Ten Peaks Innovation Alliance adds forestry to roster for 2024 energy conversation
RED DEER, AB – In October 2024, hundreds of high school students will Grow Forward Together.
That's because they will attend the fourth annual Ten Peaks Innovation Alliance (www.10peaks.ca) conference to learn more about Alberta's energy and forestry sectors -- and how those key pillars of the provincial economy are increasingly collaborating.
Their key focus will be on the impact clean technology will have on the future of their personal and professional lives -- and how cleantech will help them positively impact the environment and the economy at an individual level, noted Ten Peaks founder Dagmar Knutson.
"At Ten Peaks we're encouraged by the progress these sectors are making on very important energy transformation fronts...we hope that the way we engage with, and inspire, the students will help provide the human capital needed to carry the change momentum forward, all the while making the right environmental impact decisions.”
The 2024 theme – Growing Forward Together: Cleantech and Your Carbon Footprint – is a natural progression from the successful 2023 edition just recently wrapped up at Red Deer Polytechnic. Nearly 500 students and their teachers, supported by an impressive range of speakers, panelists, and sponsors converged on RDP for a dynamic day of learning, teaching and idea exchanging. Hundreds more students joined online.
The conference’s energy was palpable.
"This year, we added a strong agriculture-energy interface and talked to students and teachers about the ways in which the two sectors are interacting in very cool ways," noted Knutson. "Everyone left excited about where Alberta is headed and the terrific opportunities on the horizon. It’s understanding those opportunities that will help our students decide on the various paths they want to choose after high school. "
During the recent conference, students heard from speakers like Candice Paton, of Enhance Energy, whose inspiring opening keynote described a future in which carbon capture and storage technologies will positively impact Alberta's emissions-reductions aspirations. Paton's key message was about the need for talented and passionate women and men to help carry the technology into the future.
Over the course of the day, students were able to select from a broad range of breakouts and presentations, that while all fascinating in their individual focus, created a broad and integrated tapestry of opportunities, said Knutson.
Since its inception, Ten Peaks has become favorite for students and educators. It also attracted key sponsors and partners like Cenovus, the Canadian Association of Energy Contractors (CAOEC), Canadian Natural, Red Deer Polytechnic, and Emissions Reduction Alberta, noted Knutson.
“It’s the companies and organizations who share the same visions we do at Ten Peaks that make all this possible. Without their help and guidance, we wouldn’t be able to pull together such a powerful conference.
The 2024 conference will see the formal inclusion of the province’s forestry sector, with the support of the Alberta Forestry Products Association, noted board director Bill Whitelaw.
“As we grow and evolve Ten Peaks, and add more dimensions beyond the conference, case competitions, summer camps and our learning library, getting the support of other key sectors will be critical. Forestry, in all its dimensions, is an integral part of how the Alberta economy works and we’re excited to offer program choices around that aspect of our collective cleantech future.”
Added Whitelaw: “We’re very excited about the 2024 program and the opportunity to link all our great cleantech advances to the ways tomorrow’s energy and forestry leaders will build a great economy – and a great environment.”
For more information about Ten Peaks Innovation Alliance and sponsorship and attendance opportunities, please contact Dagmar Knutson at Dagmar@10peaks.ca