K’alo-Stantec selected to provide environmental consulting services for Mackenzie Valley Highway

K’alo-Stantec has been selected by the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) Department of Infrastructure to continue completing the environment assessment and secure necessary regulatory authorizations for the proposed Mackenize Valley Highway (MVH). K’alo-Stantec has a long-term relationship with GNWT and has been key in maintaining the continuity of advancing the MVH project.

The project will establish a critical transportation corridor into Canada’s Arctic, connecting three communities—Wrigley, Tulita, and Norman Wells—by replacing a 320-kilometre winter road with an all-season road.

K’alo-Stantec is a majority Indigenous-owned company based in Tulita, Northwest Territories, consisting of Willowlake Environmental Services, BJ Services, and Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering. The team has deep experience with northern environmental assessments, regulatory approvals, and cold-region engineering and road design.

Climate change is impacting winter roads and waterways in the Northwest Territories, making them a less dependable means of transportation. Low water levels on the Mackenize River have limited barge resupply to nearby communities, making it difficult for them to receive necessary goods and commodities.

“These obstacles are significant. When communities are connected by all-season roads, life is better in the Far North,” said Stantec’s Arlen Foster, principal infrastructure lead for northern Canada. “I’m proud of how our expertise in the Far North is continuing to be recognized through these nation-building infrastructure projects.

The environmental assessment (EA) process has been underway for several years for the MVH project. K’alo-Stantec’s team will complete the EA process, which will include community engagement and consultation. The team will support obtaining the necessary regulatory authorizations for construction and provide environmental and engineering technical studies in support of the project.

“The Mackenzie Valley Highway is not just a road; it is a lifeline for our northern communities,” said Stantec’s Angie Bates, vice president and infrastructure sector leader in Environmental Services. “By providing year-round access, it strengthens connections, fosters economic opportunities, and enhances the resilience of Wrigley, Tulita, and Norman Wells. This vital corridor will help us adapt to climate change and secure a sustainable future for the Arctic.”

Planning for the MVH has been ongoing for more than a decade, with socio-economic, technical, and environmental work and planning being done with Indigenous and community organizations. The GNWT has incorporated Indigenous Knowledge into the planning process and signed a memorandum of understanding with the Sahtú Secretariat Incorporated, an indigenous government organization.

A final construction decision, anticipated in late 2027 or early 2028, is contingent upon the environmental assessment, regulatory permitting, and funding.

Stantec experience in the far north
Stantec has extensive experience in leading large infrastructure projects with extreme weather conditions in remote areas, including Grays Bay Road and Port, the Slave Geological Province Corridor, Kivalliq Inter-Community Roadway, and Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway (ITH). Now complete, the ITH connects the community of Tuktoyaktuk with southern Canada, fulfilling a national dream of connecting every coast in the country.

Learn more about Stantec’s Transportation and Environmental Services teams.

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Media Contacts           

Chris Niskanen
Stantec Media Relations
Ph: (612) 747-8613
chris.niskanen@stantec.com

Sarah Brunette
Stantec Media Relations
Ph: (403) 472-5140
sarah.brunette@stantec.com