OSEA: Community Power Awards

Community Power Awards 2009

Left to right: Kristopher Stevens Executive Director OSEA, MPP Toronto Centre, George Smitherman

George Smitherman - Community Power Leader Award

George Smitherman was appointed Minister of Energy and Infrastructure in June 2008 and is responsible for championing the Green Energy and Green Economy Act. Since his first official speaking engagement as the minister at the World Wind Energy Conference hosted in 2008 by OSEA, Mr. Smitherman has worked tirelessly to make conservation and renewable energy Ontario’s priority. It was at the World Wind Energy Conference that he was inspired to seek out the best practices in leading jurisdictions around the world to create a made-in-Ontario solution to climate change and the province's persistent smog.

Left to right: Dr. Dean Jacobs, Kristopher Stevens, Michael Fox

Michael Fox, Consultant - Aboriginal Community Power Award

Michael Fox is a founding director of the First Nation Energy Alliance. He has acted as one of key liaison between First Nations' project proponents and governmental agencies, as well as facilitated capacity building initiatives. He is also the president of Fox High Impact Consulting, a national firm that specializes in Aboriginal processes, participation, and partnership development in the energy and mineral sectors. He has a wealth of experience in structuring projects, partnerships, and financing from early stage engagement through later stage formal consultation.

Left to right: Stefan Gsaenger, Ken Traynor, Kristopher Stevens

Ken Traynor - Urban Community Power Award

Ken Traynor joined the Toronto Renewable Energy Cooperative after working for years as an environmental analyst with the Canadian Environmental Law Association. He has had a long time engagement with solar energy from solar ovens and hot water systems in southern Africa through the design and building of a solar powered, energy efficient off-grid house in Ontario and most recently, community solar work with the West Toronto Initiative for Solar Energy and the development of Our Power, the Community Solar Program of TREC. Ken active in the Toronto Solar Roundtable and is a member of the Canadian Solar Industry Association.

Left to right: Ayesha Sabouba, Paul Norris, Kristopher Stevens

Paul Norris - Rural Community Power Award

Paul Norris is the founding president of the Ontario Waterpower Association, a non-government organization established in 2001 to represent the collective interests of the province’s waterpower industry. Paul joined the OWA following a career with the Ontario public service that included senior policy and management positions in public lands, water resources, fisheries, wildlife and communications. He sat on the province’s Electricity Conservation and Supply Task Force, is on the board of The Ontario Environmental Industries Association and serves as an editor to the Hydro Review advisory board.