Energy conservation kits being delivered to remote First Nations in northern Ontario
Ontario Power Authority press release ...
Remote Ontario First Nation Communities get first Energy Conservation Kits
7/9/07
(Thunder Bay, September 7, 2007) The delivery phase of “Mana-cha-toon Wash-ti-ni-gun,” or the “Conserve the Light” project, began this morning at Thunder Bay Airport. A Wasaya Airways plane was loaded with Energy Conservation Kits (ECK) prepared for delivery to remote First Nation communities without road access.
This initiative is part of the Provincial Energy Efficiency & Conservation Measures for Aboriginal Communities (EEMAC) program launched in Thunder Bay at the Mana-cha-toon Wash-ti-ni-gun (Conserve the Light) Gathering last May. The Gathering was attended by over 130 representatives from 65 First Nation communities; EEMAC is funded by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA).
The first load of 1,400 kits are going to the residents of the remote communities of Kasabonika, Kingfisher Lake, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout Lake), Weagamow (North Caribou) and Wunnumin Lake (each is 300 to 400 miles north of Thunder Bay) in Northwestern Ontario. The ECKs are transported on a regular Hydro One flight used to transport service technicians into remote locations.
The first flight was witnessed by Thunder Bay–Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro, Nishnawbe-Aski Deputy Grand Chief Alvin Fiddler, Hydro One representative Bob Shine, Marketing Coordinator for Wasaya Airways Stacey Levanen, the EEMAC Core Committee who have provided guidance and supported the program since inception (Biinjitiwaabik Saugeen Anishinaabek Elder Agnes Hardy; Wawatay Communications-Radio Director Adrienne Fox-Keesic; Bill Perrault of the Seven Generations Education Institute; Director of the Kwayaciiwin Resource Center Roy Morris; Sachigo First Nation Elder Solomon Beardy; Jon Del Ben, Recorder; and Whitefish Bay First Nation Elder Clarence White), and EEMAC Project Manager Charles Fox and Education Consultant Meladina Hardy.
Mr. Fox observed that, “After these kits have landed, ECK delivery will rollout to the 23,000 on-reserve homes in over 100 communities across Ontario. Each kit includes easy-to-install compact florescent light (CFL) bulbs, faucet aerators, pipe wraps, fridge and freezer thermometers, a low flow shower head, an outdoor timer for Christmas lights and other devices that will result in immediate reductions in energy use. Electricity conservation is critical for many remote communities with power often provided by diesel generators that require fuel delivered by aircraft or winter roads, both expensive procedures.”
The OPA is working directly with First Nation communities on a range of initiatives, including long-term systems planning, and is committed to ensuring that First Nation communities have access to the tools to participate in Ontario’s growing culture of conservation, in a manner that complements First Nations values and heritages.
In addition to the distribution of the Energy Conservation Kits, five Ontario First Nation communities are undertaking community energy retrofits and benchmarking projects: Anishinaabeg of Naongashiing and Stanjikoming (both near Fort Frances), Slate Falls (near Sioux Lookout), and Sheshegwaning and Sheguiandah (both on Manitoulin Island).
-30-
For more information, please contact:
• Don Huff, e|c|o/Huff Strategy, 416-972-7404, (on-site Friday - cell: 416-805-7720)
• Charles Fox, Charles Fox Consulting Inc., 807-622-8008
About The Ontario Power Authority
In pursuit of its mandate of ensuring an adequate, long-term supply of electricity for Ontario, the OPA creates and implements conservation and demand management programs, ensures adequate investment in new supply infrastructure, performs long-term, electricity system planning, and facilitates the development of a more sustainable competitive electricity system.