OPG makes commitment to skilled trades through NII Explore Energy Co-op

Financial support and involvement in fall/winter 2024 terms help grow successful program

Although students might not be ready to think about back-to-school topics just yet, the NII Explore Energy Co-op is set to welcome its next cohort of skilled trades students in a few short weeks at the Nuclear Innovation Institute’s Advance Technology Campus near Tiverton.

With the support of sponsors like Ontario Power Generation (OPG), the program is continuing its work connecting the energy industry with high school students exploring future career paths in the trades. This week, OPG committed $5,000 towards the Co-op plus their time and expertise over the upcoming fall and winter terms.

[R-L] Kaitlyn Nevill, Senior Communications Advisor at OPG, presents NII Explore’s Phillip Craig, President, STEM Education, and Sarah Spragg, Program Design & Specialist, with a cheque for $5,000 to support skilled trades workforce development through the NII Explore Energy Co-op.

“This homegrown solution to meeting the growing needs of the clean energy workforce would not be possible without support from partners like OPG and NII’s Founding Members,” said NII Explore’s Phillip Craig, President, STEM Education. “From this generous donation to hosting students at their facilities during the program, we are grateful for their contributions to the Energy Co-op.”

In the Co-op pilot program earlier this year, 25 high school students from Kincardine District Senior School (KDSS) spent two days learning about OPG’s waste management facilities and how OPG safely manages different waste types, from spent fuel to radiation-exposed equipment, as well as about the various trades involved in OPG’s waste processes.

One alum from the pilot program described: “Having the opportunity to go through OPG’s waste management facility at Bruce Power was really eye opening when you get to see the behind the scenes—it has me inspired to possibly work there in the future.” 

“OPG is a proud community sponsor and values partnerships such as the NII Explore Energy Co-op, whereby students are able to experience hands-on learning opportunities in the growing and much-needed industry of nuclear energy production,” said Kaitlyn Nevill, Senior Communications Advisor at OPG.

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She added: “Supporting this program through both sponsorship funding and hosting students on our site helps empower the next generation by allowing them to explore a multitude of potential career opportunities within the nuclear sector, including many within OPG’s Western Waste Management Facility.”

Now doubled in size after a successful pilot, this unique Co-op is a specialized 17-week education program in partnership with the Bluewater District School Board.

Different than a normal co-op, where one student is placed with one employer, the program exposes students to nearly 30 different careers across the clean energy industry—from construction and welding to emergency management and robotics.

Energy Co-op students learning about the waste management process at OPG, including the various trades, engineering and other specialties involved in this work.