Pic River’s Byron Leclair Nominated for Community Power Award
2010 Community Power Award nominee, Byron LeClair, Director of Energy, Ojibways of the Pic River First Nation
Community Power Awards nominees announcedThe Ontario Sustainable Energy Association (OSEA) has announced the Community Power Award nominees for 2010 and Pic River’s Director of Energy, Byron LeClair is among those nominated for the pretisious award. The Community Power Award is presented to individuals and/or organizations, whose work has contributed significantly to the Community Power movement. Gord Miller, the Environmental Commissioner of Ontario will open the evening with a keynote presentation at the Community Power Awards Banquet at the Community Power Conference at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, November 15, 2010.
The Community Power Conference is Ontario’s largest annual gathering of Community Power proponents, producers and supporters. Together with the Power Networking Centre trade show, the conference attracts industry regulators, commercial and community power generators, farmers and First Nation and Métis delegations.
“I am of course very honoured to be recognized among those nominated for the 2010 Community Power Awards” said Byron LeClair, Director of Energy for the Ojibways of the Pic River First Nation “I believe this is also recognition of the work done over the past 20 years by Pic River First Nation – efforts blazing the trail in regards to Aboriginal ownership of energy projects like the Umbata Falls Hydroelectric facility”. Leclair was clearly moved by the nomination. While speaking with LeClair, he shared with OntarioNewsNorth.com his enthusiasm in regards to seeing 37 First Nations participating in the latest round of renewable energy projects, further sharing that he would hope many would see Pic River First Nations’ approach to renewable energy projects as an example of how successful outcomes are attainable. (Read about the Umbata Falls Hydroelectric Project which Byron Leclair, Director of Energy Projects for the Ojibways of the Pic River First Nation was integral in developing, CLICK HERE).
The conference offers two full days of meeting and learning from Community Power experts, while the trade show displays the latest innovations in power generation technologies and services.
Leclair was integral in the establishment of the Umbata Falls Hydroelectric facility which officially openend in September of 2010.
Community Power Awards nominees for 2010.
- William Big Bull, Walpole Island First Nation and Piikani First Nation
- Byron LeClaire, Pic River First Nation
- Roger Peltier, Wikwemikong Unceded Nation
- Grant Taibossgai, M’Chigeeng First Nation
2009 winner was:
- Aboriginal Community Power Award – Michael Fox,
President, Fox High Impact Consulting (Thunder Bay)
