ABOUT ZEIC

The Metro Vancouver Zero Emissions Innovation Centre (ZEIC) is nearing its official launch in early 2022. Seeded by a $21.7M endowment from the federal government, ZEIC is an independent, not-for-profit organization that will catalyze and scale climate action innovation across Metro Vancouver. In April 2021, ZEIC was officially incorporated as a non-profit and is currently seeking charitable status to fund leveraging efforts.

The Metro Vancouver ZEIC is part of Low Carbon Cities Canada (LC3), a network of organizations in seven of the country’s largest cities, supported by an $183 million federal investment. FCM serves as the secretariat for the LC3 Network and, in conjunction with each centre, will develop a results-based management framework and a set of indicators that the centres will report on annually.

The Zero Emissions Innovation Centre is expected to match the $21.7M endowment over ten years. Along with climate leaders, financial innovators and changemakers in public, private and non-profit sectors across the region and province, the team is confident the matching requirement can be exceeded and ZEIC will soon have an impact on reducing carbon pollution on construction sites, homes, businesses and roads across Metro Vancouver and B.C.

ZEIC Executive Director

A recruitment process for ZEIC’s Executive Director began in June 2021 and solicited an overwhelming number of responses from around the world—a reflection of the enthusiastic interest in climate action in our region and beyond. In October 2021, the Board of Directors announced that Melina Scholefield would be ZEIC’s first Executive Director.

ZEIC Board of Directors and Committees 

• Councillor Adriane Carr, City of Vancouver
• Andrew Broderick, New Market Funds
• Brenda Knights, Seyem
• Chih-Ting Lo (Vice-Chair), EELO Solutions
• Chris Gilmore, BC Government observer / ex-officio position
• Colin Doylend, Nexii Building Solutions
• Councillor Curtis Thomas, Tsleil-Waututh Nation
• Director Jen McCutcheon, Metro Vancouver
• Karen Tam Wu, Pembina Institute
• Kira Gerwing, Vancity Credit Union
• Peter Robinson (Chair), David Suzuki Foundation/ Mountain Equipment Coop (Past)

ZEIC Startup Team

Renewable Cities led the development of ZEIC with an interdisciplinary team of experts in non-profit startup, impact investment, governance and community climate action. A Technical Advisory Committee composed of City of Vancouver, Metro Vancouver, and BC Government staff also guided development of the centre and supported Board Committee work. The startup team includes:

• Alex Boston, Executive Director, Renewable Cities, and Fellow, SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
• Cheeying Ho, Executive Director, WCS Engagement + Planning
• Brian Smith, Regenerative Finance, Terramera
• Don Lidstone, Managing Partner, Lidstone & Company
• Brad Doff, Project Manager, Renewable Cities

Strategic Advisors

• Peter Ladner, Elected Official Alumnus, Former Editor of Business in Vancouver and the Urban Food Revolution
• Darcy Riddell, BC Program Director, MakeWay (formerly Tides Canada)
• Shauna Sylvester, Executive Director, SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue

For more information about Metro Vancouver Zero Emissions Innovation Centre and team visit: www.ZEIC.ca.