RC116 JanFeb 2025 - Magazine - Page 21
DAVID HOWELLS/FORTIS INC.
sion line from Dinorwic to Pickle Lake. In May
2024, Phase 2 followed. The grid expanded north
of Pickle Lake and Red Lake powering northern
Ontario’s most remote communities on the grid.
executive vice-president, Operations and Innovation, Fortis Inc. “It was
a true partnership and one of the greatest projects I’ve been fortunate to
work on in my career. No one worked in isolation. There was constant
information sharing and engagement between the 24 First Nations and
Fortis throughout.
“Every voice was equal,” Smith adds. “Every First Nations’ Chief
had an equal vote so there were not a lot of delays and decisions were
arrived at relatively quickly. When I travel up north today I’m already
seeing all the positive e昀昀ects on these communities like new homes and
schools being built thanks to the big enabler of electricity.”
Before construction started, conversations were held with hundreds
of the landkeepers to ensure the transmission corridor respected the
animals and the environment. Construction on the 昀椀rst section of the
project (the 117-km line to Pikangikum First Nation) was completed and
energized on December 20, 2018. By 2019, the partnership had expanded to 24 First Nations and project 昀椀nancing was secured. Then March
11, 2020, arrived. The World Health Organization declared a global
pandemic with the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus; a decision was
needed on whether to halt construction of the transmission line; so, in
a safe manner, by following all the government-mandated COVID-19
protocols, the Watay Power project continued.
Thanks to this decision to not pause construction during the pandemic, Phase 1 of this $2 billion capital investment—an equal partnership by
these 24 First Nations, along with Fortis Inc. and private investors—was
completed in August 2022 with the 230 kV upgrade of the Transmis-
RENEWCANADA.NET
Em-Powering First Nations people
The Wataynikaneyap Power transmission project
is about much more than providing a reliable and
sustainable power source to these remote communities; it’s about giving future opportunities
and renewed hope for the next generation of these
First Nations peoples who call these communities
home.
This partnership between the First Nations and
Fortis Inc. is a powerful investment not just in
infrastructure, but also in the people. The connection to the provincial power grid now lights
the way for future generations—allowing them
to stay and work in their communities. Replacing these diesel-generators with a more reliable
energy source, the 1,800 km electrical system
also accelerates and drives further infrastructure
investment. Since Watay Power came on the grid,
at least 昀椀ve schools have been energized. Sandy
Lake First Nation constructed a new health centre
and Wunnumin Lake First Nation built 25 new
housing units. Deer Lake First Nation installed
a refrigeration system in its arena and North
Caribou Lake First Nation built a police station.
Connecting to the provincial grid also helps
address other critical issues faced in these isolated
northern First Nations communities like water
quality and food and housing shortages. This is
just the beginning.
With construction complete, Watay Power’s
focus now shifts to operations, maintenance, and
beginning the transfer of knowledge to the local communities and
24 First Nations, who, within 25 years, will 100 per cent own and
operate the transmission line.
As the conversation closes, Kenequanash gazes at the map of
Northern Ontario on the wall of her o昀케ce. It highlights the 1,800
km transmission line and the 17 remote communities’ part of the
Wataynikaneyap Power Project. The executive smiles, re昀氀ecting on
this decades-in-the-making dream come true and its lasting impact.
“Sometimes, when I’m doing my daily work, I don’t think of
this as such a huge project, but then I look at that map and I’m
just like, ‘Wow!’”
The CEO stresses that it’s taken a lot of communication, education, and a ton of engagement by the 24 First Nations leaders
to the members in each of their communities to accomplish this
huge achievement. And, that engagement is far from over as she
still visits these communities to convince them of what this new
power source means to them and to their children and grandchildren’s future.
“Our Elders also played an important role,” she adds. “We consulted them, and they guided us throughout the project. One of
the things we hope to have accomplished with this transmission
system is ensuring our people have safe drinking water, homes
powered by a reliable energy source and the ability to improve
infrastructure to further develop their communities for future
generations to enjoy.”
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025 – RENEW CANADA 21
