Engineering for Extremes: Designing Solar for Ontario Conditions
October 6, 2026
Ontario solar projects must withstand heavy snow, high winds, freeze-thaw cycles and variable ground conditions. This webinar will explore how Polar Racking’s engineering, foundation flexibility and Ontario-focused R&D help improve constructability, reliability and long-term performance.
Drawing on ground-mount projects operating successfully for more than 10 years, including systems with up to 16 years of service, Shant Pailian and Sam Alradhi will share practical lessons that continue to inform current design and testing.
The session will also highlight compatibility with helical piles, driven posts, ground screws and micropiles, as well as Polar Racking’s local remote and on-site O&M services.
Speakers: Sam Alradhi, VP of Operations, & Shant Pailian, Research & Development Lead, Engineering
Key takeaways from the webinar:
Learn how snow, wind, freeze-thaw cycles and variable soils influence racking, foundation selection and long-term system reliability.
Apply proven field experience to future solar projects. Gain practical lessons from Ontario systems operating for more than 10 years, supported by local R&D.
Sam Alradhi is a senior operations executive with more than 16 years of international experience delivering large-scale solar projects across North America, the Middle East, Europe, Asia and Africa. He has led the execution of more than 1.5 GW of solar projects, bringing extensive expertise in foundation systems, racking solutions, construction and project delivery.
His experience spans the full project lifecycle, including development, engineering, financing, procurement, construction and site management. As Vice President of Operations at Polar Racking, Sam oversees project execution and operational performance, with a focus on improving efficiency, strengthening accountability and translating strategic objectives into successful project outcomes.
Shant Pailian is an engineering and innovation leader with nearly 20 years of experience in product development, advanced technology, automation and operational leadership. His career spans the solar, automotive, robotics and artificial intelligence sectors, with extensive expertise in electro-mechanical systems, engineering validation, mathematical modelling and the commercialization of new technologies.
As Research & Development Lead, Engineering at Polar Racking, Shant leads cross-functional initiatives focused on next-generation solar trackers, foundation and racking systems, IoT technologies and engineering automation. He oversees product development from early-stage design and prototyping through testing, validation and certification, helping ensure Polar’s solutions are practical, reliable and engineered for demanding site conditions.
Shant holds a master’s degree in mechanical and industrial engineering from the University of Toronto and a bachelor’s degree in engineering physics and business management from McMaster University.
CanREA Connects—British Columbia
December 2, 2026, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Vancouver, British Columbia
CanREA Connects—British Columbia is a targeted networking reception for professionals helping to shape British Columbia’s evolving electricity and clean energy landscape.
As interest in renewable energy, energy storage and electrification continues to grow across the province, this reception offers an opportunity to connect in person and discuss market opportunities, evolving policy and the role of clean energy in British Columbia’s future. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with senior executives, project developers, utilities, investors, policymakers and service providers from across the electricity sector and clean energy value chain.
Designed to foster meaningful networking and business development, CanREA Connects brings together decision-makers looking to better understand emerging opportunities, strengthen industry relationships and support the continued growth of British Columbia’s clean energy market.
Complimentary appetizers and refreshments will be served throughout the reception.
Registration opens in late August 2026
Subscribe to Watt’s On, CanREA’s monthly events newsletter, to stay informed.
Thank you to our sponsors
Electricity Transformation Canada
CanREA Connects—Atlantic Canada
November 30, 2026, 5 to 7 p.m. Stewart McKelvey 1741 Lower Water Street, Suite 600, Halifax, Nova Scotia
CanREA Connects—Atlantic Canada is a focused networking reception for professionals active in Atlantic Canada’s growing wind, solar and energy storage market.
Taking place on the eve of the Solar Summit Atlantic Canada, this reception provides an opportunity to connect with industry leaders and continue important conversations about renewable energy development, electricity system planning and investment opportunities across the region. Attendees will connect with senior leaders, developers, utilities, investors, policymakers and service providers helping shape the next phase of clean energy growth in Atlantic Canada.
Designed for relationship-building and business development, CanREA Connects brings together decision-makers who want to better understand emerging opportunities, strengthen industry connections and support the continued growth of renewable energy and energy storage across the region.
Enjoy complimentary appetizers and drinks throughout the reception.
Registration opens at the end of August 2026.
To stay informed of upcoming CanREA events, subscribe to Watt’s On, CanREA’s events newsletter.
Thank you to our sponsors
CanREA Connects—Alberta
November 5, 2026, 5 to 7 p.m. Bennett Jones 4500 Bankers Hall East, 855 2 Street SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 4J8
CanREA Connects—Alberta is a focused networking reception for professionals working at the centre of Alberta’s evolving electricity market.
As market rules change and reliability requirements grow, this reception provides space for meaningful, in-person conversations about the role of renewable energy and energy storage in Alberta’s power system. Attendees will connect with senior leaders, developers, operators, investors, policymakers and service providers shaping the next phase of storage deployment and grid planning in the province.
Designed for relationship-building and business development, CanREA Connects brings together decision-makers who need a clear understanding of what’s coming, what it means for the market and how the sector can respond.
Enjoy complimentary appetizers and drinks throughout the reception.
Registration opens at the end of August 2026.
To stay informed of upcoming CanREA events, subscribe to Watt’s On, CanREA’s events newsletter.
Thank you to our sponsors
CanREA Connects—Quebec
November 26, 2026, 5 to 7 p.m. Fasken 800 Rue du Square-Victoria, Montréal, Quebec H3C 0B4
CanREA Connects—Quebec is a focused networking reception for professionals helping shape Quebec’s evolving renewable energy, energy storage and electrification landscape.
