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New power boss at Watay

Margaret Kenequanash named CEO of Indigenous power company
Powerline4

Wataynikaneyap (Watay) Power chair Margaret Kenequanash will be elevated to the position of CEO of the First Nations transmission project, effective August 15.

According to a May 24 news release, she was worked for more than 25 years of experience with tribal councils in senior positions, was chief of North Caribou Lake First Nation, and has significant experience in the fields of financial, health and project management, as well as supporting community development initiatives.

Watay Power is owned by 22 First Nations communities and Fortis.

The partnership will develop new transmission facilities to connect remote First Nation communities in northwestern Ontario, currently powered by diesel generation. Diesel has become financially unsustainable, environmentally risky, and inadequate to meet community needs.

Construction on the transmission project begins in late 2018. Fortis Ontario is a utility company that manages various aspects of the transmission project.

“Margaret will be devoting her energy to connecting remote First Nation communities to the provincial power grid, and promoting the success of Wataynikaneyap Power's unprecedented partnership between First Nations and Fortis," said Scott Hawkes, director of Wataynikaneyap Power and president-CEO of Fortis Ontario.