Press Release
Sept. 17, 2024
News release has been updated to include participating U.S. companies
United States Ambassador to Canada David L. Cohen will lead a trade delegation of seven U.S. businesses to Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, from September 18 to 20.
Representatives from the U.S. businesses will meet with Yukon government officials, Yukon First Nation Development Corporations and local business owners to explore commercial and investment opportunities.
The visit is organized in partnership with the Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce, which represents the interests of the Indigenous private sector and is involved in promotion of socio-economic development of Yukon through private sector led economic growth, and the Government of Yukon’s Department of Economic Development.
On behalf of the Government of Yukon, I welcome Ambassador Cohen and the companies who are taking part in the trade delegation to the Yukon. It is excellent to see these businesses bringing their expertise to the territory and I hope to see meaningful connections develop from this event. I want to thank the Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Commercial Service Canada for making CanArctic Days possible and remaining valuable partners in economic development.
Yukon Premier and Minister of Economic Development Ranj Pillai
In my visit to Whitehorse earlier this year I saw the abundant possibilities for increasing cross-border trade, I am pleased to return to The Wilderness City with the leaders of more than half a dozen U.S. businesses to explore commercial opportunities that can benefit both the United States and Canada.
United States Ambassador to Canada David L. Cohen
The Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce is honoured to partner with the CanArctic Industry Days. In recognition of National Day of Truth & Reconciliation we are working towards building strong relationships in Economic Reconciliation with Yukon First Nations business.
Yukon First Nation Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Mellisa Murray
Quick facts
Backgrounder
The U.S. companies participating are:
Astranis
Astranis was founded in 2015 with the mission of bringing digital connectivity to the world’s most remote, rural, and underserved populations. With the development new model of MicroGEO satellite platform, paired with customized and dedicated leased-capacity service, Astranis is achieving that goal by providing a cost-effective alternative to the very expensive or outdated options on the telecommunications market. The company has one MicroGEO satellite on orbit, and will bring online customers in the Philippines, Mexico, Argentina, the U.S., and elsewhere when launching a dozen more in 2024 and 2025. Astranis is headquartered in San Francisco, and has raised more than $750 million from leading investors worldwide.
Representative: Robert Mann, Director of International Relations; rob@astranis.com
Arctic Trucks
Arctic Trucks is a leading provider of innovative low-ground pressure off-road vehicles to the commercial, defence, search & rescue, and retail markets. Arctic Trucks’ vehicles are capable of operating over a variety of difficult and sensitive terrain, including deep snow, ice, and tundra, while retaining the on-road drivability of a typical pickup truck. Founded in 1990 in Reykjavik, Iceland, Arctic Trucks has spent over 3 decades perfecting vehicle design for operation in the world’s harshest environments, having accumulated hundreds of thousands of miles in places like Antarctica, Greenland, and the Canadian Arctic. Arctic Trucks North America was founded in 2021 and has since provided its highly configurable vehicles for commercial users in the US and Canada.
Representatives: Kyle Leeds, Sales Director, kleeds@arctictrucks.us; Dan Clark, Canada Sales Manager, dclark@arctictrucks.us
COCOON Energy and HVAC
COCOON Energy and HVAC has developed a revolutionary new line of heating and cooling solutions called “COCOON”. The COCOON system uses thermal mass technology to provide highly efficient and affordable climate control for homes and businesses. The COCOON system is designed to be more efficient and reliable than traditional electric or gas furnaces, offering up to 41% savings. It uses medium and long-wave infrared heat while warming a thermal mass, which then gently distributes the heat throughout the building. This approach reduces the “on-off” cycling that wastes energy in conventional HVAC systems. COCOON systems are designed to be utilized with renewable power production for remote applications. Cocoon is positioning itself as a leader in the next generation of HVAC technology, delivering significant cost savings, ease of installation, improved air quality and comfort benefits to consumers.
