Neighbours - July 2022
OPG’s community events power on!
OPG’s history within the Durham Region centres around the fact that over 30 per cent of the power Ontarians rely on each day comes from both the Pickering and Darlington Nuclear Generating Stations. However, our history is more than just producing power, it’s about the impact OPG has had on the community over our 50+ year history.
Although the pandemic presented a challenge, it did not stop us. OPG has continued to engage with thousands of people across the communities our employees call home.
This spring, our Virtual Power Kids program captivated tens of thousands of children across Ontario and even the world. The program offered a variety of content to the community including traditional Indigenous teachings, enhancing creativity, learning about the important impacts of climate change, and how much fun Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics can be!
Thank you to our community partners who made this program happen: Scientists in School, Central Lakes Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA), Driftwood Theatre, Elephant Thoughts, and Earth Rangers.
Over the years, with help from our partners such as Toronto and Regional Conservation Authority and CLOCA, OPG has supported the planting of more than eight million native trees and shrubs, created habitats throughout the province, and helped to replenish our river systems with countless salmon. Learn more at opg.com/ourstories
OPG’s community events power on!
OPG’s history within the Durham Region centres around the fact that over 30 per cent of the power Ontarians rely on each day comes from both the Pickering and Darlington Nuclear Generating Stations. However, our history is more than just producing power, it’s about the impact OPG has had on the community over our 50+ year history.
Although the pandemic presented a challenge, it did not stop us. OPG has continued to engage with thousands of people across the communities our employees call home.
This spring, our Virtual Power Kids program captivated tens of thousands of children across Ontario and even the world. The program offered a variety of content to the community including traditional Indigenous teachings, enhancing creativity, learning about the important impacts of climate change, and how much fun Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics can be!
Thank you to our community partners who made this program happen: Scientists in School, Central Lakes Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA), Driftwood Theatre, Elephant Thoughts, and Earth Rangers.
Over the years, with help from our partners such as Toronto and Regional Conservation Authority and CLOCA, OPG has supported the planting of more than eight million native trees and shrubs, created habitats throughout the province, and helped to replenish our river systems with countless salmon. Learn more at opg.com/ourstories
Darlington Refurbishment Project Update
The Darlington Refurbishment team continues its strong performance, remaining on-time and on-budget. This is due to the dedicated support of OPG’s skilled workforce, Ontario’s robust nuclear supply chain and other project partners, suppliers and contractors.
“The Refurbishment team’s successful track record, combined with detailed planning, positions us well for continued success on refurbishing two units at the same time,” said Subo Sinnathamby, Senior Vice President, Nuclear Refurbishment.
Since passing the halfway point of the project earlier this year, OPG is already well prepared to begin work on the fourth and final unit to be refurbished at Darlington starting in the third quarter of 2023.
Once refurbishment is complete, operations at Darlington Nuclear will continue to provide -20 per cent of Ontario’s power for another 30 years. This work will remove the equivalent of two million cars from Ontario’s roadways annually, through the avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions.
History at Pickering Nuclear with first all-women led crew
Managers)
On Thursday, March 17, at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, Sara Rasouli and Kasia Carisse (Control Room Shift Supervisors), and Krista Huszarik and Julie Thrasher (Shift Managers), all came in for their shift not realizing they had made history.
For the first time ever, an all-women led crew was in charge of ensuring the effective and safe operation of Pickering’s six units producing power for Ontario.
“It just shows that we are getting more women involved in not just leadership roles in nuclear, but also in leadership roles across OPG,” said Julie Thrasher, who oversaw operations that night for Pickering Units 5 to 8.
This achievement was a proud moment for those involved. It also reflects the strong progress made by OPG and members of the industry to make a career in STEM more equitable and inclusive.
OPG is actively improving Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) practices to foster more engagement, productivity and innovation in our workplace and industry.
To learn more about how OPG is shaping the next generation of energy producers with our 10-year ED&I Strategy, visit opg.com/ed&i
OPG supports new training facility at Durham College
The recently unveiled OPG Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology is a 60,000-square-foot training facility home to numerous specialized labs and shops on Durham College’s Whitby campus.
The new centre will increase industrial skilled trades training capacity at Durham College by 750 students to help meet skilled labour shortages across Ontario and Canada.
