Complete green energy production has been set for 2020

Run Of River (ROR) Power develops renewable, sustainable energy through its portfolio of run-of-river and biomass projects in B.C., and the company is working toward biomass energy production by answering BC Hydro calls for power in energy production in wood waste. Rick Connors spoke on behalf of Western Biomass Power Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of ROR Power that runs out of Prince George, B.C.. 
    

"Our Suskwa project is taking advantage of First Nation natural resources in the Gitxsan traditional territory," a land-base that spans 33,000 sq km in the Pacific North West. "They have decadent forests and mountain pine beetle damaged wood fibre," says Connors,  "Rejuvenation of these decadent (80 year old) forests is necessary because they are no longer sequestering carbon." 

    

Connors notes that a healthy full grown hemlock will sequester 20 lbs of carbon per year and produce oxygen in abundance for people to breath. Due to their current condition the forests surrounding Hazelton and Smithers are ideal places to start seriously greening the Canadian economy. This 40 year project is designed to take out declining grades of wood and replace this decadent fibre with vibrant new forests. 
    

"We are proposing to build a high-pressure boiler to burn wood and heat water to create steam." Steam will spin a turbine, which charges a generator to produce 34 MWh of electrical energy. Connors says the project puts a $150 million economic infusion into a depressed area, and, "the Gitxsan people are partners having full ownership, buying in, and completely participating. And it is a project that provides links to all kinds of jobs in the forestry sector." 
    

A BC Hydro purchase of power from the plant would give Gitxsan a long-term cash flow running many years. The proposed plant site will be constructed on 16-acres including a former gravel pit operation outside of Hazelton,  says Connors, responsible re-application of land used as development property in the region.  
    

The power plant operations will employee 35 people full-time, and another 130 more jobs will be found in the 'periphery' doing  wood salvage, working in the greenhouse that provides seedlings to reforestation projects, and logging for a sawmill cooperative with Gitxsan license holders feeding the fibre from an Annual Allowable Cut in their territory. 
    

Suskwa depends largely on decadent forests for fibre, and other biomass fuel loads will be found in MPB killed lodgepole pine. The plant has been designed for a 40-year life span. The Run Of River Power development in Gitxsan is joined by an even bigger biomass power proposal (that has a shorter life span of about 20 years), says Connors. 
    

"The 60 MWh Tsilhqot’in Biomass Power Project is to be located 75 kms west of  Williams Lake in Hanceville, B.C.," and most of the biomass fuel for this energy production will be found in the MPB forests of the central interior. The Tsilhqot’in proposal is a 50/50 partnership with the First Nations and these folks have a huge problem with 'beetle' kill in their forests. They have less work to do in reversing decadent forest conditions. 
    

In this regard the Tsilhqot’in proposal focuses on beetle kill (and reforestation), which shortens the time span of energy generation according to this one-shot consumption of beetle damaged trees. Meanwhile the BC government's self-sufficiency targets for energy production are slated to be 2016, and the goal of complete green energy production has been set for 2020, says Connors. Carbon-neutral biomass projects contribute to government meeting both objectives. 

    

The ROR Power focus on B.C. has been based on First Nation initiative in all corners of the province. They have one fully operating run-of-river power generation facility on Brandywine Creek near Whistler with a rated capacity of 7.6 MW. They built close working relationships with First Nations of Squamish and Lil'wat communities. The turn into biomass includes the aforementioned partnerships. The company is presently developing five run-of-river project clusters totaling 639 MW of potential capacity. 
    

The green energy initiatives coming from IPPBC members like ROR Power are "creating opportunities where there are no opportunities to be found otherwise." Furthermore, says Connors, "The use of forestry biomass to create energy is proven technology and forestry byproducts have long been in use for energy production of forestry facilities in B.C.. The projects like Suskwa and Tsilhqot’in are taking energy production values from biomass to a new business level."  

Vancouver 2010 Olympics security an impressive array

The security budget for the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics ballooned from $84 million to $330 million in the post 9/11 world. In Greece, where 70,000 security persons were on patrol for the 2004 Summer Olympics, the government spent $1.5 billion,  including a ratio of approximately 7:1 in security-to- athletes.
 

Meanwhile in Vancouver the 2010 Winter Olympics security costs will be more than twice the original estimate of $175 million, according to former Public Safety Minister Stockwell Day (the department  now under Hon. Peter Van Loan). Day said in 2007 that the original estimate was “drastically low” and that the cost will be, "more than $400 million but less than $1 billion."
     

The revised estimates made by Day were not surprising considering Canadian security agencies plan to use planes, tanks, ships, and about 13,000 military and police personnel to secure the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games. Despite the massive number, a security network will be working hard to keep a low profile in the midst of half a million visitors.
     

As an example, Canadian Forces personnel and equipment will be apparent only during ceremonial events. Nevertheless the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games will take place under  the largest security operation ever held in Canada. This massive security force will be managed using an array of surveillance technologies, with closed-circuit cameras, electronic sensors, and unmanned aerial vehicles aloft over Olympic venues in Vancouver and Whistler. 
     

Armed soldiers and helicopters will be present in Vancouver in the background and  overall security  will include RCMP, the military, and other security operatives. These games will feature surveillance  by hundreds of cameras throughout Olympic venues using face-recognition technology.
     

The planning and preparation of Olympic security has been extensive. A three-stage series of exercises occurred at the direction of the 2010 Olympic Integrated Exercise Program, and the last exercise took place from Nov. 2-6, 2009. The three stage program consisted of complementary exercises increasing in scope.
     

Exercise Bronze took place in Nov. 2008, and examined regional safety and security issues. Exercise Silver was held Feb. 2009  and tested safety and security plans, procedures, and coordination. Exercise Gold was a full-scale operational exercise designed to prove that federal, provincial, regional, and municipal organizations stand coordinated and ready to respond to any possible emergency.

     

The exercises provided a realistic environment with mock casualties, and  involved a response from  first responders including police and fire services. Exercise Gold took place in controlled areas and brought together 140 federal, provincial, municipal and private sector organizations to test communication and coordination between the organizations. Everything happened away from the public eye as organizations worked from operational centres.
    

 “As hosts of the 2010 Winter Games, we are committed to providing a safe and secure environment for athletes, visitors and Canadians,” said Hon. Peter Van Loan. “That is why Canada has taken a comprehensive approach to security planning.  We are on track to deliver a safe and secure Games so that what people remember is the celebration and excitement of the competition, not questions of security.”
    

 “In a few short months we will welcome the world to British Columbia as we play host to the 2010 Winter Games,” said Hon. Kash Heed, BC Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General to media at the beginning of November. “Working with our partners in the federal and local governments, we will ensure these Games are safe and secure for all.” 
      

Bud Mercer is Chief Operating Officer of the Vancouver 2010 Integrated Security Unit, who said, “Exercise Gold represented years of planning, integration and preparation with local, provincial, national and international safety and security partners. 2010 will be an historic year for British Columbia and Canada, but the safety and security inter-agency cooperation and relationships will remain in place for years to come."  
      

Police have identified several threats to Olympic security, including anti-globalization, anti-corporate, and First Nations activists, not to mention international extremist organizations like al-Qaida, which already laid down threats to the London 2012 Summer Games. Organized crime remains, however, the highest security risk to the 2010 Games.
      

