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Projects

Low-Carbon District Energy System
at Thompson Rivers University

1 Million Sqft

Kamloops, BC

Commenced in 2022

Completion in 2026

Creative Energy’s Low-Carbon District Energy System (LCDES) is expected to offset over 100,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over 30 years, the equivalent to planting a 4,000-acre forest, approximately 16 times the size of Thompson River University’s (TRU) Kamloops campus. The LCDES will enable TRU to further strengthen their reputation as one of the most sustainable educational institutions in North America, and enable them to meet their zero carbon pledge well before 2030.

Overview and Project Progress

Creative Energy’s LCDES is currently under construction for TRU in Kamloops, BC, with over 3,000 m of pre-insulated steel piping being installed to connect the future Energy Centre- Sustainability Powerhouse to 13 buildings on the Kamloops campus in early 2026.

Later this year, work will begin to fit out the Sustainability Powerhouse, including the installation of five air-source heat pumps and four water-source heat pumps. This system, one of the largest of its kind in North America, will supply more than 90% of the annual heating energy for buildings connected to the LCDES.

TRU is the fastest-growing university in BC and has been rated as the most sustainable university in Canada by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s STARS rating system. Committed to becoming zero carbon campus by 2030, TRU is relying on Creative Energy’s LCDES as a foundational pillar of their strategy.

“This project is integral to TRU’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality. Partnering with Creative Energy, an experienced operator of district energy systems .. is an excellent step to reaching this ambitious goal.”

Brett Fairbairn, TRU President & Vice-Chancellor

The LCDES will transition existing TRU buildings away from decentralized natural gas heating to a high-efficiency electrified heat source using a centralized cascading air-source/water-source heat pump strategy with backup boilers for resiliency. By combining different heat pump technologies in our district approach and generating thermal energy at a utility scale, we can achieve operating efficiencies of nearly 300% while still meeting the high-water temperature constraints of existing buildings, some of which were constructed in the 1970s. The Energy Centre, located at the heart of the campus, will feature a viewing gallery to showcase the university’s climate action leadership and serve as a “living lab” for engineering students and faculty.

The first phase of this project, currently underway, connecting 13 existing academic buildings, allowing TRU to decommission their existing building-scale boilers and achieve GHG reductions of nearly 95% for connected buildings. The LCDES will eliminate nearly 100,000 tonnes of GHG emissions over the 30-year operating term.

Ongoing Construction of TRU’s Low-Carbon District Energy System (LCDES)

Thompson Rivers University

FUTURE EXPANSION

Future phases are anticipated to provide renewable infrastructure for further academic growth on the TRU campus, support the TRU Community Trust (an arm’s length development corporation established by TRU to develop market housing on campus), and connect to the neighboring City-owned Tournament Capital Centre and Canada Games Pool, an Olympic-sized recreational facility.

“This … marks a significant step forward in achieving goals laid out by our Community Climate Action Plan. By working together toward a common goal of reducing GHG emissions, we’re helping to create a healthier community for future generations.”

Mayor Ken Christian, City of Kamloops

The LCDES will enable TRU to become zero carbon before 2030 while supporting sustainable development on and around the campus for decades to follow, and serve as a demonstration project for other environmentally-conscious institutions to replicate.

By 2030, TRU will eliminate Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG emissions through the implementation of the LCDES, while supporting sustainable development on and around the campus for decades to follow, serving as a demonstration project for other environmentally conscious institutions to replicate.

TRU’s bold journey to zero carbon

TRU breaks ground on landmark Low-Carbon District Energy System

GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR THE THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY’S LOW-CARBON DISTRICT ENERGY SYSTEM

M

Installation

– Under 24 Hours

Fix & Care

– Under 12 Hours

Uninstallation

– Under 48 Hours

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Brad Jones

Board Member

Brad Jones is a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 12 years of invaluable experience in accounting and tax. Brad started his career at PwC before transitioning to industry in 2015. At PwC, Brad cultivated his expertise in tax planning and compliance, serving a diverse clientele including corporations and high-net-worth individuals. Since joining Westbank, he has continued to excel, leveraging his skills to provide strategic accounting and tax advice to the organization.

George So

Board Member

George is a seasoned alternative markets executive with over 25 years of experience in private equity and infrastructure investing. Currently, George is a Managing Partner at Instar Asset Management and a member of its Executive Committee responsible for the overall strategy of assets under management and fund operations. Previously, George founded Kindle Capital Group Inc., an independent investment firm serving the Canadian institutional investment community in establishing syndication and co-investment opportunities in the infrastructure and private equity sector globally.

Dave Mullen

Board Member

Dave is an experienced private equity executive with over three decades of experience in the financial sector and is currently a Managing Director at Highland West Capital Ltd. Previously, Dave was a founding partner of Graycliff Partners, a middle-market private equity group with investments in the U.S. and Latin America. Formerly, Dave spent the majority of his career as Head of Private Equity for the Americas at HSBC, where he led merchant banking operations in Canada, the U.S. and Latin America with over $2 billion in capital commitments.

