Field Trips
Field Trips
ICARD 2024 promises an exciting post-technical program experience with captivating field trips scheduled for the day after the conference.
The field trip organizer can cancel the tour if the minimum number of participants is not reached one month prior to the departure.
EAST KEMPTVILLE MINE - OVERNIGHT TOUR (Sold out)
Departure: Friday, September 20 at 12:00 pm
Return: Saturday, September 21 around 9:00 pm
The van pick-up point will be at the corner of Argyle and Sackville Streets.
Fee: $900 Including transportation, one night at Tru by Hilton in Yarmouth, Friday dinner, breakfast, and lunch on Saturday. Alcohol beverages and dinner on Saturday night are not included.
Description
This picturesque journey to southwest Nova Scotia! We’ll begin the first day of our adventure with lunch at a charming winery in the Annapolis Valley, savoring the finest local flavors and wines. Following this, we’ll check in at the Tru by Hilton in Yarmouth to enjoy relaxation, comfort, and another delicious meal featuring locally sourced Nova Scotia ingredients. As the sun rises the next morning, we’ll set out on a short drive from Yarmouth to East Kemptville and will have a unique opportunity to tour this former mine site, which was once the largest primary tin mine in North America. The East Kemptville Mine closed in 1992 but has since been carefully reclaimed to minimize risks to local communities and the environment. We will explore the water treatment facility, holding ponds, waste rock storage piles, and tailings management facility, each showcasing the intersection of technology and environmental responsibility. The tour, estimated to take 2-3 hours, will provide all participants with a detailed overview of the meticulous reclamation process and best practices for long-term mine waste management. Early that evening, we will enjoy another delectable dinner in the charming town of Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before returning to downtown Halifax.
Preparation: Please review and download the Legacy Assets brochure & Fact Sheet before the tour.
Attire: Please be prepared for variable weather conditions. HSE requires that participants wear long pants—no shorts, skirts, dresses, or capri pants. Footwear should be stable and secure; no open-toed shoes, sandals, crocs, or heels. We recommend sneakers, hiking boots, or Blundstones.
Schedule:
Friday, September 19:
- 12:00 PM: Departure from the side street of the Halifax Convention Center. At the corner of Argyle and Sackville Streets
- 2:00 PM: Arrive at the winery in Wolfville
- 3:30 PM: Depart winery for Yarmouth
- 6:00 PM: Arrive in Yarmouth (Tru by Hilton)
- 6:30 PM: Dinner at Rudder’s
Saturday, September 20:
- 7:00 AM: Breakfast at Tru by Hilton
- 8:15 AM: Depart Yarmouth for East Kemptville Mine Site
- 9:00 AM: Arrive at East Kemptville Mine Site
- Tour Duration: 2.5 hours
- Lunch at the site
- 1:30 PM: Depart East Kemptville for Lunenburg
- 4:00 PM: Arrive in Lunenburg
- Tour the town and have supper
- 7:30 PM: Depart Lunenburg for Halifax
- 8:45 PM: Arrive in Halifax
AIRPORT WATER TREATMENT FACILITY & MONTAGUE GOLD MINES – ONE DAY TOUR
Friday, September 20th from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Fee: $300 Include transportation, visit, and lunch
Description
This day trip will depart from the side street of the Halifax Convention Center and begin with a 35-minute drive to the water treatment facility at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport. This facility has been in operation since 2002 and treats acidic runoff from sulphide-bearing slate that was used for airport construction beginning in the late 1950s. Following a two-hour tour of the treatment plant and a discussion of ARD management by airport staff, the group will depart for lunch. In the afternoon, we will head to the historical Montague Gold District where gold was mined and milled from 1865 to 1940. Today, this former mine is located adjacent to a residential community and efforts are underway to develop a site remediation plan. The two-hour tour will be led by government staff who will highlight the history of the district, characteristics of the mine wastes, and ongoing efforts to assess and reduce risks to human and ecosystem health. The trip will conclude in downtown Halifax in the late afternoon.
Schedule:
- 8:30 am: Bus pick-up at the corner of Argyle and Sackville Streets
- Please be at the pick-up point at the corner of Argyle and Sackville Streets 15 minutes before departure.
- 9:30 – 11:30 am: Stop #1: Halifax Airport Water Treatment Plant
- 12:15 – 1:30 pm: Lunch at Mic Mac Bar & Grill
- 1:45 – 4:00 pm: Stop #2: Montague Gold Mines
- 5:00 pm: Arrival back at Halifax Convention Centre
Important Notes:
- Safety vests will be provided on-site, but please wear long pants, and sturdy shoes (with closed toes), and bring a raincoat if the weather is wet.
- There are no bathroom facilities at the water treatment plant, so please use the restrooms at the Halifax Convention Centre before departure.
- Lunch at the Mic Mac Bar & Grill is included in your tour fee. Participants will be required to pay for any alcoholic beverages.
- A liability waiver will need to be signed by all participants prior to the tour of Montague Gold Mines. Copies of this form will be available on the bus.
