The Renewables in Remote Communities (RiRC) Conference convenes a wide range of Indigenous leaders, government, industry, utilities and more for dialogue on renewable energy development in remote Indigenous communities across Canada. With the goal of accelerating and supporting an Indigenous-led transition to clean energy, the biennial conference serves as a forum for exchange, networking and capacity-building.
Renewables in Remote Communities Conferences
Making community-led clean energy accessible for all
Our most recent conference
From March 25-28, 2025, the Pembina Institute held it’s fourth Renewables in Remote Communities Conference (RiRC2025) on the shared traditional territory of Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council in Whitehorse, Yukon. Over the course of the four-day event, important discussions about Indigenous rights, arctic and northern energy, microgrid systems, energy security and more were discussed.
Couldn’t make the conference? Read our report for key takeaways, videos, and more.
About the RiRC Conference
The Pembina Institute’s Renewables in Remote Communities conference is the outcome of a few early meetings held in Ottawa in 2011 and Toronto in 2013. These meetings set the foundation for the first official RiRC conference in 2015. At the time the conference brought around 100 leading experts together to focus on economic development, sustainability, energy security and Indigenous energy leadership.
Today, the conference represents a unique meeting place for hundreds of clean energy leaders from across North America. The event is an opportunity for knowledge exchange and shared focus on priorities like technology, funding, diesel reduction and skills development.
About the Indigenous Advisory Committee
Since 2022, we've been honoured to work with an Indigenous Advisory Committee to design and deliver the RiRC conference. Based in their experiences as Indigenous remote energy leaders, this committee provides insight and guidance on anything related to conference proceedings - including anything from the theme of the conference to the specific sessions organized for the event.
Why do we host this conference?
The Pembina Institute’s Renewables in Remote Communities conference is the only event in Canada focused exclusively on energy systems in remote communities.
We host this event because remote energy issues are culturally, politically and technologically distinct, and the best way to address those issues is through shared dialogue, collaboration and focus. The RiRC conference provides remote community members and their supporters with the space to develop shared solutions - whether that’s through connecting with each other, meeting funders or speaking with industry.
Where is the conference held?
To date, we have hosted three conferences (2017, 2022, and 2025) on the shared traditional territory of Kwanlin Dün First Nation and Ta’an Kwäch’än Council (Whitehorse) and one conference (2015) on the traditional land of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (Yellowknife).
We are immensely grateful to all the governments and communities who have graciously welcomed us to their lands and territories over the years.
Get involved
A conference of this scale takes considerable planning, funding, and collaboration. We welcome input, support, and discussion from all communities, organizations, governments, and companies.
Sponsorship
Are you interested in sponsoring the next Renewables in Remote Communities conference? Get in contact with Samantha Ward, Associate Director – Strategic Partnerships, to discuss opportunities to support.
Other inquiries
Interested in bringing the conference to your region? Want to learn more about how we develop the program? Have ideas for how this conference can better support communities?
Regardless of your idea or curiosity, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved. Email Lynne Couves, program director of the Pembina Institute’s Renewables in Remote Communities program, to get the conversation started.
Conference archive
Contact our Renewables in Remote Communities team
Program Director
Lynne Couves
c: 403-483-3850
e: lynnec@pembina.org
Media Contact
Bhan Gatkuoth (Mountain Time)
c: 587-742-0818
e: bhang@pembina.org
Get our Pembina Perspectives
Pembina Perspectives provides thoughtful, evidence-based research and analysis to support action on climate — in your inbox every two weeks.
We endeavour to protect your confidentiality; read our full privacy policy.