The ISU identified a number of domestic and international threats, including the nation's engagement in Afghanistan, which has put a different light on Canada in the international community, causing al-Qaida to warn Canada to withdraw from Afghanistan or risk attacks similar to 9/11 and bombings in London and Madrid.
      

Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) linked vandalism against sponsors like Royal Bank Canada to protests against the Games. CSIS also noted a group called the Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement has toured North America to stir protests against the Vancouver games.“I think you get a very definite sense that (Vancouver's Olympics are) a likely target,” said David Harris, a former CSIS officer who is director of international and terrorist intelligence programs at Insignis Strategic Research.
      

To buttress security options in October 2009, the provincial government gave host municipalities (Richmond, Vancouver, and Whistler) the power to enter residences between Feb. 1 and Mar. 31, 2010, to seize signs considered "anti-olympic." A further amendment gave Vancouver the power to fine up to $10,000 and imprisonment up to six months for sign and bylaw violations.
      

The reasons for opposition include security expenses to taxpayers (said in 2008 to be $580 million), and possible losses to be incurred including debt in the Olympic Village development, which was supposed to be profitable but is possibly running in the red to the tune of millions.
      

Opponents cite destruction of environment, loss of affordable housing, and use of the Olympics to force a $2 billion rapid transit link from Downtown Vancouver to the airport. Opposition to the Olympics is found amongst First Nations people and their supporters. 
     

The federal government will cover the cost of security at the border, at Vancouver International Airport,  and for international VIPs, while the B.C. government and federal government will split the cost of security for Olympic venues.
     

A First Nation security company called T’musta7 Aboriginal Protection Services will  provide security services to the Resort Municipality of Whistler and to other businesses, including Crown Corporations, during 2010 Winter Games. Owner Lyle Leo of Mt. Currie First Nation is focused on the Sea-to-Sky area. “We are looking at 100 pairs of boots on the ground within the next two or three months,” said Leo. 
     

“We are closer than ever to operational status since clarifying and renewing business relations. We had to rethink our plans after VANOC rejected our bid for services directly related to the 2010 Olympics,” he explained, but Leo remained firm in his resolve. “We were the only Aboriginal group prepared with troops on the ground,” he said, “and to be honest, it was quite disappointing to be rejected by VANOC.” 
      

T’Musta7 reassessed in order to create a sustainable long-term opportunity as a sub-contractor, and has recruited security personnel to  establish their preparedness by securing public events like music festivals in Whistler and a 4x4 rally at Pemberton. 
      

Leo  recruited First Nation personnel exclusively and was joined by Chief Don Harris of Douglas First Nation, who is, according to Leo, “making a lot of headway for Aboriginal community economic development since partnering in run-of-river projects. They want to take part with organizing opportunities for First Nations with the 2010 Winter Games.
    

 “Chief Harris is tuned in with changes in the Aboriginal community with his participation with the election of National Chief Shawn Atleo and the opening of the Osoyoos Business Centre, Leo has applied for security services contracts through Crown Corporation Procurement processes. 
     

Chief Harris said of T’Musta7, “We are recruiting in the Lower Mainland where Douglas First Nation has a lot of members. I am working onpolitical agreements with INAC to get people trained for employment. Lyle has contracts and we had 40-hour training program start with up to 20 more recruits.”\

Float home construction by Squamish economic developers

Mosquito Creek Marina has been a Squamish economic development since around the mid-60's, say's Donny Mekilok, Marina Manager. "We recently reacquired the lease on Lynnwood Marina and Light Industrial Estates, which is our Second Narrows property. The Mosquito Creek site contains 500 slips and the facilities are sold out at both marinas, although there is room for valet storage and dry storage at each location.

    

"The Squamish marinas are busy because of location and because we promote it as the best choice to moor a boat with good services attached, including eight yacht brokers, boat trades, marine systems, and other business operations like Platimum Marine." Mekilok says, "We offer one stop shopping to boaters where they can do fibreglas work, engine work, electronics, and canvas," services available at both properties.
     

"Squamish Nation Marine is the construction end supplying high density polyethylene welding, dock building, float Home construction, float shed construction and boat shed construction for both marinas. At the Mosquito Creek facility we've built 15 boat sheds in the past year from 60' to 90 feet in length."
     

Squamish Nation started float home construction, and presold 12 float homes at a recent home show in Vancouver, and "We sold over 2,000 feet of new dock, welded in the high density polyethylene that is favourable to the environment. 
     

With the Olympics around the corner, "We are transient moorage for the Olympics," said Mekilok, "and we have commitments from 30 boats and that number is probably going as high as 60. We are presently coming up with the plan for our Olympic waiting list. We've got a list of those who will take boats out and do revenue share on their slips." This puts the Mosquito Creek Squamish owned facility into play for the 2010 Olympics/Parlympics extravaganza on the west coast this February and March.
     

Both Squamish facilities are on the North Shore and Mosquito Creek Marina is 10 minutes from Lions Gate Brisge, says Mekilok, "The perfect location to fuel up, 15 minutes to fish Capilano and 25 minutes to the Georgia Strait," basically traffic-free. The facilities have always been the property of the Squamish nation. 
     

He says, "We have approximately 25 employees year-round at Mosquito Creek and another 12 at the Lynnwood facilities, personnel working in everything from administration to security, boatyard workers, dock builders and repair personnel, lift operators, and high density welders."
     

He notes they had a good year in 2009, "I think we're doing well in the recession with two full marinas, boats for sale, pre-sold float homes going under construction." The idea behind float home construction came about a year ago, "when we did a joint venture with the City of North Vancouver called the Spirit Trail. It won national awards for refurbishing the waterfront and we started looking at what we could do further. Reasonably priced float homes were designed by an architectural firm and design people.
     

"We're ready to start building 800 to 1600 sq ft homes ranging from $275,000 to $475,000. We were pleased to pre-sell 12 homes in four days. We will build them in a reconfigured area of the Mosquito Creek facilities, and we bought a used BC Ferry that is going in as the break-wall, and soon will be converted into a restaurant. 
     

The float home facility has the capacity to build eight more in this phase in the development. Owners will moor the homes at $1000 a month along the North Shore, connected by brand new docks, with natural gas connections for furnaces, and city water and sewer." Squamish is turning over every rock to make the future smooth sailing in an uncertain economic time.

Decadent forests in B.C. are failing to sequester carbon

Matt Mercer is a New Brunswick-born forestry professional who migrated to Vancouver Island where he works in forestry management consulting and raises a young family. Matt has been studying the forestry biomass file for the company he works for in Campbell River, B.C., Zimmfor Management Services Ltd., a consulting company of resource sector professionals that operates world-wide, including South America, Asia, USA, and Canada. 
     

Biomass has become a big file in on a world-wide scale and B.C. offers substantial opportunities in these emerging green-oriented (carbon neutral) forestry business practices. "We have quite a few clients in wood-products manufacturing and they are inquiring about regulatory changes from the B.C. government energy plan (of 2007)," says Mercer. 
     

"The plan outlines the energy strategies for the next few years with the goal of energy self-sufficiency by 2016," he says. Government policy has been undertaken to meet these energy goals, and institutional frameworks like the B.C. BioEnergy Network have been allocated funding to encourage development of research in nine basic streams of energy production from renewable or reusable resources. 
     

