Darlington Nuclear welcomes the next generation of Indigenous millwrights
At a glance
- 11 new Indigenous candidates are now training to be millwrights at OPG’s Darlington Energy Complex.
- Upon graduating from the Introduction to Millwrighting program, the new millwright apprentices will be eligible to be dispatched to work on the Darlington Refurbishment project and elsewhere across the energy sector.
- Skilled trades are currently in high demand with multiple refurbishment projects underway across the industry.
There’s a new group of Indigenous millwright hopefuls now training for their future at OPG’s Darlington Energy Complex.
On Monday, Nov. 4, 11 new candidates kicked off the Introduction to Millwrighting (ITM) training program, a specialized five-week course created by the Millwright Regional Council (MRC) and first launched in 2021.
The program supports recruitment of Indigenous people into the millwright trade to help increase Indigenous representation in the energy sector and advance Reconciliation goals.
Once their training wraps up in early December, the successful candidates will have the opportunity to take on millwright apprenticeships and be deployed to work at OPG’s Darlington Refurbishment project and across the energy sector through OPG’s Indigenous Opportunities Network (ION).
“I really can’t thank OPG enough for their support of this program over the last three years,” said Andy Forsyth, Business Development with the MRC. “Through this program, we are equipping new Indigenous millwrights with the skills to get out there and start working right away, because that’s what the industry needs right now. It has been great to see so many engaged and happy people now enjoying a life-changing career.”
Through this program, we are equipping new Indigenous millwrights with the skills to get out there and start working right away, because that’s what the industry needs right now. It has been great to see so many engaged and happy people now enjoying a life-changing career.Andy ForsythBusiness Development with the Millwright Regional Council
Since its launch, the ITM program has produced more than 30 Indigenous millwright apprentices, many of whom have gone onto work at OPG’s nuclear and hydroelectric stations.
The introductory course focuses on safety fundamentals, instruction in the millwright trade, and preparation for the aptitude test required to join the MRC.
Highly trained MRC millwrights install, maintain, diagnose, and repair various industrial and mechanical equipment – from pumps and conveyors to the steam turbines that produce electricity at nuclear power plants.
It is a trade currently in high demand, particularly with the ongoing Darlington Refurbishment project and other refurbishment projects underway around the energy industry.
And the demand is only set to grow as Ontario looks to build more low-carbon generation to support its growing and electrifying economy. The province is forecasted to need almost 500,000 additional trades to support construction over the next decade.
“ION and the Introduction to Millwrighting program are providing great opportunities for people who might not otherwise have had that chance,” said Gary Paulin, a Recruitment and Onboarding Lead with OPG. “It’s been wonderful to see so much great work happening at OPG and across the industry.”
Since launching in September 2018, ION has helped place more than 180 Indigenous workers in various roles at OPG and across the energy sector. The company continues to work with Kagita Mikam Aboriginal Employment and Training, based in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, to help identify and assess recruits for ION.
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