We live, work, and raise our families in the same place we operate – Northern Saskatchewan, Canada.
Climate Smart saw its grassroots beginnings in 2017, when Curtis Blanchard went to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment to pursue a project partnership and found one in Executive Director Aaron Kuchirka—though not in the way he expected.
Nadina Gardiner, the Community Liason for Cumberland House Cree Nation, presents project details to PBCN community members.
As the larger vision began to take shape in 2020, Curtis and Aaron connected over a mutual desire to leverage their experience, knowledge, and existing industry frameworks to make a true difference in the fight against environmental degradation and built-to-burn-out resource extraction. They recognized the interconnectedness of the land’s health with the economic and social empowerment of its most dedicated, knowledgeable stewards: Indigenous communities. From this shared drive to steer the world towards lasting solutions, without compromise, Climate Smart was born.
Since then, they’ve brought together a passionate team of folks who are equally as invested in the success of Climate Smart’s efforts to create solutions that will benefit people from all walks of life, across the planet.
Our Mission
We cultivate partnerships with Indigenous communities that are based on mutual respect, transparency, trust, and a desire to work together for optimal social and economic outcomes while not only protecting the environment, but actively caring for it.
Meet Our Team
Executive Leadership
Aaron Kuchirka
CPA, CGA, BBA
Founder
Aaron formerly served with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment as both Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Forest Service and Executive Director of Ministry Workplace Health and Safety.
Curtis Blanchard
CRSP, DOHS
Founder
Curtis formerly served as the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Forest Industries Safety Asssociation and has over 25 years’ experience in management of large-scale projects in forestry, construction, pipeline, power transmission, and manufacturing.
Staff
Dennis Kuchirka
Chief Financial Officer
Nadina Gardiner
Portfolio Manager
Logan Downing
Development Lead
Shawn Neuman
Industrial Lead
Ting Marshall
Human Resources Lead
Jasmine Atay Ferguson
Communications Services Lead
Courtney Sevigny
Corporate Team Lead
Josh Rainbow
i2i Tech Systems Lead
Marnus de Vos
Finance Lead
Vivian Santos
Bookkeeper
Advisors
Ezra Santos
Senior Advisor
Managing director of i2i Tech Inc., and Reality Engine marketing & advertising.
Ralph Cioffi
Senior Advisor
Saint Michael’s College graduate with thirty years working on Wall Street
Frederick Funston
Senior Advisor
CEO of Funston Advisory Services LLC
Glenn Edwards
Senior Advisor
Founder of Glenn Edwards Chart Organization