Renewable energy is the focus of upcoming Arctic Entrepreneurship workshop

February 23, 2017

WHITEHORSE—Over 50 people from Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories and the lower 48 states will convene in Whitehorse for The Future of Arctic Entrepreneurship Symposium on Friday, March 3 and Saturday March 4.

Innovators, experts, community members, scholars and policy makers will share best-practice examples of current Arctic renewable energy projects. They will also devise funding and policy solutions that will help small Northern communities move away from diesel and towards renewable energy security.

“We want community members to learn more about the challenges and benefits of integrating different energy systems and then return to champion energy innovation in their community,” said Stephen Mooney, director, Cold Climate Innovation (CCI) at Yukon College.

"Now more than ever before, sub-national action is needed to transition our energy systems away from fossil fuels. By highlighting localized, community-driven projects from the Canadian North and Alaska, this symposium shows how Arctic innovators are leading the clean energy revolution," said Victoria Herrmann, executive director, the Arctic Institute.

Each March, CCI holds a conference on innovation and commercialization for Yukon entrepreneurs. This year new partners, the Arctic Institute, Pacific Northwest Economic Region, Borders in Globalization, Carleton University and Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), have joined forces with CCI to bring fresh attention to this important topic.

The symposium takes place at the Coast High Country Inn. Registration is free and INAC is providing travel funding for up to two people from each Yukon community and First Nation to attend.

For more information on travel funding, please contact Sara Thompson at Yukon College – (867) 456-8628 or smthompson@yukoncollege.yk.ca.