A team of students from the Trottier Institute for Sustainability in Engineering and Design (TISED) earned second place in a national sustainability competition for their proposal reimagining the Port of Churchill as a climate-resilient, community-centred northern hub. Their project, On Thin Ice: A Sustainable Path Forward for Coastal Communities and Commerce, outlines engineering, governance, and financing strategies to support the long-term future of Canada鈥檚 only deep-water Arctic port.
The team, composed of Justin De Meulemeester, Cassidy Pistun, Jodie Hon, and Neil Roy Choudhury, chose Churchill for its strategic importance and vulnerability to climate change. 鈥淲e were inspired by the idea that Churchill could become a place where resilience, sustainability, and economic development work together, rather than compete with each other,鈥� the team explained.
Building on that idea, their project shows how these goals can reinforce one another through a coordinated set of interventions. 鈥淲e proposed a package of connected solutions鈥�, the team continues, 鈥渢echnical engineering solutions, community governance frameworks, and financing mechanisms to make Churchill both a resilient and sustainable project.鈥�
The competition demanded rapid interdisciplinary collaboration, which the students described as both intense and rewarding. 鈥淏y the time of the final presentation鈥� Choudhury stated, 鈥渋t felt like a serious proposal in response to a real sustainability challenge.鈥� The students felt this even more strongly after the team was invited to present their work to Fednav, the Canadian shipping company currently assessing the feasibility of year-round operations at the port.
The students also highlighted the crucial role TISED course instructors played in shaping their work, noting that Dr. Bruce Lourie and Mr. Gary Ng were 鈥渋nstrumental in guiding our research and providing feedback throughout the process.鈥�
Placing second out of 49 teams was a meaningful milestone that deepened the team鈥檚 interest in sustainability and strengthened their connection to northern and Arctic communities. As Choudhury reflected, 鈥淚t was super rewarding to see how interdisciplinary teams can truly resonate and create something incredible.鈥�
The team found it especially encouraging to have their work recognized as a serious response to a complex sustainability challenge, and they hope their proposal contributes to ongoing discussions about northern resilience. "We feel proud about what we built together.鈥