Building relationships with Ontario’s Indigenous communities

At Ontario Power Generation, we are committed to building and growing long-term, mutually beneficial working relationships with Indigenous communities near our current and future operations.

Explore how OPG works with Indigenous communities to create innovative partnerships.

In this section

Meet Sue, one of our Indigenous Advisors

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OPG’s Indigenous Relations Policy

Our Indigenous Relations group helps to build these relationships in keeping with OPG’s Indigenous Relations Policy, first developed in 2007.

The policy sets out:

  • OPG’s objectives for respecting rights and interests.
  • Rules for developing and maintaining mutually beneficial relationships and partnerships with Indigenous communities.
  • Policies that require engaging in community relations and outreach.
  • Paths to providing capacity-building support, including employment and business contracting opportunities.

Our relationships are developed on a foundation of respect for the languages, customs, cultural institutions and rights of Indigenous communities in Ontario. Our goal is to build and preserve openness, transparency and trust.

Indigenous News
Photo of Aaron Louttit, heavy equipment operator
Our people

Heavy equipment operator focused on safety with Little Long Dam Safety Project

Aaron Louttit admits that he has been “a bit of a sponge” in his work life. He is now working on OPG's Little Long Dam Safety Project.

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Thane Higgins, a member of Constance Lake First Nation, is working as an Executive Associate on the Darlington Refurbishment Project after being hired through OPG's Indigenous Opportunities in Nuclear program.
Our people

OPG’s ION program helps Indigenous grad get a foothold on career

Coming out of school with a mechanical engineering degree, Thane Higgins found the job search to be an uphill battle as a recent graduate.

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In northeast Ontario, north of Kapuskasing, construction is progressing on the Little Long Dam Safety project to improve dam safety on the Mattagami River.
Our projects

Construction progressing on Little Long Dam Safety project in northeast

In northeast Ontario, work is progressing on the Little Long Dam Safety project, which will improve dam safety on the Mattagami River.

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Indigenous community initiatives

We’re committed to strengthening our relationships with Ontario's Indigenous communities.

Throughout the year, OPG participates in many initiatives as part of this goal.

One way we engage with Indigenous communities is through our Corporate Citizenship Program (CCP), which undertakes grass roots community initiatives/partnerships with organizations located close to our generating facilities. CCP funding focus areas include: education, environment and community initiatives.

Since 2006, OPG has supported Frontier College and the Lt. Governor’s Indigenous Youth Summer Reading Camp Program.

This provincial program helps build reading and computer literacy skills of youth/elementary students living in remote First Nations. The camp curriculum includes reading, writing and computer skill development, storytelling, music, and arts and crafts. The program incorporates traditional culture and learning.

As an extension of our support of the summer reading camp program, OPG staff host “Reading is Cool” events each summer, where OPG employees attend camp for a day and engage in reading, activities and mentoring with the participating campers.

OPG has supported the Little Native Hockey League Tournament (Little NHL) since 2009.

Since the tourney’s inaugural puck drop in the town of Espanola in 1971, the Little NHL event, has grown by leaps and bounds. Today, the event attracts more than 200 teams and 3,000 players, a far cry from the 17 teams that played in the first tournament.
Our support of this initiative highlights the important role sport plays in the development of youth by promoting physical fitness, self-confidence, respect, skill development, teamwork and sportsmanship.

Tournament sponsorship helps demonstrate OPG’s support of its First Nation partner communities, their tradition of hockey, and the development of Indigenous youth through sport.

Elephant Thoughts celebrates Indigenous culture while integrating both traditional and contemporary knowledge. It hosts science camps in communities across Canada, including northern Ontario, with the ultimate goal of empowering students and building science literacy.

Spearheaded by the Friends of Laura Secord community group, the First Nations Peace Monument was unveiled on Oct. 7, 2017, the 254th anniversary of the Royal Proclamation of 1763, which formed the basis of land claims of Indigenous peoples in Canada. The monument stands as a symbol of reconciliation and recognition of the important role First Nations played, and continue to play, in Canada’s history.

Student awards

Building relationships with Indigenous communities also means investing in their young people. We have developed several programs that encourage learning and will help to build a better tomorrow. These include:

  • John Wesley Beaver Memorial Award
  • Confederation College Negahneewin Incentive Award
  • Lakehead University Indigenous Award

For more information, visit our Student Awards page.