The Peace Region is home to talented people, thriving businesses and strong community organizations. Through our Energy Lives Here series, we’re introducing some of the local people and businesses Energy Alberta works with as we connect with communities and advance the proposed Peace River Nuclear Power Project.

A Lifetime in the Peace Region

When Kelly Bunn returned to Peace River nearly five decades ago, he thought he would stay for two years.

He never left.

Kelly had spent part of his childhood in Peace River before his family moved to Edmonton following his father’s transfer with Canadian National Railway. Years later, an opportunity brought Kelly and his own family back to the region - and what was meant to be a short stay became home. "Nearly 48 years later, we’re still here," Kelly says. "We raised our family here, built lifelong friendships and became part of the community. The Peace Region is a beautiful place to live and there’s a strong sense of connection between the people who call it home."

Over those years, Kelly has also built a career closely connected to the growth and evolution of the region.  His experience spans municipal government, residential and industrial development, recreation, management and consulting, as well as work across the textile, oil and gas and environmental services sectors.  

That combination of deep local roots and wide-ranging experience has given Kelly a unique perspective on how communities grow, what creates opportunity and what it takes to support that growth for the long term.

‍Connecting Project and Community

When Energy Alberta began advancing the Peace River Nuclear Power Project, Kelly’s  experience and decades of local relationships made him a natural fit for the team.  

Today, Kelly serves as a Senior Engagement Specialist working as a local liaison and landowner contact, helping connect the Project team and the people and communities around it.

"A project of this size is incredibly complex, but at the end of the day, it is being developed in a community," Kelly says. "Having people on the team who understand the region, its history and the people who live here is important."

His role includes connecting with local landowners, helping facilitate conversations and bringing local knowledge and context back to the Energy Alberta team. It is a role built on something Kelly has spent decades developing: trust and relationships.

"When you’ve lived here as long as I have, you understand how connected these communities are," he says. "People want to know what is happening, what a project like this could mean for their families and businesses and that they have an opportunity to be part of the conversation."

Keeping Opportunities Close to Home

Within Energy Alberta, Kelly is a strong advocate for making sure people and businesses in the Peace Region are part of the conversation as opportunities emerge.

From the beginning, he has encouraged the team to “look local” as planning progresses.

"I’ve been pretty persistent about reminding the team that we have talented people and capable businesses right here in the region," Kelly says. "When opportunities become available, I want local people to have a real chance to be part of them."

That perspective aligns with Energy Alberta’s focus on local and regional Indigenous hiring, procurement, workforce development and creating pathways for local vendors and contractors as the Project advances.

For Kelly, supporting local participation is more than the opportunities available today. It’s about helping build skills, experience and capacity that can benefit the region for years to come.  

Opportunity Beyond the Project

When Kelly talks about the potential impact of the Peace River Nuclear Power Project, he looks beyond the jobs directly associated with construction and operations.

A major infrastructure project can create demand throughout the surrounding economy — from housing and construction to retail, transportation and community services. Kelly sees that broader activity as a chance to strengthen existing businesses, create space for new ones and generate opportunities across the region.

"The opportunity goes well beyond the Project site," Kelly says. "Growth creates demand for housing, services, businesses and skilled people. That can open doors for entrepreneurs who are already here and give others a reason to build their future in the Peace Region."

For communities that have weathered population shifts and economic cycles, Kelly sees long-term investment as an opportunity to strengthen local economies, support community services, and create a foundation for future growth.

"We have communities here with a lot to offer," he says. "The opportunity is to build on what already exists and create the conditions for these communities to grow and thrive for the next generation."

Building the Region’s Next Chapter

Today, he sees another opportunity for the region to grow - building on its established industries, experienced workforce and strong communities.

For Kelly, though, it ultimately comes back to the people.

"This region has been good to my family and me for almost 50 years," Kelly says. "What excites me most is the possibility of creating opportunities that allow more people to build careers, raise their families and make a life here too."

That’s what makes his work with Energy Alberta personal: the opportunity to help shape what comes next for the place he has called home for nearly 50 years.

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