Communications Projects

In 2020 CEA collaborated with All One Sky Foundation and FlipSide Sustainability, to support the City of Vernon to create their Climate Action Plan.  This is currently undergoing additional public engagement prior to likely adoption in 2021.

It's one of the first Plans in B.C. to combine mitigation and adaptation actions, taking the opportunity to integrate these into feasible low-carbon resilience strategies. The Plan is unique in its final design, in that it is written for the public, and specifically identifies the responsibilities of individuals and businesses and other community partners to successfully implement the Plan.

The Plan asks every person and every organization in Vernon to play their part by committing to at least one action per year.

When the BC Energy Step Code was introduced in 2017, CEA addressed an identified knowledge gap in the East Kootenay region of BC by developing the ‘Building a Legacy’ program. Responding to feedback from key industry stakeholders, the program has supported the transition of the East Kootenay building industry to implement the BC Energy Step Code (ESC) and the performance pathway approach to achieving Building Code standards.

Building a Legacy (BAL) includes a number of hands-on training opportunities that combine peer learning with leading edge building science education.  We have delivered training for diverse audiences, including builders, architects, designers, sub-trades, real estate professionals, building officials and members of the public. In addition, local knowledge has been leveraged and amplified through a video series and an introduction to BC Energy Step Code video.

For updated information on the status of BC Energy Step Code implementation for new construction in East Kootenay, go to the East Kootenay Energy Step Code overview webpage. Viewers can be informed as to what each municipality is requiring, their timelines, incentives, and contacts.

CEA also developed the BAL Toolkit - an online resource inspired by the East Kootenay initiative. The BAL Toolkit was prepared for local governments to assist the implementation of the BC Energy Step Code. The online resource, linked below, includes a guidebook containing a general introduction to ESC, related Provincial and local government context, and a collection of implementation activities for use by municipalities.

The Peaks To Prairies EV Charging Network facilitates travel to and within the beautiful region of Southern Alberta with fast charging and Level 2 stations from Canmore to Medicine Hat, south to Waterton and to the Crowsnest Pass... with many stops along the way!

The rural and dispersed nature of Southern Alberta communities demands solutions that are innovative, collaborative and reflective of the local challenges and opportunities.

This is why, in 2016, regional economic development organizations, Southgrow Regional Initiative and Alberta Southwest Regional Alliance, approached CEA to discuss the opportunity of developing an EV charging network in their region, similar to Accelerate Kootenays. With strategic siting and regional collaboration, such a network could bolster local economies, connect Southern Alberta to surrounding jurisdictions and highlight the growing renewable energy sector in the region.  The City of Calgary, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat, as well as Medicine Hat College joined the collaboration to form the Peaks to Prairies partnership. 

CEA facilitated the project from ideation through to project managing the installations on behalf of the advisory committee. In addition to sourcing and ultimately successfully securing funding to create the network, our staff, led by Project Manager, Megan Lohmann, also facilitated the RFP process to find an owner/operator partner and managed contracting.