Energy Efficiency Mentorship

Take a Look at the 2024/2025 Energy Efficiency Mentorship Program!

A new cohort of 20 Indigenous participants joined the Energy Efficiency Mentorship Program (EEMP) for the 2024-2025 session.

Through both training and  mentorship, the program welcomed 8 Indigenous building specialists who wish to extend their skills and another 12 participants who are newer to the housing field and seeking a firm grounding. Bonus! As part of the program, participants also help deliver Energy Efficiency 101 Workshops in communities.

Overview of EEMP

EEMP program participants attended a three-day workshop at BCIT in October 2023 following a series of virtual training sessions. A new set of session is now underway for the 2024 cohort. Photo: Darell Gaddie, FBC

After completing an online and in-person training program, the participating trainees go on to deliver introductory workshops about energy efficiency solutions and practices, for both new construction and existing homes, to First Nations communities in their regions. For this part of the program, each trainee is paired up with an Indigenous building professional (mentor). Together, they co-deliver two in-person community workshops on energy efficiency, tailored to the climate and other needs of their region.

Housing consultant Richard Hall of Nuxalk Nation are offering the Energy Efficiency Mentorship Program at no cost, in partnership with the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) and the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).

EEMP Program Commitments

Both the peer group o experienced trainees and the entry-level trainees have attended 6 virtual Zoom training sessions: October 2024 to March, 2025.

The peer group of experienced trainees also:

  • shadow and assist an Indigenous Professional from the previous EEMP cohort with delivering one to two in-community workshops within their regions: October 2024 to March 2025
  • attend a three-day in-person workshop at BCIT: April 2025
  • deliver two in-community workshops within their regions, paired up with a newly trained Indigenous Building Professional: April 2025 – June 2026

Program participants take part in the program at no cost, thanks to EEMP program funders.

Training Program

The EEMP training program includes six online training sessions and a three-day in-person workshop, instructed by BCIT, AHMA and Richard Hall.

The EEMP online training sessions (for both experienced and entry-level participants) cover:

  • Introduction to Zero Energy Buildings
  • Resilient and Affordable Building Design
  • House As a System
  • Managing Renovations (Retrofits 101)

Trainers with 2023 EEMP program participants at BCIT workshop session. Photo: BCIT

The BCIT in-person workshop (for experienced trainees) covers:

  • Zero Energy Buildings
  • Building Condition Assessments
  • Final Preparation for In-Community Training and “Energy Efficiency 101” training material

Schedule of Sessions (2024-2025)

  • Intro to Energy Efficiency in First Nations Communities
    October 24, 2024 (1:00 – 4:00 pm)

  • House-as-a-System & Building Science
    November 7, 2024 (1:00 – 4:00 pm)

  • Resilient and Affordable Building Design
    December 12, 2024 (1:00 – 4:00 pm)

  • ZEB Building Enclosures (+ Embodied Carbon)
    January 9, 2025 (1:00 – 4:00 pm)

  • Mechanical and Passive Strategies to Heating, Cooling and Ventilation
    February 6, 2025 (1:00 – 4:00 pm)

  • Managing Renovations (Retrofits 101)
    March 6, 2025 (1:00 – 4:00 pm)

Delivery of Community Workshops

In addition to completing the EEMP training program, program participants  help to deliver introductory workshops about energy efficiency solutions and practices, for both new construction and existing homes, for First Nations communities in their regions. A great opportunity for program participants and communities — learn more below!

Financial Support

The Energy Efficiency Mentorship Program has been made available to approved applicants at no cost.

Experienced Trainees

An experienced trainee participating in the full program is eligible to receive the following:

  • A training allowance of $850, paid to the trainee on completion of the online and three-day in-person training program components

  • A fee of $750 to shadow and assist an Indigenous Building Professional at one to two introductory workshops
  • A fee of $1,250 to deliver each of the two introductory workshops to First Nations communities in their regions (total of $2,500)

  • Reimbursement of travel expenses, including transportation, accommodation and meals as required for the in-person training course in Vancouver, and for travel expenses related to the introductory community workshops

Entry-Level Trainees

An entry-level trainee is eligible to receive:

  • a $500 learning stipend on completion of the online training program

About Richard Hall

Richard Hall of Nuxalk Nation has 35 years of experience in Indigenous housing as a Red Seal carpenter / builder, a capital project and housing manager, a housing consultant and a building inspector.

Richard is now designing affordable, sustainable and energy-efficient homes that complement the varying climate of British Columbia’s west coast and that suit the cultural lifestyles of First Peoples.

For More Information

If you have any questions on the EEMP program, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Darell Gaddie

MBA, Program Lead

Energy Efficiency 101 Workshops

Community workshops on energy efficiency are very popular — and delivered to communities at no cost. All late 2024 / early 2025 are booked, but communities can check back to see if new spots are added in 2025.

Workshops are designed for community staff members, including housing staff, asset managers and maintenance crews. Other interested community members can also be encouraged to attend.

The EEMP program offers financial support of $1,000 to a community to assist with the cost of putting on the workshop, including venue hire and catering. Additional funding support is available for local Elders to open in a good way ($250) and for a local photographer ($175).

An “Energy Efficiency 101” community workshop at Lake Babine Nation in 2024.

Words of Appreciation for Community Workshops!

“I highly enjoyed this workshop would recommend it to all First Nations Housing departments. A very excellent workshop and an extremely knowledgeable speaker!”

“The workshop presentation was great and covered useful information.”

“Useful information that was easy to understand and good visuals. Would highly recommend to staff and communities.”

— Community Workshop Participants

For workshop inquiries, contact:

Darell Gaddie

MBA, Program Lead

Program Funders

Thanks to program funders Vancity, BC Hydro and FortisBC. Thanks also to CleanBC, the Aboriginal Housing Management Association and the BC Institute of Technology for their in-kind support.

Top banner image: Energy Efficiency 101 is a community workshop offered through the EEMP program, this one hosted at Skway First Nation near Chilliwack in October 2023. Photo: Braidey Sturgeon