Shane Skinner

Co-op Commerce Student

 

I recently participated in the 2012 ACE (Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship) National Exposition in Calgary with the SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) Memorial team, and all I have to say is WOW! What an experience! There were over 50 SIFE teams from universities and colleges across Canada that competed in the competition, and SIFE Memorial was named the best team in the country!

It was quite an honor, and to be honest it really hasn’t sunk in yet that we placed first. As if winning the competition wasn’t enough, I was also fortunate to receive an individual award - the Gwyn Morgan Bursary for Principled Leadership. Of all the nominees from across the nation, I was selected as the most deserving. That was a pretty special moment, and definitely something I’ll never forget.

The ACE National Exposition gave me the opportunity to network with executives from some of Canada’s most successful organizations such as KPMG and the Canadian Youth Business Foundation. When I came home earlier this week, I started to think just how rare of an opportunity that was. When else would I get the opportunity to network with 50+ executives from across Canada? To be able to ask these professionals questions about their struggles and successes, and to be treated as an equal with them was a really cool experience. It was neat to see how much these people admired us students for the work we do across Canada.

I’m definitely going to take everything I learned from my experience at the ACE National Exposition and apply it to my work here at Nalcor. I was fortunate enough to complete a co-op placement at Nalcor during the Fall of 2011, and I loved it so much I came back for a second! To know that everyone at Nalcor was cheering for my team was a great feeling, and I’m proud to tell them that SIFE Memorial will be representing Canada at the 2012 SIFE World Cup in Washington, DC!! The support of everyone at Nalcor is awesome, and hopefully it will help us bring the World Cup back to Newfoundland and Labrador for the second time since 2008!

When I joined SIFE Memorial in the Fall of 2012, I never thought I would be writing something like this today. I just wanted to get involved with a volunteer organization to put something on resume since I’ll be graduating soon. Was I ever wrong! Thinking back on all of the opportunities SIFE has given me, I can honestly say it has been the perfect tool to compliment my Bachelor of Commerce degree. Probably one of the best decisions I have made in my life was to join this awesome organization. To see the effort that university students from all over Canada are putting in to SIFE, makes me strive to keep working to build a better city, province, and country. I’m honored to be able to tell the world about the great work SIFE Memorial is doing here in our community.

To learn more about SIFE Memorial visit www.sifememorial.ca.

 

SIFE Memorial celebrates becoming national champions.

 

Shane Skinner, Nalcor co-op student and recipient of the Gwyn Morgan Bursary for Principled Leadership.

 

Photos courtesy of Sophie Harrington/ACE.

 

By Mark McGrath
Human Resources, Lower Churchill Project

On Friday, May 4, 2012, six members of the Lower Churchill Project team donned their Nalcor Energy t-shirts and spent the better part of their evening bowling for the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) "Bowl For Kids Sake"event. I had the privilege of being a member of this team and couldn’t let the opportunity go by without speaking about the experience.

When approached by another Lower Churchill Project team member about helping out, I instantly jumped at that opportunity as BBBS is such a great organization. Immediately after sending out the note to see if anyone was interested, we had organized enough players for two teams and our fundraising efforts were underway.

With six players registered, we set a team goal of $800 and the team worked together to achieve and surpass this goal. When all of the fundraising was said and done, our team had raised $1732, and Nalcor graciously agreed to match us up to $1500 for a total fundraising effort of $3232! We even raised the most money of any team playing with us that night.

This initiative confirmed what it meant to work for a great company like Nalcor, and to have such great colleagues. Our team worked together to achieve our goals, our colleagues gave generously to help us reach that goal, and our company supported us all the way. The fun we had at the bowling event was simply the cherry on the sundae.

Lower Churchill Project team members bowl for BBBS
(Back L-R) Sarah Sullivan, Rosanne Williams, Alison Ball (Front L-R) Peter Madden, Lance Clarke, Mark McGrath

By Melissa Noonan, Nalcor Energy co-op student

As a co-op student, I went into my term open and ready to learn about communications along with Nalcor Energy’s operations and business practices – I know, what a keener. One thing I’ve noticed during my time with Nalcor that continues to excite and inspire me is the sense of unity within the company, and how that in turn, is extended to the community. It’s invigorating to be a part of a company where employees enthusiastically support corporate initiatives.

I witnessed this support first hand during Nalcor’s cross-company Shave for the Brave event in support of Young Adults Cancer Canada (YACC). Churchill Falls, Holyrood, and St. John’s participated in the event on March 30, and Stephenville will hold its event on April 20. As of March 30, nearly $13,400 has been raised by Nalcor and Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro employees, with donations still rolling in.

