Safety & Working
Conditions
Maintain our commitment as leaders in the protection of our employees, contractors and the general public as well as promote employee diversity and inclusion.
- Health & Safety (including Public Safety)
- Diversity & Inclusion
Fostering a Strong Safety Culture
We strongly believe that the safety of our employees, contractors and the general public is paramount. We also believe that optimal performance and safety means considering the input of others. We recognize and view as valuable, the fact that those opinions are informed by life experience, including ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values system, national origin, political beliefs, as well as, education and work experience. We believe that multiple viewpoints in decision-making can increase performance and have other significant benefits for our business. Recognizing this, we are taking measures to increase the diversity and inclusion of our employees.
High Falls Hydro, QC
Dam Safety and Public Safety
We emphasize public safety practices at all our generating facilities and dam storage areas located across the country. We assess, inspect and maintain all our dams, powerhouses and other water conveyance and control structures regularly in accordance with our robust Evolugen Dam Safety Program and industry-leading best practices. Over and above completing 100% of the required regulated dam safety inspections in 2022, Evolugen additionally performed 50 voluntary dam safety inspections based on our internal procedures.
In addition, we regularly engage with local communities, and regional and provincial authorities as part of our public safety outreach programs in the areas where we operate. This engagement is crucial given the numerous recreational activities in and around our facilities enjoyed by the public, including fishing, boating and hiking. We inspect and assess our transmission infrastructure prioritizing actions in areas frequented by the public and communicate to all stakeholders the dangers that transmission lines can pose.
Learn moreINDICATORS
0
Fatalities or injuries that led to permanent disabilities for employee and contractor
Our safety culture is exemplified by our 24-year track record of zero employee or contractor fatalities and 21 years without permanent disabilities.
100%
Planned safe work observations performeds; 555 additional safe work observations performed beyond plan
As part of our commitment to be an industry leader in health and safety, workers and leadership perform planned and random safe work observations to monitor safe work performance, and encourage open dialogue, capitalizing on teachable moments.
100%
Workers representation in formal joint management-worker HSS&E committees
Our monthly regional HSS&E Committee meetings offer an open forum for employees to celebrate successes, discuss improvement opportunities and allow them to actively participate in and contribute to our health and safety culture.
100%
Regulated dam safety inspections performed; 50 additional dam safety inspections performed based on our internal dam safety procedures
In Practice
Highlights
Photo by World of Magic on Unsplash
Thin Ice
In early January 2022, one of our Operations Managers noticed a snow-clearing for skating in Mission Scenic Falls spillway and immediately reported the event as a public safety concern to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). Luckily, when the OPP arrived on the scene, there was no one skating on the thin ice. The OPP increased monitoring of the area and issued a social media public safety announcement.
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
At Evolugen, we are building a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion that drives innovation, fosters collaboration, and empowers individuals to reach their full potential. At the heart of our mission to accelerate Canada towards a low carbon future is the creativity and ingenuity of our diverse team. We recognize that diversity of thought, experiences, and backgrounds is fundamental to our success, and we strive to create a workplace that celebrates and values differences, promotes equality, and fosters a sense of belonging for all individuals. We depend on the innovation and expertise of our team to drive our progress forward and achieve our goals for a sustainable future.
We continue to provide education and training in order to build awareness, create a common language and understanding of issues related to equity, diversity, and inclusion and promote a culture of respect, collaboration, and openness. We have engaged an Indigenous consultant to provide Indigenous Awareness and Relations training and continue to build on our extensive online equity, diversity and inclusion training library, tackling issues such as adopting an inclusive mindset at work, becoming an ally and agent for change, understanding and overcoming unconscious bias in the workplace.
INDICATORS
9
Equity, diversity & inclusion trainings made available to employees
27%
of senior management and above identify as female
52%
of first level management identify as female
20%
of workforce identify as female
Community Relations
Build trust as good stewards by engaging proactively with communities to ensure that their interests are appropriately considered in our decision-making.
