Women in hydropower | Women in Welding
Women welders have gained valuable experience working on Ontario Power Generation’s Little Long Dam Safety project in Canada
MEGAN PARENT IS ONE of eight participants in the new Women in Welding training programme. Curious about the skilled trades and following a work placement at a machine shop during Grade 12 at school, she decided to enrol in the new Women in Welding programme and is now gaining valuable experience working in industrial construction and repair.
Above: There are plans to expand the Women in Welding programme
Right: Participants in the Women in Welding programme undertook more than 100 hours of practice welding
With the help of Collège Boréal and industry partners, the initiative was launched by Rosane Parent, a Project Management Officer at Maurice Welding in Kapuskasing, and Angèle Ratté, Employment Officer for the Métis Nation of Ontario in Timmins. The programme’s aim was to help primarily indigenous women gain financial independence and a fresh start at a new career. Recently, apprentices with the Women in Welding
programme got a chance to put their skills to the test on a real-world project through OPG’s Little Long Dam Safety (LLDS) Project in northeast Ontario. Three women welders successfully welded handrails and completed repairs on a storage container to be used for small tool training by workers at the site. The LLDS project, set to be completed in 2023, will improve dam safety on
Canada’s powerful women Three OPG leaders, Nicolle Butcher, Anju Virmani, and Emily Tarle, were included in the 2021 Women’s Executive Network’s Top 100 Awards for Canada’s Most Powerful Women. Since 2003, the annual awards have recognised female trailblazers, advocates, and leaders who are breaking ground in their respective industries and inspiring others. Butcher, who won under the Executive Leaders category, is OPG’s Senior Vice
President of Renewable Generation and Power Marketing. She has worked at OPG for two decades and become the first female head of an operations group in OPG’s history where she oversees all hydroelectric, gas, and solar operations. “Nicolle has been steadfast in seeking innovative business solutions and continues to break down gender barriers by mentoring women leaders across OPG,” said Ken Hartwick, OPG’s President and CEO. “As the first female executive leading the Renewable Generation fleet, which provides 25 per cent of the province’s power, her example is setting the stage for the next generation of women leaders at OPG and across the energy sector.” Anju Virmani, a member of OPG’s Board of Directors, won under the C-Suite
(chief) category. Through her experience and knowledge, she is helping to guide and lead OPG’s future with ten other OPG board members: the company’s board is now comprised of more than 50 per cent women, making it one of the most gender diverse boards in the industry. Vice President of Station Engineering at OPG, Emily Tarle, was nominated under the Professionals category. She leads a team of more than 400 engineers and leaders across Ontario who support safe and reliable generation through day- to-day technical support in all areas of OPG’s operations and projects, including hydro, nuclear, solar, and gas.
www.opg.com/story/three-opg-leaders-among-canadas-top-100-most-powerful- women/ 25 October 2021
the Mattagami River by increasing the discharge capacity at the eight-gate Adam Creek spillway structure located on the Little Long Reservoir, about 90km north of Kapuskasing. “All the labour and welding on this project was done by women,” said Rosane Parent. “The project was a great exposure for them to the industry and offered real-world experience. They had to carefully study the drawings to ensure they understood the assignment. By the end of it, they were operating almost independently, which is what we wanted to see.” The Women in Welding programme launched with eight initial candidates but the COVID-19 pandemic forced them to pause. Eventually, the women were brought back to continue their training, which involved a combination of safety training, more than 100 hours of practice welding, and in-class sessions supported by Canadian Welding Bureau (CWB). Seven of the eight women passed the CWB shielded metal arc welding test and each took on eight-week placements with industry partners. Three of the women, including Megan Parent who is now certified under CWB, managed to stay on at Maurice Welding to gain further exposure to the industry, working at mine sites and paper mills. “Our Indigenous women are an undiscovered
resource in the trades,” said Rosane. “There is a real need for these women. I was proud to see the growth in their skills and self-confidence. They have been able to take on new challenges and face their fears and uncertainties.”
With its initial success, the Women in Welding
programme may be expanded in the future to include more candidates and more trades beyond welding – including millwrights and electricians. ●
More information Written by Paul Choi, OPG’s lead writer.
www.opg.com/story/women-welders-gain- valuable-experience-on-opgs-little-long-dam- safety-project/ 18 November 2021.
10 | January 2022 |
www.waterpowermagazine.com
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