Nalcor Energy Shave for the Brave participants Caryn Phillips and John Flynn in St. John's on March 30.

While watching the Shave in St. John’s, it was clear that Hydro and Nalcor employees produce more than energy to power our homes. John Flynn and his co-workers teased one another about the best NHL team as he had the Boston Bruins logo shaved into the back of his head, which was coloured in with yellow and black markers. Caryn Philips joined in the crowd, laughing and cheering after chopping of 10 inches of her long brown hair.

Another Nalcor event that employees enthusiastically delve into is Acts of Kindness Week. This is a week dedicated to employee volunteerism; it takes place from April 16 to 20 this year. Nalcor provides opportunities for employees company-wide to volunteer in different not-for-profit and charity organizations in their communities. There is already a buzz in the hallways here at Hydro Place as employees reminisce about last year’s experience and prepare for the upcoming event.

Company initiatives such as these create a contagious energy that only comes from a sense of compassion and belonging. Just watching Shave for the Brave has made me feel like I’m a part of something significant and invaluable; it also made me even more excited for Acts of Kindness Week. I can only assume other employees feel similar as they continue to support Nalcor events.

Caryn Phillips shows off her chopped locks!

John Flynn's Boston Bruins shave

By James Nugent
Co-op Engineering Student
Protection, Control and Communications Engineering

"Safety Culture, Task Based Risk Assessments, Tailboard Safety Talks, Change Management, Engineering Design Best Practices" are just some of the key phrases I have become accustomed to using since I started my engineering co-operative (co-op) term with the Protection, Control and Communications Engineering team at Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, a Nalcor company. I was asked to write this blog in the spirit of National Co-op Week, something which I feel privileged to be a part of.

Nalcor provides a great environment for students to develop both academically and professionally. Whether seeking guidance from fellow employees, direct supervisors or senior management, I have never been pushed aside; they have always gone out of their way to lend a helping hand. I feel this environment stems directly from Nalcor’s core values of open communication, accountability, honesty and trust, respect and dignity and leadership. I have learned over the course of my two co-op terms here to incorporate those core values into everything I do.

The best part of working at Nalcor is their willingness and encouragement of engineering students to leave their cubicles and visit some of the generating sites throughout the island. I have had the phenomenal opportunity to be involved with capital projects in Bay D’Espoir, the island’s largest generating station in both physical size and generating capacity. I was able to experience first-hand the devices that we learn about in textbooks and how Nalcor utilizes these assets in the grand scheme of Hydro Generation. In my opinion, it is one thing to learn about these devices and their analysis, but it is another to use them in a design where the residents of Newfoundland and Labrador depend on their effectiveness, but more importantly their safe operation.

Co-op student James Nugent outside the Bay d'Espoir generating facility.

This leads me into Nalcor’s number one priority: Safety. At Nalcor, my safety, the safety of my colleagues and the community is the number one priority. This is even more important for co-op students. We are still learning and the unfortunate fact is that sometimes we are unaware of the dangers around us. Nalcor has introduced a new safety initiative since my last work term here that requires employees with less than six months of work experience to wear a green hard hat. At first I thought it was negative that it singled me out as being a new person on the job but after wearing it in the field it became obvious that it was an advantage. It is always good to have others watch over me and be conscious of my inexperience, and I found people more willing to share their years of experience.

I want to thank my team with the Protection Controls Communications Department and Memorial University for the invaluable experience of working for an energy sector leader whose focus is more on safety than the bottom line. I know my time at Nalcor will have a positive influence on myself as an individual and my development as a future engineer.

 

By Renee Hodder
Planning Engineer, System Planning

Whew! With the province-wide activities for National Engineering and Geoscience Month finally entering the home stretch I am so proud to be one of the committee members who works hard to make it happen.

This year marked the 21st annual Professional Engineers and Geoscientists Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL) Model Bridge Building competition. As has been the case for the last few years, this year’s event was hosted in spectacular style by the Johnson Geocentre. On Bridge Day, Saturday, March 3, 2012, the Geocentre flung open its doors at 9:30 to the hundreds of kids waiting to have their bridges crushed in competition by the Bridge Buster – a test frame designed by myself and a colleague as part of our MUN Engineering senior project when we students at MUN a couple years ago.

The students were from junior high and high schools across the Avalon, with one Grade 5 ‘Engineering Club’ from Clarenville participating for fun. Students take days, weeks, and in some cases, months, working on their bridges. The event itself is pretty straight forward: you must build a bridge using only Popsicle sticks and white glue. With the exception of adhering to some standard dimensions, the rest is up to you! If you’re a high school student you can even win a $1,000 tuition voucher for MUN.

