The MRC2026 program

Planning is underway for another dynamic Marine Renewables Canada Conference, and we’re excited to share a first look at the program for the 2026 Conference & Exhibition in Ottawa, November 17-19, 2026. 

Check out the Program below ⬇️

The Industry Track anchors the conference’s headline discussions over two days, while the Research & Technical Track runs concurrently with more specialized sessions for delegates seeking deeper technical insights.

Introduced last year, this dual-track format gives attendees greater flexibility to tailor their conference experience.

To stay informed about conference developments – including keynote announcements, speaker reveals, registration updates, and more – subscribe to our newsletter and follow Marine Renewables Canada on LinkedIn.

International Business Development & Member Day: Tuesday, November 17, 2026 

9:00 AM

4th Floor – Foyer

Oceans of Opportunity: International Business & Networking Program

(open to MRC members & international conference attendees) 

Canada is emerging as one of the world’s most exciting marine renewable energy markets, with world-class offshore wind, tidal, wave, and river current resources, a globally recognized offshore and maritime supply chain, and growing momentum across the sector.

Building a globally competitive industry, however, depends on strong international collaboration. By connecting with experienced markets and industry leaders from around the world, Canadian organizations can gain valuable market intelligence, strengthen partnerships, and accelerate business growth.

Ocean of Opportunities is Marine Renewables Canada’s international business development program, designed to connect Canadian and international delegates through targeted networking and strategic business engagement.

The program includes:

  • International Business Development Session featuring global market insights and supply chain & partnership opportunities (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
  • Networking Lunch for Ocean of Opportunities participants only (12:00 p.m. – 12:45 p.m.)
  • B2B platform to facilitate connecting international delegates with MRC members and Canadian organizations (B2B meetings will be scheduled for November 18 – 19)

International Business Development & Networking LUNCH

10:00 AM -10:15 AM

Confederation Ballroom
10:15 AM – 10:25 AM 

Confederation Ballroom

Overview of global investment trends, project pipelines, procurement outlook, and emerging technologies.

10:25 AM – 11:10 AM 

Confederation Ballroom

How suppliers can enter mature offshore wind markets and build export opportunities. The discussion will cover supply chain, procurement, partnerships, innovation, ports, vessels, and opportunities for Canadian service providers.

11:10 AM – 11:35 AM 

Confederation Ballroom

New project pipelines, first-mover opportunities, and where Canadian expertise is well positioned.

11:35 AM – 11:45 AM 

Confederation Ballroom

Tidal, wave and river current commercialization, demonstration projects and research partnerships.

11:45 AM – 11:55 AM 

Confederation Ballroom

How to engage with international partners, participate in trade missions, leverage export support programs and prepare for B2B meetings.

11:55 AM – 12:00 PM 

Confederation Ballroom

Introduction to conference B2B networking opportunities and key takeaways.

12:00 PM – 12:45 PM 

Confederation Ballroom

Open to International Business Development program participants only

MRC Member Workshops 

At MRC2026, members will have the chance to learn directly from industry experts through an enhanced selection of MRC Member Sessions. These specialized workshops will provide in-depth discussions on key topics, offering valuable insights, practical knowledge, and interactive learning experiences tailored to the evolving needs of the sector. 

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM  

Governor General Ballroom

As Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) become increasingly recognized in Canadian legislation, regulation, and public policy, understanding how to engage with and apply Indigenous knowledge respectfully has become essential. This workshop will explore the role of IKS in regulatory and commercial decision-making, with a focus on Atlantic Canada and Eastern Quebec. Participants will gain a better understanding of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, their relationship to Aboriginal and Treaty rights, and key considerations for the respectful collection, protection, and use of Indigenous knowledge. Drawing on work by the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat (APC), the session will share practical recommendations for meaningful Indigenous engagement and decision-making. 

Speakers:

2:15 PM – 3:30 PM  

2:15 pm – 3:30 PM | Governor General Ballroom

Building a Canadian offshore wind industry requires a skilled workforce and resilient supply chain ready to deliver projects at scale. In this interactive workshop, participants will work through a real-world offshore wind case study to identify critical occupations, supply chain dependencies, and workforce challenges across the project lifecycle. Together, they will assess regional workforce capacity, explore practical talent pipelines, and develop strategies to address priority skills gaps. Through facilitated discussion and collaborative exercises, participants will gain a clearer understanding of offshore wind workforce demand and identify actionable approaches to strengthen industry readiness and accelerate project delivery in Canada. 

