Institute sets agenda for 2026

VANCOUVER (March 26, 2026) — An online course and an Indigenous case history project will be key areas of focus for the Landform Design Institute in 2026, as the Institute nears seven years of working toward making landform design routine in the mining industry worldwide.

At its sixth annual general meeting, held February 17, the founder and Chair of the Institute, Dr. Gord McKenna, reflected on the Institute’s recent accomplishments, which include the release of a guidance document on developing a landform design memorandum, the launch of an online short course on the memorandum, and the Institute’s third in-person course, which took place in November 2025 at the University of British Columbia.

A recording of the five-day course will form the basis for a 40-hour online version. The case history project, meanwhile, is being supported by a Circle of Advisors and sponsored by the Integral Ecology Group, an LDI corporate member. The Advisors are working with the Institute to create a series of case histories that will be published as they become available.

The AGM featured as its keynote speaker Casey Cawston, a member of the Circle of Advisors. Cawston is currently a member of the Lower Similkameen Indian Band. He has over 40 years of experience in the mining and logging industries and provides advice for the Upper Similkameen Indian Band (USIB) on mining issues. His dual roles of a lifelong relationship with the land and working in industry allow him to bridge both knowledge systems. “I walked two roads, or two paths, or two worlds,” he said, stressing the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge into all stages of mine planning and reclamation.

Prior to the AGM, the LDI Board held a retreat in Edmonton, Alberta, to set out the agenda for 2026 and 2027. Among many objectives, the Institute will continue to produce its highly acclaimed “lunch and learn” series, which consists of lectures on landform design presented by Dr. McKenna. These sessions often attract more than 100 representatives of the LDI’s corporate members. 

The Institute plans to continue producing its “Getting Closure” podcast, which is hosted by LDI Board Member Mike O’Kane, the hot-topic video vignettes, and quarterly news postings. It is also working on guides on mine design-life planning and reclamation material balance.

The Institute is currently supported by 18 corporate members and 73 student and individual members. In 2026, the Institute needs to increase its membership to achieve its mandate and will be launching a new drive for corporate members. Those interested in learning more about corporate membership are encouraged to contact Program Director Jasmine Winter directly at jasmine@landformdesign.com. 

The Institute is dedicated to creating and supporting a community of landform design practitioners, and to helping their teams design and build truly sustainable mining landscapes.