As governments, utilities and industry work to meet growing electricity demand and advance decarbonization goals, this reception provides space for meaningful, in-person conversations about market opportunities, policy developments and project deployment across Quebec. Attendees will connect with senior leaders, developers, utilities, investors, policymakers and service providers working across the province’s clean energy sector.
Designed for relationship-building and business development, CanREA Connects brings together decision-makers who want to better understand emerging opportunities, strengthen industry connections and support the continued growth of renewable energy and energy storage in Quebec.
Enjoy complimentary appetizers and drinks throughout the reception.
Registration opens at the end of August 2026.
To stay informed of upcoming CanREA events, subscribe to Watt’s On, CanREA’s events newsletter.
Thank you to our sponsors
CanREA Connects—Manitoba
November 3, 2026, 5 to 7 p.m. MLT Aikins 30th Floor, 360 Main Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba
CanREA Connects—Manitoba is a focused networking reception for professionals helping shape Manitoba’s evolving electricity and clean energy landscape.
As interest in renewable energy, energy storage and electrification continues to grow across the province, this reception provides space for meaningful, in-person conversations about market opportunities, policy developments and the role of clean energy in Manitoba’s future. Attendees will connect with senior leaders, developers, utilities, investors, policymakers and service providers working across the electricity sector and broader energy value chain.
Designed for relationship-building and business development, CanREA Connects brings together decision-makers who want to better understand emerging opportunities, strengthen industry connections and support the continued growth of Manitoba’s clean energy market.
Enjoy complimentary appetizers and drinks throughout the reception.
Registration opens at the end of August 2026.
To stay informed of upcoming CanREA events, subscribe to Watt’s On, CanREA’s events newsletter.
Thank you to our sponsors
CanREA Golf Tournament—Alberta
July 15, 2026 Blue Devil Golf Course
The CanREA Alberta Golf Tournament returned again this year and meeting rooms were traded for fairways, where attendees of the wind, solar and energy storage community connected with industry leaders, partners and clients in a relaxed, outdoor setting.
Benefits of attending a future CanREA golf tournament:
Connect with key players in wind, solar and energy storage sectors
Strengthen client relationships in a relaxed, casual setting
Increase your visibility within CanREA’s member network
Enjoy a standout summer event with industry peers
Thank you to our sponsors:
CanREA Connects—Atlantic Canada spring networking reception
June 15, 2026 Stewart McKelvey Halifax, Nova Scotia
CanREA Connects—Atlantic Canada is a focused regional networking reception for professionals active in Canada’s East Coast wind, solar and energy storage market.
As provinces across the region advance decarbonization strategies, grid modernization efforts and new project development, this reception brought together developers, utilities, partners, investors, policymakers, and service providers to exchange perspectives on near-term opportunities and implementation realities.
Attendees heard brief regional updates from CanREA’s policy team and continued strategic conversations in an informal, business-focused setting designed to strengthen coordination across the value chain.
Thank you to our sponsors
ITC Update 2026: How to claim and maximize the CTITC on your Canadian projects
April 1, 2026
Canada’s Clean Technology Investment Tax Credit (CTITC) continues to play a central role in advancing wind, solar and energy storage deployment across the country. As projects move from announcement to execution, developers and investors are navigating real-world questions around eligibility, documentation, audits and compliance.
This webinar brought together leading practitioners from LCAB and Deloitte to share practical insights from the latest year of ITC claims and implementation experience. Drawing on active project portfolios across Canada, speakers provided a grounded update on how the program is working in practice and what organizations should be doing now to position projects for successful claims.
Participants gained a clearer understanding of evolving expectations from regulators, common pitfalls emerging through audits, and how early planning can improve outcomes for both developers and capital providers.
Key takeaways from the webinar:
Why documentation remains the single most important success factor
How small technical and administrative details can materially affect eligibility and claim value
Strategies to plan ahead and structure projects to maximize CTITC benefits
Moderated by Imran Noorani, CanREA’s Vice President of Policy, this session was designed for developers, independent power producers, investors, tax professionals, EPCs and project stakeholders seeking practical guidance on navigating Canada’s clean economy investment tax credit landscape in 2026.
Speakers
Louis Boivin leads Deloitte’s Gi3 team (Government Investment and Innovation Incentives) for Quebec, comprising over 60 professionals across the province. He also leads Deloitte’s national Clean Economy Investment Tax Credits practice, which includes more than 25 tax specialists, engineers, and computer scientists nationwide. Louis has coordinated several initiatives to enhance Quebec and Canadian tax incentive regimes. A member of the Québec Bar, he holds law degrees in civil and common law from McGill University and a Master’s in Tax Law from the University of Montreal/HÉC. Louis joined Deloitte in 2001, became partner in 2011, and specializes in government incentives (tax incentives and grants) for the renewables, mining, and manufacturing sectors. His clients include multinationals and private organizations with operations across Canada.
Etienne Lecompte is a recognized cleantech entrepreneur with approximately 15 years of experience in renewable energy, software development and regulatory compliance. Over the course of his career, he has founded and grown several companies focused on advancing clean energy solutions. He strongly believes renewable energy projects are part of the solution to today’s energy challenges and emphasizes the importance of managing regulatory programs pragmatically and proactively. Through LCAB, Etienne is currently supporting more than 50 projects across Canada claiming investment tax credits and has been involved at every stage of project development. Etienne is a graduate of McGill University and holds an MBA from INSEAD.
