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 with more than 150 dam safety inspections performed this past year.
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 23-year track record of zero employee or contractor fatalities and 20 years without permanent disabilities.
620
Safe work observations
As part of our commitment to be an industry leader in health and safety, both workers and leadership perform 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%
HSS&E training for new hires
To reinforce our safety culture, all new hires must complete specific work related HSS&E training.
In Practice
Highlights
City of Gatineau First Responders
Collaborating with First Responders
Recognizing the potential dangers our facilities may pose, we organize training sessions with first responders to ensure their safety around our facilities. We collaborated with the City of Gatineau to familiarize the City’s firefighters on the Boating Safety Committee with specific situations they might encounter on the Lièvre River and options to respond quickly and safely in the river’s more challenging sections.
Public Safety Awareness
Through our Public Safety Program, we publish seasonal safety notices to raise awareness about the potential dangers that the operation of our facilities may pose. Each season, we reach out to more than 50 communities in proximity to our assets across British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec. To reinforce our safety messaging, we also post detailed public safety information on our website.
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 Doris Julien, 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
162
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.
89%
Facilities with local community engagement plans
We target our engagement on facilities with high numbers of adjacent property owners and public interactions. We expand such engagement to less populated communities as needs materialize, focusing our efforts on timely responses to resolve issues that may arise.
$1M+
Donations and Community Investments
We provide in-kind and financial support to benefit communities and Indigenous communities in proximity to our facilities with a focus on the environment, health, safety, well-being and quality of life, education, research, recreation, and community services.
In Practice
Giving Back to our Communities
La Mie de l'entraide
Emergency Response
In the spring of 2020, as the COVID pandemic spread across Canada, Evolugen took immediate action. Employees across Canada worked together to list basic-need organizations near our operations. Consistent with our community relations focus and our desire to be partners of choice, our objective was to help quickly, in advance of the increase in demand for the services of these organizations.
Wawa Volunteer Fire Department
Protecting our Communities
To help make our communities safer, Evolugen was proud to support five Ontario volunteer fire departments near our operations. Each department received financial support to fund various projects, including the acquisition of emergency equipment.
ÉcoTERRE
A Real Green Class
As a community focused organization that values the environment and continued learning, Evolugen was happy to partner with ÉcoTERRE team from Hormisdas-Gamelin High School in Gatineau to launch the Hope for Carbon Offsets Project with the vision of creating a versatile outdoor green space and enable students to plant trees and purchase outdoor furniture, to transition their vision to reality.
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
Namgis First Nation, BC
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 distinctive culture, 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
Namgis First Nation, BC
Managing an Outbreak
In April 2020, we engaged with Indigenous partners including the ‘Namgis First Nation and Constance Lake First Nation, to assist in their COVID response. While both communities faced challenges, the ‘Namgis First Nation faced a cluster outbreak of COVID that resulted in the medical evacuation of some its’ members, the closure and isolation of their British Columbia, island community and community curfews. With the goal of maintaining the food supply and helping the community members maintain social distance, Evolugen provided immediate community support.