Creative Energy Canada

In 1968, a group of engineers in Vancouver founded a company with a practical goal: to provide a more efficient and less polluting way to heat downtown buildings. This marked the beginning of Central Heat Distribution, a district energy company that used natural gas boilers to generate steam, distributing it through an underground network of pipes. For decades, the company operated reliably, serving a growing number of buildings in Vancouver's core. A pivotal moment came in 2014 when real estate developer Ian Gillespie, through his company Westbank, acquired Central Heat Distribution for $32 million and rebranded it as Creative Energy. Gillespie's vision was to modernize the system and transition it toward low-carbon energy sources, aligning with the city's environmental goals. This new chapter wasn't without its challenges, including navigating regulatory approvals for its expansion and low-carbon conversion plans. A significant development occurred in 2018 when InstarAGF Asset Management acquired a 50% equity stake in the company. This partnership provided the capital and expertise to accelerate growth, fueling the development of new district energy projects across Canada and into the United States, utilizing technologies like geo-exchange and ocean heat exchange.