Renewable Energy: A Power-ful Opportunity for Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island needs more renewable energy development to meet growing electricity demand from homes, businesses, and industries. What’s in it for local communities and how can they participate?

The Canadian Renewable Energy Association and the Community Energy Association are convening a two-hour regional dialogue on renewable energy on Vancouver Island prior to the start of the Indigenous Resource Opportunities Conference.

Registration in the conference is not required to participate in this dialogue.

This unique event will bring communities, industry, renewable energy proponents, educators, utilities, regulators, and key organizations together. We will showcase what’s already happening in the region for renewable energy and what is planned.

• Learn about existing projects in your region, what additional projects are planned, why they’re necessary, and how communities can get more involved (and realize more benefits).
• A discussion on regional priorities, benefits, critical factors for renewable energy development and public communication.
• Contribute your own experiences and expertise

This event is about sharing information, having conversations, and strengthening the renewable energy community on Vancouver Island.

1–3 p.m. Dialogue on renewable energy on Vancouver Island.

We’ll start with round-the-room introductions. Then learn about existing and planned renewable energy projects and contribute ideas for maximizing community benefits. This won’t be a session with people speaking at a podium; plan to share your knowledge, ideas, and perspectives.

3–3:15 p.m. Wrap-up and final remarks

This dialogue is taking place ahead of the Indigenous Resource Opportunities Conference. Attendees of the conference can also attend the pre-conference workshop at 10 a.m. Renewable Energy 101, also hosted by CanREA and Relay Education.

Learn how wind and solar technologies actually work through engaging (and entertaining!) hands-on experiments. Discover how to produce electricity as you build your own miniature wind turbines and solar panels. Then test how they would function in the real world. And learn about the different components of wind and solar projects and what they could mean for the region in terms of jobs and investment.

Learn more and register at https://www.bciroc.ca/workshops/

Presented by Community Energy Association in collaboration with Wind and Solar BC and Relay Education.

Here’s what some attendees experienced at past events in this series.

"I attended the Renewable Energy 101 session and the Community Energy Gathering and really appreciated both experiences. The Renewable Energy 101 session was delivered in a fun and interactive way and would be a great fit to bring into communities, helping people better understand what solar and wind energy are in a practical and approachable way. The Community Energy Gathering created a comfortable space to talk openly and share what each participant is working on, which made the conversations meaningful and insightful."

Ojay Matias, Director of Partnerships and Development, Cheslatta Development Corporation

“Being able to attend a full day focused on renewables just before the BCNRF was an incredible experience. Seeing two rooms filled with interested, engaged and passionate organizations, local governments, businesses and individuals learning and sharing their experiences and plans was inspiring. It affirmed for me that the North is quietly becoming a leader in renewable energy.”

Cyra Yunkws, Chair and Electoral Area B representative, Regional District of Kitimat–Stikine

“We have to get you in front of every municipality and regional district in the regions the projects are in. We need to get you in front of more people. It has to start as grassroots like this, which is great.”

Attendee, Renewable Energy in the Peace event, 2026

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