Incorporated in 1972 by Dr. Brian Reeves, Lifeways is Alberta’s first and longest operating historical resources consulting company, providing premium services to both government and private industries in western Canada and the adjacent United States.

Since 1972 Lifeways has helped conventional developers minimize their impact to the environment and we are proud to expand this tradition by providing expertise to newer, greener developments. With over five decades in operation, Lifeways has worked with our clients to ensure that historical resources are treated appropriately while allowing development to proceed on just about every type of development including: aggregate and quarry operations; architectural rehabilitations; City, Provincial, and Federal parks and protected areas; campgrounds; coal mines; coalbed methane; electrical transmission projects; FireSmart programs; First Nations consultation and traditional land use studies; flood mitigation; forestry AOPs; highways and other transportation infrastructure; historic, cultural, and archaeological studies for First Nations; hydroelectric and reservoir project; inventories for municipalities, parks, and First Nations; major pipelines; oilsands mines; processing plants; research on behalf of governments; residential subdivisions and area structure plans; SAGD and similar oilsands production; small-scale oil and gas; solar energy generation; wind energy generation; and wastewater and sewage treatment.

Lifeways’ reputation for quality work is built on a corporate culture of knowledge, teamwork, innovation, and a value set that views employee wellness, safety, community, and professional contribution as fundamental measures of success. Lifeways has a professionally qualified staff and maintains a large library of reports, as well as comprehensive electronic and hard copy sets of primary archaeological site inventory data and reports for the areas in which we work. Lifeways has the knowledge and experience to help you meet the needs and goals of your project.

We employ nine Project Archaeologists (with M.A.s or Ph.D.s) who are permitted to conduct archaeological fieldwork in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Manitoba, Nunavut, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Montana, Wyoming, and with Parks Canada and the U.S. National Park Service. Lifeways active permit holders have collectively held more than 550 archaeological permits in Alberta alone. Our Senior Archaeologists (with B.A.s, B.Sc.s, or M.A.s) work as excavators, lab technicians, and researchers for the company. We provide expertise in lithic and faunal analysis and GIS applications. Our staff are recognized specialists in the archaeology of Alberta’s plains, parklands, boreal forest, and Rocky Mountains. The breadth of Lifeways’ experience and involvement with the historical resources of Alberta and western Canada ensures the most knowledgeable and integrated approach to the provision of historical resources and traditional land use services.

We are a private company with a sizeable, full‐time permanent staff who work efficiently together as a team through all stages of Historical Resources Impact Assessment and Aboriginal Engagement and First Nations Consultation projects. Since its inception Lifeways has completed almost 1,000 archaeological field assessment studies. We have undertaken countless inventories, overviews, assessments, and artifact analyses under contract, and have provided expert testimony where needed. Combining this with multitudes of Historical Resources Act clearance applications, Lifeways has literally undertaken thousands of historical resources projects. As a boutique operation, we pride ourselves on our high standards.

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Lifeways’ staff has over 275 years of combined experience in historical resources consulting.

Our close-knit team works together to complete all projects in a timely and cost-efficient manner. We pride ourselves on our approachable staff who have the ability to quickly and efficiently mobilize to meet all of our clients’ project needs, no matter how big or small. We employ seven Project Archaeologists and one Project Palaeontologist (with M.As. or Ph.Ds.) who are permitted to conduct archaeological or palaeontological fieldwork in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nunavut, NWT, Yukon, Montana, and Wyoming. Five Senior Archaeologists (with B.As., B.Scs., or M.As.) work as excavators, lab technicians, and researchers for the company. We provide expertise in lithic and faunal analysis, archaeological potential modelling, and GIS applications.

