June 9, 2022

MEIA News and Announcements

Save the Date! MEIA Emerging Issues 2022 Cleantech Conference

Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Conference: 8:00am – 4:30pm
Reception: 4:30pm – 6:30pm
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MEIA is excited to announce new additions to the Emerging Issues Cleantech conference!

Highlights of the conference will include:

Opening Blessing, Chief Heidi Cook, Misipawistik Cree Nation
Morning Keynote, Dr. David Suzuki
Afternoon Keynote, Jane McDonald, Executive VP, International Institute of Sustainable Development
Master of Ceremonies, Steve Patterson, CBC’s The Debaters
Green Dragon’s Lair Pitch Competition, 40 Booth Tradeshow, 6 Breakout Sessions
Networking reception with entertainment from trio from local band Indian City

Watch this space for sponsorship opportunities, presenter/speaker announcements and registration details to come!

MEIA 2021 Annual Report

2021 was MEIA’s 30 year anniversary! It was a busy year with many new initiatives added to our regular roster of programming. Highlights include:

Established an MEIA Lifetime Achievement Award
Supported the creation of the Rock Circle Radio Show (episodes available on the MEIA website)
Launched the Indigenous Housing Inspection Program
Created the NRCan Registered Energy Advisor Training program in partnership with Red River College Polytechnic
Conducted the Renewable Energy Survey
Established a formal partnership with ECO Canada
Launched the Student Chapter Alumni Profile Series

And much more! Read all about it in MEIA’s 2021 Annual Report:

Click here to read the 2021 Annual Report

Registered Energy Advisor Training

Looking for a new in-demand career or a second income in the Environmental Sector? 3-month flexible training courses starting soon! If you missed the webinar outlining the program, it can be viewed on the MEIA website here.

Would You Like Your Company Featured on MCP?

Manitoba Career Prospects (MCP) helps educators, parents and students discover different career opportunities in Manitoba. Their website features information about different industries in Manitoba and other resources to help in choosing a career path.

The Employer Profiles on the MCP website reflect general information about the company and the types of job opportunities available.

Click here to view the Miller Environmental Employer Profile
Click here to view the Recycle Everywhere Employer Profile

If you are interested in having your company featured, please fill out this form and send it to [email protected] or call MEIA at (204) 783-7090 for more information

Support the Deb Tardiff Scholarship Fund!

MEIA created the Deb Tardiff Memorial Scholarship in 2020 (awarded 2021) to honour the legacy of Deb Tardiff, the founder of MEIA’s Student Chapter, and to support talented new entrants to the environmental sector.

Thank you to Gold Sponsor Miller Environmental for your generous contribution in support of environmental students in Manitoba!

There are only two Gold Level spots available so contact MEIA right away to donate! Click here to find out more about the benefits of donating to the Deb Tardiff Scholarship Fund!

MEIA Student Chapter Alumni

Featuring Sheena Porco, Environmental Health and Safety Specialist at Price Industries

I first head about the MEIA Student Chapter through Red River College Instructor Dave Woytowich, who encouraged me to join a speed mentoring event. It was through a speed mentoring night that I was introduced to representatives from Magellan Aerospace. I applied for a student position at Magellan and stayed on as the Environmental Operations Specialist following graduation from the Joint Applied Environmental Science program.

Since graduating, I have had the opportunity to participate with the Student Chapter as a mentor, including presenting an Environmental and Emergency Management mini workshop and as a mentor for speed mentoring events.
I am currently employed by Price Industries, an innovative and industry leading commercial HVAC company, as the Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Specialist. I specialize in environmental management systems and regulatory compliance. My core activities focus on supporting the continual improvement of Price’s environmental program and working towards ISO 14001:2015 certification. I work closely with an amazing group of safety professionals; together we work to improve and maintain Price’s Safe Work Certification. My job allows me the opportunity to work with many different people on various environmental and safety projects. My favorite part of my job is meeting with manufacturing Associates and their leadership to discuss their concerns, solutions and opportunities. I love the brainstorming, discussions and working together to put the plans into action.

Check the MEIA website for more Student Chapter alumni bios!

The Rock Circle Radio Show

Tuesdays at 6:00 pm on 105.5 NCI FM
MEIA is proud to support The Rock Circle Radio Show – an innovative two-way reconciliation dialogue with the goal of building lasting understanding and partnerships between the minerals sector, Indigenous communities, and the public in general. Tuesdays at 6:00 pm on 105.5 NCI FM

If you missed it when it first aired, you can still catch episodes of the Rock Circle Radio Show by visiting the MEIA website – click here!

NEW Cleantech Startup MEIA Membership!

In celebration of our Emerging Issues Cleantech conference, MEIA is excited to announce our NEW Cleantech Startup Membership level! Keep up to date with funding opportunities, networking events, training and upskilling opportunities and more at the low rate of $100 annual membership. Eligibility will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

MEIA is the hub for all things Environment, Energy, Natural Resources and more for Manitoba. MEIA facilitates communication among our stakeholder membership, bringing research, business and regulatory perspectives together. MEIA members are a diverse group of Manitoba companies and organizations.

