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Creating sustainable trades opportunities

KPU Tech to host talk on renewable energy future for Canadian trades
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The sustainable trades talk is open to any interested students

The Kwantlen Student Association invites students, tradespeople and interested community members to a talk on sustainable futures in trades jobs.

The event will take place on Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Tech campus in Cloverdale on Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Attendees will learn about the movement of tradespeople who are lobbying for economic policy in Canada that invests in renewable energy and creates long-term, sustainable trades jobs.

The talk is part of an annual event hosted on KPU campuses. In the past, they have invited David Suzuki to speak, as well as the Richmond Food Security Society. This year, they invited Lliam Hildebrand, Director of Iron & Earth, to talk about opportunities for tradespeople to participate in a future of renewable energy for Canada.

Lliam Hildebrand is a boilermaker who is organizing trade workers to push for this transition. He helps lead the Iron & Earth intitative, started by oil sands workers to “catalyze growth in the renewable energy industry” and incorporate renewable energy projects into a variety of trades.

Iron & Earth was created in the spring of 2015, when oil prices had started to fall, tradespeople began to lose work and conversations started about needing to diversify Canada’s energy grid.

According to the Iron & Earth website, the organization was founded as a platform to engage in development issues surrounding renewable energy and to empower advocates for a future of sustainable energy.

Membership includes workers from a range of industrial trades, including boilermakers, electricians, pipe fitters, ironworkers and labourers.

KPU Alumni Michael Morris will also attend to speak about his work as Director of Business Operations for Tailwind Energy Group, which provides energy audits and options for sustainable development.

For more, visit: facebook.com/KSAcouncil or email sustainability@kusa.ca.