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About

Climate Smart Services

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.

Curt-and-Aaron-Present-at-PBCN
Climate Smart Founders, Curtis Blanchard (left) and Aaron Kuchirka (right), presenting project details to partner community, Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation.
Nadina Presenting at PBCN

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

Nadina Gardiner

Portfolio Manager
Logan Downing headshot

Logan Downing

Development Lead
Shawn Neuman headshot

Shawn Neuman

Industrial Lead

Ting Marshall

Human Resources Lead
Jasmine Atay Ferguson bio shot

Jasmine Atay Ferguson

Communications Services Lead
Courtney headshot

Courtney Sevigny

Corporate Team Lead
Josh Rainbow headshot

Josh Rainbow

i2i Tech Systems Lead
Marcos de Vos headshot

Marnus de Vos

Finance Lead
Vivian Santos headshot

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