Program

Charging Ahead: Powering Through a Changing World

The urgency of reducing our dependence on fossil fuel continues to escalate. This year’s conference will discuss what it takes to achieve our greenhouse gas reduction aspirations. The theme for 2023, Charging Ahead: Powering Through a Changing World, embraces the changing role of hydropower in our electricity system, what it takes to rapidly electrify our economy, and how we can solve this issue together.

Taking place in our Nation’s Capital, this year’s conference will bring together key decision makers, industry experts, policy and business influencers and offer opportunities to come together for an intensive, highly collaborative exploration of new technologies, best practices, and pressing issues, all to enable a collective change. We are thrilled to have industry leaders and seasoned experts exploring where opportunities for cooperation exist, to accelerate progress toward our electric future. Attendees will build knowledge and gain exclusive insights, as well as network and position for success with the largest electricity generation, transmission, and energy storage companies in Canada.

The Conference and Trade Show will take place in Ottawa, ON, at The Westin Ottawa. A block of rooms has been set aside at the hotel at a special conference rate. Click here to book your group rate or call the toll free number 1-888-627-8528 and request the WaterPower Canada Conference group block.

7:00 am
Registration Open
7:30 am – 8:30 am
Breakfast Buffet sponsored by Kiewit
8:30 am – 8:45 am
Conference Opening
8:45 am – 9:00 am
Welcome to the 2023 Canadian Waterpower Week
Canadian Waterpower Week 2023 will commence with introductory remarks from the President & CEO of WaterPower Canada who will welcome attendees and introduce the theme for the conference, “Charging Ahead: Powering Through a Changing World”.
9:00 am – 10:30 am
Opening Plenary presented by Kiewit | Industry Leaders in Conversation

The 2023 Canadian Waterpower Week kicks off with a lively “fireside chat” between senior executives of the key areas in the industry that affect our energy transformation. Join them (including Terence Hubbard, President, Impact Assessment Agency of Canada) and moderator for this thought-provoking chat surrounding increasing certainty in projects and how do we all get things done.

10:30 am – 11:15 am
Networking Break & Visit the Trade Show
11:15 am – 12:00 pm
CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSION 1

Stream A: Planning and Reliability | Addressing Renewable Variability

How are operators maintaining reliability when the sun doesn’t shine or the wind doesn’t blow. Join representatives from Newfoundland & Labrador Hydro and from Hydro-Québec as they discuss grid reliability and the steps they are taking to integrate variable renewables into their electricity systems.

Stream B: Environmental and Indigenous Relations | TBC (Regulatory Update – Migratory Birds Convention Act)

Join representatives of WaterPower Canada’s Fisheries and Regulatory Affairs working group to discuss the implications of recent changes to the Migratory Birds Convention Act, and how we can work to mitigate effects on project delivery and maintenance activities.

Stream C: Operations, Construction and Projects | Project Updates (Site C)

Details to be confirmed.
12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Plenary Luncheon presented by TurbinePROs | Getting the Job Done
Join as TurbinePROs leads a thoughtful and important presentation on Planning Outages and Supporting the Workforce. This presentation will be followed by an engaging plenary session discussing the challenges in finding the right people to build projects, and various approaches to addressing this issue.
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm
Networking Break & Visit the Trade Show
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSION 2
Stream A: Planning and Reliability | Demands on the Electricity System

Join WPC Members in a discussion on the current and future demands on the electricity system. Conversations to include updates on hydrogen and new industrial uses for electricity. Representatives include from Geoff Wright, Senior Vice President, Head of Development (Canada) at Brookfield Renewables and representatives from Rio Tinto.

Stream B: Environmental and Indigenous Relations | Climate Change and Impacts / Solutions from Indigenous communities

Many of the utilities in Canada have plans to address climate change and are working with Indigenous communities to implement those plans. Listen to a panel of Indigenous and Industry experts discussing how climate change is impacting Indigenous communities and the opportunities for partnering to bring about change.

