We have a very important anniversary to celebrate this week! On May 11 (Tuesday of this week), Bruce Power celebrated its 20th year in operation. Admittedly, I was only eight years old in 2001, but I can remember the excitement felt across the region during the restart of Units 1-4.
In the 20 years since May 11, 2001, Bruce Power has become an integral part of the Bruce, Grey, Huron region and a foundational part of our clean energy story.
Let’s start with a celebration of this great milestone.
1. Bruce Power celebrates its 20th anniversary
If you haven’t had a chance yet, take some time to watch the Celebrating 20 Years of Bruce Power video released earlier this week.
The video celebrates the past two decades of Bruce Power providing Ontarians with clean, reliable, and affordable energy, the production of lifesaving medical isotopes at the Bruce site, and the commitment that Bruce Power has shown to communities across Bruce, Grey and Huron counties.
In the video, Bruce Power’s President and CEO, Mike Rencheck, also talks about the opportunities ahead, including new opportunities that will come from the establishment of the Nuclear Innovation Institute. He also references the emphasis that Bruce Power has put on local economic development.
Rencheck states: “Grey, Bruce and Huron counties are seeing growth that they’ve never seen before.” This is a critical part of the Clean Energy Frontier’s work and we’re looking forward to building on Bruce Power’s success over the past 20 years as we build a strong, healthy future together.
Congratulations and happy anniversary, Bruce Power!
2. Grey Bruce Local Immigration Partnership
Inclusivity and diversity are critical elements of a clean energy future. We need to ensure that everyone knows that they are welcome in the future that we are building together.
That is why it was so great to see the public announcement that Bruce and Grey Counties have approved the settlement strategy that was created by the Grey Bruce Local Immigration Partnership (GBLIP). This strategy will see the two counties and a network of partners (which the Clean Energy Frontier is now a member of) work together to develop a prosperous and welcoming Grey Bruce. The strategy will help newcomers to the region not only settle here but become an integral part of our local communities.
We are looking forward to the work ahead as part of this great initiative!
You can read more about the GBLIP here.
3. OCNI and FNPA receive grant for Indigenous peoples and women in skilled trades
As referenced above, ensuring that our clean energy future is inclusive and diverse is critical. That is why it was so exciting to see that the Organization of Canadian Nuclear Industries (OCNI) and the First Nations Power Authority (FNPA) have been awarded a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development for a program that will recruit, train and help secure positions for Indigenous peoples and women in Ontario’s nuclear sector.
A release this morning states that: “The OCNI/FNPA project will focus on opening doors for traditionally underrepresented groups such as Indigenous people and women, to enter careers in the skilled trades while enhancing the pipeline of skilled workers required to extend the operating lives of 10 nuclear generation units at the Darlington and Bruce sites and prepare for the next generation of Small Modular Reactors in Ontario and other regions of Canada.”
This is a very exciting initiative, and we applaud the OCNI and FNPA for their leadership.
Chad Richards is the Director of the Clean Energy Frontier.