What's New in T'Sou-ke First Nations

SolarBC is in its final months of the program, and federal incentives for solar thermal will run out at the end of this year. In addition, the solar thermal industry in Canada has suffered over this summer with the sudden cut to the ecoEnergy retrofit program on April 1, 2010. The Minister of Natural Resources, Christian Paradis, has indicated he will support us in asking for funding in the upcoming budget if the industry can use the summer to meet with their local MP's to convince them to support the industry's request. This work is critical and his office has been clear - we need to ensure local MPs will support any request the Minister puts forward.

SolarBC would like to give a huge thank-you to the communities and organizations that participated in this year's activities and for their hard work in organizing and implementing their Solar Days events, all of which has been a fantastic success on a whole. As well, all of our homeowners who hosted the open houses deserve a province-wide round of applause! Many were not expecting the huge crowds that came out and for their generosity and hospitality, as well as their enthusiasm in sharing their solar experiences with others we are very grateful.

Please keep an eye on our website for future pictures of all the events, which we will be posting as we get them in.

Four mayors and one chief have installed solar hot water on their homes in BC and most recent to join the solar revolution is Mayor Sharon Shepherd, in Kelowna. "I have been an advocate of solar for our city and felt I should look at the opportunity to do it in my own home," she says. Mayor Shepherd is no stranger to solar - when she and her husband first purchased their home in Kelowna in the late 70s, they installed solar to an outdoor pool. Back then, she said, solar was a new technology that was getting a lot of attention but the attention dwindled in the 80s. "It’s been reintroduced so we’re enthused about having it on the home."