Jeff Williams, graduate engineer with Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro, volunteering at the Hydro Safety booth on Bridge Day.

In St. John’s, Bridge Day is a massive event organized over a period of five months by a team of 10 dedicated volunteers. The event is open to the public with tons of activities and prizes for all in attendance. Hydro and Nalcor volunteers were everywhere this year. From Gerard Piercy, our Manager, Civil Engineering, in the top secret Judging Room to the eight volunteers manning the Hydro Safety Booth and giving out prizes to children in exchange for their safety moments, and help from our Corporate Communications team with sponsorship and organizing support, Nalcor Energy was a major part of the success Bridge Day enjoyed again this year.

Bridge Day is also held by other PEGNL chapters across the province in Clarenville, Grand Falls, Corner Brook, Labrador City and Happy Valley-Goose Bay. With results pouring in from all the different locations, I still have a pile of work to do before the winner is declared on April 13.

With all the great bridges broken this year, I’m already looking forward to next year’s event!

For more information on National Engineering and Geoscience Month and Bridge Day in particular, please visit our website:

http://www.modelbridgesnl.ca/  

 

By Caryn Phillips
Protection and Control Engineer, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro

This year I’m taking part in Young Adult Cancer Canada’s (YACC) Shave for the Brave. While I’m not shaving my head, I will be donating 10 inches of my long locks to help make wigs for children with hair loss issues. As Nalcor Energy is a major sponsor of this worthwhile event I’ll be taking on the scissors at the St. John’s office on March 30.

For anyone who hasn’t heard of YACC, it is an organization that provides support and services for young adults dealing with cancer. Their mandate is to help the people battling cancer at this stage in their life endure challenges and issues specific to their age group. As such, YACC has created programs to help what they call ‘the forgotten generation’ face these challenges.

Caryn, right, and John Flynn, left, with the Project Execution and Technical Services team, are participating in Nalcor's Shave for the Brave to support Young Adult Cancer Canada on March 30.

I struggled when starting to write this blog - I don’t have any personal experience with young adult cancer, no inspiring story, and I’d never really verbalized why it meant so much to me to participate. I wasn’t sure what it was that really drove me to fundraise for the cause; I just knew it was something I wanted to do. Then I talked to my friends and co-workers and the answer became obvious; I am a young adult, as are a large number of the important people in my life. I knew that should any of them be affected by cancer, I would be truly grateful for organizations such as YACC and the life-changing services they provide.

Services such as Goaltender and Retreat Yourself offer young adults the support and guidance they need to make ‘the rest of their lives the best of their lives.’ With all that in mind, raising awareness and money for such services seems the least I can do. As for donating my hair, that part was easy. I get to physically give something of myself to make a child’s life better. Something maybe money can’t provide. I am very attached to my hair, it’s part of my identity, as I’m sure is the case for a lot of people. However, if it can give one child the confidence boost that a wig may provide every inch will be worth it. The support I’ve received from my family, friends, and co-workers is just a (much appreciated, and very inspiring) bonus. The free hair cut is just the icing on the cake!

For more information on YACC, please visit their website:

http://www.youngadultcancer.ca/

By Jim Wiseman, Customer Services Technical Support Supervisor, Hydro

 

While spring may seem just around the corner, many communities throughout the province still have a large amount of snow and ice on the ground.

Throughout the year, Hydro’s meter readers visit thousands of homes each month to read the electrical meters located on customers’ premises.  Their safety is a priority for us.  We remind our customers to maintain safe and clear access to their electrical meter throughout the entire year and especially during the winter months.

As a Hydro customer, you can help keep our meter readers safe by ensuring the pathway to your meter is free of snow and ice on your scheduled meter reading day.  If for any reason it is considered unsafe to get to your electrical meter, our meter reader will estimate the reading. This estimation is based on your prior consumption.

Here are some tips to help our meter readers stay safe:

·         Maintain a clear path to your meter, free of ice, snow and any obstruction.

·         Always tether or contain pets in areas away from your meter while it is being read.

·         If your meter is located inside your home, bring your pet to another room.

·         Ensure trees or shrubs near your meter do not obstruct reading or cause a hazard.

·         If your meter's glass is cracked or broken, do not touch! Call Hydro at 1.888.737.1296 immediately to report the fault to one of our Customer Service Representatives.

·         If your meter's accessibility has changed due to new construction or landscaping, just call Hydro at 1.888.737.1296 or email customerservices@nlh.nl.ca to let us know.

 

In the photo above, there is too much snow covering the electrical meter and the pathway is not free of snow. In this case, the meter reader will estimate the reading based on prior consumption.

 

 

In the photo above, the meter reader was able to safely complete a reading, but the pathway should be properly cleared.

