Canadians in Energy Sector Participate in Renewable Energy IVLP

Four Canadians working in the energy field will visit Washington, D.C. and other U.S. cities from February 24 to March 5 as participants in an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on Renewable Energy in the U.S. The program is organized by the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

The goal of the program is to explore how U.S. governmental institutions plan ahead and foresee the future of renewable energy in America; highlight U.S. innovation; discuss how green energy could impact the future; examine how to organize workshops to understand how municipal governments are working with the local population, media and civil society to promote awareness and use of renewable energy; meet entrepreneurs who use green energy to build new products and power their facilities; coordinate group meetings with U.S. environmental NGOs and discuss how NGOs are advocating on behalf of renewable energy with the government and the public.

Participants in this program are:

  • Andrew Stewart (Yellowknife) – Manager, Business Development with the Northwest Territories Hydro Corporation
  • Colleen Giroux (Vancouver) – Director, Regulatory Affairs, Innergex Renewable Energy Inc
  • Morvan Le Borgne (Montreal) – Corporate Identity Consultant
  • Kathrine Hering (Toronto) – Senior Policy Advisor, Ontario Ministry of Energy

The IVLP enables Canadians who are emerging leaders in their professional field to observe U.S. institutions and culture first-hand, and to meet with professional counterparts to explore issues of common interest. Through this program approximately 40 Canadians a year benefit from three-week study tours, as guests of the United States. Founded in 1940, the IVLP has given hundreds of thousands of emerging leaders — including hundreds of Canadians — the opportunity to observe and interact with American culture and society on a personal level. For more information, visit eca.state.gov/ivlp.

Participants are available for interviews before and after the program upon request.

Media Contact:
Jennifer Young
Media Assistant
U.S. Embassy Ottawa
Tel: 613-688-5315
Email: youngjm1@state.gov