Heritage Legislation and Regulations: Balancing Preservation and Economic Development

Expert: KURTIS BLAIKIE-BIRKIGT
SENIOR PROJECT ARCHAEOLOGIST, TREE TIME SERVICES INC.

Kurtis is a professional archaeologist with 14 years experience in the Cultural Resource Management sector. He received an MA in Anthropology from the University of Alberta in 2005. As the head of Tree Time Services’ Archaeology division, Kurtis directs multi-year historic resource management programs for nine forestry companies and manages archaeological impact assessments for diverse projects, including small-scale oil and gas, aggregate extraction, subdivisions, transmission projects and recreational trail developments. Kurtis also has experience in First Nations engagement, and works as a technical advisor on historic resources issues to the Fort McKay Sustainability Department. He is a leader in methodological research, including the development of best practices for archaeological survey in the boreal forest, and GIS-based predictive modelling of archaeological sensitivity for development planning. Kurtis believes that we can balance heritage preservation with economic development, and that improved education on heritage management requirements and how to incorporate heritage concerns into early project planning is the best way to do that.