 

In the photo above, the resident has cleared the pathway to the electrical meter, providing safe and easy access for our meter readers.

By Kris Costello
Asset Manager, Nalcor Energy Oil and Gas

Nalcor Energy was a proud Platinum Sponsor of the 6th Annual MUN Engineering Student’s Society Winter Charity Ball on Saturday, February 25th, 2012. I had the pleasure of attending this event and addressing the attendees on Nalcor Energy’s behalf.

MUN’s Engineering Student Societies should be commended for expanding their presence in the community since my involvement as a student in years past (longer than I care to say). Events such as the annual PI Throw and the Bridge Building Competition have been longstanding traditions that I was involved in, but the student society has since expanded their role in the community with events like the Winter Charity Ball and fundraising for the Janeway. I hear that they are not stopping there, with even more events planned for the Easter Seals and the Association for New Canadians.

The R.E.A.L. (Recreation Experiences and Leisure) Program was chosen by the MUN engineering students as the focus of this year’s Winter Charity Ball due to the tangible difference that this program makes in our community. The R.E.A.L program’s goal is to help as many youth as possible who, due to financial circumstances, cannot participate in registered recreational and leisure programs that range from art and music to swimming and hockey. Not only does this program keep these kids busy and active, it promotes personal growth through increased knowledge and skill development.

To find out more about the R.E.A.L. Program visit:

 

http://www.stjohns.ca/cityservices/recreation/real/index.jsp 

 

 

 

Gilbert Bennett, P. Eng
Vice President – Lower Churchill Project

Labrador, with its rich mineral deposits, has tremendous future potential for industrial growth, and we know that with that growth may come a need for a lot of electricity. For more than a decade, Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro (Hydro), and more recently Nalcor, have worked with existing and future industrial customers in Labrador to understand their potential future electricity needs.

We understand that potential mining developments in like the proposed Rio Tinto expansion in Labrador West, underground expansion at Voisey’s Bay, uranium developments at Michelin Lake, and the Grand River Iron Sands could all have substantial electricity requirements in the years to come.

Ensuring there’s a supply of power for industrial customers in Labrador is at the top of our minds, and we’ll continue to work with prospective developers, providing information to them as they move through their feasibility studies towards a decision whether or not to proceed to development. When there are firm requests and contracts for power, we’ll work with the developers to make sure they have the power they need – that’s the standard practice for electrical utilities.

Under the 1969 Power Contract, there’s still more than one terawatt hour (TWh) of energy available through recall power from Churchill Falls to meet the industrial needs in Labrador, and 40 per cent of the production from Muskrat Falls (2 TWhs) will be available to support development in 2017. Another 12 TWh of energy will be available by developing Gull Island. Once there’s an interconnection to the island, Labrador has access to more than 2 TWh from small hydro and wind, as well as markets outside the province to support industrial development.

Today, mining activities in Labrador West require about 2 TWh of energy each year, and with the Lower Churchill Project and a link to the island, there’ll be access to more than 17 TWh of energy for development.

Developing Muskrat Falls, and later, Gull Island, will bring many benefits to all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, including low-cost, stable rates for consumers, a long-term source of revenue for the province, and support for the electricity needs for industrial development in our province.

We will continue working with our customers and future customers to ensure we meet their power needs today and in the future.

By Gilbert Bennett, P. Eng
Vice President, Lower Churchill Project

It's come to our attention that Nalcor Energy's Muskrat Falls Development is being linked to a proposal by Shaw Group for a camp near Kelland Drive in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. I assure residents that Nalcor Energy is not involved in this proposal by Shaw Group. Their proposal is not a requirement for the Muskrat Falls Project.

We've been clear throughout the environmental assessment process that a self-contained accommodations complex will be constructed on-site at Muskrat Falls and/or Gull Island. On Dec. 23, 2011, we issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a 1,500-person accommodations complex to be constructed on-site at Muskrat Falls. The RFP also includes a smaller, 150-person accomodations complex to be used while the larger complex is being constructed. The RFP specifies that these will be on-site accommodations.

Nalcor's committed to benefits for Labradorians. The Impacts and Benefits Strategy between Nalcor and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador outlines a construction hiring protocol for Muskrat Falls and the Labrador-Island Transmission Link.

The protocol will implement commitments made in any executed Impacts and Benefits Agreements, followed by first consideration of employment for qualified residents of Labrador (for the generation project), followed by qualified residents of Newfoundland. More than 75% of the direct labour for Muskrat Falls will be undertaken in Labrador and approximately $450 million in income to labour and business will be earned solely by Labradorians and Labrador-based businesses.