Something’s happening in Burnaby. Long recognized for its manufacturing strength and thriving film industry, the city is now rapidly emerging as one of Canada’s most important clean energy leaders. Hydrogen innovations, carbon capture breakthroughs, and next-generation battery technology — you name it — are being developed here.
Tucked between Vancouver’s skyline and the Fraser Valley, Burnaby’s blend of industrial land, post-secondary institutions, and fast-growing cleantech companies makes it a natural launchpad for sustainable innovation.
The question now is: how do we harness it?
That’s what’s driving the Burnaby Board of Trade’s Clean Energy Summit, presented in partnership with the City of Burnaby, Simon Fraser University and Tourism Burnaby, returning June 12th at the Delta Hotel & Conference Centre. Now in its third year, the summit has evolved from a half-day panel event into a full-day forum for cross-sector collaboration, expanding into a multi-day experience next February. It’s a space for scaling clean energy solutions, advancing real progress, and bringing diverse voices to the table.
“We’ve designed the summit to be more than a one-way conversation,” says Angie Whitfield, CEO of the Burnaby Board of Trade. “It’s a place where industry, government, researchers, and the public can exchange ideas and make meaningful connections that drive change.”
The 2025 edition will feature three moderated panels, each tackling a key challenge or opportunity in the clean energy space, from navigating today’s polycrisis to cross-border energy planning and the role of B.C.’s innovation ecosystem. A keynote from FortisBC will help shape the day’s dialogue, offering insight from one of B.C.’s most influential energy leaders.
But the real energy, Whitfield says, comes from the people in the room.
Attendees will include clean tech entrepreneurs, policymakers, academic researchers, engineers, business leaders, and community organizers, many of whom don’t often end up at the same table.
“That mix is intentional,” says Whitfield. “We need public-private partnerships. We need dialogue across industries. And we need a space where big ideas can collide and spark action.”
It’s no coincidence that Burnaby is hosting it. The city is home to a dense ecosystem of clean energy leaders, including companies such as Svante, Ballard Power, HTEC, Ekona Power, Nano One, and Ready Solar, as well as researchers and students from BCIT and SFU who are deeply engaged in sustainability and applied sciences.
“There’s a kind of quiet leadership coming out of Burnaby,” Whitfield adds. “Our local companies are building global solutions, but we don’t always have the time to connect, share, or collaborate.”
That’s what the summit aims to change.
“This event is focused on sparking meaningful conversations, sharing knowledge, and building connections that inspire real progress,” Whitfield emphasizes. “It’s about coming together and leaving feeling connected to something bigger.”
In a world where climate conversations can often feel abstract or polarized, the summit offers something different: a grounded, hopeful space to connect, learn, and take part in the clean energy transition.
“We all have a role to play,” Whitfield says. “Whether you’re in tech, logistics, policy, or education, this isn’t someone else’s challenge. It’s ours.”
And it turns out, the solutions start in Burnaby.
To be part of the conversation and help shape the future, learn more and register for the Clean Energy Summit at Burnaby Board of Trade. Use code VTJ10 for 10% off your ticket.