Who Should be a Member?

Industry Organizations
Indigenous Organizations
Businesses & Organizations
Community Groups & NGO’s
Government
Post-Secondary Students
First Nation Communities
Municipalities
Consultants
Individual Memberships

MEIA Member benefits include:

Build relationships with industry contacts
Meet prospective clients
Speak/present at MEIA hosted events
Mentor students planning careers in the natural resources, energy, and environmental sector
Significantly reduced registration fees at MEIA workshops, conferences, and learning sessions

Support to Manitoba member industries through advice on funding and potential business opportunities
Business profile on MEIA website
Opportunity to share events and job opportunities on MEIA website
Participate in Annual General Meeting

Other benefits include opportunities to promote your company or organization through sponsorship of MEIA events, and by showcasing your services and products with your promotional materials at MEIA events. Have a look at all the events MEIA facilitated and attended in MEIA’s 2020 Annual Report.

Questions or member registration – call the MEIA office at 204-783-7090

Upcoming MEIA Training & Events

HAZWOPER/NFPA 472

September 26-29, 2022
1000 Waverly, Training room 104
MEIA Members: $900 + GST
Non-Members: $1,000 + GST

The 4-day HAZWOPER/NFPA 472 (1072) course offered by HAZ-MATTERS falls within the recently approved Essential Services mandate across Canada and substantially improves employee hazard understanding at the worksite while empowering a Technician level of response competency for employees exposed to any form of chemical hazard. Delivered by Bart Taylor, a senior HazMat Specialist, this specific course unifies internationally used “Best Practice” techniques employed by Industry, Fire Services, First Responders and CBRN technicians and provides a clear understanding of the entire process.

Attendees will receive certification in:

40 Hour HAZWOPER Environmental Technician
Transportation of Dangerous Goods, TDG
2015 Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System, WHMIS
Incident Command System, ICS 100 & 200
Fire Safety & Extinguishers

Requirement: Students must bring a laptop/tablet with them each day of the course to access course materials. Participants will receive a USB Drive that has the student manual and all pertinent supplements included.

Registrants for this event are eligible to claim 3 PD credits towards maintaining their EP designation with ECO Canada

Member News and Announcements

Welcome New MEIA Members!

Environmental Abatement Council of Canada
EasyEV Inc.
Magellan Aerospace
Standard Carbon Inc.
Carbon Block Inc.
Mike Fernandes
Joe Cattani

ECO Canada BEAHR Training Program

BEAHR Indigenous training helps Indigenous communities break the barriers to employment through hands-on, customizable training inclusive of Traditional Knowledge.

To learn more about bringing BEAHR to your community, or becoming a BEAHR trainer click here.

First Nation Communities Receive Funding for Energy Efficiency Advocates

Efficiency Manitoba will be providing funding and support over a two-year period to enable First Nation communities to hire and train a community-based Energy Efficiency Advocate. Advocates will engage with their community and Efficiency Manitoba to create a community-led energy efficiency plan that facilitates participation in Efficiency Manitoba’s programs.

The participating First Nation communities approved to receive funding through Efficiency Manitoba’s Indigenous Community Energy Efficiency Program include the following:

Sioux Valley Dakota Nation
Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation
Shamattawa First Nation
Lake Manitoba First Nation
York Factory First Nation
Ebb & Flow First Nation
Red Sucker Lake
Lake St. Martin First Nation
O-Pipon-Na-Piwin Cree Nation
Pine Creek First Nation

The program will support economic development activities within participating First Nation communities. Energy efficiency projects will be undertaken by local businesses and contractors, which bolsters local job creation.

Find out more at the Efficiency Manitoba website

Green Action Centre 2022 AGM

June 22, 2022
5:30pm – 7:00pm
Online

Save the date! Green Action Centre will be looking at the year in review, reviewing and approving our annual audited financial statements, and appointing new members to our board of directors.

While everyone is welcome to attend, only paid members are eligible to vote. If you are not already a member, please consider signing up for an annual $20 membership today!

Click here to register

North Forge Technology Exchange

North Forge Technology Exchange is a not-for-profit business incubator accelerator and the innovation partner for the Province of Manitoba. We fuel Manitoba’s innovation economy by providing founders in technology, STEM, and advanced manufacturing with expert growth coaches, mentors, entrepreneurs-in-residence, and a four-stage Founders Program. We have helped over 220 companies build and scale their businesses from ideation to Series A creating hundreds of jobs. Armed with North America’s largest not-for-profit publicly accessible fabrication lab (FabLab TM) housing over $3 million of advanced manufacturing equipment, we operate out of 27,000 square feet across Innovation Drive and Innovation Alley in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Currently North Forge is working with 15 CleanTech founders. One of the startups in the Ascent stage is Standard Carbon who is helping fight greenwashing by being the first Canadian company to be accredited by Standards Council of Canada to the ISO 14065:2020 standard. This accreditation allows Standard Carbon to provide assurance statements on claims made by companies about the carbon footprint of their operations, products or services.

Another Ascent stage CleanTeach startup is Carbon Block, who is on a mission to generate the highest quality carbon offsets available in the world. Currently, they are working on two large initiatives. The first initiative is a two part project with a company based out of the Netherlands working in Malawi. The goal is to install a million cook stoves in Malawi over the next seven years, generating about 16 million carbon offsets over the next eight years. The second part of this project is planting trees in Malawi, which will increase ground cover to reduce overland flooding, increase air quality, and reforestation.

Other News and Events

Cultivate: Sustainability Conference and Trade Show

Presented by Food & Beverage Manitoba
September 7, 2022
Early bird ticket price: $60 (Member) Early bird ticket price: $99 (Non-member)

Join us for the inaugural CULTIVATE Sustainability Conference and Trade Show for a day of knowledge sharing and engagement with industry thought leaders and innovators in sustainability, packaging, technology, automation, supply chain logistics, and more.

Click here to view the agenda and speaker bios

Whether you want to learn about the latest technology to reduce your electricity and water usage, or you are curious how changing regulations will impact your bottom line, Cultivate is the place to learn, engage and act upon the incredible opportunities that await within the green economy. For more information on sponsorships, trade show booths and attendance contact: Karina Shaw, 204-982-6375, [email protected]

Net-Zero Opportunities: A Province-by-Province Comparison

Canadian Climate Institute launched new research Net-Zero Opportunities: A province by province comparison. The research is a continuation from their fall report Sink or Swim: Transforming Canada’s economy for a global low-carbon future, which assessed Canada’s economic prospects in response to the global low-carbon transition and offered recommendations for successfully navigating that transition.

The latest research includes seven individual provincial/regional profiles, with detailed information on the risks and opportunities in the global low-carbon transition, along with a national summary piece. The latter includes a set of three performance metrics that compare company-level activity within each province, measuring the extent to which new transition-opportunity companies are being created and attracting investment, along with a set of five policy actions for provincial and federal governments.

Government of Canada Seeks Public Consultation on the Federal Sustainable Development Act

This draft strategy is only the first step toward establishing the Government of Canada’s environmental sustainability plan for the next 4 years. Your suggestions, thoughts and priorities are needed to develop the final version. Comments on the draft strategy will be accepted until July 9, 2022.

The Government of Canada will review all input and take it into account when developing the final version of the strategy. The final strategy will also reflect new and evolving Government of Canada priorities. To learn more and provide feedback, click here. The draft can be read here.

Canadian Ecotoxicity Workshop

October 2 – 5, 2022
Fort Garry Hotel
Abstract submission is open until July 7^th.

Abstract submission is open for the 48^th Annual Canadian Ecotoxicity Workshop (CEW), which will be held in person and streamed virtually at the historic Fort Garry Hotel in Winnipeg from October 2 to 5, 2022. The hybrid format of CEW will support both in-person and virtual presentations and posters.

The CEW website (www.ecotoxcan.ca) is also a useful resource if you require more information about the organization.

Canada-Manitoba Job Grant Intake Now Open

The Canada–Manitoba Job Grant provides funding to address an employer’s workforce training needs. Employers can apply for up to $10,000 per employee, with an overall maximum of $100,000. Employers with 100 or fewer employees can receive 75 per cent of eligible training costs and employers with more than 100 employees can receive 50 per cent of eligible training costs. To qualify, the training must be delivered by a third-party trainer.
Eligible training costs include:

tuition fees;
mandatory student fees;
textbooks, software and other required materials;
exam fees; and
travel costs for the training of individuals in northern and remote communities.

Click here for details

The Conservation and Climate Fund Application Intake is Now Open

In 2021, the fund supported nine Manitoba organizations and projects ranging from converting waste into useable energy products, supporting composting and advancing zero emissions and active transportation, to climate adaptation of wetlands and nutrient reduction in the Lake Winnipeg basin. The fund has been increased this year to $1.5M.

The application criteria are based on pillars and keystones of the Made-in-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan. Grants will be available for selected projects that support current priorities and align with at least one of three categories: clean technology, water, nature and resilient landscapes.

Eligible applicants include incorporated non-profit organizations, academic and educational institutions, municipalities, businesses, northern and Indigenous communities.

The application intake is now live and will close on June 17.

For information and how to apply, visit https://gov.mb.ca/grants/.

2022 Turtle Island Indigenous Science Conference

June 14-16, 2022
University of Manitoba, Fort Garry Campus
Professor/Scientist/Business Professionals/Members of Government – $300.00
Students & Post Doctoral Fellows – $100.00.

Many North Americans, including Indigenous peoples, aren’t aware of the rich Indigenous scientific legacy and the value of the application of two-eyed seeing to modern science today.

Through interactive sessions with world-renowned speakers, cross-pollination of ideas, and approaches, the conference aims to raise the profile of Indigenous STEM science. Indigenous scientific accomplishments that rivaled those of the rest of the world will be explored among other topics.