Speakers:

2:15 pm – 3:30 PM | Governor General Ballroom

As offshore wind projects grow in scale, understanding and managing environmental risks has become a strategic business priority. This workshop introduces practical approaches for integrating nature-related considerations into project planning and decision-making, drawing on the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) framework. Through real-world project examples, participants will explore how environmental risks can influence project viability, timelines, permitting, and stakeholder confidence. The session will also highlight emerging tools and data platforms that support early risk identification and better project outcomes, equipping participants with practical insights to embed nature-aware thinking into offshore wind development. 

Speakers:

3:45 PM – 5:00 PM 

3:45 PM – 5:00 PM | Governor General Ballroom

As marine renewable energy projects move closer to commercial scale, effective communication is essential to building public understanding and support. This interactive workshop will explore practical strategies for engaging communities, media, policymakers, and other non-technical audiences. Through facilitated discussion and peer exchange, participants will share experiences and discover best practices in social media, media relations, visual storytelling, message development, and crisis communications. The session will focus on elevating the sector’s profile, addressing misinformation, navigating challenging conversations, and strengthening organizational reputation through clear, credible, and compelling communications that build lasting public trust. 

Moderator: Anastasia Smolentseva, Senior Director, Communications, Marine Renewables Canada

Speakers:

3:45 PM – 5:00 PM | Governor General Ballroom

Offshore wind development at scale depends on modern transmission infrastructure that can connect new generation to domestic and export markets. This workshop will explore the legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks needed to advance strategic transmission projects in Atlantic Canada and beyond. Participants will learn about interprovincial collaboration, permitting, environmental assessment, and the role of Canada’s Major Projects Office in streamlining project delivery. Featuring perspectives from legal, utility, and industry experts, the session will discuss how coordinated planning, investment frameworks, and regulatory alignment can support a more resilient, interconnected electricity system and unlock Canada’s offshore wind potential. 

Speakers:

Reception on the Hill

6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

By invitation only to MRC members and special guests.

Day One | Wednesday, November 18, 2026 

7:30 AM

4th Floor – Foyer
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Confederation Ballroom Foyer & Provinces Ballroom
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Governor General Room II

Opening Plenary

9:00 AM – 9:05 AM

9:05 AM – 9:25 AM

Confederation Ballroom

9:25 AM – 9:45 AM

Confederation Ballroom

Industry Track

Timing TBD 

Confederation Ballroom

Nova Scotia is setting the pace for Canada’s offshore wind future, advancing policy, market design, and early development pathways that are laying the foundation for a national industry. With the country’s first offshore wind areas identified, a target to lease 5 GW by 2030, and more than 60 GW of long-term potential, Atlantic Canada is emerging as the country’s hub for offshore wind development, supply chain growth, and global investment. This session will examine how that momentum can translate into national growth.

Ontario is exploring offshore wind opportunities in the Great Lakes, supported by a strong manufacturing base, while British Columbia is assessing floating offshore wind potential aligned with industrial decarbonization and Pacific supply chain strengths.

Speakers will consider regional advantages, Indigenous leadership, and the national policy outlook needed to build a coordinated offshore wind sector that supports economic development and clean energy goals across Canada.

Speakers:

Research & Technical Track

Timing TBD

Timing TBD | Governor General Ballroom

Presentations:

Timing TBD | Governor General Ballroom

Presentations:

Refreshment break

Sponsored by:

Industry Track

Timing TBD  

Confederation Ballroom

Canada is a global testbed for tidal energy innovation, with real-world deployments, environmental monitoring breakthroughs, and community-scale projects demonstrating what is possible in some of the world’s most energetic waters.

This session will explore how lessons from Canadian and international experience can inform a pathway to scaling tidal energy to 1 GW by 2050. Discussions will highlight advances in environmental monitoring technologies, insights from demonstration projects, and emerging commercialization strategies for both utility-scale and community-driven tidal development. Together, these perspectives will outline what it will take to move tidal energy from promising pilot projects to a reliable, impactful component of Canada’s clean energy future.

