Sheerness cont.
The Sheerness plant supports coal- mining operations for Prairie Mines & Royalty Ltd., another significant local employer. Prairie Mines exists in the Hanna area solely to provide coal to the power station.
Sheerness has 124 ATCO employees and approximately 10-15 contractors working at the plant — all with homes and families in the Hanna area.
So it is safe to say, says Kelndorfer, that Hanna and the Special Areas would not enjoy the prosperity and quality of life they do today without the presence of the Sheerness Generating Station.
“ATCO has long been recognized as a company which lives in the community where its people work,” confirms Kelndorfer. “We support the community. It’s absolutely important to us to be part of the community here in Hanna.”
Kelndorfer briefly describes the process of how local coal production is transformed into electrical power for the provincial grid.
“It takes a huge number of people and equipment,” explains Kelndorfer. “Coal is brought to us by Prairie Mines and typically we stockpile it. Then it’s brought into a mound with a bunker and we proceed to pulverize it. The coal is then crushed into fine dust and blown into the boiler where combustion takes place. It’s just that simple, but it’s also that complex.”
Kelndorfer says there is a high rate of job satisfaction for employees at Hanna’s Sheerness Generating Station not only because the positions themselves are well-paying, complex and interesting, but also because of the strong sense of pride local residents have when it comes to their power plant.
It’s sense of satisfaction and pride which Kelndorfer, who is a power engineer by training, shares with his employees.
“It’s great dealing with the people here in the area; seeing things improve, seeing things run well. I love producing energy for Albertans and working
with mechanical equipment. That’s what a lot of us here like to do. It’s easy to see the results of our work in what we do. This plant is one of the most reliable plants in all of Alberta.”
The Sheerness plant is also active in the community in other ways by making donations to various local causes and groups. Kelndorfer takes particular pride in how Sheerness has helped transform its cooling ponds into Prairie Oasis Park which provides camping, water recreation and other outdoor activities to visitors and locals alike.
“So we do more than just providing employment in the area,” states Kelndorfer. “We are always doing things to support community services and smaller organizations here in town.”
Kelndorfer explains how ATCO is actively seeking to bring up a new generation of Hanna-area employees through the local high school. The company sponsors a RAP (Registered Apprenticeship Program) which gives students credits to learn through work at the Sheerness plant.
“We try to get out and support the community by hiring locally as much as possible. In RAP local Grade 11 and 12 students are trained in school to work in the plant in the future. In the summer they will get their first apprenticeship at the plant.”
Kelndorfer says all the ingredients are there to ensure the Sheerness Generating Station will remain a fixture of the local economy and broader community life for many years to come.
“There’s a lot of pride in our company,” says Kelndorfer. “We are the biggest employer here, and we are definitely 100 per cent a part of the community.” ■
Make your Cash Count!
Say Yes to shopping local!
The Brooks & District Chamber of Commerce has
partnered with the Newell Regional Economic Development Initiative and launched a new Shop Local campaign.
P.O. Box 2078 568 Sutherland Dr. E Brooks, AB T1R 1C7 403-362-5073
The Brooks & District Museum offers an
Accredited Information Centre as well as operates the Kiwanis Campground for the benefi t of Tourists visiting our Community.
Purchase your dollars and support the business that support our community. Users will be entered to win $200 in My Community Cash quarterly and be eligible for a grand prize valued at $1000!
For full details, contest rules and participating businesses visit
brookschamber.ab.ca
OUR COMMUNITIES ■ OUR REGION ■ OUR PEOPLE | 103
The Generator Core Loop at the ATCO Sheerness Generating Station near Hanna, AB. The Sheerness plant generates 780 Mw of power; enough to power nearly 800 thousand homes.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
41103798•03/26/13
41110440•03/26/13
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