Kim Stangeby

Board Member

Kim is a seasoned consulting executive with over 20 years of experience driving impact with boards and C-suite executives. She is currently a Partner and Head of Strategy Consulting at the Odgers Berndtson leadership advisory firm, where she specializes in strategic transformation and change with a focus on board effectiveness, CEO-board strategic engagement and C-suite strategic planning. Previously, Kim held strategic leadership roles at the Greater Toronto Airports Authority, the Royal Canadian Mint, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation at St. Michael’s Hospital, the Bank of Montreal and McKinsey & Company.

Greg Pollard

Chair, Audit Committee

Greg brings more than 40 years’ experience in multiple industry sectors. From 2017 to 2019, Mr. Pollard was the interim Chief Financial Officer of Eguana Technologies Inc., a TSX Venture Exchange listed developer and manufacturer of advanced power inverters for the emerging alternative and renewable energy industry. Following his retirement from Ernst & Young LLP, from 2012 to 2015, Mr. Pollard was the Chief Financial Officer of Connacher Oil and Gas Limited, an in-situ oil sands developer, producer and marketer of bitumen in Alberta. He led Ernst & Young LLP’s Transaction Advisory Services practice in Calgary from 2008 to 2012 following his return from Ernst & Young’s Houston, Texas office where he served as Gulf Coast Transaction Advisory Services practice and market leader, as well as oil and gas industry sector leader in the Americas. He is a Chartered Accountant (1979), a Chartered Insolvency and Restructuring Professional (CAIRP – 1992) (ret.), and a graduate of the Kellogg School of Management Executive Program (2007). In 2012, he received his ICD.D from the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Amr Ayad

Director, Regulatory Affairs

With a background that spans utilities, engineering consulting, and university teaching, Amr excels at leading cross-functional teams, helping advance large-scale energy projects that support climate resilience, regulatory compliance, and sustainability. His expertise includes regulatory strategy, rate design, resource development, and utility operations, with a consistent focus on innovation and long-term value.

Amr holds an M.A.Sc. degree in Hydroelectric Systems Modelling from the University of British Columbia and an MBA in Advanced Finance. He is a licensed Professional Engineer, PMP®, PMI-RMP®, and LEED® Accredited Professional.

An advocate for knowledge-sharing and professional growth, Amr also dedicates time to mentoring rising talents in engineering, energy, and business.

Amin Hassanshahi

Director, Construction

Amin joined Creative Energy in 2008 and has over 14 years of experience in the District Energy industry, he plays a key role in delivering projects at Creative Energy. He provides strategic leadership and management for planning, design, and construction of new district energy systems and the expansion of our existing assets. Amin holds a Civil Engineering Technology Diploma from BCIT and is a Gold Seal Certified (GSC) professional in construction management.

Keith Bate

Director, Engineering

Keith Bate has over 20 years experience in low carbon design strategies for district energy and building systems. Prior to joining Creative Energy, Keith worked at international engineering consultancies Stantec, AECOM and Ramboll. Keith holds a Master of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from Durham University in the UK, and, in addition to his Professional Engineering designation with EGBC, is a Chartered Engineer with the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

Ben Ellison

General Manager, District Energy Systems & Project management Office

Ben is a Professional Engineer with over 15 years of global experience in the infrastructure and industrial energy industries. He has a wide range of project delivery experience including project development and definition, procurement, and execution, with a focus on progressive procurement models and constructability. Ben was previously the principal of a consulting engineering company in British Columbia, where he led a team of engineers and project managers to deliver energy and infrastructure projects. He has held project delivery roles in various EPC and consulting engineering organizations in North America, Asia, and New Zealand. Ben is a Professional Engineer with EGBC and holds a Bachelor of Engineering from the University of Canterbury (New Zealand).

Raam Pandey

Senior Vice President, Corporate Development

Raam Pandey is a senior executive with more than 14 years of experience shaping growth strategy, capital deployment, and strategic partnerships in the sustainable infrastructure sector. At Creative Energy, he drives growth & partnerships, and leads execution on market opportunities to advance sustainable energy solutions.

Raam has held leadership roles on more than $4 billion of district energy and energy-transition transactions across the U.S. and Canada, spanning campus concessions, system acquisitions, complex financings, and next-generation low-carbon projects. Prior to joining Creative Energy, he built and led the corporate development function at Enwave Energy, where he advanced flagship initiatives including Syracuse University’s long-term utility modernization and Denver’s National Western Center sewer-heat recovery system. Earlier in his career, he advised on and led investments in major energy and infrastructure transactions at Brookfield Financial.

Based in Toronto, Raam is focused on accelerating commercially grounded decarbonization and forging partnerships that enable the next generation of low-carbon energy systems.

Steve Molner

Senior Vice President, Legal & General Counsel

Steve Molnar joined Creative Energy in July 2023 and is responsible for overseeing the company’s legal affairs. Steve is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in complex corporate and commercial transactions, capital project financing and development, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and enterprise risk management. Prior to joining Creative Energy, Steve was Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of Trevali Mining Corporation, and previously practiced at the law firm of McCarthy Tétrault LLP.

Steve holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) degree from Simon Fraser University and a Juris Doctor (law) degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. His professional affiliations include the Law Society of British Columbia, the Canadian Bar Association and the Association of Corporate Counsel.

Krzysztof (Krys) Muniak

Vice President, Asset Operations

Krys has over 20 years of experience planning, delivering, and operating renewable energy projects across Canada. Prior to joining Creative Energy, Krys has held a range of project roles from early-stage identification, to design and permitting, through construction and commissioning, and into operations. Krys is a Registered Professional Engineer with EGBC and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from Queen’s University.

Louise Cook

Vice President, Human Resources

Louise is an accomplished leader, with over 30 years of generalist expertise in human resources, in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors in both unionized and non-unionized environments. She has also led teams in operational excellence and ESG. She is passionate about supporting people to achieve performance excellence and creating cultures in which people feel engaged, valued and inspired to deliver their very best.

Louise has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Language and Literature from the University of Reading, U.K., a postgraduate diploma in Human Resources from the Manchester Metropolitan University and Awards of Achievement in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Sustainability Studies from the University of British Columbia. She holds the Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation and is a Coaches Training Institute certified coach. Louise is an elected member of the Board of Directors of the Chartered Professionals in Human Resources British Columbia & Yukon (CPHR BC & Yukon).

Nathan Reeve

CFO

Nathan Reeve is a senior finance executive with extensive experience in diverse industries ranging from energy and mining to manufacturing and agriculture. Prior to joining Creative Energy in January 2022, he held senior finance positions with Ontario Power Generation, Enerflex and, most recently, at Sherritt where he served as interim CFO. Nathan holds the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) designation and has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Western Ontario and a Master of Arts in Economics from Cambridge University.

Since joining Creative Energy in 2016, Kieran has played a pivotal role in transforming the organization from operating Vancouver’s historic steam system to managing a portfolio of over a dozen cutting-edge district energy systems in British Columbia and Ontario. Under his leadership, the company has successfully executed multiple large-scale capital projects exceeding $50 million, achieved significant advancements in asset performance, and fostered a culture rooted in safety, innovation, and accountability.

A Professional Engineer with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) from McGill University, Kieran combines technical expertise with values-driven leadership. His leadership and commitment to sustainable energy continue to position Creative Energy as a trailblazer in the transition to a low-carbon future.

Kieran Mcconnell

President & Chief Operating Officer

Kieran McConnell serves as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Creative Energy, where he oversees the company’s growth, operations, and infrastructure delivery across Canada and the United States. With over 25 years of experience in thermal and power production, infrastructure development, and operational transformation, Kieran leverages his expertise to support Creative Energy’s mission of providing innovative, low-carbon energy solutions.

Since joining Creative Energy in 2016, Kieran has played a pivotal role in transforming the organization from operating Vancouver’s historic steam system to managing a portfolio of over a dozen cutting-edge district energy systems in British Columbia and Ontario. Under his leadership, the company has successfully executed multiple large-scale capital projects exceeding $50 million, achieved significant advancements in asset performance, and fostered a culture rooted in safety, innovation, and accountability.

A Professional Engineer with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) from McGill University, Kieran combines technical expertise with values-driven leadership. His leadership and commitment to sustainable energy continue to position Creative Energy as a trailblazer in the transition to a low-carbon future.

Mike Crawley

Executive Chair

From 2018 to 2024, Mike was President & Chief Executive Officer of Northland Power Inc., a listed global independent power producer with over 5GWs of operating and in construction assets in Europe, Asia and the Americas. As President & CEO, he re-structured the company from a largely Canadian company with a founding shareholder to a global widely held company substantially growing its cashflow and development pipeline while establishing the company as leader in offshore wind. Mike originally joined Northland in 2015 as Executive Vice President of Development.

Previously, Mike had played a prominent role in the development of the Canadian renewable power sector. He was previously CEO of AIM PowerGen (“AIM”), where he led the company from initial concept to one of the largest independent renewable power developers in Canada. During his tenure, he oversaw the development, construction and operations of numerous renewables power projects. After AIM’s sale to Engie (formerly GDF Suez), Mike continued as the President of GDF Suez Canada.

From 2015 to 2023, Mike served on the Advisory Board of Instar Asset Management, a mid market, North American infrastructure fund. He has also served on the Boards of the Association of Power Producers of Ontario, Clean Energy BC, Canadian Solar Industry Association and was the Chairman of the Ontario Energy Association’s Board. Mike began his private sector career with the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce.