POLICY TOURSLearn first-hand the key issues and innovative industries in our region by participating on policy tours in the greater area.
*Please note: Attendees must be registered for a tour in order to attend. Please register in advance or onsite at the registration desk, pending availability. Waitlists will be made available onsite for any tours that are full in advance. |
Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre
What We Treasure tour
Wednesday, July 24 | 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Experience the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre, the heart of Whistler’s authentic Indigenous experience – a First Nations Museum and Art Gallery that showcases the two First Nations communities that lived in the Whistler area. PNWER participants will experience the signature tour "What We Treasure" delivered by Cultural Ambassadors who share their own stories and first-hand cultural experiences. Throughout this tour, the group will view artifacts and hear stories that give an overview of the past and present way of life from two distinct Nations the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and the Lil̓wat7úl. This tour will include a welcome song, an inspiring short film, and a guided tour of the exhibits. Cost: $15 USD/pp Sign up for this tour during registration Located just a few minutes walk from the Fairmont Resort |
Quantum Technologies and Carbon Engineering Innovation Centre (Direct Air Capture technology)
Wednesday, July 24 | 1:45 - 5:30pm This tour will begin with a tour of Carbon Engineering. Carbon Engineering (CE) was founded in 2009 with the aim to commercialize a liquid-solvent direct air capture technology which is designed to capture carbon dioxide from atmospheric concentrations (~ 400 ppm). We moved from bench scale to a pilot scale in 2015 (Squamish BC), and in 2021 built the Innovation Centre on the site adjacent to the pilot facility. Today the innovation centre trials improvements to the Direct Air Capture technology before it’s integrated into commercial scale facilities. Carbon Engineering’s technology is being deployed at scale today with the first 500kt capture facility under construction in the Permian Basin (expected to begin operations in 2025), and a second facility in South Texas to begin construction in 2025. Join us for a perimeter tour of the Carbon Engineering Innovation Centre (CEIC) where we will describe the different elements of our technology, current status of deployment, and will then come together to discuss what elements of policy have been critical for deployment to this stage and what is needed for broader scale up of the technology. Come to see the technology but stay for the beautiful views of The Chief and surrounding mountain range! The second part of the tour will visit Quantum Technologies- a global leader in specialized industrial gas applications, specializing in Helium and Hydrogen technologies. With a legacy spanning 42 years, Quantum Technologies designs and manufactures premium Helium and Hydrogen liquefaction units, recovery systems, and Helium production plants. Their extensive portfolio includes standard and custom solutions for gas recovery, separation, purification, and liquefaction. Cost: $15 USD/pp Sign up for this tour during registration. Transportation will be provided. |
Eagle Mountain – Woodfibre Gas Pipeline (EGP) Project
Wednesday, July 24 | 1:30 - 5:30pm
PNWER attendees are invited to tour the Eagle Mountain – Woodfibre Gas Pipeline (EGP) Project tunnel site at FortisBC’s construction laydown yard in Squamish. The project was approved in 2016 by the province of British Columbia and Squamish Nation, after their respective independent environmental assessment of the Project. As an Indigenous-led environmental assessment, Squamish Nation’s assessment was a first of its kind in Canadian history and has resulted in meaningful changes to how the project has been designed and constructed. The tunnel is one of those components, which aims to protect the environmentally sensitive Skwelwil’em Squamish Estuary that lies between the Squamish and Woodfibre LNG sites. Cost: $15 USD/pp Sign up for this tour during registration. Transportation will be provided. |
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Navigating Progress: A Harbour Cruise Policy Tour of the Port of Vancouver
Note: This tour is now full. We will have a waitlist available onsite
Thursday, July 25 | 7:30am Whistler Departure; Tour begins at 10:00 at the Port of Vancouver; Concludes at 2pm
The Port of Vancouver is Canada’s largest port and the most diversified cargo-handling port in North America. Its jurisdiction includes more than 16,000 hectares of water, more than 1,500 hectares of land and hundreds of kilometres of shoreline, bordering 16 municipalities and intersecting the traditional territories and treaty lands of 35 Coast Salish Indigenous groups. The world’s leading container shipping lines call at the Port of Vancouver, providing regular service to and from ports in Asia, Europe, Latin America and Oceania. Trade through the port connects businesses from across Canada to international markets and consumers, reaching approximately 140 to 170 countries annually and enabling the trade of $300 billion in goods annually. The Port of Vancouver is also the Alaska homeport to a variety of cruise lines sailing out of the award-winning Canada Place cruise terminal.. The policy tour will begin with a tour of the Port’s recently expanded container terminal Centerm operated by DP World Canada. The award-winning Centerm Expansion Project, increased the terminal’s throughput by 60% while adding 15% to the terminal’s overall footprint. The project also reduced the terminal’s environmental impact by adding capacity for container ships to connect to electrical shore power and converting its diesel yard cranes to electric. |
In some instances, new technology is initially trialed at the DP World Vancouver terminal with the end goal of that technology being scaled and deployed to other DP World locations, once testing and optimization is complete. Some of the technologies that have been implemented include an automated truck gate as well as semi-automated rail mounted gantries to help optimize the rail yard operations. Innovative supply chain solutions are being introduced wherever possible to help advance the terminal’s processes to ensure they are efficient, reliable and sustainable. DP World Vancouver is proud of the progress we’ve made in this market since operations began over one hundred years ago in 1923, and we will continue to optimize and improve our systems to ensure our ability to support the broader global supply chain in the years to come.
Participants on this tour will also experience a guided harbour cruise of the Port of Vancouver, highlighting the industry, activities, and policy that make Vancouver’s harbor work.
The Policy Tour will depart Whistler at 7:30am, with the tour to begin at the Port by 10:00am and lunch will be provided. The tour will conclude at 2:00pm, at which time attendees can proceed on with their travel home or elsewhere. The tour group will not be returning to Whistler.
Participants on this tour will also experience a guided harbour cruise of the Port of Vancouver, highlighting the industry, activities, and policy that make Vancouver’s harbor work.
The Policy Tour will depart Whistler at 7:30am, with the tour to begin at the Port by 10:00am and lunch will be provided. The tour will conclude at 2:00pm, at which time attendees can proceed on with their travel home or elsewhere. The tour group will not be returning to Whistler.
OFFSITE RECEPTION
Audain Art Museum | Monday, July 22 | 6pm - 8pm
SIGHTSEEING OPPORTUNITY
Peak 2 Peak Gondola and Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains | At your leisure
Transport yourself to an otherworldly destination aboard the record-breaking PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, then set out on an amazing sightseeing experience. With a Summer Alpine Experience Day Pass, enjoy sightseeing and summer access to the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola and both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains with 50+ km of hiking trails including the Blackcomb Ascent Trails, and an ever changing landscape from early summer snow walls to blooming wildflowers to ancient glaciers. The Fairmont hotel is located at the base of Blackcomb Mountain
Discounted tickets available for PNWER Summit attendees! Promotion Link: https://groups.vailresorts.com/whistlerblackcomb/lodging-offers/promocode Promo Code: PNWER24 Note: Passes are for a one-time use up the mountain and unlimited Peak2Peak rides based on the first date you select; you may purchase multiple passes for different days. |