Renewable Skills trainees were provided hands-on solar installation instruction alongside Green Sun Rising as part of the Nunatsiavut Youth Energy Training Initiative in Rigolet and Hopedale, NL.
Iron & Earth was founded in 2016 by fossil fuel workers who wanted to take action on climate change. Motivated by the urgent need for a Just Transition, we set out to repurpose our skills for building a net-zero future. Over time, our work has expanded to serve a broader range of communities, especially those facing systemic barriers to participating in the green economy.
Since 2018, Small Change Fund has been a key partner in that journey. With their support, our Renewable Skills Initiative has provided hands-on training in solar and wind energy, as well as other in-demand green economy skills. These programs are designed in partnership with communities to meet local needs and create meaningful impact.
Together, we’ve supported renewable energy projects and training in communities including Maskwacis (AB), Lac La Ronge (SK), Délı̨nę Got’ı̨nę and the Dehcho region (NWT), and more. We’ve also delivered training to Indigenous youth through the Outland Youth Employment Program (OYEP) in collaboration with Dexterra Community Initiatives—a program we’re proud to return to this August in northern Alberta. We’re also expanding our reach with a solar installation and training in Cartwright, NL, in partnership with the NunatuKavut Community Council and the Sandwich Bay 50+ Club.
Beyond hands-on training, Small Change Fund has supported our Climate Career Portal—an online platform that connects workers to green job opportunities, mentorship, and resources to guide them in their career transitions. Included in this initiative for the year is our very first Iron & Earth conference, as part of Canada Climate Week Xchange at the University of Toronto, Mississauga campus. Visit IronandEarth.org and follow us on social media (@ironandearth) to keep track of all our exciting programming in 2025.
Despite all our hard work over the years, we couldn’t do any of this alone. Small Change Fund has helped turn Iron & Earth’s vision of a sustainable future into a reality, with tangible benefits for workers, communities, and the environment.
Thank you to Iron & Earth for this guest blog post.
Solar install trainees and instructors pose at the Iron & Earth x RenuWell training near Taber, AB in 2022.