Moderator: Lindsay Bennett, Executive Director, Fundy Ocean Research Centre for Energy (FORCE)

Speakers:

Research & Technical Track

Timing TBD

Timing TBD | Governor General Ballroom

Presentations:

Timing TBD | Governor General Ballroom

Presentations:

Timing TBD  

Networking Lunch

Sponsored by:

Industry Track

Timing TBD  

Confederation Ballroom

As Canada integrates more renewables into the electricity mix, the need for predictable and stabilizing energy sources is growing. Marine renewables—tidal, wave, and offshore wind—offer generation profiles that complement onshore wind, solar, and energy storage, providing system benefits that extend well beyond traditional cost metrics. Their predictability can support baseload needs, reduce energy storage and firming requirements, and strengthen resilience in both large grids and remote or microgrid systems.

This session will examine how utilities, system operators, and analysts are modelling marine renewable energy’s full system value, and how technology developers, community leaders, and storage experts are demonstrating these benefits in practice.

Discussions will explore emerging market mechanisms, planning approaches, and integration strategies that recognize marine renewables as essential assets in a reliable, decarbonized energy system.

Moderator: Bryson Robertson, Director of the Institute for Integrated Energy Systems, University of Victoria

Speakers:

  • Brendan Callery, Senior Manager, Eastern Canada, Power Advisory LLC

Research & Technical Track

Timing TBD  

Timing TBD | Governor General Ballroom

Presentations:

Timing TBD | Governor General Ballroom

Presentations:

Refreshment break

Sponsorship opportunity available

Industry Track

Timing TBD  

Confederation Ballroom

Canada’s ability to scale marine renewables will depend on a clear, investable framework that supports projects at every stage—from early demonstration and community-scale deployments to full commercialization.

This session will examine the evolving financial landscape for marine renewable energy, exploring how risk-sharing models, revenue mechanisms, and policy certainty can unlock investment across tidal, wave, and offshore wind technologies.

Investors, financial institutions, government funders, analysts, and Indigenous economic development leaders will discuss what global capital providers look for, how early-stage risks can be reduced, and which market structures can position Canada as a competitive destination for investment. The conversation will explore what true investment readiness looks like for a marine renewable energy sector seeking to scale responsibly, attract international capital, and accelerate deployment across a diverse range of project types.

Moderator: Philip Bassil, Managing Director, NORTHGREEN CAPITAL

Speakers:

Research & Technical Track

Timing TBD

Timing TBD | Governor General Ballroom

Presentations:

Timing TBD | Governor General Ballroom

Presentations:

Welcome Reception

6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Hosted by:

Wrap up the first official day of MRC2026 with our welcome reception at the National Gallery of Canada. There will be live music, a selection of drinks and hors d’oeuvres, and plenty of time to catch up with colleagues and meet new faces. It offers the ideal setting to continue the day’s discussions, meet new people, and ease into the rest of the conference. 

Venue: The National Gallery of Canada ~ Scotia Bank Hall

Address: 380 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, ON K1N 9N4

Day Two | Thursday, November 19, 2026 

9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Confederation Ballroom Foyer & Provinces Ballroom
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Room C3-C4

Opening Plenary

9:00 AM – 9:05 AM

9:05 AM – 10:30 AM

Confederation Ballroom

Indigenous leadership is foundational to responsible marine renewable development in Canada. This fireside chat brings together Indigenous leaders for an open conversation about what is truly needed to advance energy sovereignty and economic reconciliation in the marine renewable space.

The discussion will explore the growing role of Indigenous‑owned projects, emerging equity participation models, and co‑development frameworks that reflect Indigenous rights, values, and decision‑making authority. Speakers will also reflect on the capacity‑building pathways—technical, financial, governance, and community‑driven—that ensure long‑term benefits remain with Indigenous Nations.

Moderator: Ken Paul, Principal / Owner, Pokiok Associates

Industry Track

Timing TBD  

Confederation Ballroom

Canada’s ability to unlock marine renewable energy at scale depends on building the transmission and interties that can move clean power from coastal regions to major load centres. With electricity demand forecasted to double, or even triple, in the coming decades, now is the time for a conversation on coordinated interregional planning, commercial development pathways, and the type of infrastructure needed to connect marine renewable energy resources to markets.

With a focus on high voltage direct current (HVDC) technology and the interprovincial governance structures required to attract investment, this session will focus on practical steps that will help Canada avoid the inefficiencies of a project-by-project build out by instead focusing on modularity to achieve economies of scale. Canadians must look at how other jurisdictions have launched shared transmission planning functions to help sequence developments, create commercial processes and align regulatory frameworks. Speakers will examine how emerging cross border interest, nascent interprovincial planning mechanisms and federal policy can converge to unlock marine renewables at scale—laying the groundwork for a modern, interconnected grid that supports Canada’s offshore clean energy future.

