From Spark to Strategy: How CECC Is Scaling Community Energy
A look at CECC’s journey, our impact so far, and the path we’re building for a stronger community energy future.
Community Energy Cooperative Canada (CECC) invites members, partners, and interested co-ops to a deep-dive conversation on who we are, how we got here, and where we are going next.
In this session, we’ll walk through CECC’s origins and the growing momentum of renewable energy co-ops across the country. We’ll share progress from our first years, the national initiatives now underway, and the strategic direction guiding our next phase of growth.
Participants will get an inside look at:
- CECC’s founding story and why a national co-op voice matters
- Major milestones and achievements from the past year
- What’s happening across Canada’s REC sector
- Our priorities for 2025–2027, including advocacy, capacity building, and sector research
- How members can get involved, shape the work, and benefit from CECC’s next chapter
This webinar is designed for both current CECC members and co-ops curious about joining the network.
Presenters:
Dr. Martin Boucher – CECC – Research Chair in Sustainability – NorQuest College
Dr. Martin Boucher is the Research Chair in Sustainability and leads the Community Energy Innovation Centre (CEIC) at NorQuest College. He is an applied researcher and national leader in community energy and sustainability, known for building cross-sector partnerships that turn research into real-world impact. Martin’s work focuses on energy diversification, community wealth building, and local economic development, with projects spanning Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe. He has secured over $2 million in research funding to support initiatives in energy poverty, workforce development, cooperative innovation, and community energy policy design. His PhD, conducted across Canada, the U.S., and Sweden, explored decentralized socio-technical energy transitions, examining how communities shape more democratic and sustainable energy systems. Martin is the founding president of Community Energy Cooperative Canada (CECC), a national organization advancing community-led energy initiatives. He also serves on municipal and provincial advisory committees focused on climate resilience, energy policy, and just transitions. Before NorQuest, he was a faculty member at the Johnson Shoyama Graduate School of Public Policy, University of Saskatchewan, where he led the development of the online Master of Public Administration (MPA) program and helped grow it into one of the school’s flagship offerings.
Jodi Conuel – CECC – Manager & RECEI Project Lead
Jodi Conuel is a sustainability leader and project manager with expertise in renewable energy,
climate action, and community engagement. As the former Shift Climate Transitions Program
Coordinator at the Biosphere Institute of the Bow Valley, she led the development and impact
measurement of key climate initiatives, including a community energy feasibility study that catalyzed
the creation of the Bow Valley Green Energy Cooperative (BVGEC), where she continues to serve as a
founding board member. Jodi recently joined the staff at CECC as Manager and RECEI Project Lead.
She brings firsthand experience in building a renewable energy cooperative from the ground up and
is now focused on supporting the growth and success of RECs across the country.
Josie Ward – CCSC – Project Coordinator – University of Saskatchewan
Josie Ward is a project coordinator at NorQuest College and the University of Saskatchewan, where she combines her expertise in sustainable development and renewable energy. She holds a Master of Environment and Sustainability from the University of Saskatchewan, where her research focused on leveraging renewable energy projects as tools for community development. She also holds a Master of West Nordic Studies, Governance, and Sustainable Management from the University of the Faroe Islands. Her current research involves evaluating provincial policies aimed at advancing renewable energy cooperatives, with the goal of creating policy frameworks that support sustainable, community-driven energy initiatives.
This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Fund Implementation Readiness stream
Ce projet est financé en partie par le volet Préparation à la mise en œuvre du Fonds pour une économie à faibles émissions de carbone du gouvernement du Canada.