Canadians are behind parts of Europe where most facets of resource potential are exploited, including cities doing energy production from forest waste products found in Canadian sawmills and turned into wood pellets. Mercer says federal policies in Canada favour reduction of 'carbon intensities,' and part of B.C.'s energy policy reflects that strategy. 
     

"The federal government says that suppliers must reduce carbon intensities by 20 percent between 2010 and 2020." Suppliers with carbon-based energy output are looking at research into celulosic-based ethynol (alcohol fuel derived from wood waste), which, "emits smaller carbon intensity than other ethynols."  
     

And, he notes, "Co-generation is not uncommon in the forestry sector, with pulp mills recycling biomass into hog fuel to power their facilities. Mercer says the Zimmfor approach to biomass potential looks at both sides of the equation, from the points of view of both wood product manufacturer and fibre supplier. One informative source to follow is the BC Forestry Climate Change Working Group of pulp and paper, saw-milling, and forestry sectors.  
     

Decadent forests in B.C. are failing to sequester carbon due to mountain pine beetle devastation and other issues. These forests are under examination in Request For Power calls and Request For Qualification research proposals, and these forests stand to be harvested intensively for biomass, with high-priority silviculture operations to follow. 
     

"The forestry sector is looking at carbon-offset programs related to fertilization of forests, use of seed-stock to make better carbon-sequestering trees, and aforestation policies to plant new forests," says Mercer.

Security firm wants 10,000 boots on the job

Don Allen runs United Protection Services Inc. in Edmonton, Alberta,  where they have had a First Nation division for the past 12 years. "It's our fastest growing division and we have a partnership with United First Nations Corps., owned by Earl John," says Allen, "It's looking very good for United First Nations Corp. with their new contract to provide security services on oil sands construction sites north of Ft. McMurray. It's a 100 percent Aboriginal security service that will have 200 employees working in Alberta.
     

"In B.C. we bought North Star Patrol 4 1/2 years ago and Ken Robertson remained with United. It was Ken who put the deal together with Lyle Leo at T'Musta7 Aboriginal Security Services Inc.," Allen says, "Ken is our business development manager in B.C. and he's a specialist in short-term contracts. We do events in the Resort Municipality of Whistler and with businesses doing special events for everything from business conferences to beer gardens. We know that for the next few months there is a big push to work in security in the Lower Mainland. Our goal is continue procuring other long term contracts."
     

United Protection Services Inc. has employees in B.C., Alberta, and Saskatchewan, "and 20 percent of our workforce is First Nation and Aboriginal employees." Allen notes, "I am President of Security Officer Career College and Tom Hill is the General Manager. Tom delivers programs to communities that educate about crime to ensure a safe community. Some of these programs are employment oriented, and certificates of Completion issue from the Security Officer Career College.
     

SOCC is holding a national Aboriginal security services a conference at the River Cree Casino in Edmonton Feb. 10, 2010. "We intend to create empowerment for First Nation communities right across the country. We have a long term goal to help First Nation and Aboriginal groups to reshape the face of security services in Canada. The training services of the college are being promoted with all levels of government including INAC, and the course delivery is based entirely on reaching out to communities. We don't have a campus. We take the program all over Alberta, and we are expanding in B.C. and Saskatchewan."
     

The SOCC is working with various industries to provide the Aboriginal presence in security at places like First Nation owned and operated casinos in Canada. "River Cree Casino in Edmonton has 10 percent Aboriginal employment and we can improve it with trained personnel in security and other training like housekeeping services." Allen has been providing security services in one capacity or another for 33 years. He explains, "Initially I started the school and soon I branched into the security business itself. A couple of years later I was going out and providing security services with the people we trained." He instituted better training and built his human resources out places like Hobbema and other large First Nation communities in central and southern Alberta. "These jobs give people long term skills and good points on a resume for future employment." 
     

Earl John has spent 10 years building the United First Nation Corp. Presently, "We are trying to find partnerships that will work with us on the east coast, in Nova Scotia and Newfoundland in particular. We have operations in B.C. and Alberta and we are expanding into Saskatchewan," says John. "We want to go further east, both in Manitoba and Northern Ontario as well as the east coast." He says the core of his all-Aboriginal security service has been recruited out of Alberta. "We've hired from all across Alberta as far south as Sun Child and Stoney Creek and we have recruited successfully from the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation, the Conklin Metis, others have been recruited from Big Horn, O'Chiese, Sampson, Louis Bull, Erminskin and Montana Bands at Hobbema."
     

John says, "We have 160 trained and we will have double that by next year," and he notes the size of the corp. has been doubled over the past year. "We benefit from Tom Hill's six week training course delivered into communities and we are putting it in B.C. with the BC Justice Institute for compliance with Olympic standards. We are looking at partnerships to fulfill long term commitments to provide security services to industries like wood, rail, oil and gas, pipeline, and other transport sectors. We want to run contracts to secure new construction projects. We are working with Douglas First Nation's Chief Don Harris to provide training and employment to Lower Mainland First Nation personnel."
    

 John is proud of the company's Ft. McMurray contracts, "They're our bread and butter in security operations and its a win-win-win situation for everybody when United First Nation Corp. Inc. obtained the contract. It brings training and employment dollars to First Nation families who live on reserves where they need the incomes; it brings joint venture opportunities to First Nation entrepreneurs, and the client gets security services that are trained well beyond industry standards." He says personnel receive the basic security guard training plus conflict resolution management, safety sessions, defensive driving lessons, and life skills. "Plus they receive one week of on-the-job training for the work experience."
     

These security jobs outside Ft. McMurray come with more than fringe benefits. "These oil camps are well done operations, supplying all the amenities like weight training rooms, satellite TV, internet service, individual rooms with bathrooms, these are PTI Group camps that run like permanent long-established operations through the construction cycle all the way into industrial operations. Having a First Nation presence in these 3,500 man camp operations is our goal." Ultimately United First Nation Corp. is working toward a national goal of 10,000 pairs of Aboriginal boots on the ground.

Mt. Currie Band goes geothermal on new community facilities

ECCO Heating Products Ltd. supplied a complete geothermal system to provide heating and cooling for a 30,000-plus sq. ft. community centre at Mt. Currie First Nation, infrastructure long awaited by the patient people of Lil'Wat Nation who live 20 minutes from Whistler, B.C.. The Resort Municipality of Whistler will be the centre of skiing in the 2010 Olympics and nearby Mt. Currie has been gaining new economic ground, and turning to green energy solutions and geothermal savings, in the meantime. 
     

Rob Kersbergen of Whistler Geothermal is the mechanical contractor who was awarded the contract to complete the work for the much-needed Lil'Wat facility. The preceding community facilities were dilapidated and unavailable. ECCO Heating Products provided expertise and guidance after conducting a site survey with Whistler Geothermal for a detailed energy analysis of the proposed community centre. Kersbergen says, "We laid in 120,000 feet of pipe (over 22 miles) a year ago in a closed loop system, done in a horizontal array," which is laid in by excavation to about 7 feet of depth.
     

"It is a compact slinky coil design consisting of 120 circuits with 800 feet of pipe in each circuit, there are 12 circuits per header, and the headers are connected to a commercial VFD
     

(Variable Frequency Drive) flow station, which is located in the building's mechanical room. The VFD flow Station controls the volume and pressure required to meet the flow requirements through the ground heat exchanger and geothermal heat pumps from the earth to the building or from the building to the earth, depending on the building's demand," based on outdoor temperatures and building occupant requirements.
     
