2023 First Nations Energy Symposium

The seventh annual First Nations Energy Symposium (FNES) is taking place on November 6-7, 2023 at the Chelsea Hotel in Toronto, Ontario.

This two-day Symposium will move beyond community energy planning and implementation to focus on building community capacity through partnerships, as we explore opportunities for future collaboration with the IESO, Government and Industry.

As with previous Symposia, the IESO looks forward to gathering with representatives from First Nation communities and organizations across Ontario to build energy capacity to discuss the following topics:

Innovative partnerships, trends in the energy industry, and how Indigenous Nations are building energy resiliency
Indigenous Energy Support Programs
The Powering Ontario’s Growth Report
Advancing economic reconciliation with Indigenous communities
Community Energy Champion panel discussion

The 2023 Symposium will be a great opportunity for communities to ask energy-related questions, share experiences and learn from other attendees. We hope you can join us.

For information on registration, or if you have any questions, please contact us at IndigenousRelations@ieso.ca.

Download the Digital Program Speaker Biographies

Monday, November 6, 2023

Time	Agenda Item
8:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.	Registration and Breakfast Location: Churchill Ballroom
9:15 a.m. – 10:05 a.m.	Kahnekahnekahtahk Stan Wesley \| Welcome Remarks and Opening Ceremony Location: Churchill Ballroom Welcome Song: Drum Group and Dancers Presenter: Elder Gary Sault, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation
10:05 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.	Welcome Remarks and Introduction of Keynote Speaker Location: Churchill Ballroom Presenter: Lesley Gallinger, President and CEO, IESO
10:15 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.	Keynote Speaker (with Q & A session) Location: Churchill Ballroom Presenter: Ontario Regional Chief Glen Hare
10:50 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.	Thank you Remarks to Keynote Speaker Location: Churchill Ballroom Presenter: Fiona Blondin, Board Member, IESO
11:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.	Break
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	Concurrent Breakout Sessions Session 1: IESO Engagement Framework (with Q & A session) Location: Mountbatten B Presenter: Denise Jamal, Director, Stakeholder and Community Engagement, IESO Presenter: Sonia Fazari, Supervisor, Indigenous Engagement, IESO Session 2: IESO Indigenous Energy Support Program (with Q & A session) Location: Mountbatten A Presenter: Diana Macanowicz, Funds Advisor, Indigenous Relations, IESO Presenter: Saeed Mohamed, Funds Program Analyst, Indigenous Relations, IESO
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.	Lunch Location: Exhibitor Hall
1:30 p.m. – 2:35 p.m.	Panel Discussion: The Power of Partnerships – Empowering Communities (with Q & A session) Location: Churchill Ballroom Moderator: Kahnekahnekahtahk Stan Wesley Presenter: Chief Mary Duckworth, Caldwell First Nation Presenter: Annette Verschuren, Chair and CEO, NRstor (Oneida Energy Storage Project)
2:35 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.	Break
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Panel Discussion: Powering Ontario’s Growth – The Key to Accelerating Decarbonization and Energy Transition (with Q & A session) Location: Churchill Ballroom Moderator: Katherine Sparkes, Director, Innovation, Research and Development, IESO Presenter: Pat Chilton, CEO, First Nations Energy Presenter: Matt Jamieson, President and CEO, Six Nations Development Corporation Presenter: Gail Lawlor, Conservation on the Coast President, Energy Matters
4:00 p.m. – 4:10 p.m.	Closing Remarks Location: Churchill Ballroom Presenter: Denise Jamal, Director, Stakeholder and Community Engagement, IESO
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.	Evening Social Event Location: BB33 (On-site at the Chelsea Hotel)

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Time	Agenda Item
8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.	Registration and Breakfast Location: Exhibitor Hall
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.	Kahnekahnekahtahk Stan Wesley \| Welcome Remarks and Introduction of Keynote Speaker Location: Churchill Ballroom Presenter: Carla Y. Nell, Vice President, Corporate Relations, Stakeholder Engagement and Innovation, IESO Presenter: The Honourable Todd Smith, Minister of Energy
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.	Keynote Speaker (with Q & A session) Location: Churchill Ballroom Presenter: Christine Goulais, CEO, Nbisiing Power
10:30 a.m. – 10:35 a.m.	Thank you Remarks to Keynote Speaker Location: Churchill Ballroom Presenter: Carla Y. Nell, Vice President, Corporate Relations, Stakeholder Engagement and Innovation, IESO
10:35 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.	Advancing Economic Reconciliation with Indigenous Communities Location: Churchill Ballroom Presenter: Emily Whetung-MacInnes, Director, Indigenous Partnerships, Ontario Power Generation Presenter: Jennifer Tidmarsh, Vice President, Indigenous Relations and Partnerships, Ontario Power Generation
10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.	Break Location: Exhibitor Hall
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.	Panel Discussion: Meet the Community Energy Champions Location: Churchill Ballroom Moderator: Saeed Mohamed, Funds Program Analyst, Indigenous Relations, IESO Presenter: Gina Simon, Michipicoten First Nation, Community Energy Champion Presenter: Susan Sullivan, Caldwell First Nation, Community Energy Champion Presenter: Jordan Beardy, Independent First Nations Alliance, Community Energy Champion
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.	Lunch Location: Exhibitor Hall
1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.	Concurrent Breakout Sessions Session 1: IESO Engagement Framework (with Q & A session) Location: Mountbatten B Presenter: Denise Jamal, Director, Stakeholder and Community Engagement, IESO Presenter: Sonia Fazari, Supervisor, Indigenous Engagement, IESO Session 2: IESO Indigenous Energy Support Program (with Q & A session) Location: Mountbatten A Presenter: Diana Macanowicz, Funds Advisor, Indigenous Relations, IESO Presenter: Saeed Mohamed, Funds Program Analyst, Indigenous Relations, IESO
2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.	Break
2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.	The Key to Developing Sustainable Energy Projects Location: Churchill Ballroom Presenter: Matt Jackson, Director, Indigenous Relations, Hydro One
3:05 p.m. – 3:40 p.m.	Panel Discussion: Community Project Success Stories - Sharing Best Practices Location: Churchill Ballroom Moderator: Kahnekahnekahtahk Stan Wesley Presenter: Cindy Roks, Demand Side Management, IESO Presenter: Dawn Lambe, Anishinabek Nation Presenter: Danielle Bekintis, Sandy Lake First Nation Presenter: Rashaun Harper, Sandy Lake First Nation
3:45 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.	Closing Remarks Location: Churchill Ballroom Presenter: Sonia Fazari, Supervisor, Indigenous Engagement, IESO
3:50 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Ceremonial Closing Location: Churchill Ballroom Presenter: Elder Dorothy Peters, Seine River First Nation Travelling Song: Drum Group

Previous Events

2022 First Nations Energy Symposium 2021 First Nations Energy Symposium 2020 First Nations Energy Workshop 2019 First Nations Energy Symposium 2018 First Nations Energy Symposium 2017 Symposium Overview

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