From the office to the control room, OPG’s Sam Amin charts unique journey into hydro

After her stint in corporate life, Amin made the jump to OPG’s North Bay work centre, where she spent three years in the general trades and immersed herself with hands-on experience.

“I did a lot of painting, maintenance work, and operating heavy equipment while helping keep OPG’s hydro stations in the area in good shape,” she said.

Coming from an academic background, the move was a bit of a culture shock. She had to learn the basics quickly — from reading a tape measure to getting used to helicopter rides to and from remote sites.

But she loved every minute of her time in the field, and the slower pace of life outside of the city.

“I remember arriving in the winter and having to jump on a ski-doo. I had to Google what a ski-doo was. But, after getting used to it, they couldn’t keep me away from them,” she laughs.

After her time in North Bay, Amin continued to advance her hydro career by applying for OPG’s hydroelectric operator technician training program. As part of the program, she spent two years visiting various sites, from Niagara to as far north as Thunder Bay.

Since receiving her certification last November, she now works as a Hydroelectric Operating Technician supporting OPG’s Southeast Operations from the Southeast Control Centre at R.H. Saunders GS.

Her training is now paying off, she said, as she helps manage power production at 10 OPG hydro stations along the Madawaska, Ottawa, and St. Lawrence rivers, which together produce enough electricity for about 2.5 million homes.

Her work is a constant balance between the needs of Ontario’s energy grid and water stewardship.

“Our prime objective is to help balance generation from our eastern hydro plants. But just as important is water management and maintaining water levels to support power generation and community safety.”

Getting to this position is a dream fulfilled, Amin said, and she’s proud to help other women fulfill their own dreams.

In 2021, she organized the first Women in Trades symposium in North Bay, an event that continues to be held annually to help connect and support tradeswomen in the energy sector.

As a woman of colour, she’s also proud to promote diversity in the workplace, making it a goal to teach the proper pronunciation of Bangladesh, her country of origin, to every colleague she encounters.

“Starting something new can definitely be scary, but it’s so fulfilling,” Amin reflects on her journey. “It makes you feel good to accomplish what you set out to. But what really motivates me is the people around me. It helps when you get to work with friendly, curious, and animated people — all diverse in their personalities but united by a love for problem solving.”