Moderator: Philip Duguay, Principal, Canada Grid Advisory

Speakers:

  • Luticia Miller, Vice President of Project Development, First Nations Major Project Coalition
  • Chris Hooper, VP Business Development, Nova Scotia Power

Research & Technical Track

Timing TBD  

Timing TBD | Governor General Ballroom

Presentations:

Timing TBD  | Governor General Ballroom

Presentations:

Refreshment break

Sponsorship opportunity available

Industry Track

Timing TBD  

Confederation Ballroom

Offshore wind and other marine renewables are global industries, but no region can scale them on its own. Europe leads in turbine and foundation manufacturing, Asia-Pacific anchors high-voltage equipment and complex steel fabrication, and North America holds vast natural resource potential. The movement of vessels, components, capital, and expertise across these regions increasingly determines which projects get built.

This session will explore how Canada can build the domestic supply chain capacity needed for large-scale offshore wind and marine renewable energy while effectively collaborating with global partners. The discussion will focus on how Canadian suppliers, marine operators, and fabrication facilities can integrate into established international supply chains, support future domestic projects, and meet developer expectations for cost, reliability, timelines, safety, and innovation.

The session will also examine the infrastructure required to deliver projects at scale, including marine construction capabilities, specialized vessels, fabrication and assembly facilities, port upgrades, and logistics systems designed for high-volume offshore activity.

The goal is to understand how Canada can leverage global partnerships, attract investment, and build a competitive, future-ready supply chain capable of delivering its marine renewable energy ambitions.

Moderator: Delia Warren, Senior Consultant, Xodus Group/Daymark Energy Advisors

Speakers:

  • Tim Fischer, Global Executive Director and VP, Wind Division, Ramboll
  • Jay Borkland, Director of Supply Chain, Avangrid
  • Eric Fine, Business Development Manager, Smulders
  • Troy Garnett, VP Business Development, Cherubini Bridges and Structures  

Research & Technical Track

Timing TBD 

Timing TBD | Governor General Ballroom

Presentations:

Timing TBD | Governor General Ballroom

Presentations:

Networking Lunch

Sponsored by:

Industry Track

Timing TBD  

Confederation Ballroom

The success of marine renewable energy depends on building lasting benefits for coastal communities and the working oceans that make the sector possible. This session will explore how offshore wind, tidal, and wave projects can coexist with fisheries, respect Indigenous and traditional ocean uses, and contribute to long‑term local prosperity.

The discussion will examine planning, policy, and regulatory approaches that support sustainable ocean activity, while also highlighting the pathways for community benefits—local jobs, revenue sharing, workforce development, and durable partnerships that reflect community priorities. Real-world examples will illustrate how responsible development can enhance coastal livelihoods and create shared value across regions. 

Moderator: Brenda Chisholm-Beaton, Mayor, Town of Port Hawkesbury

Speakers:

Research & Technical Track

Timing TBD  

Timing TBD | Governor General Ballroom

Presentations:

Timing TBD  | Governor General Ballroom

Presentations:

Timing TBD  

Post Conference Mixer

Time & Location TBD

Wrap up MRC2026 with one final opportunity to connect before heading home – in a more relaxed environment.  

Join us for an informal post-conference mixer to reflect on the insights and discussions made throughout the week.

Research & technical committee

Following the standout success of the Research & Technical Track at the 2025 Conference, we’re pleased to bring it back for MRC2026! Showcasing innovation, technical expertise, and real-world project experience, the track will highlight the leaders and advancements driving offshore wind, tidal, wave, and river-current energy forward.   

A dedicated Research & Technical Committee made up of industry experts and researchers help shape the Technical Track program. This committee guides the development of topics and reviews abstract submissions to ensure the track reflects the most relevant and impactful work in the field. 

Thank you to our Research & Technical Track Partner

Committee Co-Chairs: Anna Redden (FERN) & Brad Buckham (University of Victoria)

Committee:

  • Claire Kleinknecht, Marine Renewables Canada
  • Matt Asplin, ASL Environmental
  • Paul Ryan, Marine Institute of Memorial
  • Levi Morrison, COVE
  • Jinxing Huang, CanmetEnergy / NRCan
  • Daniel Hasselman, Net Zero Atlantic
  • Magnus Harold, ORE Catapult
  • Lindsay Bennett, FORCE