Meet Bobbi the Buoy, OPG’s new hydro dam safety champion
At a glance
- OPG sits down for an on-the-water interview with Bobbi the Buoy.
- The new hydro dam safety champion shares what life is like as a buoy and warns people of the very real dangers lurking under the surface near dams and hydro stations.
- Bobbi hopes to help families, boaters, and anglers stay clear, stay safe, and be dam safe.
Over many years bobbing above and below the waters near OPG’s hydroelectric stations, Bobbi the Buoy has seen it all.
From calm, serene waters to wildlife lazily grazing near the shore to birds of prey swooping down to catch a meal.
But OPG’s new dam safety champion also knows the very real dangers lurking just under the surface.
“Life is good when you’re a buoy,” said the cheerful Bobbi during an exclusive, on-the-water interview at an OPG hydro facility. “I can catch plenty of rays and nothing gets me down, not even strong currents. The same can’t be said for humans. While I can bob along when the waters get rough, people can’t do the same.”
The experienced and bubbly buoy has a simple message: “A word to the wise, to avoid premature demise, don’t enter the dangerous waters around dams and hydro stations.”
And Bobbi is dead serious – despite the ever-present jovial and smiling expression.
Life is good when you’re a buoy. I can catch plenty of rays and nothing gets me down, not even strong currents. The same can’t be said for humans. While I can bob along when the waters get rough, people can’t do the same.Bobbi the BuoyHydro dam safety champion
Water levels and flows near dams and hydro stations can change in an instant and with little to no warning.
Boaters, anglers, and swimmers who ignore the warning signs, including buoys, at OPG’s dams and hydroelectric stations are risking their lives.
| In Ontario, OPG operates 66 hydroelectric stations and 239 dams on 24 river systems. In the U.S., OPG operates more than 80 hydro stations through its Eagle Creek subsidiary.
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“I’m there for a reason,” said Bobbi. “My friends and I, when we’re lined up along the water, we’re signaling a very real danger zone. If you decide to cross our line, you’re putting your life on the line.
“Please, we need you to stay clear and stay safe, follow the rules in place, and be dam safe.”
As OPG’s newest dam safety champion, Bobbi hopes to help get the message out.
For this latest gig, Bobbi will be swimming out of the buoy’s comfort zone to interact with, inform, and warn families, boaters, and anglers.
From video to print ads, billboards, and radio, you’ll be seeing and hearing a lot more from Bobbi.
When you do, please listen carefully and be dam safe!
To learn more about Bobbi the Buoy, visit OPG.com/DamSafety.
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