Site C employment drops in June

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – According to BC Hydro’s June employment highlights, 2,953 workers were at Site C in June. 

This is a decrease from May, when 2,986 workers were recorded on site, but according to BC Hydro, employment is expected to begin trending down as the project is concluded in 2025.

Of those workers, 2,208 individuals, or 75 per cent, were primary residents of B.C., and 463, or 21 per cent of the workforce, were primary residents of the Peace River Regional District. 

Compared to employment in May, the number and percentage of workers from the Peace region have both increased from 437, or 19 per cent of the workforce. 

There were 315 female workers at Site C during the month of June, a decrease from the 329 present at the site in May. 

The number of apprentices at the site also decreased compared to May, down to 185 from 229. 

There were also 122 workers voluntarily self-declared as Indigenous, down slightly from the 126 in May. 

During an August 1st media tour of the site, Greg Alexix, Manager of Public Affairs for Site C, stated that the reservoir will begin to be filled this month as construction is nearly complete.

The reservoir will take four months to fill at a rate of between 0.3 and three metres a day. 

BC Hydro and Site C have promised updates throughout the month. 

Boat launches will be closed during the filling and for at least a year after until the reservoir is deemed safe.