Hydrogen Convention Street Party 2023

May 24, 2023 | Edmonton, Events, What's Happening

Crowd shot of the Canadian Hydrogen Convention Street Party on Rice Howard Way
Photo by: Intertwined Studios, courtesy of Explore Edmonton

The Bird Creatives team was thrilled to produce the Hydrogen Convention Street Party on April 25. Here, we were able to brainstorm and collaborate with Explore Edmonton, Edmonton Global and DMG Events, to showcase some of the best from the local creative economy to over 1500 convention delegates from around the world. The team closed Rice Howard Way, a downtown street to bring the party to life with local live music, street performers, food trucks, a night market and art installations, and we’re excited to share that the event was a great success!

Working with emerging industries like hydrogen not only brings about environmental benefits but also presents a unique opportunity to bolster Alberta's local creative economy through cross-industry collaboration. As the hydrogen sector grows, it creates a demand for innovative solutions, cutting-edge technologies, and forward-thinking ideas. This demand extends beyond traditional engineering and scientific domains. The arrival of a new, sustainable industry also opens doors for artists, designers, architects, and other creative professionals. Collaboration between the hydrogen industry and the creative sector has the potential to foster a vibrant exchange of ideas, the impact of which can be seen in urban planning, engineering, film, and so much more. This symbiotic relationship enriches the narrative surrounding the transition to a sustainable future, inspiring communities and attracting further investments and tourism.

This unique event and its success once again actualized the possibilities and benefits that the addition of the creative economy brings to previously untapped and perhaps less obvious events and partnerships. Bird Creatives is excited about this new chapter and we’re looking forward to working on more cross-industry collaborations and projects!

Convention attendees taking a selfie
Photo by: Intertwined Studios, courtesy of Explore Edmonton

About the Canadian Hydrogen Convention

Canada, a nation renowned for its vast natural resources and commitment to environmental sustainability is poised to embark on a radical transformation of its energy system. As the world recognizes the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels and embrace cleaner alternatives, hydrogen has emerged as a game-changing solution with immense potential. The Canadian Hydrogen Convention, a premier event in the country, stands at the forefront of this transformative journey.

The convention takes place annually in Edmonton, Alberta, and serves as a pivotal platform for energy executives, government officials, Indigenous leaders, and forward-thinking innovators to converge and discuss Canada's low-carbon energy future.

Here’s a recap of the Street Party

Local Live Music

The street party featured a diverse variety of local music including:

Mercy Funk: Mercy Funk is known for their familiar yet fresh sound, combining pop, R&B, soul, and funk influences, the band always guarantees a good time for fans of all ages.

Melafrique: Melafrique is a 7 piece Afro-fusion band formed in Edmonton in 2016. Melafrique means "Melanin from Africa", they play genres: R&B, Reggae, and Neo-soul in combination with their African styles of music creating, Afro-fusion.

Scenic Route To Alaska: Scenic Route to Alaska are best buds from Edmonton, Canada. Some say they sound as if The Beatles were from the prairies.

Melafrique performing onstage
Photo by: Intertwined Studios, courtesy of Explore Edmonton

Adding vibrancy to the street were two inspired installations and an art piece centred around the theme of renewable energy

Bryson the Bison: Bryson is a life-sized bison sculpture created by GABS, an Edmonton-based artist that has been creating glowing creatures over the last half-decade. Bryson is filled with lights and can be found travelling through the city on rollerblades! You can follow along with his adventures on Instagram @gabsdoesart or at www.gabs.ca
Winter Birds with ONEC logo: These inflatable chickadees, provided by CO*LAB, are powered by ONEC’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell. The innovative, self-contained unit operates on industrial-grade hydrogen from Air Liquide, providing electricity without pollution. You can learn more about the Winter Birds at www.colabyeg.ca and more about the Hydrogen Fuel Cell at www.onecgroup.com
Mural by Maaike Kuypers: This custom mural, meant to celebrate community and springtime, was created by local designer, artist and illustrator, Maaike Kuypers. Her work gifts encouragement, wit, wisdom and humour, while drawing attention to the everyday beauty that surrounds us all. You can find more of Maaike’s work at www.maaikelynn.com

Bryson the Bison
Photo by: Intertwined Studios, courtesy of Explore Edmonton

Roaming Performers

Two vibrant street performers set the tone of the party!

National Stiltwalkers of Canada:

The National Stiltwalkers of Canada are dedicated to the Preservation, Promotion and Presentation of the art of Stiltwalking locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

Brasstactics:

Edmonton’s premier brass party band, The Brasstactics deliver only the tightest jams! Serving up hot throwbacks from the 70's, 80's, 90's, and 00's, it’s guaranteed you'll dance and sing along.

360 Photo Booth

Who doesn’t love a 360 photo booth? Glam Cam provided a super fun, interactive photo booth for our attendees. Check it out in our reel!

National Stiltwalkers of Canada
Photo by: Intertwined Studios, courtesy of Explore Edmonton

Canada’s New Energy

The Canadian Hydrogen Convention served as a showcase for hydrogen as a key enabler in achieving Canada's commitment to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. By fostering dialogue, innovation, and collaboration, this event played a pivotal role in shaping Canada's low-carbon energy landscape.

Drawing together more than 100 exhibiting companies, featuring over 200 expert speakers, and welcoming more than 4,000 engaged attendees and 2,000 conference delegates, the convention offered an unparalleled opportunity to explore cutting-edge innovations and solutions for low-carbon hydrogen production, storage, utilization, and its future as a key fuel. From industry leaders to passionate researchers, from policymakers to Indigenous communities, the Canadian Hydrogen Convention brought together diverse stakeholders committed to driving forward the hydrogen revolution.

To learn more about the Canadian Hydrogen Convention, check out their website.

We’d like to thank the sponsors of the street party:

Main sponsors:

Canadian Hydrogen Convention
DMG Events
Explore Edmonton
Edmonton Global

Bar sponsors:

Sea Change Brewing Co.
Shiddy's Distillery

Restaurant Partners:

CRAFT Beer Market
Dalla Tavoli Zenari
Sherlock Holmes Pub

Food Trucks:

The Purple Perogy: Serving Authentic Ukrainian Cuisine.
Drift Eatery: Serving globally inspired obsessions, think full-flavoured sandwiches and crispy hand-cut fries.
Sabor de los Andes: YEG’s local food truck serving Authentic Latin Food.