Indigenous millwright Craig Echum living his OPG dream in the northeast
At a glance
- Mechanical Technician Craig Echum is helping to keep OPG’s hydro stations in good shape in the northeast.
- A member of the Moose Cree First Nation, Echum has forged a successful career in the skilled trades.
- He is now working to promote skilled trades opportunities to Indigenous people.
Craig Echum knows first-hand some of the challenges of living in Ontario’s remote north.
He grew up in Moose Factory as a member of the Moose Cree First Nation, a small community of 2,500 residents that is only accessible by plane, train, boat, or a snow and ice road in the winter.
He also worked in a diamond mine for nearly a decade on the Attawapiskat River, working two weeks on, two weeks off, and taking a plane in and out of the job site.
“Where I come from, isolation is a problem. The biggest challenge for sure is getting in and out. And the cost of living can be quite high,” said Echum.
But he hasn’t let those challenges stop him from chasing his dream.
As a youth, Echum used training resources and financial support offered by the Mushkegowuk Tribal Council in his home community, which helped get him started in the millwright trade.
Now a Red Seal journeyman, Echum applies his skills as a Mechanical Technician in OPG’s Abitibi Production group in the northeast, about 200 km south of where he grew up.
“I’m trying to put the word out there, to Indigenous people, to encourage them that it can be done. You can make it in the trades and have a great, stable career. I am walking proof of that.”Craig EchumMechanical Technician
In his role, Echum and a team of fellow mechanical technicians provide all the mechanical maintenance for OPG’s hydro stations in the area, including Abitibi Canyon Generating Station (GS), Otter Rapids GS, and Peter Sutherland Sr. GS, which harness the power of the Abitibi River to produce clean power.
Their vital work, which includes disassembling and reassembling generating units, rewinding stators, welding, and machining, helps ensure these important hydro stations can operate reliably and safely.
It’s a job he takes seriously and enjoys each day.
“We’ve been keeping very busy up here, with lots of projects on the go,” said Echum, who has been with OPG for about six years. “We have a great team here and I’ve learned a lot. It’s a great feeling when you’re doing the job and it’s working good, and you feel satisfied that you made a difference.”
Did you know? OPG's Peter Sutherland Sr. GS, which went into service in March 2017, was built in partnership with Coral Rapids Power, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Taykwa Tagamou Nation.
Now, Echum wants to help others feel the same satisfaction.
As a member of OPG’s Indigenous Circle, an internal network for OPG’s Indigenous employees, and the company’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee, he is working to promote skilled trades opportunities to Indigenous people within and outside the company.
Currently, there are many rewarding opportunities in the skilled trades across the energy sector, Echum said, and the demand is only growing as more experienced workers retire.
“I’m trying to put the word out there, to Indigenous people, to encourage them that it can be done,” he says. “You can make it in the trades and have a great, stable career. I am walking proof of that.”
Now living in Cochrane and driving into work, Echum has been enjoying the drastic lifestyle change that OPG has provided him.
Far from the isolation he experienced in his previous career in mining, the father of five girls has appreciated the stability of his current role and, most of all, being able to go home and see his family at the end of each workday.
“OPG has been perfect for me,” he says. “My kids love it, and I love it, too.”
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