From rivers to field, OPG’s Melissa Vogl takes pride in excellence
OPG’s Melissa Vogl wears many hats – from the river to the field, she’s a water manager, coach, mentor, and team player.
As a Water Manager in OPG’s Eastern Operations, Vogl helps manage water at 10 OPG hydroelectric stations and three control dams on three river systems in eastern Ontario – the Ottawa, Madawaska, and St. Lawrence rivers. This work includes overseeing watershed conditions, inflows, and outflows to ensure safe, reliable electricity generation, while protecting the public and environment.
“As a power generator, OPG has a responsibility to be a good neighbour in our host communities. It’s about so much more than generating electricity – it’s about operating within operating ranges to allow people to use water recreationally, meet environmental concerns, maintain water safety, and mitigate flooding, especially during times of high flows,” she said. “Assessing many factors to balance the needs of various stakeholders is how we strengthen our social licence and build our legacy as a trusted operator.”
Vogl, who has a degree in Water Resources Engineering from the University of Guelph, joined OPG in 2019 after returning to Ontario from Vancouver. This past February, she was on the move again, this time to Cornwall to take on her current role in Water Management.
“As a power generator, OPG has a responsibility to be a good neighbour in our host communities. It’s about so much more than generating electricity.”Melissa Vogl, Water Manager at OPG
Just as she does in her day-to-day role at OPG, outside of work, Vogl finds joy in building community and working with a team to achieve common goals as she volunteers as a field hockey coach. An avid fan of the sport since she started playing in Grade 2, Vogl’s passion for the game has grown over the years from player to coach, a role she began to develop during her time in Vancouver.
“I try to step in as a role model and have a positive influence on my teams by bringing my passion for the sport,” she shared. “Personally, I've had significant coaches that led me to the direction of playing at a high level. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing others develop their passion for the sport and desire to get better.”
Today, she continues to help mentor younger players as a coach on the Nepean Nighthawks Field Hockey Club. This summer, Vogl and her team had the chance to bring their competition to new heights by taking part in the Ontario Summer Games in Mississauga. They battled hard, ending the tournament in fourth place.
“Even though we finished without a medal, the girls played extremely well and nearly won the bronze medal game, only falling short by a score of 1-0,” she said. “All in all, it was a really positive experience for me since this was the highest competition I have ever coached at. I really got to be a leader in both the technical and strategic side of the game but also the whole mental component with the girls.”
Fast facts
- Travelled to Argentina, the Netherlands, and Germany to play field hockey.
- Also enjoys volleyball, acro-yoga, stand-up paddleboarding, and hiking.
- Born and raised in North Vancouver.
- Went vegan 6.5 years ago for environmental reasons to align with her passion for conserving water.
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