Community Energy Association

The trusted independent advisor to local governments on climate and energy

Northern BC Climate Action Network

NorthCAN Forum 2025 was held in Prince George at the end of April and attracted more than 100 registrants for the two-day event. Highlights included a panel discussion with northern community leaders, the latest research on how climate change is affecting glaciers, tours of local industrial sites and housing developments, new technologies to plan for resilient infrastructure, and multiple opportunities for participants to share local examples and ideas on the energy transition, health, and community resiliency.

In and for the North

The Northern BC Climate Action Network (NorthCAN) serves as a hub for sharing information about local initiatives and projects, identifying opportunities to collaborate, and leveraging capacity – all to support the implementation of climate solutions in communities across Northern BC.

“The North is resilient, with talented people. We know how to do a lot of stuff. We're doing some amazing things. But nobody kind of knows about it, either broadly or locally. So, I would say that's one of the best things NorthCAN can do. And that’s exactly what they're doing.”

NorthCAN brings together individuals from local governments (staff and elected officials from municipalities and regional districts), Indigenous communities, health and education, business and industry, and NGOs. Beyond being northerners, “NorthCANers” have climate-related interest and expertise and work to implement local solutions. Through NorthCAN, they come together quarterly, usually via zoom, to learn about projects and experiences in communities around Northern BC, identify emerging topics/ideas, and build relationships.

Before it was established in April 2022, nothing like NorthCAN existed across Northern BC. Today, nearly 400 people from more than 50 communities are part of the NorthCAN community.

What Does Being a Member Entail? What Are the Benefits?

Network Objectives

“We need organization, we need communication, we need collaboration, we need to know what the heck's going on up here and everywhere, but especially up here, and that's one of the things that NorthCAN, I think, is doing really well.”

UNBC Report on NorthCAN’s Establishment – 2023

A report on NorthCAN was prepared by Dr. Sinead Earley and her student research assistant, Sarah Korn, using the April 2023 NorthCAN workshop at UNBC as well as a survey and interviews with NorthCAN participants. The report identifies four features that emerged as part of the network’s establishment:

  • The diverse sectors from across the economy that are represented by participants  
  • The acknowledgement of co-benefits associated with climate action that benefit northerners’ quality of life  
  • The aspiration of northern leadership  
  • The isolation and smallness of northern communities that pulls participants towards collaboration  

Upcoming Events:

Northeast Solar Tour
June 18-19, 2025

Interested in exploring the possibility of solar power generation in your community?

Do you wonder if solar is even viable in Northern BC given our climate and dark winters?

Solar is a viable way to achieve energy security, reduce long-term operating costs, and enhance affordability and comfort. Get the proof from these diverse examples of leadership in northeastern BC:

  • A new project to install solar at nearly every residence in West Moberly First Nation
  • A longstanding project that added solar power generation at every civic facility in Hudson’s Hope
  • A new installation at the Fort St. John Museum...and more.

This round-trip bus tour from Prince George will include an overnight in Hudson’s Hope, a “Solar 101” webinar before the tour, and opportunities to learn about the benefits that have occurred and the local barriers that were overcome to realize these projects.

There is no cost to attend for representatives of Indigenous communities and local governments but space is limited!

Interested? Notify Rob van Adrichem of the Community Energy Association ASAP but no later than May 16. rvanadrichem@communityenergy.ca

Thank you to the supporters making this program happen:

BC Hydro, Gott Energy, and Northern Development Initiative Trust

 

More Information

Rob van Adrichem (Community Energy Association), Director of External Relations and NorthCAN liaison

Katherine Pearce (Community Energy Association ), Regional Collaboration Lead

Who’s Who in the Network

Many NorthCAN participants are keen to have opportunities to connect outside of the quarterly meetings. The Who’s Who in the Network website features cards for each NorthCAN participant to provide info about themselves, the work they’re doing, and topics around which they would like to collaborate. Go to the web page anytime to create a card for yourself. 

Funding for NorthCan

NorthCAN is one of the regional networks supported by the Province of British Columbia’s Climate Action Secretariat. Initially, BC Hydro provided funding to CEA to establish NorthCAN.  

“It's easy to get bogged down in kind of a sense of hopelessness. Climate change, the transitions to clean energy, and leaving behind fossil fuels: these are huge, fundamental changes in the way we’ve been doing things for the last few 100 years. And it's easy to get bogged down and go, ‘Oh God, it's hopeless, right? We're screwed.’ I don't feel that way after a NorthCAN meeting. Every time you go to one of their meetings, most of the meeting is about what other people are doing and why they're doing it and who they are and how you can participate... I feel like there's a lot of people doing amazing things up here and then filled with hope and inspiration just by seeing and meeting these other people. We need inspiration. We need examples of what other people are doing and NorthCAN does that brilliantly.”

Previous Meetings

Resources