OPG in Bruce County: Community Update – October, 2021

Fred Kuntz, Sr. Mgr., Corporate Relations and Projects | Bruce County

OPG releases first-ever Reconciliation Action Plan:  Ontario Power Generation has committed to a continued journey of reconciliation with Indigenous communities through its first-ever Reconciliation Action Plan. The plan is aligned with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #92, which urges corporate Canada to create a better future by applying a reconciliation framework to business activities.

     

     Key to the plan: OPG commits to growing economic impact for Indigenous communities and businesses to $1 billion over the next 10 years, through ongoing operations, projects and initiatives. “We are determined to seek meaningful ways to demonstrate reconciliation. This action plan is the next step in that journey,” said Ken Hartwick, OPG President and CEO.

      Visit the OPG website, www.opg.com, to learn more about the Reconciliation Action Plan, including specific goals, actions and timelines in five focus areas: leadership, relationships, people, economic empowerment and environmental stewardship.

Diversity in governance: Three accomplished women of diverse backgrounds have joined OPG’s talented Board of Directors. Tracy Primeau – who we’re proud to say is from Bruce County – as well as Anju Virmani and Mary Filippelli joined the 11-person board this year to help lead the company’s future. The board is responsible for the governance and stewardship of the company, guiding its business strategies. With these additions, women comprise 60 per cent of the independent board members, including Chair Wendy Kei, making it one of the most gender-diverse boards in the industry.

Job opportunities:  OPG was pleased to attend this week’s grand opening of an Indigenous-owned company’s new fabrication facility in Owen Sound. The company, Makwa-Cahill, transformed a former furniture store into a 26,000-square-foot facility that will create components for the energy sector including the Bruce nuclear site, owned by OPG and leased to Bruce Power Partnership Ltd. to operate.  Makwa Development Corp., based at the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation community, said its partnership with Cahill Contractors will employ millwrights, welders, metal shop workers, pipe-fitters, other tradespeople, project managers and administration staff.

Around Ontario and beyond:

  • Progress toward SMRs:  The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has decided to renew site-preparation licence for OPG’s Darlington New Nuclear Project, east of Toronto. This 10-year renewal allows OPG to continue preparing the Darlington nuclear site for construction of a potential future Small Modular Reactor (SMR).  An SMR at Darlington would provide a new source of carbon-free, nuclear energy for projected growth in demand, as transportation and other sectors electrify to use Ontario’s clean power to help decarbonize the economy.
  • Accountable to you: As part of OPG’s commitment to keep the public informed, we regularly post performance reports for Nuclear Waste Management facilities – including the Western Waste Management Facility at the Bruce site – in the areas of safety, operations, and the environment. The most recent report at the OPG website summarizes significant accomplishments achieved, during the second quarter of 2021.
  • 90 years strong: Chats Falls Generating Station (GS) is celebrating 90 years of producing clean power – not only for Ontario, but also for its neighbour across the Ottawa River, Québec.  In a unique arrangement, the 192-megawatt station 60 kilometres west of Ottawa is jointly owned by OPG and Hydro-Québec; each company owns four of the plant’s eight units, while OPG operates the entire facility.