Representative: Allen Coggins, Founder & President, allenc@thermasi.com
HCI Energy
HCI Energy provides continuous, turnkey, eco-friendly power for critical missions around the world. The Hybrid Power Shelter, integrated with HCI’s proprietary Zero-glitch Power Module (ZPM), combines the latest in power technology to ensure round-the clock, uninterrupted power that lowers operational cost while facilitating crucial business and community operations in a sustainable and eco-friendly way. HCI customers include wireless carriers, WISPs, regional telecom providers, state and local governments, emergency responders, and tribal communities.
Representatives: Christian Ferguson, Account Executive, christian.ferguson@hcienergy.com; Terry Bradshaw, Customer Relations Executive, terry.bradshaw@hcienergy.com
Innovus Power
Innovus Power was founded with the mission of eliminating power generation dependance on fossil fuels, maximizing the benefits of renewable energy, while lowering operating costs through powerhouse simplification and lower maintenance costs. To accomplish this objective, Innovus has shifted the foundation of power generation from engine controlled, to Innovus GridGenius Energy Management and Control Software ‘EMCS’ controlled power. Innovus Power GridGenius Diesel-Renewable Energy ‘Variable Speed Generation Systems’ (VSGs) have been in service in remote off-grid applications since January 2018 having met all customer objectives. The company’s customer applications include utility, industrial, and governmental installations.
Representative: Marc Hoffman, CEO, marc.hoffman@innovus-power.com
Two Bears Environmental Consulting
Two Bears Environmental Consulting (TBEC) is an Alaskan based company specializing in geomatics and advanced climate projections. TBEC offers innovative climate risk assessment and resilience strategies. Our flagship products, Climate Impact Statements (CIS), Integrated Climate Adaptation and Risk Impact Statements (ICARIS), and Targeted Vulnerability Impact Statements (TVIS) provide detailed evaluations of biophysical vulnerabilities to inform and develop effective adaptation strategies. Leveraging machine learning and Traditional Ecological Knowledge, these tools integrate climate impacts with socioeconomic vulnerabilities and human dimensions, offering clients actionable data to understand risks, reduce potential monetary losses and increase community environmental, social and cultural resilience. Currently, we work with Alaskan Native communities at the forefront of climate change to identify climate vulnerabilities (and opportunities) to infrastructure, supply chains, health, water quality, economic development, subsistence lifestyles including food security and cultural activities to assist them with protecting their way of life for future generations.
Representatives: Ronni Wilcock, Ph.D., Senior Risk and Biophysical Adaptation Specialist, ronni@tbec-ak.com; Jaimlyn Sypniewski, GIS Analyst, Jaimlyn@tbec-ak.com
Xtreme Habitats Institute
Xtreme Habitats Institute is a research nonprofit that is focused on developing and sharing innovative building technologies to allow for construction in extreme environments here on earth and eventually beyond our planet. The institute’s focus is to develop adaptable, affordable, and sustainable systems that can be readily applied in locations where no traditional supply chain exists. Xtreme Habitats offers affordable 3D-printed solutions that leverage in situ materials to produce sustainable living facilities designed to fit the needs of the local environment. 3D Concrete Printing represents the potential to revolutionize how homes are built, which can allow communities to tackle current housing crises by increasing capacity and representing a reduction in many aspects of the construction process (costs, labor, time) and in the frequency and need for repairs and replacements. The innovation of freeing 3DCP from the traditional gantry-style method is the first major step in achieving these substantial goals in housing.
Representative: Keith Comstock, Executive Director,keith.comstock@aktribalspectrum.org
Media contact
Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
Laura.Seeley@yukon.ca
Damian Topps
Economic Development
867-667-5378
Damian.Topps@yukon.ca
Joe Geraghty
U.S. Consulate General in Vancouver
geraghtyjm@state.gov
Karen Lepine
Yukon First Nations Chamber of Commerce
pm@yfncc.ca
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