- Community Consultation
Photo by Julie Changon, Evolugen Employee
Demonstrating our Commitment to Communities
Our facilities have contributed to the prosperity of local communities, in many cases for generations, and we recognize the importance of maintaining this contribution. In addition to working cooperatively on environment, health, safety and emergency response, we assist with local projects, provide recreational opportunities, and work closely with regional partners to make a positive impact that is aligned with both the needs of the local stakeholders and our business values.
INDICATORS
230
Community support projects
We provide in-kind and financial support to programs, initiatives and organizations that benefit the communities in proximity to our facilities with a focus on environmental initiatives, health, safety, well-being and quality of life, education, research and recreation, community services, and Indigenous communities.
1,080
Employee volunteer hours
Evolugen employee volunteer hours supporting communities where we work and live focused on environmental initiatives, health and safety, education and research, community services, and Indigenous communities.
$1M+
Donations and Community Investments
Evolugen’s community support is rooted in our Charitable Giving Guidelines. The amount spent is representative of voluntary donations plus community investment of funds where the target beneficiaries are external to the organization.
In Practice
Giving Back to our Communities
Sault Area Hospital
Our Commitment to our Communities
Since 1988, we have been committed to supporting the Sault Area Hospital Foundation (SAHF). In 2022, we reached a total of over $1 million donated through our longstanding partnership with the SAHF. This 34-year commitment has been extremely important to our organization, as building strong relationships and making lasting contributions to the communities in which we operate is a cause we whole-heartedly believe in, year after year.
Rémi Moreau, Vice-President, Government and External Relations, Evolugen, and Chantal Dompierre, Director, Major Gifts and Planned Giving, Gatineau Health Foundation
On the Road to Healthier Communities
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we jumped into action to support the Vaccibus, a mobile clinic offered by the Gatineau Health Foundation, that was designed to provide an alternative and accessible vaccination method to areas that needed it the most. On June 16, 2022, Evolugen was honoured to receive the “Mérite de la philanthropie” award at the Gatineau Health Foundation’s Reconnaissance Gala for supporting the Vaccibus initiative.
Indigenous Relations
Ensure we are the partner of choice for Indigenous peoples by structuring our projects and managing our operations in a manner that respects their distinctive cultures, traditions, values and aspirations, as outlined in our guiding Indigenous principles.
- Meaningful Consultation & Engagement with Indigenous Peoples
Photo by Ali Kazal on Unsplash
Maintaining Strong Relationships with Indigenous Peoples
We recognize that Indigenous Peoples were the original inhabitants of the land that became Canada and respect that each Indigenous community has its own distinct cultures, traditions, values and aspirations. As such, Evolugen values strong communication with Indigenous Peoples particularly as it relates to the development of our projects and our on-going operations. Publishing our Indigenous Principles publicly affirms our values and our commitment to Indigenous Peoples and is reflected in the strong partnerships we have been fortunate to foster, including co-ownership of facilities.
Our existing Indigenous partnerships demonstrate our commitment to incorporating traditional knowledge in new projects and structuring them in ways that provide social, cultural and economic benefits. As with all our projects, we bring our significant technical knowledge, strong financial capabilities and a collaborative approach to solving problems.
learn moreIn Practice
Highlight
Sowing Cultural Reconnection
Evolugen is proud to support I Love First Peoples‘ Sew & Sew Program, which provides sewing machines, equipment, and supplies to schools in northern and remote Indigenous communities. These sewing labs introduce youth to careers in fashion and entrepreneurial opportunities, while inspiring them to use these projects to bridge a gap in cultural understanding and appreciation with the Canadian population.
Salmon run
Building a Relationship
Starting in 2021, and for the next five years, twice a year Evolugen will provide support for the ɬaʔamɩn Nation (Tla’amin) Hatchery Crew to travel to the Theodosia to remove any obstructions restricting fish access to the Theodosia River Spawning Channel, while providing additional resources to improve access to the channels for conducting assessments and fish counts. During their first trip, Tla’amin successfully removed two obstructions from the spawning channel and reported that salmon were counted in the channel.