Powering Ontario Through COVID-19: Bruce Power supports vaccination efforts locally and across province

Bruce Power is working with public health officials and all levels of government to provide resources, logistical support and expertise to assist in COVID-19 immunization efforts in Bruce, Grey and Huron counties, and across the province.

“While we remain vigilant in implementing proactive prevention measures to ensure the health and safety of our workers and communities, we are committed to assisting the Grey Bruce Health Unit in its immunization program, which will truly end this pandemic,” said James Scongack, Bruce Power’s Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs & Operational Services.

As a member of the Grey Bruce COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force, Bruce Power works closely with the Grey Bruce Health Unit to offer support as needed. Most recently, Bruce Power has provided resources to assist the Health Unit with its plan to host mass COVID-19 immunization clinics. Through this model, once large quantities of the vaccine are available in Grey/Bruce, local hockey arenas will be used to each administer up to 4,500 COVID-19 vaccines per day to local residents, allowing for a faster and more cost-effective immunization program, while preserving clinical capacity to support the health care system.

To assist the local vaccination effort, Bruce Power is in the process of helping the Health Unit convert the Hanover and Kincardine recovery centres into mass immunization hubs. Bruce Power also recently donated ultra-low temperature vaccine freezers to each of the Grey Bruce Health Unit and Huron Perth Public Health.

Bruce Power recently partnered with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and Facebook Canada to launch the Ontario Vaccination Support Council (OVSC), which is made up of 200 businesses, unions, academic institutions, chambers and boards of trade. The objectives of the OVSC include assisting with communications to address vaccine hesitancy, literacy, and awareness; offering logistical support and capabilities to help expedite the vaccine roll-out; and sharing insights and best practices to ensure private sector expertise is being leveraged.

Scongack, who serves as co-chair of the OVSC, believes the collective effort shown by government, organizations and public health officials is paramount to keeping people safe and efficiently immunizing local residents and frontline workers once large numbers of doses are available.

“While there will be challenges ahead in such a large and complex effort, the council will bring together Ontario’s business community, leveraging their agility, capability, innovation, and engagement to ensure we face this challenge together.”

In addition, the Retooling and Economic Recovery Council (RERC), which was created by Bruce Power and its Ontario-based nuclear supply chain partners, was quick to offer support

and assistance to Ontario’s COVID-19 Vaccination Task Force, which is chaired by Gen. (Ret’d) Rick Hillier, and remains ready to assist as required.

Since the onset of the pandemic, Bruce Power has provided nearly 2.5 million pieces of personal protective equipment to frontline workers, businesses, Indigenous communities and schools – the largest announced donation of PPE from Canada’s private sector. The company has also spent $1 million on public education efforts, community protection, shop local initiatives, activities and organizations that promote mental and physical health, and lending a helping hand to those in need through its Be a Light and Powering Ontario Through COVID-19 campaigns.

About Bruce Power:  Formed in 2001, Bruce Power is an electricity company based in Bruce County, Ontario. We are powered by our people. Our 4,200 employees are the foundation of our accomplishments and are proud of the role they play in safely delivering clean, reliable, low-cost nuclear power to families and businesses across the province. Bruce Power has worked hard to build strong roots in Ontario and is committed to protecting the environment and supporting the communities in which we live. Learn more at www.brucepower.com and follow us on FacebookTwitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.