ManSEA to host event delving into sustainable energy strategies
Manitoba Sustainable Energy Association (ManSEA) is hosting its 2024 Sustainable Energy Conference: Shaping Manitoba’s Energy Landscape at the Selkirk Recreation Complex on April 3. This event is for those who want to connect, collaborate, and catalyze for a greener Manitoba.
Alexander Lavoie, vice chair of ManSEA explained that the group started as a grassroots organization.
“It was started in 2005. Our mission is to promote the use and production of renewable, sustainable, environmentally friendly sources of energy specifically in Manitoba, and with a focus on rural Manitoba,” he explained.
The Shaping Manitoba’s Energy Landscape conference is an annual conference that the group hosts.
“This year, it’s designed to address various aspects of sustainable energy within the province. It includes fostering dialogue, sharing ideas, and encouraging collaboration towards [finding solutions for] struggles and challenges that different municipalities have in Manitoba when it comes to renewable energy sources,” said Lavoie.
The event consists of a list of speakers and there are going to be collaboration opportunities for attendees. There will also be booths set up that attendees can check out as well as snacks, lunch, and coffee.
For residents wanting to learn there are going to be a variety of speakers at the event.
“We will have a speaker from the City of Selkirk from the Sustainable Economic Development Department. We’re going to have Cormac Foster, he’s the vice president of Engineering & Development at Vermillion Growers. Vermillion Growers are like a 12-acre commercial vegetable production greenhouse in Manitoba and the first of its kind, it’s quite impressive. We also have Bruce Duggan, who’s the CEO of Boke Consulting. He’s also an Associate Professor of Management at the Buller School of Business at Providence College and he’s done a study on seven different Manitoba municipalities and the feasibility of using biomass as heating sources for those municipalities, and then we also have Curt Hull and he’s a project director with Climate Change Connection,” said Lavoie.
He says that Selkirk was chosen as the host city this year because of its commitment to sustainable and economic development that aligns with ManSEA’s focus.
“Most municipalities will have economic development offices but Selkirk is really the only one in Manitoba that has put the word sustainability in its focus for economic development, and we found that extremely important,” said Lavoie.
He says that the conference generally has a variety of people who are both stakeholders and professionals in sustainable energy but that residents who are interested in learning more or advocating for our community should feel free to sign up.
“These are the times and the place to raise concerns at a municipal level and to be able to discuss these challenges with individuals that may have perimeter-itis, so to speak,” said Lavoie.
He says this is also a great place to ask questions and learn from different perspectives.
“It’s a unique opportunity to engage with the experts, engage with like-minded professionals. And if you’re part of the community, it’s a good place to explore the different businesses that are out there that are focused on sustainable energy and gather different perspectives from NGOs, and Crown corporations, I’d say. Essentially, you’ll be a part of conversations that could define energy policy and practices,” said Lavoie.
The Shaping Manitoba’s Energy Landscape conference will take place on April 3 at the Selkirk Recreation Complex. The event starts at 8:30 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. Residents who may be interested in attending this event can register and learn more at www.mansea.org/event-details/2024-sustainable-energy-conference.
