innovation speaker series
Sparking new ideas and collaborations for climate action
Climate Reality Canada and the Canadian Environmental Network (RCEN) are excited to present the Innovation Speaker Series, a dynamic platform that showcases emergent technologies and their potential to advance climate solutions and create new opportunities.
See below for upcoming events. Sign up free today!
next event on NOV. 18
Join us on November 18 at 1pm AT / 12pm ET to learn how Paper Trail, a student-led social enterprise, is transforming discarded paper waste — such as old textbooks, novels and magazines— into eco-friendly fuel bricks. By upcycling unrecyclable materials, Paper Trail is reducing landfill waste and proving that sustainable energy solutions can start small and scale big.
PAST GUESTS
Our webinar series has featured leaders and changemakers from across Canada who are rethinking sustainability, community development and climate solutions.
Anna Borysova
Jai Joaquin
Gilian Deang
Matthew Huston
[Tech: Nerilynn Reyes]
Paper Trail
Paper Trail is an award-winning Enactus Okanagan College initiative that transforms unsellable, non-recyclable books into clean-burning, sustainable fire bricks. Coated in natural beeswax, these bricks burn longer and cleaner than wood, reducing emissions and waste. By diverting over 0.63 metric tonnes of paper from landfills and avoiding 1.93 metric tonnes of CO₂e emissions, the project directly supports UN SDGs 7, 12, 13, and 15. With sales in Co-op gas stations and partnerships with local libraries and businesses, Paper Trail champions circular economy principles while delivering scalable, student-led environmental impact.
Find out more at
Emily Cowin
Co-founder, Boxing Rock Brewing Company & 46 AG Agricultural Technology
Emily is an entrepreneur, engineer, sustainability consultant, yoga teacher and life coach with a history in food and beverage, oil and gas, agriculture, municipal government and software development.
Through 46 AG, Emily and her team are pioneering the use of 360 Rain, an autonomous irrigation system that delivers water and nutrients directly to crops with precision. Her team is the first in the world to adapt this technology for potatoes on an industrial scale in Prince Edward Island. By reducing water consumption, improving yields and making large-scale farming more resilient, Emily is showing how innovation can transform agriculture into a smarter, greener industry.
Find out more at
Stan Knight
Building Indigenous Housing Sovereignty
September 24, 2025
Stan Knight is a proud member of Opaskwayak Cree Nation and the founder of Zachary Knight Enterprises and Inspector in a Box (IIAB)—two innovative ventures focused on transforming Indigenous housing and economic development across Canada. With a background in law enforcement, construction, insurance adjusting, and project management, Stan brings a unique and practical perspective to the challenges faced by First Nations communities.
Through Inspector in a Box, Stan created a scalable, tech-enabled program that empowers Indigenous communities to take control of their housing inspections, asset management, and funding applications. Stan is committed to creating For Indigenous, By Indigenous solutions that are rooted in sovereignty, resilience, and long-term impact. His work is not just about building homes—it’s about building futures.
Find out more at
collaboration and innovation at the heart of climate solutions
This ongoing series is an initiative of the Canadian Environmental Network's Sustainable Development Goals Caucus of which Climate Reality Canada is a member.
The United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are the world’s guidebook to address the most pressing environmental, social, economic, and security challenges by 2030. The SDGs are interconnected and indivisible, and they balance economic, social and environmental needs.
The SDG Caucus will work toward a mission, set of values, and work plan that will create a renewed dialogue among our communities about best practices for achieving the SDGs by 2030. We're developing resources on incorporating the SDGs as a tool for engagement and action.
