Canadian Land Reclamation Association – How to be Honest about Creativity in front of Over 900 Attendees
We have a strange cultural obsession with new ideas. We chase them, brand them, package them, and rename them as if they’ve never existed before. But here’s the truth I shared with more than 900 attendees at the 2026 CLRA Alberta conference in Edmonton this month. Ideas around creativity aren’t new at all. They’re just old ideas reframed in a way that might be more applicable to the challenge in front of us at the moment.
I’m not embarrassed to say that every idea I presented on that stage was old. Very old. Some of them are older than the industries we work in. Older than the regulatory systems we navigate. Older than the environmental challenges we’re trying to solve. Hopefully, they sparked conversations. Why? Because the value wasn’t in their novelty, it was in their relevance.
The Problem: As a former oil and gas employee turned full-time artist, I have witnessed first-hand the systemic undervaluing of creativity within industrial environments, particularly in engineering-based work for the energy sector. The presentation “Reclaiming the Right Brain: Creativity as a Catalyst in Land Reclamation” talked about how today, organizations and AI are increasingly automating logical functions while neglecting the intuitive, holistic, and subjective thinking that drives innovation and adaptation. This non-technical presentation highlighted five simple activities that promoted creativity as a catalyst in reclamation activities from inception to certification.
Findings: Through “The ART of Reclamation” (art installations showcasing reclaimed energy sites), I’ve demonstrated to over 20,000 people how creative methods can transform public perception and deepen the connection and appreciation for unknown and often invisible STEM work.
This presentation asked the audience to consider how we might promote creativity through:
1. basic workshops with paper, markers, and open conversation
2. breaking the chain of command
3. creating safe spaces for play
4. rewarding creativity
5. being vulnerable
The presentation included short testimonials (written, audio and video) from authors, scientists, leaders and technical experts in reclamation who have experienced the benefit of flexing their right brain and how it has impacted their work and the teams around them.
Conclusion: Land reclamation is not just a technical challenge; it is a cultural and creative opportunity to heal the land. By protecting and promoting right-brain thinking, we can reclaim not only landscapes but also the human capacity to reconnect people, place, and possibility.
Thank you to the CLRA and all my guests who provided testimonials to help reframe the conversation about reclamation.