The new community centre will contain an HVAC system (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) with Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRV's). The HVAC system incorporates a series of Fan/Coil modules to utilize hot or chilled water supplied by the geothermal system to supply heating and cooling throughout the building. The system was designed so that it could provide heating and cooling simultanously based on the building's exposures and occupancy levels.
     

Kersbergen explains how the HVAC system involves multiple heat transfer modules (Heat Recovery Core) to extract heat from stale air being exhausted to the outdoors and tranfers that heat to the incoming fresh air stream into the building. "The Aluminum Core design prevents any cross contamination of exhaust and fresh air streams, only the heat is transfered, not the air." Mechanical engineers design the buildings with these energy efficiencies. They work with building loads (including numbers of people, doors, windows, and activities) and air flow calculations heat loss calculations.
    

 "I did the field work on the geothermal system, and with the technical expertise of Paul Vaillancourt of ECCO Heating Products, was able to modify the original mechanical design without compromising the performance or quality of the system." Paul Vaillancourt of Ecco Heating Products Ltd. is one of Canada's leading experts in the geothermal industry, says Kersbergen, "and he added tremendous value to this project."
     

It is estimated design changes "will have saved Mt. Currie's administration a few hundred thousand dollars, literally," says Kersbergen. "They were on a tight budget and had requirements for air quality in the two-level building." It's a steel clad, steel frame building that has 21,000 square feet on the main floor and another 13,000 estimated square feet on the second level.
    

 Kersbergen has been in the area for 21 years, "from the first stop sign to the first elevator." He says, "Lil"Wat Nation is progressive and doing a lot of development and the community centre in Mt. Currie will be filling with occupants within a few weeks. I predict it will be full by the end of the year." The centre has a reception area, elders centre, day care centre, band offices, business offices, and other features like a gymnasium and a full kitchen.
     

"Part of the building is a gymnasium with a higher roof that reduces square footage on the second floor." The facility was built to support a community of about 3,000 people in Mt Currie, and in the long run a building construction of this type should last 50 years. Mt. Currie has two sites, says Kersbergen, "including the old settlement and a new site up the hill that has a medical centre, fire hall, and grocery store."
     

Leonard Andrew is the chief, says Kersbergen, "and his brother Fraser was the superintendent on the community centre project." The community is growing and developing capacity to house people. "There will be a few homes built in the new area and geothermal has been proposed," but the go-ahead could be an INAC decision, and, "Will they ante up the extra money to go geothermal?"

Move to groundwater is happening to avoid issues like bacteria

 Canadians find up to 50 percent of potable water from groundwater sources in the new millennium. The move to groundwater is happening to avoid issues like bacteria from sources as diverse as wildlife in the ecology to agriculture to humans impacting the environment.  The Canadian Groundwater Association operates offices near the east coast City of Halifax, Nova Scotia, and each two years CGWA.org hosts the biannual ground water conference known as Canwell.
     

Wayne MacRae, executive director of the CGWA, says "The next Canadian Ground Water Association Convention and Trade Show will be hosted at the Winnipeg Convention Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, May 26-29, 2010." MacRae says provincial groundwater associations, industry contractors, engineers, hydro-geologists, and suppliers will attend the conference, with the theme, “Shaping the future of Canada’s Ground Water Industry…” WCC will host 3,500 registrants in workshops and sessions to focus on all kinds of issues related to the supply of safe groundwater.
     

The conference will provide industry specifics of ground water drilling rigs and equipment, focus on safety of personnel, and topics about safety for the environment. Wayne says the CGWA membership will learn about new water pump technology, including innovations that do a couple of things, "New generation ground water pumps eliminate the need for storage and provide constant pressure in the water flow. It gives the water user the same constant pressure as a city water system."
     

The CGWA requires ground water drillers with a 4,000 hour apprenticeship program and/or experience including classroom instruction delivered at two colleges in Canada, Fleming College in Ontario and Red Deer College in Alberta. Red Deer College runs the apprenticeship program for groundwater certification in Alberta, and Sam Johnston administers the drilling program. He says the Alberta training situation is based on apprenticeship whereas in B.C. and Saskatchewan have no apprenticeships in drilling for water.
     

“The levels of safety in the service are about equal, but the situations are different because Alberta is far more complex north to south and east to west. The south eastern area is vastly different from the rest of the province. Groundwater is very important as a source of potable water in Alberta. Whereas cities like Edmonton and Calgary use river water to supply, outside the supply is aquifers.” For the sake of all concerned protection of groundwater is imperative, says Johnston.

Geothermal in Alberta a slow percolating interest

Geothermal Utilities is founded by Joe Lewoniuk in Edmonton, Alberta, who says, "Geothermal is an energy heating solution that's basically free forever once the incremental costs are met." It is a cost-efficient heating and cooling system, "even in a place like Alberta where natural gas is king." Geothermal supplies heat, air conditioning, and hot water, and Lewoniuk  notes that extra costs are generally found in the size of the heat-gathering loop in the ground. "The geothermal industry has more welcoming markets such as in Manitoba where they drill geothermal holes for $3.50 per foot. It's $6.50 a foot in Alberta. You drill 250 feet and the cost is going to be near $2,000."

Despite expense, says Lewoniuk , the energy yield is high and cost-efficient. "It's a far better household investment than say a hot-tub or fancy triple pane glass windows," and he believes Albertans a lagging behind the rest of Canada. Alberta's geothermal reticence is based on lack of knowledge, says Lewoniuk , "The supply chain in building management starts with contractors and are entrenched in gas works in Alberta. It may begin to change now that Natural Resources Canada put earth and geothermal energy on the official list of renewable energy sources in Canada."

 Jeremy Jacob operates Exchangenergy from Pender Street offices in Vancouver and Duncan, B.C., on Vancouver Island. Jacob says, "GeoExchange systems moves the Earth’s energy into a residential or commercial space using ground or water heat exchangers and heat pump technology.  By moving heat instead of producing it through of combustion or electrical heat, we can acheive heating efficiencies of over 500%. GeoExchange systems work with both forced air and radiant floors. Many of our clients prefer radiant floors for their comfortable heat effect. Adding a Heat Recovery Ventilator gives greatly improved indoor air quality.

 Jacob says, "The industry allows systems that use a ground heat exchanger sized for 70% of the building load, but we design systems to run on geothermal 100% of the time without using supplementary heat.  We've found that 100% ground loops suffer none of the 'loop degradation' seen on some partial systems." Time has proven geothermal heat exchange and heat pumps require low maintenance and have the lowest life cycle costs of any other home heating methods.

The atmosphere of living conditions is vastly improved by the use of this technology, "We are control system experts and use careful integration of system elements with an intelligent control system strategy to optimize performance of a GeoExchange heat pump. Solar panels, swimming pools, domestic hot water, air conditioning - depending on the requirements, we can design the best strategy to balance these loads to get the most efficient system."
 

The folks at Integrity Mechanical, in Vancouver, B.C., liken geothermal to a juggling act of amazing proportions, "It's like bringing ten trades together in one smooth and efficient operation," says Scott Miller, the principle, "including several forms of hydronics and circuitry, pumps and heat exchangers." The array is engineered and then installed by excavators or drillers, plumbers and pipe-fitters, heat pump installers, and the process is monitored by regulators. Scott works with solar thermal panels to drench the fluid in solar heat to increase ground heat in the geothermal array.
 

