Site C employment numbers down again

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Site C employment numbers dipped again as it continues to complete milestones in hopes of filling the reservoir as early as this fall.

The dam project had 5,808 people working for the site in August, compared to 5,986 in July.

According to BC Hydro, 985 workers in August were Peace region residents, accounting for 20 per cent of the 4,949 contractors on site. This figure excludes engineers and project team members.

There were 3,691 B.C. primary residents working on the project, accounting for 64 per cent of the total workforce.

The number of apprentices increased from 331 in July to 375 the following month.

The report also provides the number of Indigenous people who worked on Site C, adding that workers voluntarily self-declared their Indigenous status to the employer. There were 519 Indigenous workers in August.

BC Hydro said 582 women worked on the dam project in August.

Last year, in a quarterly report, BC Hydro said it could begin the process of filling the Site C reservoir as early as this fall.

The reservoir filling process will take four months at a varying rate of 0.3 to two metres per day. Once completed, the reservoir will be approximately three times wider than the Peace River.

The deepest parts of the reservoir will be approximately 52 metres near the dam, with shallower areas around Hudson’s Hope being 18 metres.