Claire Bourges

Managing Partner, Senior Project Archaeologist

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Brian Vivian

Partner, Senior Project Archaeologist

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Jason Roe

Partner, Senior Project Archaeologist

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Dr. Miriam Reichel-Bodner

Partner, Senior Project Palaeontologist

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Dr. Christy de Mille

Senior Project Archaeologist

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Michael Turney

Senior Project Archaeologist

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Dr. Erik G. Johannesson

Project Archaeologist, Project Manager

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Kendra Kolomyja

Project Archaeologist, Aboriginal Engagement Specialist

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Kevin Thorson

Assistant Project Archaeologist

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Cheyanne Lepka

Senior Archaeologist

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Duncan Stirk

Assistant Project Archaeologist

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Wyatt McDonald

Intermediate Archaeologist

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Taylor Brosda

Intermediate Archaeologist

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Ryann Poulter

Intermediate Archaeologist

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Chloe Ratti

Junior Archaeologist

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Lynne Shemko

Administrative Assistant

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Our Clients

Lifeways has worked for numerous public and private corporations and government agencies for over five decades. Some of our more recent clients include:

  • Advisian – Worley Parsons
    AECOM Canada Ltd.
    Alberta Culture, Multiculturalism, and Status of Women
    Alberta Environment and Parks
    Alberta Historical Resources Management Branch
    ATCO Electric Ltd.
    Alberta Transportation
    Algonquin Power and Utilities Corporation
    AltaLink
    arChiasmo
    BARR Engineering
    Brazeau County
    B&A Planning Group
    Brookfield Developments
    Buffalo Trail Solar, L.P.
    BURNCO Rock Products Ltd.
    Calgary Exhibition and Stampede
    Canadian Natural Resources Limited
    Canadian Zinc Corporation
    Cardell West McLeod Ltd.
    City of Calgary
    City of Iqaluit
    CharettePellPoscente Environmental Corp.
    CIMA
    CivicWorks Planning + Design
    CLEM GEO-Energy Corporation

  • CMLC (Calgary Municipal Land Corporation)
    Coalspur Mines Ltd.
    Colliers Project Leaders
    County of St. Paul No. 9
    Defence Construction Canada
    Devon Canada Corporation
    Dillon Consulting Limited
    Douglas Developments
    Edson Forest Products
    Enbridge Pipelines Inc.
    Enmax Energy
    Fortis Alberta
    Granite Oil Corporation
    Green Cat Solar Projects
    Glacier Rafting
    Hammerstone Corporation
    Hatfield Consultants
    Hemmera
    Heritage Park
    Hinton Wood Products
    Holstead Aggregates
    IBI
    ISL
    Imperial Oil Limited
    KWL  – Kerr Wood Leidal
    Kronos Solar Projects
    Lindseth Architecture
    Lehigh Hanson

  • Manitoba Hydro
    Matrix Solutions Inc.
    McDougall Stoney Mission Society
    McElhanney Consulting Services Ltd.
    MEG Energy
    Melcor Developments Ltd.
    Millenium EMS Solutions Ltd.
    Montem Resources Corp.
    Morrison Hershfield Limited
    Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8
    Navigator Enviromental & Tech Services
    New Horizon Mall Inc.
    Nova Gas Transmission Limited
    O2 Planning + Design Inc.
    OneProperties
    Osum Production Corporation
    Parks Canada
    Parsons Engineering
    Prairie Mines and Royalty ULC
    Prosper Petroleum Ltd.
    Qualico Communities
    RAM Coal
    Rangeland Conservation Service Ltd.
    Red Deer River Solar, L.P.
    Reichmann Seniors Housing
    Ronmor Holdings Inc.
    Royal Alberta Museum
    Royal Canadian Mounted Police

  • SemCAMS
    Seven Generations Energy
    Shell Canada Limited
    SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd.
    Spencer Enviromental Management Services
    Solas Energy Consulting
    Suncor Energy
    TC Energy (TransCanada)
    Teck Resources Ltd.
    Telsec Property Corporation
    Tetratech
    Trace Associates
    Town of Canmore
    TransAlta Energy
    Trans-Northern Pipelines Inc.
    Trinity Development Group
    Tsuut’ina Nation
    Urban Systems
    UrbanStar Group of Companies
    Value Chain Solutions Inc.
    Value Creation Inc.
    Vertex
    Westcreek Developments Ltd.
    Westmark Holdings Ltd.
    Westmoreland Coal Company
    Woodlands County
    WSP Canada Inc.
    XTO Energy Canada

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Investing into our community.

Lifeways of Canada is proud to be part of the vibrant community of Calgary. We believe that contributing to the society in which you live is an important part of community membership. 

Giving Back