Stream C: Operations, Construction and Projects | Pumped Storage Projects in Development
Join Stantec as they provide an overview of opportunities for Pumped Storage in Canada, and hear from representatives from TC Energy and OPG as they discuss their respective projects in Ontario.
3:00 pm – 3:15 pm
Coffee and Networking Break
3:15 pm – 4:00 pm
CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSION 3
Stream A: Planning and Reliability | Pumped Storage Hydro

Join representatives from BBA and Lombardi as they discuss the potential for pumped storage in Canada and considerations associated with this technology.

Stream B: Indigenous Relations | Waterpower and Indigenous Reconciliation

The Canadian Hydropower Industry is committed to pursuing relationships with Indigenous communities based on meaningful and ongoing communication, aimed at creating mutual benefit. Hear from an Operator about their experience and applicable projects.

Stream C: Operations, Construction and Projects | Regulatory Streamlining for Projects

Review of the Impact Assessment Act and the Government of Canada’s approach to regulatory streamlining.

4:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Networking Break & Visit the Trade Show
4:00 pm – 4:30 pm
WaterPower Canada AGM (WPC Members only)
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Canadian Waterpower Week VIP Reception presented by ANDRITZ (by invitation only)
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Canadian Waterpower Week Gala Dinner & Awards presented by EnerServ & MV2

An evening of celebration and learning. Keynote speaker to be announced. Presentation of the Woman of Hydropower Award in partnership with Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE)

7:30 am – 8:30 am
Breakfast Buffet sponsored by Hydro-Québec
8:30 am – 9:30 am
Morning Plenary sponsored by Hydro-Québec

An overview and progress update on important hydropower projects and where the industry is going. This fireside conversation will explore where the electricity market is going, the challenges and opportunities, and what does it all mean for export businesses and for the hydropower industry as a whole.
9:30 am – 10:00 am
Networking Break & Visit the Trade Show
10:00 am – 10:45 am
CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSION 4
Stream A: Planning and Reliability | Certifying Sustainable Hydropower

Hear from Hydro-Quebec about their initiative to certify two of their facilities under the International Hydropower Association’s Hydropower Sustainability Standard. Join for a discussion with those involved in these projects, along with sustainability experts.

Stream B: Environmental and Indigenous Relations | Snow & Water Digital Twins

Hear from Wegaw as they discuss their methods of modelling snow and future water runoff with geospatial data and machine learning.

Stream C: Operations, Construction and Projects | Lessons Learned from the Keeyask Generating Station

Barnard Construction and Manitoba Hydro will discuss lessons learned from the recently completed Keeyask hydroelectric project.

10:45 am – 11:15 am
Networking Break & Visit the Trade Show
11:15 am – 12:00 pm
CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSION 5
Stream A: Planning and Reliability | Hydropower’s Value to a Net-Zero Electricity Grid & Improving Efficiency. What are the possibilities?

Review of WaterPower Canada’s latest NRCan funded studies. Power Advisory LLP will discuss the critical role that Canadian hydropower facilities play in providing essential grid services to maintain a balanced and reliable grid, and Hatch will discuss the potential for increasing capacity at Canadian hydropower facilities and the results of their comparative cost study.

Stream B: Environmental and Indigenous Relations | TBC (Regulatory Update – Fisheries Act)

The Fisheries Act is important legislation for the industry. Join representatives from WaterPower Canada to learn about the legislation and to discuss ways and means to advance work while respecting the legislation and associated regulations.

Stream C: Operations, Construction and Projects | TBC

Details to be confirmed.

12:00 pm – 1:15 pm
Closing Plenary Luncheon presented by Manitoba Hydro | Powering Through a Changing World

Our closing session will include a discussion with executives focusing on what it takes to achieve our goals, and where do we go from here.
1:30 pm
Conference concluded
2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Additional Programming
TECHNICAL TRAINING SESSIONS
  • ANDRITZ | Generator Rotor Structural impacts & Refurbishments

    Description to be confirmed.

  • VOITH | The Scale of Digital

    Description to be confirmed.

  • HATCH | To be confirmed

    Description to be confirmed.

Please note all times are presented in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), and all sessions are presented in English.
The program is subject to change at WaterPower Canada’s discretion.