"These solar panels resemble photovoltaic panels but are different because they circulate fluids through panels and can be directed by a series of valves from a mechanical room to feed heat to the geothermal pipes," says Rob Pope, sales manager at Integrity Mechanical. No electrical generation is involved in the thermal solar installation and hot water heat is used in a variety of ways." Geothermal is typically installed on new construction and solar panels are usually 4 feet by 8 feet. "We can supply green energy with huge cost efficiencies to institutions like schools and administrative centres and health clinics and community facilities." 

Polar Refrigeration in Prince George, B.C., installed the NEXT Energy systems with a horizontal array at the McLeod Lake Indian Band, which is a Tse'Khene community that lies up Highway 97N on the way from Prince George to Mackenzie. "They installed it into the administration building a couple of years ago at the main community of the McLeod Lake Band, 150 kilometres north of Prince George," says Dez, of Polar Refrigeration. McLeod Lake Band is an industrious group of over 450 members. The community is presently establishing new Indian Reserve properties in Mackenzie and Bear Lake. As these reserves are developed and housing constructed it is expected more than the present 150 band members will move back to Indian Reserve lands. Innovations like geothermal may be in the offing for new developments.

Parkland Geothermal, Derwin Joelson, President, is a CGC certified NextEnergy dealer in northern and central Saskatchewan. Joelson believes in geothermal is the only way to go in Saskatchewan. The limited availability of natural gas in rural areas combined with costs of propane and oil (or the labour intensive task of providing enough wood as a source of heat in winter months) should only confirm his beliefs.

"Most clients are those who do not have access to natural gas or those who are looking for a more cost efficient heating system in the long run," says Joelson. Compared to conventional heating and cooling systems, geothermal systems have a higher initial cost but lower operating and maintenance costs. "When considering a heating system, we should compare not only initial costs but we must include on-going costs such as fuel, maintenance, and replacement."
 

Geothermal system should be viewed as a long term investment that can mean substantial savings within several years of installation, Joelson says, "The number of incentives and grants available along with the many advantages of a geothermal system and many," including; low maintenance, free air conditioning, comfortable interior environment with cleaner air, hot water, humidity control, and green energy. "This should only convince everyone that geothermal is the answer."
 

Sonic Drilling is a company built on highly functional innovations in drilling that so happen to work optimally on geothermal drilling jobs. With a host of drill and drill head patents Sonic Drilling also manufacturers a line of drills for export to countries all around the world. The company operates in the high-end of the industrial economy by drilling for cost-efficient energy solutions and manufacturers of sonic drills and drill heads.

Ray Roussy patented a super-performing sonic drill that has won awards in geothermal efficiency from the Canadian Geo-Exchange Coalition. Roussy's company Sonic Drilling succeeded in commercializing a sonic drill rig that bores 3-5 times faster (depending on soil conditions), "without using any drilling mud and is able to provide continuous core samples to depths of more than 300 ft. (100 meters)." As a result of these amazing attributes, sonic drilling can be employed in many applications including geo-technical and geothermal projects, environmental investigations, and mineral exploration, with a marked specialty in drilling and sampling for aggregate materials like gravel and for sampling environmental remediation conditions around the province.

 Bill Fitzgerald is the General Manager of Sonic Drilling, and Fitzgerald says, "We sell the drills around the world and employ our own fleet of drill rigs in Canada on a contract basis across the country. We do a lot of environmental drilling for remediation projects and we explore for minerals, and we have a specialization in geothermal holes. We do all kinds of drilling but generally we do the exploratory, environmental, and geothermal holes."

Fitzgerald says, "Our work in drilling in Canada is 90 percent geothermal and 10 percent environmental. It used to be opposite. And we do a lot of work providing core samples for mineral exploration," and they leave a very clean site when the job is done. He explains geothermal drilling comes in two sizes, 5 inch or 6 inch diameter. "These holes provides the width to put in the piping, one inch or one and a quarter inch polyethylene straight down 150 to 200 feet. The loop is made at the bottom and grouting fills the hole," a heat conducive mixture that increases the heat sensitivity in the loop.

Enduring Mikisew Companies

Mikisew Cree First Nation (MCFN) inhabits the western shores of Lake Athabasca in Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, a community in the northeast of the province that was established in 1788. The place remains oddly remote, tiny, but is developing nicely and the membership is torn between staying isolated or joining the outside world with a road to Fort McMurray.

Fort 'Chip' was once a North West Company and Rupert's Land trading post, and is today the gateway to Wood Buffalo National Park and other magnificent tourism opportunities. Even without the benefit of a road, MCFN moved successfully into both the travel and energy sectors of Alberta. Under the management of Aqeel Ahmad, MCFN created Mikisew Energy Services Group (MESG) and developed companies that staff more than 400 people, recruiting from within and outside the First Nation.

Aqeel said, "MCFN governance runs a portfolio-based system that oversees separate sectors of the economy," from the Mikisew community perspective. A series of corporate entities came into being, like 2000 Plus Ltd., Mikisew Maintenance Ltd. (MML), and MSD to make up MESG. 

 MML and 2000 Plus Ltd. have been involved in the oil and gas industry for the past nine years in Fort McMurray creating hundreds of jobs in the oil and gas industry. The MESG area of operation has been in the oil sands, and these companies perform jobs with millions of hours of work with all classes and levels of machine and technology. The MESG companies have operations at Syncrude, Albian, Trans Alta, and Suncor.

MCFN business plans took MESG companies into rich core areas where members could develop extensive knowledge and experience in energy plants of all types and complexities. They deliver manpower to administration as well. Aqeel said, "MESG has employed well over 600 employees. Last year MESG put in approximately 806,130 man hours in those project areas." MESG companies will expand, and more may appear. "We are actively searching for new ways outside Fort McMurray, and within Edmonton, to provide employment and training opportunities for Mikisew and other First Nation or Aboriginal people."

He said, "These companies have building capacity even with current obligations in very interesting areas of the oil and gas economy," and they are on the lookout for new opportunities. Aaron Kaskamin is a site manager for MM Limited Partnership. "We are a union company. In order to get employment, employees have to be members of local unions," said Aaron. "We work with local labour and trades unions to get Mikisew members into the local union whenever it is possible."

Kaskamin is joined by Mikisew managers found in operations across the board. April-Eve Wiberg works for Air Mikisew, and Edmonton-based Mikisew Slings and Safety Ltd., two more companies owned by MESG. April-Eve said, "What happens now is that other long-awaited opportunities ensue, and we have to learn how to take advantage of them." She said that Air Mikisew started about 10 years ago when MCFN bought Contact Air.

 

"The goal was to ensure never again would the community of Fort Chipewyan be at the mercy of a southern-based, for-profit airline. Too much was at risk." Also, owning an airline raised the possibility of a money-making venture for MCFN. "We have 11 airplanes, and 21 pilots operating within a fiercely competitive industry," said April-Eve.

"Our entire operation is strategically targeted at running an airline." Air Mikisew staff function with specific and high level training and accreditation in Fort McMurray. "We can always improve, and this is our goal, though overall I think our Fort Chip client base and MCFN leadership are pleased with the company's performance.

