OSSGA 2024 Progressive Rehabilitation Award Winners
Each year, the Ontario Stone, Sand & Gravel Association (OSSGA) recognizes the member companies that have gone above and beyond the call of duty. The Progressive Rehabilitation Award recognizes the ongoing efforts of individual operators to progressively rehabilitate their sites per their site plans.
This year, OSSGA recognized 11 winners, and one Judge’s Choice, honouring each site with a plaque at our awards dinner last Wednesday evening in Ottawa.
The 2024 Judges’ Choice Award Winner:
CBM, Aggregates Division | Douglas Pit and McLaughlin Pit
West Nissouri Township
Covering approximately 6.26 hectares, the project successfully transformed former extraction sites into stable, vegetated landscapes, integrating seamlessly into natural habitats. Efforts included topsoil contouring, shoreline stabilization, and biodiversity enhancements through the introduction of native wetland species. By May 2024, the rehabilitation was completed, creating an ecologically sustainable environment.
“It is once again an honor for CBM to be awarded the Judge’s Choice Award for our rehabilitation efforts at our Douglas/McLaughlin Pit,” says David Hanratty, Director of Land, Resources & Environment, CBM Aggregates. “Our efforts in progressive and final rehabilitation are a key component of our Sustainability Legacy as a company and we couldn’t be prouder of the recognition given to our efforts by OSSGA.”
The 2024 winners are:
CBM, Aggregates Division | Sunderland Pit
Township of Brock
The project rehabilitated 3.4 hectares, shaping slopes and restoring the pit floor using sustainable methods. Hydroseeding with specialized grass and legume mixes promoted long-term stabilization and ecological restoration. By prioritizing environmental sustainability, CBM Aggregates ensures that former extraction areas transition into thriving natural landscapes.
Green Infrastructure Partners Inc. | Armitage Pit
Township of West Carlton
Progressive rehabilitation at GIP’s Armitage Pit has focused on pond restoration, sloping pit sidewalls, and planting rye and clover after covering with topsoil. By 2016, 580 trees and shrubs, including Red Osier Dogwood, white spruce, and white pine, were planted to improve wildlife and fish habitats. The final rehabilitation plan includes a self-contained pond, additional planting, and shoreline restoration to support local wetlands and wildlife.
Green Infrastructure Partners Inc. | Riddell Pit
City of Ottawa
The final rehabilitation plans for the Riddell Pit involve sloping pit faces, seeding with grass and legumes, and planting trees like maples, white pine, and white spruce. Phase 3 will be converted into a large lake, with sloped sides above and below the water table, covered with topsoil, seeded, and planted with nursery stock. To date, 5.5 ha of pit faces have been sloped, seeded, and planted, aiming to create an ecosystem that integrates with surrounding agricultural lands, forests, and wetlands.
Green Infrastructure Partners Inc. | Torbolton Pit
City of Ottawa
Progressive rehabilitation at the Torbolton Pit covers 50 hectares, including pond rehabilitation (20 ha) and tree/shrub planting (10 ha). Efforts around the northern pond area include creating perpendicular shorelines, sloping pit faces, and planting species like Red Osier Dogwood, High Bush Cranberry, White Pine, Red Pine, and White Spruce to prevent erosion. Final plans include a self-contained pond, sloped shorelines covered with topsoil, seeded, and planted with Willows and Silver Maple, along with stumps and rocks placed to enhance fish spawning and wildlife habitats.
Lafarge Canada Inc. - A Member of Holcim | Brantford Pit
County of Brant
The Brantford Pit rehabilitation aimed to stabilize former extraction areas with shallow shorelines and natural features. The project involved sloping and seeding the southern shoreline and side-slope areas using 14,000 cubic meters of overburden and topsoil, spread at a 20 cm thickness with a 3:1 slope ratio. A native grass/legume mixture was seeded in May 2024 across 12,500 square meters to encourage natural re-vegetation and ensure long-term stabilization for a sustainable ecosystem.
Lafarge Canada Inc. - A Member of Holcim | Clark Pit
City of Ottawa
The Clark Pit aimed to restore former extraction areas to their original grade for future industrial use in Ottawa. Over 22 years, 2.5 million tonnes of soil were imported to fill, slope, and grade the land, with the western side sloped to a 3:1 ratio and overburden used to meet topsoil requirements. While seeding was not necessary for its industrial use, natural vegetation established itself, ensuring the site would be ready for industrial purposes by 2024.
Miller Paving Limited - A Colas Company | Boyington Pit 3
Township of Uxbridge
Through a combination of grading, topsoil placement, and seeding with crops like corn and soybeans, Miller Paving has demonstrated a commitment to ensuring productive land use after extraction activities. While the site still remains an active extraction site, about 50 per cent of the land has now been rehabilitated back to agriculture production. This marks the fourth win in a row for Miller Paving’s Boyington Pit, last year winning the coveted Judges’ Choice award.
E.C. King Contracting - A Colas Company | Breadner Pit
Grey County
By implementing soil fertility improvements and long-term sustainability measures, the project highlights a commitment to both environmental conservation and productive land use. Last year, a total of 6.44 hectares were rehabilitated and the site was fully transformed into pastureland with plans to return to its original orchard conditions.
Pioneer Construction Inc. | Laurentian Pit
City of Sudbury
The Laurentian Pit completed progressive rehabilitation on its 15.6-hectare pit focusing on slope stabilization, drainage improvements, and native vegetation planting. This initiative supports local biodiversity while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the rehabilitated land.
VicDom Sand & Gravel | Middleton Pit
Township of Uxbridge
The Middleton Pit, a former farmland used for aggregate extraction from 2019 to 2022, was rehabilitated in 2024 with a plan to restore it as open grassland, cropland, and a small pond for wildlife habitat. Overburden material was used to backfill the site, restoring its original rolling hills landscape across 3 hectares, with a wheat crop planted in the first year to stabilize soils. Rehabilitation, completed in spring 2024, involved excavators, bulldozers, and tractors, resulting in an ecologically beneficial site with potential for continued agricultural use.
Walker Aggregates & Construction | Gowanlock Pit
Grey County
The Gowanlock pit underwent a 15-year rehabilitation process to restore it for agricultural use, with the final phase completed in 2024 on 5.8 hectares of land. The pit floor was leveled, and topsoil and fertilizer were spread, preparing the site for future farming. The Ministry of Natural Resources inspected the site in October 2024 and confirmed it met all rehabilitation requirements, with plans for rental to a neighboring farmer in 2025.
“OSSGA remains committed to fostering excellence among its members by promoting efficient operations, responsible land stewardship, and strong community engagement,” says Mike McSweeney, Executive Director of OSSGA. “The 2024 Industry Recognition Award winners have exemplified these core values, and we look forward to their continued leadership in the year ahead.”