Our 20/20 Catalysts family has deep roots.
Every year 20 new exceptional Catalysts from Indigenous communities across Canada join the program and become part of our growing family of Indigenous clean energy leaders.
Vince has worked the last 20 years on Vancouver and Vancouver Island, and spent approximately half with a furniture company and half with wood mills. He made his way home (Bella Coola) and started as a labourer for his community, which has led to his current position as Clean Energy Coordinator.
Vanessa Frank is from the Blood Indian Reserve in Southern Alberta. Her education was obtained at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology in the Petroleum Land Administration and Business Administration. Vanessa’s primary work experience has been with the oil and gas industry working in different areas of surface land, and as the Supervisor for Surface Land with Indian Oil and Gas Canada. She is currently employed as the Surface Land Administrator for Kainaiwa Resources Inc. Vanessa is responsible for overseeing all O&G surface activity for the Blood Tribe. As industry evolves so has the Blood Tribe’s focus on delivering alternative energy-based projects for our community.
Tony is the Consultation Director for Heart Lake First Nation, holding the position for four and a half years. His role consists of the development of mutually beneficial relationships with oil and gas, forestry, power and multiple other operations; addressing and mitigating impacts on Heart Lake First Nations traditional lands, specifically around environment, community investment and identifying economic development opportunities. Ultimately to achieve long-term sustainability.
He is currently a MBA candidate at the Australian Institute of Business and is completing Project Management at NAIT. He has also obtained a CAD Technician for Architectural Design Certification. Tony has worked as a Mechanical Engineering Designer on many prolific projects in and around Edmonton, AB and recently received the certificate of Indigenous Leadership / Governance and Management Excellence.
Tanya Johnson-MacVicar is employed by the Kwilmu’kw Maw-klusuaqn Negotiation Office Mi’kmaq Rights Initiative (KMKNO) as the Mi’kmaq Community Liaison. Born and raised in Potlotek First Nation; she is the granddaughter of Valerian (Smokey) and Cecelia Marshall. Tanya graduated from NSCC with an Aboriginal Court Worker Diploma, as well as received her Hospitality and Communications Diploma from Compu College.
Tanya has worked with many Mi’kmaq First Nation organizations such as Mi’kmaq Legal Support Network as an Aboriginal Court Worker, Confederacy of Mainland Mi’kmaq and The Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs for over 17 years. She has collaborated with KKMNO for the past four years working on files for culture and heritage as well as emergency preparedness.
For the past two years Tanya has been working alongside the Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw communities on hydro projects that need replacement, refurbishment or decommissioning. Some of these hydro projects include; Gulch Spillway Refurbishment, Lequille Main Dam Refurbishment, Tusket Main Dam Refurbishment and Gaspereau Lake Reservoir.
She currently resides in Sydney, Nova Scotia with her son, Carter, and husband, Carl.
Samuel is an established entrepreneur and an experienced Executive in First Nation Governance. From 2016 to 2018, Samuel co-chaired the Indigenous Energy Technical Working Group (IETWG) with the ADM Indigenous Relations of Alberta. The IETWG was created to explore Indigenous participation in the growing renewable energy industry. The group resulted from the NDP Government of Alberta’s move towards 30% renewable energy by 2030 and a commitment to foster a greater socio-economic capacity for First Nations in Alberta.
From 2014 to 2020, Samuel served as CEO of the Neyaskweyahk Group of Companies Inc. (NGCI), the Corporate Division of the Ermineskin Cree Nation. He worked closely with his corporate team implementing the Board and Chief and Council’s business development strategy meant to generate revenues, create employment, revitalize the business core, and invest in capacity development. A highlight from that experience was the project managing a 1MW distributed generation Solar Array.
In 2021 Samuel incorporated Elements Firetack Inc. to support Alberta Wildfire Suppression efforts.
Elements Firetack Inc. provides Firetack crews to battle out of control wildfires in Alberta. Samuel strongly advocates for the Inherent and Treaty Rights and is happy to provide advisory services to the ICE Network. He is an advocate for stronger environmental policies and Indigenous clean energy projects.