"We're flying full most of the time, our freight program is stretched to keep up, therefore I'd suggest these are signs of things going fairly well. We're proud of being named Fort McMurray's Business of the Year in 2005, a fairly exciting accomplishment in light of the incredible amount of business operating and gravitating around Fort McMurray."

Air Mikisew flies scheduled flights out of Edmonton City Centre Airport to both Fort McMurray and Fort Chipewyan. April-Eve added that even though the season is 'off' for now, Northern Mikisew Sport Fishing owns Alberta's top-rated group of fly-in fishing lodges. 

The only Aboriginal group with troops on the ground

Squamish-Lil-Wat Cultural Centre is prepared for the crush of the world at one of the greatest of sporting spectacles, the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. "It was a busy year," says Josh Anderson, Frontline Operations Coordinator for the First Nation cultural facility in the middle of Whistler that opened in June 2008. "The centre is in the best location possible to sustain high-level interest beyond the 2010 Olympics. It has proven to be something people want, all kinds want the First Nation experience. It's more than a product," Anderson says, "It's a presentation of Squamish and Lil'Wat histories and Coast Salish meeting Interior Salish ways of life."
     

The Whistler area has history between two nations and the centre makes this apparent in the modern context. "We have about 20 ambassadors and seven support staff working 9:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. seven days a week. During the day the centre is open to the public for tours and exhibit viewings; in the evening the centre hosts evening galas and private functions for a maximum of 700 people at a reception and 130 to a sit-down dinner." The centre has a commercial kitchen, cafe, and gift shop.
     

Anderson says, "The gift shop contains an extensive selection of Coast Salish and Interior Salish artists and others from the Lower Mainland," and artists from the USA's Pacific North West. "Visitors are greeted by an ambassador and treated to a cultural performance followed by a 15 minute film that shows both Nations in their traditional territories and communities." The tour reveals modern and traditional art and history and a discourse about mysticisms inhabiting the valleys of Coast Mountain corridors and lakes. 
     

"The Great Hall contains canoes, and weaving displays, hunting and fishing and traditional gathering practices on display. The 'What We Treasure Gallery' contains archival and interactive displays to teach the languages." The original Chief Joe Capilano Blanket is on display, his original negotiating garment made of mountain goat wool, which Chief Joe Capilano wore to England in 1906 when he met with King Edward VII.
     

"Modern Art is displayed in a contemporary art gallery upstairs," says Anderson, "and the outdoor exhibits feature a Long House, and a historical representation of an Istken," a re-created dwelling for Interior Salish people. The site contains a Salish workshop where guests are invited to work at making crafts like bracelets, medicine bags, and 'paddle' necklaces. The centre provides a nature walk for 100 metres with signage that explains the flora and fauna of the territory.
     

"The two nations spoke different languages and the displays and events in the Great Hall and the surroundings showcase the differences. Squamish used wool in garments, whereas Lil'Wat used cedar." Canoes differed since Squamish made ocean-going vessels whereas Lil'Wat traveled the rivers and lakes. "Despite these obvious differences they were close through trade and shared the territory in Whistler in harmony. They have a common history about a shared village called Sto7ez village that was destroyed by a landslide."
     

There is a lot of talent and energy around Whistler and the centre gives Whistler a complementary First Nations presence. The cafe's menu has been indigenously inspired, says Anderson. "The foods are spiced with our own herbs and in-house smoked salmon and pemmican is available. Visitors want a Canadian Aboriginal experience, which gives them reason to further explore Canadian First Nation culture. We are taking it deep and we are noticing the summer crowds are very good for us." Performance groups come from both nations and event planners deliver a balanced program in all seasons. The employment strategy for the centre involves Capilano University and the Aboriginal Youth Ambassador training program.  
     

First Nation security company T'musta7 Aboriginal Protection Services (owned by Lyle Leo of Mt. Currie First Nation) will be providing security services to the Resort Municipality of Whistler and other businesses, including Crown Corporations, during 2010 Winter Games. Lyle is partnered with United Protection Services Inc. Aboriginal division United First Nations Corp. headed by VP Earl John. Leo’s focus is on the Sea-to-Sky area, “We are looking at 100 pairs of boots on the ground within the next two or three months,” he says.
     

T'musta7 is a 100% Aboriginal security services contractor operating jointly with United Protection Services of Edmonton, Alberta with business development mentoring of Earl John, VP  and BC Surrey office support and guidance of Ken Robertson, Business Development Manager and Lizette Peters, Human Resource Manager who also delivers licensed security training program which is governed in BC by the Justice Institute (BCJI). BCJI administers a wide variety of public safety programs throughout the province and has an education partnership with Wilp Wilxo’oskwhl Nisga’a Institute (WWNI) in New Aiyansh, Nisga’a Nation.
     

Leo develops business aspects from his office at the New Earth Business Solutions Centre in Mt. Currie. He developed clear operational objectives out of a $75,000 INAC grant to build a multi-year business plan for an Aboriginal security service. “We are closer than ever to operational status since clarifying and renewing business relations. We had to after VANOC rejected our bid for services directly related to the 2010 Olympics,” he explains.
     

Leo remains firm in his resolve. “We were the only Aboriginal group with troops on the ground,” he says, “and to be honest, it was quite disappointing to be rejected by VANOC.” T’Musta7 reassessed in order to create a sustainable long-term opportunity as a sub-contractor. They now have personnel trained and picking up assignments across Canada. “We are particularly interested in pursuing the market in First Nation, Métis, and Inuit operations,” he points out. “We are going to be a national service.”
     

Leo's company was going on two years of experience. He says, “We’re not entering the field to be competitors but to meet the demand for trained Aboriginal security officers.” He says that Aboriginal security services are in high demand at a minimum of 22 airports in Canada and bilingual services are required in many of these contract opportunities. “We are working toward training and licensing 2,000 Aboriginal security guards,” says Leo, “and while we are excited about Olympic-related opportunities—even after VANOC looked right past us—we will be happy to work in the Resort Municipality of Whistler and beyond.”
     

The T’Musta7 recruited security men and women to work at the music festival in Whistler and a 4X4 rally at Pemberton. Leo has actively recruited First Nation personnel and has since been joined by Chief Don Harris of Douglas First Nation, who is, Leo says, “making a lot of headway for Aboriginal community economic development since partnering run of river projects with Cloudworks Energy. They want to take part with organizing opportunities for First Nations with the 2010 Winter Games."
     

Chief Harris delivers business that issues from a Douglas First Nation energy program. Leo says, "Chief Harris is tuned in with the changes in the aboriginal community with his participation in the election of National Chief Shawn Atleo and the opening of the Osoyoos Business Centre.” (Chief Harris was speaking at the IPPBC Conference Nov. 3-4, 2009 in Vancouver.)
     

Leo applied for security services contracts with the BC Hydro Aboriginal Procurement process and in partnership with the Douglas First Nation has plans for licensed security courses to start between 12 to 20 recruits.” Chief Harris says about T’Musta7, “We are recruiting in the Lower Mainland where Douglas First Nation has a lot of members. I am working on the political agreements with INAC to get people trained for employment. Lyle has contracts and we have a 40-hour training program to start between 12 and 20 recruits."

