“We build relationships at the speed of trust and sometimes those relationships take some time to build.”

For Tracy Primeau, meaningful conversations begin long before any project decisions are made.

That principle was at the heart of a recent educational opportunity sponsored by Energy Alberta in the Peace Region - a half-day workshop designed to increase community awareness and education about the nuclear sector.

The Nuclear Fundamentals Workshop was facilitated by nuclear industry trailblazer Tracy Primeau of Agile Bear Consulting.  She’s a proud member of the Nipissing First Nation and began her career in 1990 at the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station in Ontario. She later moved to the Bruce A Nuclear Generating Station, where she became the first woman there to hold a Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) licence and the only female Shift Manager to rise from the shop floor.

Her recent workshop with several Alberta Indigenous Nations and Communities centred on storytelling - using personal experience, lived perspective and relatable information to build understanding and trust.

“I think when you have someone who has a similar background, who looks like you and is not up there, you know, spelling out just facts that go over everyone's head, but telling a personal story, you can really get a conversation going.”

As a result, the dialogue flowed freely and there were some key themes that came out of the workshop. Participants asked about how nuclear compares to industries more familiar to the region, such as mining and oil and gas. There were thoughtful discussions about nuclear waste, safety and how nuclear energy fits within Canada’s broader energy and climate landscape.

For many in the room, it was an opportunity to learn about Canada’s long history with nuclear power - including aspects that are often less well-known, such as the production of medical isotopes and Canada’s global leadership in the nuclear sector.

Primeau also emphasizes the importance of co-planning and how Indigenous Nations should not be brought in after decisions are made, but invited into early planning conversations where their perspectives genuinely shape outcomes.

“We had heard consistently through our interactions with Nations and communities that there was a strong desire to increase community awareness and education related to the nuclear energy sector,” says Brenda Walton, Indigenous Engagement Lead for Energy Alberta.

For Energy Alberta, the session reinforced a core belief: early engagement is not about having answers - it’s about listening and learning. These initial conversations help lay the groundwork for deeper discussions rooted in mutual respect, transparency and a shared commitment to understanding what matters most to Indigenous Nations and Communities in the Peace Region, and how we can create shared prosperity through the Peace River Nuclear Power Project.

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