There is no better way to get to know a community than by spending time alongside the people who call it home.

This spring and summer, the Energy Alberta team has travelled across the Peace Region, attending local events, celebrating community traditions and connecting with residents as planning continues for the Peace River Nuclear Power Project.  

From rodeos and River Days to Canada Day celebrations and local powwows, every event provided another opportunity to build relationships, answer questions and simply enjoy the communities we want to be part of for generations to come.

While these events give our team the chance to share Project updates, they are equally about listening, learning and becoming part of the community.

For members of our engagement team, returning to see familiar faces has become one of the most rewarding parts of the summer. Terese Nowakowsky, Energy Alberta’s Senior Engagement & Communications Advisor, has spent time reconnecting with people she met throughout the region over the past year, while making plenty of new friends along the way - including one four-legged local favourite during Northern Sunrise County's Canada Day celebration.

“The best part of my job is the chance to connect with the people who call this region home. Every community event is an opportunity to listen, learn and build meaningful relationships. Being welcomed into these communities is something I never take for granted, and it’s those connections that make this work so rewarding”.

For Allie Murdoch, Energy Alberta’s Indigenous Engagement Coordinator, one of the highlights of the summer was attending the Peace River Powwow, where Energy Alberta had the opportunity to meet with many Indigenous peoples from the Nations and Communities we have been engaging with.

"One of the most rewarding parts of the day was congratulating the young dancers after they came off the stage," said Murdoch. "It was a wonderful opportunity to learn and connect with the community."

Another meaningful stop for the engagement team this summer was Lubicon Treaty Days, where Engagement Director Katie McKinnon and Senior Indigenous Engagement Advisor Vanessa Vredenburg joined community members to enjoy the festivities, celebrate culture and strengthen relationships.

Community events are also a chance for the team to step away from the booth and take part in the fun themselves.

At the Harmon Valley Rodeo, the Energy Alberta team jumped into one of the event's signature competitions - wild cow milking. Working together, they embraced the challenge with plenty of laughs while experiencing one of the Peace Region's favourite traditions firsthand.

The team also enjoyed seeing the Energy Alberta flag flying proudly in the arena throughout the rodeo, a reminder of the growing relationships being built across the region.

"I never expected wild cow milking to be part of my job, but I'm so glad it was,” Sohila Shanin, Energy Alberta’s Stakeholder Engagement Coordinator shares. “Getting to take part in the rodeo instead of just watching from the sidelines made the day even more memorable and reminded me that some of the best connections are made when you're willing to jump in and be part of the community."

Each event tells a different story, but they all have one thing in common: the incredible hospitality of the people who make the Peace Region such a special place.

Whether we're answering questions about the Project, cheering on competitors at a rodeo or celebrating alongside families at community festivals, every conversation helps strengthen the relationships that will continue throughout the Project's journey.

As summer continues, we're looking forward to spending more time in the communities that make the Peace Region so special, including an upcoming stop at the Berwyn Fiesta.

Want to know where we'll be next? Visit our Events page to see where you can connect with the Energy Alberta team: https://www.energyalberta.com/events

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