Featured Project
Davieaux Island Light Station Abatement and Debris Removal
Location
Davieaux Island, Lake Superior, Ontario
Key Services
- Contaminated Site Remediation
- Abatement (hazardous material, asbestos, lead paint)
- Remote logistics
Description
Milestone Environmental Contracting Inc. completed the abatement of asbestos, lead paint, and mould, as well as debris removal, at the remote Davieaux Island Light Station under contract to PSPC on behalf of DFO. The project required full marine and air mobilization and logistical coordination to ensure safe, compliant removal of hazardous materials from an isolated heritage site.
Key Challenges
- Remote location: approximately 85 kilometres off the shore of Wawa, Ontario
- Harsh weather conditions and limited weather windows: complicated both mobilization and ongoing site operations.
- Extremely limited staging and storage areas: restricted equipment setup and material handling.
- Coordinating multiple layers of regulatory compliance: federal, provincial, and municipal which added administrative complexity within a short seasonal work window.
Key Solutions
- Remote location: combined barge, float-plane, and helicopter transport for all personnel and materials.
- Remote location: a 15-person temporary camp was established on the island to provide accommodations, power, water, meals, and communications for the crew throughout the project.
- Harsh weather conditions and limited weather windows: close coordination between Milestone, Stantec, and PSPC/DFO teams kept daily operations, documentation, and logistics on schedule and aligned with project requirements.
- Extremely limited staging and storage areas: three separate off-loading points were set up around the island to safely crane supplies and equipment ashore during suitable weather windows.
- Coordinating multiple layers of regulatory compliance: post-abatement materials were contained in sealed, heavy-duty super sacks for safe, traceable off-island transport and compliant disposal.
Vision
Milestone is committed to building meaningful and lasting relationships with Indigenous peoples based on trust, respect, and open communication. The company’s Indigenous Engagement and Inclusion strategy is guided by four core principles: respect and recognition, community investment, lasting relationships, and Indigenous partnerships.
Plan
For the Davieaux Island project, Milestone engaged Rosho Demolition, a 51% Indigenous-owned company, as the primary subcontractor for abatement and debris-removal operations. This partnership supports Milestone’s broader corporate objectives to promote Indigenous business participation and enhance capacity within environmental contracting sectors across Canada.
Outcome
Through this partnership, the project achieved measurable engagement of Indigenous businesses within the federal contracting framework. While on-site Indigenous labour participation was limited by logistical constraints, the contract provided direct economic benefit to an Indigenous-owned firm and reinforced Milestone’s commitment to developing long-term, mutually beneficial relationships.