Canadian Wind Energy Association announces annual award winners

Montreal, November 3 – The Canadian Wind Energy Association (CanWEA) recognized organizations and individuals working tirelessly to advance the Canadian wind energy industry during its gala Awards Banquet yesterday as part of its 26th annual Conference and Exhibition.

Awards were presented in four categories: Individual Leadership, Group Leadership, the R.J. Templin Award for scientific, technical, engineering or policy work which has helped wind energy grow to new heights in Canada and the Friend of Wind award.

CanWEA award winners for 2010 are:

Individual Leadership Award: John and Ross Keating

John Keating is the former CEO of Canadian Hydro Developers, Inc., a company he co-founded in 1989 with his brother Ross Keating, who for many years was the President and Chief Operating Officer. Canadian Hydro was solely focused on low-impact electric power generation in Canada. At the time it was acquired by TransAlta Corporation in October 2009, with assets valued at $1.64 billion, Canadian Hydro was Canada’s largest and most successful pure-play renewable energy developer.

Group Leadership Award: The Wind Energy TechnoCentre

The Wind Energy TechnoCentre is a not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to contribute to the development of an industrial wind energy network in Québec, able to compete on North American and world stages, while valorising the Gaspé Peninsula and Magdalen Islands as being central to this emerging niche of Québec’s economy. The Wind Energy TechnoCentre has four principal areas of endeavour: technical assistance for businesses, applied research, economic development and communication/events.

R.J. Templin Award: Liuchen Chang

Dr. Liuchen Chang has been key in the establishment of the University of New Brunswick's Department of Engineering, Test Facility for Wind and Solar Energy Conversion Systems located on WEICan’s site. With the support of WEICan, NRCan and other partners, the University of New Brunswick established the Sustainable Power Research Group (SPRG) led by Dr. Liuchen Chang.

Dr. Chang was instrumental in establishing the NSERC Wind Energy Strategic Network (WESNet), Canada’s nation-wide wind energy research collective and multi-partner alliance that includes leading researchers from 16 Canadian universities in six provinces as well as NRCan, Environment Canada, CanWEA, utility companies, wind sector businesses, and WEICan.

Dr. Chang has also started his own company Novelek Technology Inc., which develops and manufactures innovative IGBT-based, grid-connected power converters (inverters) for wind, solar and small hydro systems.

Friend of Wind Award : Garry Matthews

Garry Matthews was a teacher, a farmer, and a municipal visionary.
He played a leadership role in embracing new opportunities for Melancthon township and saw the potential for personal and municipal benefits from wind energy. He was at the helm during Ontario's early wind energy developments in area and was named Dufferin Newsmaker of the Year in 2005 for his involvement in wind power.

Sadly, Mr. Matthews passed away on September 27th, 2010. His dedication to community, his leadership, and his commitment to building a cleaner future for our children will never be forgotten.

“We are proud to recognize this year’s outstanding award winners for their contributions to the wind energy industry in Canada,” said CanWEA President Robert Hornung. “It is thanks to their ongoing efforts and achievements that Canada’s wind energy industry is well on its way to reaching its goal of providing 20 per cent of the country’s electricity needs by 2025.”