In this episode, I sit down with the Global Energy Show Manager, Nigel Hannaford, to talk about how the show went and what the show s success might tell us about the future of the energy industry in Canada.
00:01:04.000The International Pipeline Expo returns every two years coming in September.
00:01:08.000And then along with that, we do in Edmonton the Canadian Hydrogen Convention and Carbon Capture Canada.
00:01:15.000Carbon Capture. We'll come back to that.
00:01:18.000Nick, before we go there, how has this show gone for you?
00:01:22.000This year has been, it's been quite a wild ride, Nigel.
00:01:26.000So we, you know, we plan these shows almost a year out just as we're about to plan the 2026.
00:01:31.000And so last summer, going back almost a year, we knew there was going to be obviously a US election working with our governing body.
00:01:40.000We were somewhat aware that there's going to be a G7 meeting that we were going to be just before that.
00:01:45.000And then also at some point, there's going to be a Canadian election.
00:01:48.000Well, of course, fast forwarding now, we know those things are all clear and mostly in the rear view.
00:01:53.000So we started to plan the event around two big themes.
00:01:56.000One was we could foresee that the continuing need that we've been talking about here in Alberta to build energy infrastructure.
00:02:06.000Whether we, you know, whether that's pipelines or other facilities like that, we were going to focus on that theme.
00:02:12.000And then the other side was diversifying Canada's energy customers.
00:02:15.000So we spent a lot of time traveling the world, meeting whether that was South America into North Africa, Europe and Asia,
00:02:25.000where we have several other large energy events and advertising that in order to recruit and build up an exhibition show floor and a conference program focused on those two themes.
00:02:36.000This spring, things happen very, very quickly because, of course, with those with those elections, a big portion of our conference program is elected officials.
00:02:45.000And those moving pieces to see who can come where with all of this happening in the market.
00:02:50.000And then ensuring that we got those themes just right.
00:02:55.000We've only got three days here, Nigel, to really supercharge the national and international attention on what's happening in Canada.
00:03:04.000We take the responsibility very seriously.
00:03:06.000So it all came together like the shows do.
00:03:08.000And we've seen a real upswing this year compared to the 2024 event.
00:03:14.000Well, I mean, I've heard scuttlebutt on the floor that it may have been 30,000 people here, which is pretty large attendance for a show like this.
00:03:24.000It's a large attendance. We're fortunate.
00:03:26.000You know, this event has been here in Calgary.
00:03:29.000It's really it's a treasured, not just a tradition, but almost an institution, I dare say, since it was founded more than 50 years ago.
00:03:44.000I've had the been fortunate to sit down with Jim and talk to him a little bit about how the show was founded as an add on to the stampede and really a knowledge gap there between what the energy sector was doing at that time.
00:03:58.000And really what the general public perception is.
00:04:01.000And I won't go in to paraphrase that, but I'm sure many, many of the viewers and yourself, you can see that that knowledge gap is still that's really one of our foundational roots of the event this year is to tell that energy story to your average person.
00:04:18.000Whether that's things like energy affordability, access, or even in today's headlines, things about what that means for national sovereignty or other issues surrounding ensuring that Canada remains a strong energy provider that's responsible, secure, and a big export to the world.
00:04:39.000Well, one thing that took us by surprise when we heard that the Secretary General of OPEC was attending, when did you know that?
00:04:48.000Well, I guess I could talk about that now.
00:04:50.000So, it's something we've been working on for several months.
00:04:53.000You know, DMG events, we're involved with shows that some viewers may be familiar with, like ADIPEC, the world's largest energy event, or GASTECH, and others.
00:05:04.000And that, alongside with our great partnership with the government of Alberta, hand in hand, we had an inkling of that probably about six weeks out.
00:05:17.000We started working on those preparations and being prepared to announce that, which we did, which caused quite a stir, as it was His Excellency's first visit to Canada.
00:05:30.000And we were aware he was going to come in and deliver an important message, which he did.
00:05:36.000And what was that message in two sentences?
00:05:39.000I'd say, one, that oil and gas isn't going anywhere.
00:05:43.000In fact, peak oil is not, as some may say, around the corner, or it could very well not be anytime soon.
00:05:52.000And number two, which I thought was very classy and needed, was a big thank you to people that are in the energy sector, the men and women that do that every day.
00:06:02.000I don't know if we do that enough, because there's lots of headwinds, of course, as we know recently, and the job they do for all of us every day is irreplaceable and essential.
00:06:30.000We think that Prime Minister Carney, Minister Hodgson, and the new government in place has been making lots of statements,
00:06:42.000which I think are bringing some cautious optimism, is what we're hearing, to talk about infrastructure projects and pipelines and that sort of thing.
00:06:55.000And I believe there's a great interest in Mr. Carney attending and the invitation.
00:07:01.000I'll make that first year for the 2026 show is where the tail end is there.
00:07:10.000And as we do here at the exhibition and the conference, you know, I think, Nigel, the worst conferences are where you get a bunch of panelists
00:07:19.000and everyone turns to each other left to right and says we all agree with each other.
00:07:23.000Conferences are about a diversity of views.
00:07:45.000But if you had to place the emphasis on cautious or on optimism, what does the success of this show tell you about the way that the industry is going in Western Canada?
00:07:57.000I think it's really a testament to not just the entrepreneurship and perhaps it's an industry that is rightly so opportunistic,
00:08:11.000The fundamentals that we have fourth largest oil, fifth largest gas, sixth hydro, you know, hydroelectricity, nuclear, top 10 hydrogen producer.
00:08:33.000I don't think that even despite some of the big headwinds, whether that's policy or big project cancellations, delays or otherwise that we've seen in the last 10 years,
00:08:45.000the resiliency of the energy sector here as an Albertan myself, it's what gets me up in the morning.
00:08:53.000So I think that some of those signals that we are going to be launching our first shipments of LNG to Asia coming up just soon.
00:09:02.000And the talk of a potential revival of perhaps the Northern Gateway pipeline, other pipelines up to Churchill is getting people excited.
00:09:12.000And rightly so, because I don't know if we've had too much to celebrate in that regard lately.
00:09:17.000Well, I don't think we have, but what it sounds to me is your job is safe.
00:09:22.000Well, I, I don't think I'm going to say that, you know, say that, but, but certainly what I will say is thank you.
00:09:31.000The, the exhibition here has been through thick and thin.
00:09:35.000You know, we go back through those 50 years.
00:09:38.000It's seen as it's ups and downs in the eighties, ups and downs.
00:09:41.000We know through the crash through 2014, I've been here for 10 years.
00:09:46.000And, uh, I come from, uh, my dad, uh, was in, has been in the, has been in the energy sector, uh, bless him.
00:09:58.000So the energy sector and the oil and gas is, is in our family and in my blood.
00:10:03.000And, uh, those ups and downs, I couldn't be more committed to ensuring that when, um, when my time here,
00:10:10.000I want to continue on the amazing legacy of Jim and this incredible treasure that we have the global energy show for another 50 years and leave it in great shape.
00:10:21.000Well, let's get the invitation out to the prime minister because we really need to see him create that sense of confidence in the industry and in its future.
00:10:30.000So, Nick, thank you so much for coming on the show.