Perseverance in the trades: OPG Mechanical Technician found her calling on the tools
At a glance
- Mechanical Technician Heather Ferguson helps maintain and repair equipment at OPG’s Chenaux hydroelectric station.
- Before landing at OPG, Ferguson found her calling as a millwright and helped others get a leg up in the trade.
- Today, she remains passionate about mentoring and supporting the next generation to find their own calling on the tools.
OPG’s Heather Ferguson has a message to young people trying to get into the trades: Don’t ever give up.
“Don’t stop trying,” said the Mechanical Technician, who currently works at OPG’s Chenaux Generating Station (GS) in southeastern Ontario. “There are a lot of people applying. It might take five years, or 10 years, but don’t ever give up. Always keep advancing your skills, don’t ever stop trying, and you’ll get your foot in the door.”
It’s a message Ferguson has taken to heart over her own career.
Initially, she wanted to become a teacher, but knowing she liked to work with her hands, she decided on the trades instead.
While completing a two-year millwrighting course at Cambrian College, she got her first glimpse of life as a millwright during summer co-ops in the nickel mining industry.
It might take five years, or 10 years, but don’t ever give up. Always keep advancing your skills, don’t ever stop trying, and you’ll get your foot in the door.Heather FergusonMechanical Technician
She loved working with the tools but knew she needed more skills to secure her future. So, she expanded her skillset by learning welding and fabricating.
“I knew having more knowledge would help me find a job,” she said.
Five years after completing her schooling, she eventually landed an apprenticeship with the Millwrights Local 1410 in Kingston, officially starting her career as a millwright. Through her apprenticeship and after becoming a journeyperson, she had the chance to work at various OPG sites, including Lennox GS, Des Joachims GS, Darlington Nuclear, and Chenaux GS.
“I didn’t really know what I wanted to do at first,” said Ferguson. “But then I really found my calling on tools and equipment during my co-op terms.”
Afterward, she changed direction a bit with the Millwright Regional Council (MRC), where she became Director of Outreach and Strategic Initiatives. Through the role, Ferguson helped spearhead the Introduction to Millwrighting program, a specialized five-week course created by the MRC with support from OPG that aims to boost recruitment of Indigenous and underrepresented groups into the millwright trade.
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In October 2025, Ferguson decided to get back on the tools by starting her full-time career at OPG, returning to Chenaux, a 76-year-old hydro station that generates 144 megawatts of clean, reliable power for Ontario.
As a Mechanical Technician, she and a team of 13 trades and technicians help maintain generation at the eight-unit facility. Anytime equipment fails, she’s there to help diagnose and repair, using all the tools at her disposal.
“We do a lot of preventative maintenance, with yearly checks on equipment – to make sure everything’s running properly and stays running,” she explained. “I enjoy doing a variety of different things. There’s a lot of equipment we get to work with and operate, so we’re not doing the same thing over and over.
“I’m very fortunate to work here. The work environment and people are great, safety is top priority, and the station is close to home.”
Inside and outside her day job, Ferguson remains passionate about helping and inspiring the next generation of energy workers.
“Students enjoy listening to your story – how you got to where you are and how you found your job,” she said. “What I emphasize is to find a career that you enjoy. Because once you do, you’ll enjoy going to work every day.”
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