous development as new technologies and advancements emerge, Canada’s environmental and industrial services industry is poised for growth.
Meanwhile, companies operating in this space have seen their environmental priorities evolve as new contaminants and associated remediation needs materialize.
“The industry is currently an exciting yet challenging space,” introduces Agnes Wietrzynski, President and CEO of leading Canadian environmental and industrial services company, QM Enviromental (QM).
Wietrzynski points out how, to be successful, companies such as QM must remain agile to keep pace with constant industry changes, continually innovating with new technologies and approaches to address ongoing challenges.
“It’s a rewarding sector to work in as we collaborate with others to build climate resilience,” she reflects.
With locations spanning across Canada, QM’s vast suite of services include environmental remediation, demolition and decommissioning, hazardous materials abatement, and emergency response and management, among others.
The company’s varied and diverse clientele includes general contractors, government, transportation authorities, manufacturers, mining companies, agricultural companies, and private businesses.
DONE SAFELY WITHOUT COMPROMISE
At the core of QM’s identity and success are its corporate values, which include a company-wide commitment to safety, excellence, diversity, and resilience, summarized in its tagline – ‘Done Safely, Without Compromise’.
In recognition of QM’s successful, people-centric safety strategies, Wietrzynski herself was recently awarded the Workplace Safety and Prevention Services (WSPS) award for ‘CEO of the Year’ at the 2024 Canada’s Safest Employers event.
Some of the competitive criteria used to determine the winner included identifying skills in each CEO which inspire, engage, and excite the workforce about safety.
Meanwhile, Melissa Clarke, the company’s Vice President of Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS), has been recognized multiple times by Canadian Occupational Safety (COS) as a ‘Top Woman in Safety’, further solidifying QM’s commitment to welfare.
In addition, the company was awarded COS’ 5-Star Safety Cultures award in 2023, the adjudication process of which saw employees complete an anonymous survey to outline how they felt about QM’s safety culture, demonstrating the company’s positive view on safety from within.
“Our EHS policies, systems, procedures, and results consistently meet the stringent requirements of Canada’s most safety-conscious clients and industries,” Wietrzynski prides.
QM’s award-winning commitment to safety helps it to attract talent who share the company’s commitment to excellence, providing it with a competitive advantage.
“Our steadfast devotion to diversity ensures that we foster a culture where everyone is valued for their unique perspectives”
Agnes Wietrzynski, President and CEO, QM Environmental
INDIGENOUS PARTNERSHIPS AND CAPACITY BUILDING
Since its inception, QM’s Indigenous Partnerships and Capacity Building program has formed an integral part of its core values, cultivating a policy of active engagement of Indigenous peoples on its projects.
“The program is a proven methodology of integrating with and contributing to local Indigenous communities, businesses, and peoples through training, employment, sub-contracting, and other business ventures,” Wietrzynski outlines.
QM’s Indigenous initiatives have succeeded so far because of the diversity of its approach, commitment to its people, and corporate support at all levels of the organization.
“Our steadfast devotion to diversity ensures that we foster a culture where everyone is valued for their unique perspectives,” she notes.
Having trained over 500 Indigenous people and carried out project contracts with Indigenous partners amounting to more than $250 million and counting, QM is a leading Indigenous training provider to both the public and private sectors.
The company also works with staff and students at local high schools in remote communities to identify, train, coach, and motivate young people to work on-site while gaining credits toward their high school graduation.
“Many of those that we train have subsequently been hired by QM or other employers across a variety of industries,” Wietrzynski informs.
This approach has brought new ideas to the organization that have allowed it to continue to evolve its services offerings and enhance the way it does business.
“We are always open to partnering with organizations who share our commitment to solving environmental challenges”
Agnes Wietrzynski, President and CEO, QM Environmental
GUNNAR MINE REMEDIATION
Committed to Indigenous partnership, capacity building, and long-term sustainability in the Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan, QM Points (QMP) is a QM company that operates in partnership with Points Athabasca, a progressive and fast-growing Indigenous-owned general contractor.
Recently awarded to QMP by the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), the demolition of asbestos-laden buildings at the Gunnar mine and mill site is a standout project for the company due to both its operational success and the majority involvement of Indigenous people from the Athabasca Basin region, exceeding the target set by SRC.
The project scope, which is centered around a former uranium mine in Northern Saskatchewan, includes the development of approximately 400,000 square meters (sqm) of local borrow areas, alongside the innovative construction of an engineered cover system over waste rock piles using 230,000 cubic meters (cbm) of backfill material.
Meanwhile, construction of two landfills – non-hazardous and hazardous – and their demolition and legacy waste clean-up included excess concrete removal and the excavation of soil.
In addition, the development saw the construction and installation of three stainless steel-engineered mine opening caps.
“The cooperation and partnership of neighboring communities has been critical to this project,” Wietrzynski shares.
QMP’s overall goal for the Gunnar mine and mill site remediation project is to properly engage, include, and support the people of the Athabasca Basin region throughout the project lifecycle in a manner that serves communities in the years after the project ends.
Looking to the future, the company’s priorities remain rooted in revitalizing its local environment and building climate resilience for future generations.
“Our diverse services will continue to evolve based on the changing needs of our customers. We are always open to partnering with organizations who share our commitment to solving environmental challenges,” she passionately concludes.
QM ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNER
