" It's great to see local people working together to take some ownership of
the renewable energy sources that are so abundant in the Peace. This is true community-building with a clear and clean vision for the future."

Cees Mond, Pouce Coupe

Membership is growing everyday at the Peace Energy Cooperative and there are a number of benefits to belonging! Click WHAT'S NEW for further information!

      About Peace Energy

The basic concept for Peace Energy Cooperative was conceived early 2002. Two Dawson Creek businessmen with a keen interest in renewable energy and energy conservation, Don Pettit and Paul Kurjata, realized the potential for wind energy in the Peace River Country. The Peace is rich in fossil fuels that are extracted by a handful of giant and mostly multi-national companies. Pettit and Kurjata argued that as a cooperative, Peace Energy can pool resources and expertise from local people who can then actually own some of this this new resource industry in the Peace Region.

Peace Energy started taking memberships in May 2002, With about 80 members signed up, Peace Energy incorporated as a cooperative on Oct. 21, 2003.

As its major project, Peace Energy has its sights set at establishing a wind park on Bear Mountain, nearby Dawson Creek, and identified by BC Hydro as one of the most promising sites in British Columbia to generate power from the wind. Peace Energy secured the right to pursue this wind park in July 2004. Three months later, Peace Energy signed a memorandum of understanding with Aeolis Wind Power Corporation of Sidney, B.C., to partner on the development of Bear Mountain.

Besides the Bear Mountain project, Peace Energy is committed to make renewable energy accessible and affordable for its members in the Peace Region of northern British Columbia and Alberta. This includes wind energy, geothermal heating, solar power, bio fuels, as well as energy conservation methods.

By banding together in Peace Energy Cooperative, northern residents have a way to share in the abundance of renewable energy available in their Peace Region. It also gives them a united voice in lobbying governments to encourage the move to renewable energy.

Membership Associations

Peace Energy Cooperative is a member of the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA), BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA), the BC Cooperative Association (BCCA) and the Dawson Creek and District Chamber of Commerce.

Recognition

Peace Energy Cooperative received the 2005 Environment Friendly Award at the Northern BC Business and Industry Trade Show.  The award recognizes a company, organization or individual who has either developed an innovative product or a unique way to help attain or maintain a clean environment.

Peace Energy Cooperative received the 2006 Most Innovative Business of the Year award at the Dawson Creek and District Chamber of Commerce President’s Gala.  The award is given for business contributions to the community relating to the development of innovative measures and growth plans for future contributions to the South Peace region.

The PEC Board of Directors

President Steve Rison M.Sc. Natural Resources Management – Steve Rison is a self-employed businessman as owner/operator of Dawson Saw Works. 

Steve is also very active in the environmental movement.  In addition to his position as president of Peace Energy Cooperative he is also Chair of the Board of the Canadian Environmental Network, and a past chair and director of the BC Environmental Network.

Vice President/Director Donald Pettit - Don Pettit is a local businessman and owner of Peace PhotoGraphics Inc. in Dawson Creek that specializes in sustainability marketing and communications.

Don has been very active in the environmental movement in the Peace area for 25 years, and lives in a solar powered sustainable home. Don is also one of the founding members of Peace Energy Cooperative.

Treasurer/Director Dr. Chris Garwah DC, B.Sc. - Chris Garwah is a local chiropractor and outdoor enthusiast.  He is very active within the community, especially regarding issues of health and fitness. 

Chris and his wife Nancy have been members of the Peace Energy Cooperative since the beginning and work hard to promote environmental friendly values.

Director Catherine Gilbertson – Catherine Gilbertson is a long-term resident of Dawson Creek, born and raised.  She is a wife and mother of two grown children. Catherine recently received her degree in Social Work from UNBC and she works as a Social Worker in the community; prior to this she worked in the area of business administration and was a co-owner operator of two successful small businesses.

Catherine has a strong entrepreneurial nature in combination with a strong social conscience. It is her value of free enterprise in combination with social stewardship that prompted her to become involved with Peace Energy Cooperative. Catherine is dedicated to environmental sustainability through development of economically viable alternative sources of energy and sees her work with Peace Energy as a demonstration of this dedication.

Director Rupert Kirk A.Sc.T - Rupert Kirk has been a resident in Dawson Creek for 30 years along with his wife Claire and their 3 children. He joined the PEC Board in 2004 as an opportunity to see renewable energy become a reality.

The family has always considered conservation and proper use of energy as a part of their life style.  Rupert is employed as a Senior Estimator with DGS Astro Paving and he has also operated a small consulting business involving civil engineering activities, on a proprietary basis, for almost 20 years.

Director Wayne Plenert B.A., LL.B - Wayne Plenert is a mediator with a legal background. His practice includes commercial, family, child protection and personal injury mediation. Wayne teaches a conflict resolution course at NLC, and leads workshops in leadership and in conflict transformation.

Other important activities Wayne is involved in include participating at Northgate Mennonite Brethren Church (home of the 10,000 Villages sale),Director of the BC Roster Society, being a responsible husband and enjoyingplaying basketball.  Wayne says he is intrigued by the idea of making sustainability an economically viable reality.

Director Cheryl Shuman – Cheryl Shuman is employed by The Northern Health Authority.  She is an active member of the community with roots deep in the South Peace. 

Cheryl is a member of the BC Sustainable Energy Association (BCSEA) and currently working hard as acting chair of the steering committee in forming a South Peace Chapter of the BCSEA.  Cheryl is passionate about promoting sustainable energy and working towards a cleaner more sustainable world for her children and future grandchildren to live in and enjoy.  

Executive Director Valerie V. Gilson - Valerie Gilson moved from Ontario to Dawson Creek to join her husband in April 2006.  Valerie brought a strong administration and business background to Peace Energy, as well as past renewable energy experience in geothermal and small solar.  She sat on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Earth Energy Association (CEEA)/Earth Energy Society of Canada (EESC) in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Her interest in renewable energy and renewable resources became more concentrated with her research into environmental impacts and health issues when her daughter began suffering breathing and skin problems at 3 months of agethought due, in-part, to the industrial air and water pollutants that have become prevalent in the south-western Ontario basin.  This research led to the development and manufacturing of natural bath and body products produced without the harsh detergents and chemicals that are hard on the environment and the skin.

Valerie feels it’s an exciting time to be arriving in the Peace region of BC; there are so many opportunities to make a difference that will have a valuable impact on our future and future generations.  Wind, solar, geothermal… it’s all right here and Valerie looks forward to the challenges and the future for the Peace and for Peace Energy Cooperative!