     

First Nations were players in Whistler pre-Olympic developments, according to Ken Melamed, Mayor of the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), who says they have big plans for the area. Early in the development of the 2010 Olympic program for Vancouver, the opportunity arose to bring First Nations closer to the community and deeper into the cultural organization of the 2010 Olympics. First Nations received 300 acres of land in Whistler, allowing a certain amount of flexibility in economic opportunity. Local First Nations are working with the municipality to conform to official community development plans. “We agreed to recognize each others plans for development,” said Melamed.
     

Proposals include a commercial, a residential, and a recreational development. Melamed says recreational development could include a golf course or similar attraction. The recreation development for the Callahan Valley is a big investment and opportunities within the RMOW are “being treated according to the Community Charter, which demands [First Nations] are treated as any other investor.” The mayor welcomes this opportunity to work with First Nations, whether they take on projects themselves or engage other developers in the process.

Melamed points out that the new Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre in town, "is within the municipality on land that was earmarked for community uses. When First Nations approached us it seemed outside our thinking, but it was such a good idea and within our interests, therefore, we donated the land waived property taxes and a significant economic investment was made there for the benefit of the whole community.” Tax breaks gave start-up business a better chance at success. Melamed says, “They’re up, and they’re rolling, and there is no question that this is a major contribution because already the response from local business members and visiting tourists alike has been very positive.”

The mayor notes that 50 % of the construction of Whistler Olympic Village Park was done by First Nation contractors like Creekside Resources, and employees. He says, “Capacity-building and jobs went into the Squamish Nation, which was given new community resources, and that is a very cool thing.” He added, “We are very happy with that, and I must say the quality of work was exceptional.”

Churchill port open July to November on Hudson's Bay

Churchill Visitors Bureau

 

The Port of Churchill is situated on the western shore of Hudson's Bay, in Northern Manitoba. It is open four months of the year from July until November, says Bill Drew, Executive Director of the Churchill Gateway Development Corporation, who noted that the 2009 shipping season is shaping up to be a good one. Making the tonnage grow at the port has always been a challenge, however, the port is constantly working to attract interest from world shipping circles. The distances between continents are shorter at the top of the world but the opportunity to sail these shorter distances between Northern Europe and Russia and Canada is restricted by Arctic ice.

"Churchill Gateway Development Corporation (CGDC) was established in June 2003 for the purpose of marketing the Port of Churchill through diversifying the traffic base and building two-way traffic," says the website. Drew says, "OmniTrax Inc. headquartered in Denver, CO operates the port facilities and the railroad from Churchill to The Pas." Drew is pleased to note that 75 percent of the people who work for the Port of Churchill and Hudson's Bay Railway Company are local and Aboriginal.

There are a wide array of jobs available at the port as well as in the town of Churchill (www.portofchurchill.ca) and on the rail line that transfers cargo along a southeastern span 800 kilometres, from the centre of the western coast of Hudson's Bay to The Pas, Manitoba. From there cargo moves to points in Canada, USA, and Mexico. The port was developed in 1928 after a long mercantile and industrial age history that began in 1686 as a Hudson's Bay Company fort when a semi-permanent post was established a few kilometres from the mouth of the Churchill River.

By 1717 HBC men in York Factory and present day Churchill were actively trading furs sought from Rupert's Land and there was a whaling industry working to serve the British Empire with lamp oil and medicinal unguents. HBC eventually constructed a formidable fort called Prince of Wales Fort to defend their interests against French warships and this stands today as a national historic site in Churchill.  Today vessels come to Churchill from July to November via Hudson Strait passing Iceland and Greenland and Baffin Island to pick up grain as well as bring fertilizer from Russia. One recent operation in cargo saw fertilizer coming from Estonia.

On average, the port exports 500,000 tonnes of grain per year. People who live and work in this distant Arctic home come from the town or other communities in Nunavut and Manitoba's vast north. Drew says, "People really enjoy living here,'" which doesn't surprise Drew because most of the people are locals from Dene, Cree and Inuit heritage, "It's a bit of a melting pot of northern cultures." The mayor of the town Mike Spence is Aboriginal and Mike sits on the Board of Directors of the Port Of Churchill Gateway Corporation.

Drew says the Aboriginal component has been integral to the development of the Port of Churchill, "The port is unionized with members of the grain handlers union, PSAC, and ILWU locals. We have a Canadian Customs office and the employees rotate on a monthly basis when the port is operational."  The sailing season of today, says Drew, may change in years to come with the onset of later seasons and early break-ups of ice on the Hudson's Bay. That change is yet to come, and nor is it a desirable occurrence, he says. The town has another distinction, "the situation with polar bears," is pretty straight forward, "there's a lot of Them."

Aboriginal employees the core at Churchill port

The Port of Churchill is situated on the western shore of Hudson's Bay, in Northern Manitoba. It is open four months of the year from July until November, says Bill Drew, Executive Director of the Churchill Gateway Development Corporation, "It's not going too bad at all." Making the tonnage grow at the port has always been a challenge, however, the port authorities are constantly working to attract interest from world shipping circles. The distance between continents are shorter at the top of the world but the opportunity to sail these shorter distances between Northern Europe and Russia and Canada is restricted by Arctic ice; cost efficiencies remain in shipping cargo this way by meeting a railhead sooner (because it's cheaper to ship cargo by rail).
    

"Churchill Gateway Development Corporation (CGDC) was established in June 2003 for the purpose of marketing the Port of Churchill through diversifying the traffic base and building two-way traffic," says the website. Drew says, "We operate port facilities and have an interest in a public/private railroad from Churchill to The Pas." Drew notes that 75 percent of the people who work for Port of Churchill and Hudson's Bay Railway Company (partly owned by Omnitrax of USA and the port) are local and Aboriginal.
    

These jobs are found at the wide array port facilities in the town of Churchill (www.portofchurchill.ca) and on the rail line that transfers cargo along a southeastern span 800 kilometres, from the centre of the western coast of Hudson's Bay to The Pas, Manitoba. From there cargo moves to points in Canada, USA, and Mexico. The port was developed in 1928 after a long mercantile and industrial age history that began in 1686 as a Hudson's Bay Company fort when a semi-permanent post was established a few kilometres from the mouth of the Churchill River.
     

By 1717 HBC men in York Factory near present-day Churchill were actively trading furs sought from Rupert's Land and there was a whaling industry working to serve the British Empire with lamp oil and medicinal unguents. HBC eventually constructed a formidable fort called Prince of Wales Fort to defend their interests against French warships and this stands today as a national historic site in Churchill.  

Today vessels come to Churchill from July to November via Hudson Strait passing Iceland and Greenland and Baffin Island to bring fertilizer from Russia. One recent operation in cargo sees phosphate fertilizer come from Estonia and Murmansk.
    

The port handles the export of 50,000 tonnes of grain per year. People who live and work in this distant Arctic home come from the town or other communities in Nunavut and Manitoba's vast north. Drew says, "Whenever I ask these people if they like living here, they reply, 'Yes, I want to live here,'" which doesn't surprise Bill because most of the people are locals from Dene, Cree and Inuit heritage, "It's a bit of a melting pot of northern cultures." The mayor of the town Mike Spence is Aboriginal and Mike sits on the Board of Directors of the Port Of Churchill Gateway Corporation.
    

