Workshops

CanREA, the Community Energy Association, and Relay Education will deliver an engaging hands-on workshop demonstrating how wind and solar technologies work through small group exercises where participants build their own projects and test them under a variety of scenarios. The workshop will share facts about renewable energy and dispel common myths. Participants will learn about the role that wind and solar can play in bringing local jobs and economic development, contributing to BC’s energy security, and advancing reconciliation with First Nations through equity partnerships.

Our workshop involves bringing in miniature examples of both wind turbines and solar panels for experimentation and hands-on learning. The workshop will involve a mix of both lecture and hands-on materials. The participants will conduct experiments on solar panels related to shading, overheating, and light in terms of the electromagnetic spectrum. The participants will also experiment with wind turbines in terms of testing how various blade lengths affect energy generation while taking the blade pitch angle into consideration. The participants will record both qualitative and quantitative data throughout the workshop.

• How wind and solar energy technologies work
• How operating conditions (wind speed, heat, cold etc) can change efficiency and performance
• The role of wind and solar in BC’s energy transition
• The benefits and impacts of these projects in communities

Patricia Lightburn
Director for British Columbia, Canadian Renewable Energy Association
Patricia Lightburn is the Director for British Columbia at the Canadian Renewable Energy Association. In this role, Patricia works with members to advance strategic priorities in the BC market.

Prior to joining CanREA, Patricia was a managing consultant at Dunsky Energy and Climate Advisors where she led modeling and analysis exploring key energy transition issues, informed by consultation with communities and key stakeholders. She has also held roles at Innergex Renewable Energy, the David Suzuki Foundation and the Ontario Power Authority (now IESO). She was a guest lecturer at Simon Fraser University’s Centre for Dialogue and regularly speaks at conferences and industry events. Patricia holds a master’s degree from Sciences Politiques in Paris, France.

Rob van Adrichem
Director of External Relations, Community Energy Association
Rob is CEA’s director of external relations and facilitator for the Northern BC Climate Action Network (NorthCAN), a unique platform to share information about northern initiatives and build connections between northerners who identify, influence, and implement local projects that reduce emissions and boost local economies.

Ryan Gander
Facilitator, Relay Education
Ryan is an experienced communicator and educator passionate about renewable energy education. Ryan holds a BA in Communications from SFU.

Ryan works as a facilitator for Relay Education, an environmental charity focused on renewable energy education and training across Canada. Ryan delivers hands-on STEM science based workshops with renewable energy technologies for grade school students in British Columbia in a fun and engaging way.

Ryan successfully engaged 4,079 students during the 2024-2025 school year. Within this time frame, he also piloted a new secondary workshop with 2,336 students that focused on energy efficiency.

IROC 2026 conference attendees are reminded that the presenters of the short courses, technical presentations, keynote presentations, and panels are the sole owner(s) of the materials created, delivered, and/or presented. All views, opinions, and information provided in the presentations by the speakers, presenters, and/or participants are their own and do not reflect the views and opinions of the conference Organizing Committee, or C3 Alliance Corp. Neither the Organizing Committee, nor C3 Alliance Corp. accept any liability for the information provided. Participants are advised to use their discretion.

As Indigenous leadership and economic participation continue to reshape Canada’s resource sector, the way agreements are negotiated and regulatory processes are navigated has never mattered more. This pre-conference workshop offers a practical, forward-looking conversation about how Indigenous communities, industry proponents and legal advisors can engage more effectively to support sustainable, respectful resource development.

This workshop pairs First Nations and industry speakers who have not worked together on a major project, creating space for fresh thinking, candid dialogue and broadly applicable insights rather than project-specific narratives.

Participants will explore when and how agreements are typically introduced, how regulatory engagement can be structured to support meaningful participation and what approaches help lay the groundwork for strong, enduring relationships. The focus is on strategies that respect Indigenous rights and governance, support efficient project development and create long-term value for all parties involved.

• When and how agreements are typically introduced in resource project development
• How regulatory engagement can be structured to support meaningful Indigenous participation
• Approaches that respect Indigenous rights and governance while supporting efficient project development
• Strategies that create long-term value and enduring partnerships for all parties involved

Sabrina Spencer
Partner, Aird & Berlis LP
Sabrina Spencer is a Partner at Aird & Berlis LP.

Keith Brown
Partner, Aird & Berlis LP
Keith Brown is a Partner at Aird & Berlis LP.

Emily Sonntag
Director of Lands and Resources, Xatsull First Nation
Emily Sonntag is the Director of Lands and Resources at Xatsull First Nation.

Karina Andrus
Senior Manager, Environmental Permitting, Capstone Infrastructure Corporation
Karina Andrus is Senior Manager of Environmental Permitting at Capstone Infrastructure Corporation.

IROC 2026 conference attendees are reminded that the presenters of the short courses, technical presentations, keynote presentations, and panels are the sole owner(s) of the materials created, delivered, and/or presented. All views, opinions, and information provided in the presentations by the speakers, presenters, and/or participants are their own and do not reflect the views and opinions of the conference Organizing Committee, or C3 Alliance Corp. Neither the Organizing Committee, nor C3 Alliance Corp. accept any liability for the information provided. Participants are advised to use their discretion.