About

What is GeoEnergy?

Manitoba has become a major leader in earth energy systems also known as geothermal or ground source heat pumps. We are an activity hub for North American geothermal installations. These systems provide the lowest cost heating and cooling in the world. Instead of burning fossil fuels or powering an electric element, a pump moves heat into or out of the ground. The only ongoing cost is electricity to run the pump and circulate the hot or cool air. By installing a geothermal system, average homes could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by five tonnes each year.

Manitoba now has between 25% and 30% of all geothermal system installations in the country and 56% of Canada’s geothermal installers are trained in Manitoba. Manitoba Hydro’s Earth Power Loan Program has helped make this renewable energy technology more accessible to Manitoba homeowners, with installations tripling in the past four years and predicted to double again in the next two years.

We will build on this by: merging Winnipeg’s need for new housing lot development within city boundaries with the development of geothermal power. For example, by the fall of 2006, Waverley West in Winnipeg’s southwest quadrant will begin development and its houses will benefit from the availability of built-in geothermal systems. These systems eliminate natural gas bills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and foster a growing industry in our province.

How Does a Geothermal System Work?

The temperature of the ground is fairly constant below the frost line. The ground is warmer in the middle of winter and cooler in the middle of summer than the outside air. A single efficient system can be used for both heating and cooling, eliminating the need for separate furnace and air-conditioning systems. It can also heat water at no additional cost.

An earth energy system uses a series of buried pipes to transfer the heat from the ground into a building during winter, converting it into warm air and distributing it through ducts.

In summer, the system is reversed to transfer heat out of the building, where it uses the cooler ground as a heat sink.

The system can be configured as either a closed or open loop, and the loop itself can be either horizontal or vertical. Closed-loop systems circulate a fluid mixture within the buried pipes, while open-loop systems circulate well or surface water.

Ground-source heat pumps do not create heat through combustion; they simply move solar heat that is stored in soil or water from one place to another.

Executive Board Members

Clarence Jonker

President

Clarence has spent nearly two decades in the design-build HVAC and geothermal industry and is one of the partners at Southern Comfort Mechanical. The company is an installation-focused firm delivering design-build mechanical projects with a strong emphasis on performance, reliability, and long-term system excellence.

Clarence holds a B. Comm (Honours) degree and remains actively involved in supporting the continued growth of Manitoba’s geothermal sector through his work with the Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance.

Gerry Paradis

Vice-President

Gerry is a founding director of the MGEA. He started in the plumbing and HVAC trade full time in 1981 and has been involved with the installation and service of GSHP since 1985. Gerry been involved in over 800 unit installations of residential, commercial, ice rinks, curling rinks, numerous churches, community halls and credit unions.

Crystal Thibeault

Secretary Treasurer

Crystal Thibeault is the owner and president of International Pipe Inc., a Manitoba-based HDPE pipe manufacturing company founded in 2004. With over 20 years of hands-on experience in manufacturing, she has played a key role in supporting and advancing the geothermal industry across Manitoba, as well as nationally and internationally.

Throughout her career, Crystal has worked closely with drilling contractors, engineers, distributors, and industry associations to ensure that manufacturing practices align with evolving geothermal technologies, standards, and project requirements. She has supported the availability of geothermal products and the distribution of fusion equipment and fittings, while promoting improvements in packaging and material accessibility to better serve industry needs.

Crystal currently serves as the Secretary–Treasurer of the Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance (MGEA), where she remains dedicated to strengthening industry collaboration, promoting training and regulatory awareness, and encouraging the broader adoption of geothermal energy.

Fran Giesbrecht

Executive Assistant

Fran comes to MGEA with over 30 years of administration experience. She has a background in bookkeeping and construction safety. Currently serves as president of Envision Community Living and enjoys her hobby as an event planner.

Board Members

Peter Fehr

Peter started in the mechanical field shortly after high school by taking his 5th Class Power Engineering Certificate at Red River College.

Peter was an engineer for several facilities and ended up at Providence University College in 1993 working as an engineer for several years before ending his tenure as Director of Operations. In 2006 Peter formed Nexus Energy Products with several partners to meet the rising need for alternative energy solutions. We provided solar, wind, bio-mass, with a primary focus on geothermal energy. With a large demand for ground loop heat exchangers in Manitoba and Saskatchewan in 2008, Peter purchased a vertical and horizontal drill with all the supporting equipment and formed a ground loop installation company. Peter has been involved in hundreds of residential and commercial projects from Ontario to Alberta. As the owner of X-Terra Geothermal Worx, Peter is heavily involved in the geothermal industry.

Brent Laufer

Brent is the founding President of the MGEA, specializing in complex geothermal design, installation and training. He has had geothermal in his own house for 29 years, and shop for 14 years.

Kirsten Laufer

Since graduating with a diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Red River College in 2020, Kirsten has specialized in residential and commercial geothermal design. Kirsten also provides training on the installation of residential geothermal systems for individuals around Western Canada.

Mike Millard

Michael has over 17 years experience in the geothermal industry in Manitoba and is the former Vice President of the MGEA. As a consultant, he assists building owners explore the economics of geothermal HVAC systems vs. conventional (electric or natural gas) HVAC systems.

As a business development manager, he oversees the sales, design and installation of horizontal drilled, horizontal excavated, shallow vertical drilled, deep vertical drilled, well-to-well and hybrid ground loop heat exchangers in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario. Michael has a Bachelor of Commerce (Hon.) from the I.H. Asper School of Business.

Jonas Rogalsky

Jonas Rogalsky is the owner of Nexus Energy Products, based in Stanley, Manitoba. Drawing on a strong background in field installation and system commissioning, Jonas brings practical insight into the design and implementation of ground source heat pump systems.

Through Nexus, he now focuses on distribution and technical support, working closely with engineers, contractors, and project developers to deliver high-performance, energy-efficient heating and cooling solutions. His commitment to sustainable technologies and collaborative project delivery helps advance the adoption of GSHP systems across Western Canada.

Chris Snelgrove

Chris brings over three decades of experience in the ICI construction industry, spanning project management, system installation, and technical oversight. Since 2005, he has played a leading role in the installation of more than 600 open-loop geothermal heat pump systems, from individual buildings to full district-energy applications.

He is an accredited installer with the Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance and is recognized for his practical expertise and long-standing commitment to advancing geothermal technology in Manitoba.

Steven Wollman

With more than 20 years of experience in the electrical industry and over a decade in HVAC installation and maintenance, Steven brings deep technical expertise to Manitoba’s geothermal sector. He leads a team that operates a vertical drilling rig for geothermal loop installations, supporting high-quality, efficient system design across the province.

Steven is also an accredited installer with the Manitoba Geothermal Energy Alliance and is committed to advancing geothermal adoption and industry standards in Manitoba.