Drew says the Aboriginal component has been integral to the development of the Port of Churchill, "They are tied to the unions as part of the grainhandlers union, PSAC, and ILWU locals. We have a Canadian Customs office and the employees at the international port offices rotate on a monthly basis when the port is operational."  The sailing season of today, says Drew, may change in years to come with the onset of later seasons and early break-ups of ice on the Hudson's Bay. That change is yet to come, and nor is it a desirable occurrence, he says. The town has another distinction, "the situation with polar bears," is pretty straight forward, "there's a lot of them."

Winton Global houses built by following the numbers and shooting the nails

Building much-needed new homes in remote locations is a challenge for many First Nation communities.  So much so that many are now pursuing the idea of using factory-built, precision-fit wood framing components to quickly erect more and better quality homes. 

     

Winton Global Homes, based in Prince George, BC, operates one of the most technologically advanced roof truss and wall-panel manufacturing facilities in Western North America.  Delivering factory-framed housing components to First Nation communities in order to help alleviate the crisis in housing has become a key focus of the company.

     

Marlene Fehr-Power, General Manager of Winton Global Homes in Prince George alludes to shifting preferences she has noticed when it comes to First Nation housing, "Over time, it is becoming more and more popular for forward-thinking First Nation communities to build multi-family dwellings as a part of their community plans."  

     

And the demand for housing is changing, says Marlene.  "First Nations have a growing number of elders in their communities and these folks often require a form of housing known as 'Visitable Housing'."  In simple terms, a Visitable Home is a home with a zero-step front entry and a bathroom on the main floor which incorporates a 3 ft. door.  "Visitable homes enhance inclusion and participation in community life," says Marlene, not to mention the advantages of easier long term care.

     

Winton Global Homes also produces floor systems, pre-built wall panel and engineered trusses for major urban projects as well.  "We have just finished building floors, walls and trusses for the Friendship House in Prince George, B.C., the new Prince George Native Friendship Centre Transition House that stands on the outer fringe of the city's downtown core. 

     

This major new facility provides a warm and safe home for many disabled and displaced people in the northern B.C. city, but the company also delivers home packages far afield as well.  "Our homes are shipped as far as Manitoba, and to the Pacific North West of the US." 

     

Marlene says, "The truth about factory-framed or panelized or packaged homes is that they shine as housing solutions in remote areas."  Many of the 700 Indian Reservations in Canada are remote and housing construction can cause difficulties when the planning isn't perfect.  But now, Winton Global Homes can deliver a new home package directly to site that requires nothing but assembly.  "It's all about controlling your costs.  With easy to assemble pre-built wall panel and engineered trusses all packaged up and delivered with windows, doors, siding and roofing, you can keep a tight reign on 'construction cost over runs' which are so common with other methods of building these days.  For people working within a budget this is the ideal solution."

     

This kind of cost control and efficiency applies to single family dwellings, multi-family projects and two-storey buildings as well.  

"We help communities build the homes they so desperately need, from design through materials selection through to complete assembly instructions and project coordination," she says.  "Our homes are basically assembled by number, and erected to 'lock-up' so finishing can occur on the inside."  

Once the basic outside portion of the home is built the inside work proceeds. The choice and design of a community's factory-framed, panelized homes for remote communities can be done via telephone and with the use of e-mail.  The factory in PG designs, builds and ships floor systems, numbered wall panels and engineered trusses directly to site for assembly.

     

"Follow the numbers and shoot the nails," says Marlene. "The personnel required to build the home only need a qualified carpenter on-site to help guide the process.  And, it goes very smoothly."  Remember, the procedure from lock-up is to install the electrical, plumbing, and heating systems that finish the new home in preparation for move-in day.  "The panel-built home is quickly erected and trades do the rest." 

     

As First Nations Drum reported previously this year, "We love a challenge in the design phase because our goal is to give the customer exactly what they want," says Marlene.  Winton Global Homes has been constructing panel-built housing for the past 30 years, previously doing business as Spruce Capital Homes.  Feel free to view a comprehensive selection of affordable new home designs at their Website by visiting www.wintonglobal.com .

Solar energy in Canada lags behind other industrial nations

First Power Canada is the brainchild of Joe Thwaites and his team from Taylor Munro Energy Systems that  brought to bear the training and skills development in the T-Sou-ke Nation Solar Demonstration Project on the south-west corner of Vancouver Island. The T'Sou-ke Nation installed an $800,000 array of solar energy in the Vancouver Island community to create passive solar electricity and solar thermal heat, light and power. "In summer," says Donna Morton, "the solar panels feed energy back into the BC HYDRO grid," making a valuable contribution to the First Nation community's economy.
    

Morton is founder and Executive Director of the Centre for Integral Economics (CIE), in Victoria, B.C.. First Power Canada is a partnership with Taylor Munro Energy Systems, Morton says, "First Power Canada is a project to creates funding, finance, training, and other community supports to First Nation communities wanting to gain energy autonomy. " The T'Sou-ke project is a prime example of the prowess for capacity building that First Power Canada intends to employ in a number of situations.
    

This kind of energy development is going to go much further in Canadian First Nations because the communities with resource bases and energy demands look to green energy solutions, and industry is making close liaisons to move projects like T'Sou-ke into the making. "Our organization," says Morton, "is geared to work with First Nation communities, Aboriginal organizations, and other groups that face significant barriers to working in the trades." The target audience includes immigrants and those who come from a background of poverty regardless of their origins. We work with people who have special gifts that may fall outside the world of book learning experience. We find the funding to do the training with partnerships in various organizations, adding value to the training and finding people in the margins of society."
    

Morton says, "We train anywhere and piggyback on existing training facilities; we train by doing. It's tactical training with a lot of hands-on building, testing, and learning to fix and maintain equipment in the real world. It's a crash course with apprenticeship qualities, but we employ variables by meeting and customizing the needs of communities. We take people where they are and use whatever skills they possess, in roofing, mechanicals, plumbing, carpentry, or electrical. Any one of these skills is a good entry and our training really works well on people who are jack-of-all-trades."
    

Morton notes that installing solar electrical and heating systems is an integrated trade. "Our training puts all those pieces together. Loggers and wood workers, unemployed mill-workers, these people have huge assets that are not being employed and no programs appear to exist for these people. There are not enough trained people in solar installation to meet the present demand and we hope to incubate the capacity for starting businesses, doing this for all kinds of reserves and bringing business to life in communities. Metis organizations and non-Status First Nation people and immigrant workers who come from a mix of ethnicities, our purpose is to cross the racial barriers."
    

Morton says North American use of solar energy is way behind developments in Europe. "They are 25 years ahead of us and have created a hundred thousand jobs. Solar installation is proceeding in Canada but 10,000 installers are needed, and solar infrastructure need these builder. First Nations can enter the industry in a way that favours the way they respect the earth, and solar harnesses the earth's resources by not taking more than is required. It is a form of natural power." 
    

 First Power Canada designed their education initiatives from a series of pilot projects including the T-Sou-ke project (reported in August 2009 First Nations Drum Dialogue on Development), "From this point we would like to install another 100 more systems this year. From the beginning we foresaw building whole systems that would reduce dependencies on burning diesel and coal to create electricity. We will solve energy problems organically and we will promote training and installation together. We will produce solutions in project financing and business development, building the capacity to own their futures, undoing dependency. It's job creation living up to the traditions of the ancestors. It will assist communities in getting past the perception of dependency and connect them to the world."