There is a huge demand for skilled trades in the electricity industry, driven by OPG’s ongoing Darlington Refurbishment project. By 2030, Colleges Ontario forecasts the province will face a shortage of more than 500,000 skilled trades workers.
The grand opening event on April 21 featured tours of the new facility, an official ribbon cutting, and an Indigenous blessing given by Senator Cecile Wagar from the Oshawa and Durham Métis Council.
“This incredible new facility will help bring student success to life, creating opportunities to advance innovation and knowledge and providing a career launchpad for the next generation of skilled tradespeople,” said Don Lovisa, President of Durham College. “The generosity and support from our community is an investment in our collective success and our students’ futures.”
OPG’s Gary Rose Appointed Chair of Durham College’s Board of Governors
Gary Rose, Vice President of New Nuclear Growth for OPG, will begin serving as the Chair of Durham College’s Board of Governors on July 1 for one year.
“To continue to be part of this world-class organization and aid in Durham College’s delivery of education to thousands across the community I call home is an honour.”
Darlington Nuclear Sustainability Services seeks relicensing
Our Nuclear Sustainability Services (NSS) division accepts, transports, processes and stores nuclear materials carefully and thoughtfully. Above all else, the safety of the public, our employees and the environment is our highest priority.
OPG has applied to our regulator, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC), to renew our operating licence for the Darlington NSS Facility (NSS-D) for a 10-year period. Our current licence is in place to 2023.
Through good stewardship, all generating stations and facilities embrace the three Rs to minimize the materials we generate: Reduce • Reuse • Recycle
Our highest trained NSS staff continue to be world-leaders in safe ad environmentally sound nuclear material management. Learn more at opg.com/nss
Participate in a Public Hearing
Public hearings with the CNSC are set to take place in early 2023 for the NSS-D. Information for how you can participate will be posted on the CNSC webpage at www.cnsc-ccsn.gc.ca
Millwright training program equips Indigenous employees for the future
OPG is helping to give members of Indigenous Nations and Communities valuable training to become millwrights – an in-demand skilled trade, critical to the energy industry.
The new program created by the Millwright Regional Council of Ontario (MRCO) welcomed eight participants when it lunched in the fall of 2021 at OPG’s Darlington Energy Complex as part of OPG’s Indigenous Opportunities Network (ION).
All eight participants have become millwright apprentices. Highly trained millwrights install, maintain, diagnose and repair various industrial and mechanical equipment – from pumps and conveyors to the steam turbines that produce electricity.
“It’s trying to make OPG a more diverse place, and the trades a more diverse place, so I think that’s a really good thing,” said Keighly McKee of the training program. Keighly was one of those eight graduates of the program. She now works as a mechanical technician and millwright apprentice with OPG’s Niagara Operations. Keighly is proud to follow in her fathers footsteps by joining the trades but also to promote female representation in a traditionally male-dominated profession.
Through ION and opportunities such as the millwright training program, OPG continues to provide Indigenous Nations and Communities employment opportunities within the industry.
To learn more about how OPG is advancing reconciliation in partnership with Indigenous communities, businesses and organizations, visit opg.com/reconciliation
Pickering gives back to healthcare workers
For OPG and our employees, being a part of the community is about so much more than simply generating electricity, it is about being engaged community members and lending a hand!
For over 20 years, OPG’s Charity Campaign has been a cornerstone of our culture of giving; which has generated millions of dollars to the causes, charities and organizations across our communities.
On Wednesday, April 20, the Pickering Nuclear Charity Campaign team, along with Pickering’s Senior Vice President, Jon Franke donated 20 hygiene kits for mental health inpatients, as well as a van full of snacks and refreshments for staff at Lakeridge Health Ajax-Pickering hospital.
Our community citizenship is also reflected in the hundreds of hours many of our employees devote to volunteer work within their communities, and through the Employee and Pensioner Charity Campaign which raises about $2 million annually for charities of choice.
Darlington New Nuclear Project
Publication Date: July 29, 2022
Number of Pages: 2
Publisher: OPG
Darlington New Nuclear Project
- Set to begin site preparation work
- Geotechnical Study continues
- Meet members of the team
Publication Date: July 29, 2022
Number of Pages: 2
Publisher: OPG
- Set to begin site preparation work
- Geotechnical Study continues
- Meet members of the team
Upcoming events
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