Harbourview Environmental Consulting

Major oil spills are a rarity in Canada but when they happen Harbourview Environmental Consulting is ready to respond. 

Harbourview Environmental Consulting is based in Port Hood but owner Shannon MacDonald, a graduate of Dalhousie University (Bachelor of Science with honours) and Canadian Coast Guard College (Bachelor of Technology - Navigation), has traveled far and wide to ensure oil spills are properly managed and shoreline cleanup is assessed and completed.
 
The 39-year-old mother of two young boys is also called on to train other environmental responders as well as doing small vessel marine training in areas as varied as VHF radio operation, pleasure craft operation and non-pleasure craft basic safety and operation proficiency.
 
In a sole proprietorship that is growing rapidly, Shannon also does spill training with companies that load and handle oil, thus acting proactively, rather than reactively.
 
“I love Cape Breton,” she says. “I was born and raised in Ontario but came here to Coast Guard College. After graduation, I served as a navigational officer in Newfoundland for eight-years before deciding to go back to school. At Dal, I studied oceanography with honours in hydrogeology, and, with my science and boating experience, was able to get a job with an oil spill response team.”   
 
In 2006, she decided to stay home with her boys (then four and five years old) and established her consulting business.
 
“There have been very few slow periods,” says Shannon who is constantly busy training responders and navigators. “It’s exciting when there’s a spill, of course. Small ones are fairly common and large ones are rare. When a spill happens, I usually lead a team to assess the shoreline, the geology and type of oil, and recommend how to clean it up. After the treatment, the team reviews the shoreline to ensure it’s clean enough.”
 
Prior to starting her own firm, Shannon worked with Eastern Canada Response Corporation, one of four response organizations in Canada. During that time she spent three summers, between thaw to freeze, on a large lake in Alberta that was affected by a major spill. She still counts this as one of her greatest challenges and educational experiences.
 
“There were a lot of political issues (a major corporation was involved) and people were emotional and upset but that leveled off when they became educated about the issue,” she says. “The work with Eastern Canada Response Corporation enabled me to develop the background to open my own business.”
 
Shannon notes that Transport Canada says the amount of traffic in and around Port Hawkesbury from the oil and gas industry means it’s probably a matter of time before there’s a major spill in which her knowledge will be sought. Fortunately for her today, Shannon is able to work the how much she wants.
 
“It’s a good balance of career and kids,” she admits.
 
But the spill response side can be any day, any time.
 
She laughs. “It almost always happens on a Friday night – in winter.”
 
No matter. Her training and concern kicks in immediately and she’s off to take care of the environment.     
 
Coordinates:
38 Hughie’s Lane
Port Hood, Nova Scotia
B0E 2W0
Tel: 902-787-2526
Cell: 902-631-4960
hec@ns.symaptico.ca
 
Principal:
Shannon MacDonald
BSc (Hon.), Dalhousie University
BTech Navigation, Canadian Coast Guard College
 
Services:
Marine Oil Spill Consulting Services for certified Response Organizations and Oil Handling Facilities
Including:

• Oil spill planning advisor
• Training Development
• Trainer & Exercise Coordination
• Shoreline Clean up Assessment (SCAT)
• Environmental Monitoring

 
Small Vessel Marine Training
            Including:

• CPS Recognized trainer & examiner for VHF Radio Operator’s Certificate (M)
• CPS Recognized trainer & examiner for Pleasure Craft Operators Card
• Small Non-pleasure Vessel Basic Safety - MED A3
• Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP)