Saskatchewan leaders tackle decarbonization at BuildGreen conference

Energy, government, and Indigenous leaders gather in Regina to explore geothermal and other ways to cut emissions.

Stakeholders from Saskatchewan’s building, energy, and government sectors gathered Thursday at the DoubleTree Hotel for the BuildGreen Saskatchewan Conference, focused on the province’s urgent decarbonization challenge.

The event brought together energy providers, government officials, First Nations and Métis representatives, and industry innovators to explore practical pathways for reducing emissions.

“In recent years, every summer has been a visceral reminder of the climate crisis,” said conference chair Ayo Daniel Abiola. “Wildfire smoke made it unsafe to be active in stadiums and playgrounds, highlighting the impact of greenhouse gases. Every unit of energy saved here has an outsized positive effect for the province and for Canada.”

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The conference highlighted real-world examples of progress, including Regina’s new Indoor Aquatic Centre, which uses geothermal energy — a first for a major facility in Canada.

Key topics included energy systems and grid resilience, focusing on emerging technologies such as geothermal, energy storage, and efficient strategies to decarbonize building operations. Low-carbon and high-performance buildings were also discussed, emphasizing solutions for reducing the carbon footprint of both new and existing structures in Saskatchewan’s cold prairie climate.

“The severe Saskatchewan climate and our carbon-intensive grid mean that every unit of energy saved here has an outsized positive environmental impact for the province and for Canada,” Abiola said.

The event also addressed community and policy, exploring how evolving building codes and Indigenous- and community-led approaches can create sustainable, equitable, and regenerative built environments.