The inaugural cohort of the Bringing It Home Project Accelerator program will gather next week (Feb. 4 – 9) to complete their training and celebrate the energy efficiency projects they now lead in their communities.
by Indigenous Clean Energy
OTTAWA, ON, January 31, 2024 – Program participants from 16 Indigenous communities across Canada will come together in Wakefield, QC, for the Project Accelerator program’s second and final on-site intensive training session.
The Bringing It Home Project Accelerator is a ground-breaking initiative, making a pioneering effort to address housing challenges for Indigenous people through large-scale community-led projects. The program leverages energy efficiency as a powerful tool to promote healthier living conditions, reduce energy costs, and produce more resilient housing options for communities overall.
Corey Cote-Diabo, a member of Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation and the Bringing It Home Program Manager, emphasizes the program’s unique and vital role by stating:
“This is a first for Indigenous communities in Canada. For the first time, Indigenous Stewards are being brought together from across the country to receive capacity-building training and project development support to take energy-efficient housing projects forward. These projects are ambitious, with many looking to pursue large-scale deep energy retrofits and high building standards in their communities. There is major potential to make vital improvements to the health, durability, and sustainability of community homes and alleviate key issues such as energy poverty and GHG emissions. Through collaboration and knowledge sharing, we’re working together to change the approach to housing now and for future generations.”
From February 4 to 9, Project Stewards (program participants) will dive deep into energy efficiency project development and participate in hands-on learning activities. It promises to be an intensive week filled with invaluable insights from Indigenous and industry mentors and leaders, enabling healthier, more sustainable, affordable, and resilient housing infrastructure through energy efficiency.
The training will conclude with an engaging networking reception, allowing attendees to connect with the entire cohort, learn about Indigenous-led energy efficiency projects, and engage with clean energy and housing experts.
When asked what further support these projects will need for successful completion and to ensure long-term change, Corey says:
“The unfortunate reality is that many Indigenous homes in Canada are unhealthy, unsafe, and energy inefficient. This is unacceptable and must change. This group of Indigenous leaders has come together because they are ready to take action. They have gone through intensive training and are now developing their projects. To implement these projects, they will need new avenues for funding and financing. Conversations with governments and economic partners need to start now because they are essential to reconciliation in Canada and enabling the homes our people deserve.”
The inaugural cohort reception will take place on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at 6 p.m., at the Wakefield Mill Hotel & Spa.
For more information about the Bringing It Home Project Accelerator program, visit https://indigenouscleanenergy.com/our-programs/bringing-it-home/project-accelerator/.
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