OWA Releases Waterpower History Catalogue as Part of Ontario 150 Celebrations

June 15, 2017

The Ontario Waterpower Association (OWA) is joining in the celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary with the release of a catalogue featuring facilities that have operated for over 100 years. Support for this initiative is being provided by Ontario 150 Community Celebration Program led by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport.

As Canadians celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary this year,  it only seems appropriate to also highlight Ontario’s original electricity source, says the association. Waterpower was the first source of electric power for communities across Ontario, and has been instrumental in the formation and growth of the province.

Today, approximately three dozen of those facilities are more than 100 years old and are still providing power using the same proven technology. “It’s really amazing to think of the ingenuity and innovation that went into the development of these facilities more than a century ago,” says Paul Norris, President of the OWA. “Waterpower remains the backbone of a reliable electricity system in this province.” Many of these century old assets are being refurbished and retrofitted to harness the energy of falling water more efficiently with new technology, and will produce reliable, affordable electricity for decades to come. The OWA’s new catalogue celebrates these historic facilities and the people and communities who built and maintained them.

View Celebrating the History of Waterpower Ontario here: http://www.owa.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/OWA-Ontario-150-Project-FINAL_web.pdf.

The OWA is also supporting five member tours of hydroelectric facilities and promoting a Celebration of Ontario’s Energy History and Future. Click here to see what tours are coming up in your area: http://owa.ca/events/.