There’s nothing so exhilarating as meeting new people – especially when they share a passion for something bigger than themselves. Especially when the conversation is so engrossing. Especially while sipping a beautiful La Frenz Montage from the Naramata Bench and nibbling on Happy Days chevre from the Shuswap. Especially inside the warm and cosy interiors of one of the city’s more tony but no less community-minded restaurants.
Especially when the energy in the room is so electric.
All photos by Hilary Mandel
The occasion bringing together 70 movers and shakers from Vancouver’s ever-expanding class of sustainability mavens is Power Plant, a unique networking event series with a mission: to provide a space and a format conducive to making meaningful connections and sharing knowledge with like-minded, sustainability-driven entrepreneurs, professionals, artists, adventurers, wonks and media activists.
The goal: to grow and support Vancouver’s green economy.
Most recently held at Salt Tasting Room, along Gastown’s polished Blood Alley, Power Plant is executed faithful to the values of its intended following, with systems in place for reducing waste and optimizing eco alternatives at every turn. There is almost no paper used (thank you, Eventbrite); the food is always vegetarian and local, organic and seasonal when possible; car sharing is used for all event transport; and the venue is selected for its sustainability initiatives.
Salt, for example, climate-controls its 10,000 square-foot space using a mix of geothermal and radiant heating, sources many of its ingredients from independent local producers and salvaged the original joists from the Irish Heather to construct the communal long table that runs the length of the cellar dining room.
It was around this table that the Power Plant IX crowd mingled and engaged over a choice selection of BC beers and wines, a spread of artisanal cheeses, and plates of Salt’s surprisingly sumptuously “fancy grilled cheese” sandwiches.
Beyond its green cred, it is Power Plant’s format that makes it so effective. Each attendee dons a name tag, grabs a drink and penetrates the humming throng; if they aren’t immediately scooped up into conversation, a “Connector” swoops in, gets to know them, learns what they’re after and then helps to make strategic connections with others in the room who might serve as allies, collaborators, employers, leads or friends.
Power Plant Vancouver connectors Stina Brown, Bernice Paul and Beth Breisnes.
Just as the conversation reaches fever pitch, a short program of four presenters offers intermission from the networking – and a platform for green community leaders to share their stories.
Power Plant IX on Tuesday, January 24, at Salt, included 3-minute presentations by:
Ben West of the Wilderness Committee, which fights to protect wildlands and wildlife – including those very close to home – while defending public access to established parks and ensuring healthy communities for BC residents. Some of the group’s recent work has focused on the oil tanker traffic in Burrard Inlet, which Kinder Morgan seeks to expand despite previous spills.
Myriam Laroche, the Montreal dynamo who moved to Vancouver and revolutionized its fashion scene, launching the twice-yearly Eco Fashion Week, which promises to put our city on the world stage for sustainably produced couture and ready-to-wear fashion. The next Eco Fashion Week is April 9-12, at a yet-undisclosed location, and will include a huge clothing swap/donation drive.
“Just do what you’re meant to do,” said Lisa Princic, founder of Changemakers Toolbox, which coaches green entrepreneurs on business and life, and Ubizo Vancouver, a one-day business development think tank designed for values-based small business owners and green and social entrepreneurs (coming up, on February 29, with three spots still left for case studies).
And finally, the City of Vancouver Greenest City Action Team’s Amanda Pitre-Hayes and Malcolm Shield offered a bite-sized update of all the truly innovative initiatives being developed as the city works toward its goal to become the Greenest City in the World by 2020. The most titillating, at least to this crowd, was the green-collar jobs program; in one instance, the City has partnered with EMBERS to hire skilled recent immigrants to perform audits and weatherization for homeowners concerned about air-leakage impacting their home’s energy efficiency.
Power Plant Vancouver presenters Amanda Pitre-Hayes, Malcolm Shields, Myriam Laroche, Ben West and Lisa Princic on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.
Just as the lights went up on presentations and announcements – including news that spots were still available for the long-table dinner that would follow down the street – a deluge of chatter immediately rushed through the crowd again, as talk of the presenters’ inventive projects sparked inspiration and enthusiasm.
Power Plant is the brainchild of Lorien Henson, creative director and co-founder of LimeLight Event Marketing, who saw a real need for an event where sustainability-minded people doing great work for their community could gather to share, learn and collaborate. What resulted in July of 2009 has quickly grown to become one of the city’s more exclusive networking events, with each edition selling out weeks beforehand – no less due to the opportunity Power Plant affords to make quality connections with a niche network.
As Jessica McIlroy, executive director of the BC Women in Energy Network said, “While it is interesting and valuable to connect with all types of people in all types of industries, in terms of your career, you really need the opportunity to network with people in your specific sector.”
And she notes, “These opportunities are even more important for women,” who were equally represented among the room of both recognised and new faces in Vancouver’s sustainability community.
But networking isn’t the only reason to attend the event. Sure there are rad (ethical) door prizes, provided by sponsors Salt Spring Coffee, Modo Car Coop and Vancouver Is Awesome (holla!). But more than that, Power Plant offers a uncommonly optimistic peek into the city’s future, with passionate social entrepreneurs, green venture capitalists and a mashup of professionals from the not-for-profit, non-profit and public sectors sharing their big, bold, pioneering projects and inspiring each other to push harder, faster, farther toward the collective dream of stronger communities in a more resilient city.
"I created Power Plant to feel like a groovy after-work cocktail party where sustainability leaders rub shoulders, share spirited stories and create opportunities for collaboration," said Lorien, "I thought, once people know about each other's amazing sustainability projects and values-driven organizations then they'd be more likely to help each other grow and succeed."
Power Plant creator Lorien Henson with Salt Tasting Room's Scott Hawthorn.
Joel Solomon, chairman of Renewal2 Fund and a major force (and backer) in Vancouver's sustainability community, sees the power of the event series to generate "mega" results that translate into a "great city."
"Power Plant combines the inherent magic of bringing together motivated people from diverse sectors, the optimism of shared interest in a better world, with the sheer design and hosting artistry of the magnificent impresario, Lorien Henson," said Joel. "That's a renewable energy Power Plant with mega generational results for community resilience."
The next event, Power Plant X, is Tuesday, February 21, 2012, at the Waldorf Hotel’s Tiki Bar. Book your ticket before it sells out.
Follow Power Plant via Facebook, Twitter (@PowerPlantVan and #ppvan) and LinkedIn.
This is the first in a series of posts about the people and things moving Vancouver forward by Hilary Henegar, a Vancouver-based writer, editor, social media consultant and connector. Follow her blog and on Twitter.
