Our Program
10:00 am – 12:00 pm · Renewable Energy 101 Workshop
CanREA 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. Seperate registration required.
12:00 am – 3:00 pm · From Engagement to Enduring Partnership: Negotiating Agreements and Navigating Regulation in Resource Project Developments
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. Seperate registration required.
4:00 – 6:00 pm · Registration Opens
Registration desk open for delegate check-in.
6:00 – 8:00 pm · Opening Reception
Cultural Performance
Qwam Qwum Stuwixulth School
Cultural Performance
Leanor and Satia
8:00 am · Registration Opens
Registration desk open for delegate check-in.
8:00 – 8:30 am · Morning Nutrition Break & Networking
Sponsored by West Fraser
8:30 – 9:00 am · Conference Opening
Opening Prayer & Conference Blessing
Conference Chair
President, Na̲nwak̲olas Council
Speakers
Mayor, City of Nanaimo
Additional speakers to be announced.
9:00 – 9:25 am · Building Momentum Together: Pathways to Economic Reconciliation
Tahltan Central Government
Moderator
Nathan Cullen
Vice President, StrategyCorp
9:25 – 9:35 am · Keynote Address
Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals, Government of B.C.
9:35 – 10:00 am · Session Details Coming Soon
Speaker details to be announced.
10:00 – 10:45 am · Morning Nutrition Break & Networking
Sponsored by Engineers and Geoscientists BC
10:45 – 11:35 am · BC Collaborative Stewardship Framework
Owner, Flatrock Vantage
Ryan McKay
TREP Lands & Resources Planner, Saulteau Nation Lands & Resource Dept.
Dave Schaepe
Director & Senior Archaeologist, Sto:lo Nation
Moderator
Executive Director, Collaborative Stewardship and Cumulative Effects Management Branch, Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Government of B.C.
11:35 – 11:50 pm · Session Details Coming Soon
Details to be announced!
11:50 – 1:15 pm · Lunch Break
Lunch served for all delegates.
1:15 – 1:30 pm · Partnership Showcase Opening
Booker Cornea
Associate Vice President, Market and Shareholder Engagement, First Nations Bank of Canada
1:30 – 1:45 pm · Partnership Showcase
Booker Cornea
Associate Vice President, Market and Shareholder Engagement, First Nations Bank of Canada
Towfiq Islam
Executive Director, Lheidli T’enneh First Nation
2:00 – 2:30 pm · Partnership Showcase
Speakers to be announced.
2:30 – 3:00 pm · Tradeshow Networking Break
Take a break and connect with exhibitors on the tradeshow floor.
3:00 – 3:30 pm · Panel: Energy Pathways Led by Indigenous Voices
Vanessa Connolly
Director, Community and Indigenous Relations, FortisBC
Selina Basi
Vice President, Corporate Relations, Woodfibre LNG
Moderator
Chief Councillor John Jack
Huu-ay-aht First Nations
3:30 – 4:20 pm · Panel: Seeing the Forest AND the Trees
Duane Crouse
Operations Manager, LBN Forestry
Mike Hykaway
Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Forests, Government of B.C.
Vice-President, Canadian Woodlands, West Fraser
Moderator
Mike Beck
Operations Manager, Capacity Forest Management
4:20 – 4:50 pm · BC Call for Power Projects: Case Studies in Partnership and Project Delivery
Speaker details to be announced.
5:00 – 6:00 pm · Tradeshow Networking Reception
Join exhibitors on the tradeshow floor for an evening reception.
6:00 – 8:00 pm · Keynote Dinner (Ticketed)
Dinner Prayer & Cultural Performance
President, Nanwakolas Council
Additional speakers to be announced.
8:00 – 10:00 pm · Rez Dog Walkers After Dark Reception
Offsite at the Coast Bastion Hotel Ballroom
8:00 am · Registration Opens
Registration desk open for delegate check-in.
8:00 – 8:30 am · Morning Nutrition Break & Networking
Sponsor to be announced.
8:30 – 8:40 am · Conference Opening
President, Na̲nwak̲olas Council · Conference Chair
8:40 – 8:55 am · Keynote Address
Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction of British Columbia, Government of B.C.
8:55 – 9:30 am · Rising Tides Lift All Boats: Collaborative Economic Development in Nanaimo
Douglas Smith
CEO, DP World
Additional speakers to be announced.
Moderator
MLA George Anderson
Parliamentary Secretary for Transit
9:30 – 10:10 am · Powering BC's Future: BC's Evolving Energy Landscape
Michelle Carr
CEO & Commissioner, BC Energy Regulator
Additional speakers to be announced.
Moderator
Senior Director, Regulatory Engagement and Social Impact, C3 Alliance
10:10 – 10:25 am · Keynote Address
n̓ aasquʔisʔatḥ Stephen Rayner
Interim Executive Director, Clean Energy BC
10:25 – 11:10 am · Morning Nutrition Break & Networking
Sponsor to be announced.
11:10 – 11:25 am · Keynote Address
Senior Vice President, Environment and Social Affairs, Skeena Gold + Silver
11:25 – 12:00 pm · Indigenous Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences
Brian Kingzett
Executive Director, BC Salmon Farmers Association
Linda Sams
Centre for Aquatic Health Sciences
Additional speakers to be announced.
Moderator
President, Nanwakolas Council
11:50 – 12:15 pm · Pathways to Prosperity: Indigenous Led Tourism and Shared Success
Speakers to be announced.
12:15 – 12:40 pm · Keynote Address
Speaker to be announced.
12:40 – 1:00 pm · Conference Closing
1:00 pm · Closing Lunch
Closing lunch for all delegates.