The Clean Energy Frontier Program and the NII team are busy finalizing details for the Clean Energy Innovation and Recovery Summit. It’s funny how November 29th just seemed to sneak up on us!
1) Since 2016, the Nuclear Economic Development and Innovation Initiative would host an annual Summit to celebrate and inform the Bruce, Grey and Huron region of the activities and outputs of the program. Guests to the Summit would include local elected officials, economic development professionals, municipal leaders, nuclear suppliers and Bruce Power leadership.
Don’t forget, the Clean Energy Frontier is an evolution of the Nuclear Economic Development and Innovation Initiative, funded by Bruce County and Bruce Power. This partnership has proven fruitful for many years!
This year, the Summit will speak to clean energy innovation and recovery. We have speakers lined up from the provincial government, local government, a speaker to represent small business and the nuclear sector, and engaging videos to share along the way.
Yes, it is a virtual event—and like many of us, I am also feeling the exhaustion of virtual events. I can’t wait to bring the Summit back in person in 2022 (Covid-19 pending... how many times have we read that line in the last two years?).
To join the virtual event, you’ll need to RSVP in advance.
2) The holiday season is quickly approaching. Last week I shared a thought on Christmas trees and consideration of GHG emissions when we buy real or artificial.
This week I’m going to tell you about the STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) gift I’ve found in a local toy store to support my kid’s learning.
When my son told me he wanted a “candy claw machine” for Christmas, I was quick to respond with “not a chance”.
Hear me out:
Candy is terrible for my kids. They are wild on sugar—not to mention I turn into the woman chasing them around the house telling them to brush their teeth.
“Claw machine” sounds like a big game in an arcade where my kids try and try and eventually win a small stuffed avocado with eyes, costing me about $11, which the dog will later destroy on the living room floor. I know how this goes.
However, I am writing today to tell you I was wrong with my assumption of a “candy claw machine” on his sweet little letter to Santa.
My son, Fisher (nine years old), is the kind of kid who will sit down and work through a puzzle; he’ll build a marble set; he’ll sort out a problem and he has the patience to build the most intricate Mechano set (yes, Mechano is still very much a thing).
So on November 4th, 10:50 am, when the Rocking Horse Toy Store in Owen Sound posted an image on Facebook of a “build your own” STEM Experiment Kit Candy Claw Machine, you better believe I called them immediately, paid over the phone and picked that Candy Claw Machine up.
No one needs another stuffed avocado with eyes in their living room. If you’re buying this holiday season for a young mind in your life, consider a STEM learning opportunity. The Rocking Horse and other local toy stores bring these gifts in so that we can build our future (and a candy claw machine!).
3) Spoiler alert: at the Summit we’ll be recognizing six local clean energy suppliers. Since 2020 we’ve seen six new suppliers move to the Bruce, Grey, Huron region to support Bruce Power and the major component replacement project.
Six new locations in the Clean Energy Frontier region creating jobs and assessment growth. This is economic development.
Jessica Linthorne is the Director of the Clean Energy Frontier.