He’s one of the country’s experts on energy and energy history — not to mention he has an asteroid named after him — and he’ll be on stage at Mount Elizabeth Theatre during an energy forum and trade show next week.
Let’s Talk Energy happens on October 26, starting at 5:30 p.m. at Mount Elizabeth Theatre. Admission is free.
It’s a combination information session — which will be led by the energy expert Peter Tertzakian – and entertainment show with music by country music singer Aaron Pritchett, who has roots in Kitimat.
A trade show will also accompany the event.
Tertzakian said that while he hadn’t finalized his speech for the event, it would cover a lot of the issues around energy development and its history.
But he also wants people to know he’s not here to sell anyone on any project.
He’s not even being paid to come here.
“I’m not coming out to sell anybody anything. It’s really an energy conversation,” he said.
But while he doesn’t speak to any project, he does say Canada has good footing as far as developing our resources.
“We are one of the most innovative and responsible producers of energy natural resources in the world and we in Canada have an opportunity to use that responsible generation of energy resources not only to our own advantage but the advantage of the world.”
But he knows it’s not all sunshine for the province’s burgeoning energy industry.
“I’m coming there to acknowledge a whole series of issues, not really to debate them but more to relay an understanding for both parties,” he said.
“My job is to create a base level of understanding and open the minds of people to demonstrate that Canada has an opportunity to not only be local leaders but international leaders in the way we develop sustainable communities and sustainable resources for the benefit of the world.”
He said it’s not only resources Canada should be exporting, but our knowledge as well on how to develop energy.
Through his talk, it will be proactive versus re-active he’ll speak as well, he said.
“I think that Kitimat is a community that is being reborn in a sense,” he said.
“You’ve got the aluminum [smelter] being built, and all the potential for liquefied natural gas development.
So along with the positives also come issues. I’m not coming there to deny major development projects don’t come with issues, but I think we need to start addressing the issues proactively rather than re-actively.”
Tertzakian has written two books on energy, and is the chief energy economist and managing director at ARC Financial
Corporation.