Peter Sutherland Sr. Generating Station
Ontario Power Generation and Coral Rapids Power Corporation (a company wholly owned by Taykwa Tagamou Nation) are equity partners in the Peter Sutherland Sr. Generating Station. Named after a respected community elder, the 28 MW hydroelectric power station is remotely located at the confluence of the Abitibi River and New Post Creek within the Taykwa Tagamou Nation traditional territory of northeastern Ontario. A portion of the flows from New Post Creek have been harnessed to provide clean, renewable hydroelectric energy.
KGS Group worked closely with Ontario Power Generation and Coral Rapids Power through the conceptual and preliminary design stages, ultimately acting as the owner’s representative through the design-build construction phase that was performed by Kiewit and Aecon. KGS Group staff were onsite throughout construction assisting and collaborating with the owners and contractor team.
Construction was completed safely, on budget, and ahead of schedule. The project is not only an investment into Ontario’s clean energy future; it is a symbol of reconciliation and the culmination of a strong partnership between Taykwa Tagamou Nation and Ontario Power Generation that will benefit the community for generations.
Project Highlights
- Powerhouse construction with two horizontal‑axis Francis turbines with a total plant capacity 28 MW
- Gated intake structure and approach channel with controlled conveyance from New Post Creek
- 4 m diameter steel penstock 250 m long
- 520 m long embankment dam with a cement-bentonite core
- Two-bay gated spillway
Cote First Nation Fence Post Treatment Site Remediation
Cote First Nation is located north of Kamsack, Saskatchewan, and within the Reserve boundaries was a former fence post treatment facility that operated for approximately 10 seasons before closing in the late 1980s. The facility used chemicals to preserve the wood that can have adverse effects on humans, animals and the environment in certain concentrations. The site of the former facility is located within Badgerville near residences and gathering places, posing a concern for the Cote First Nation Council and its members.
Over several years, KGS Group conducted environmental assessments and oversaw the remediation of the former facility site. For the first time in approximately 45 years, the contaminated soils associated with the facility, were fully remediated.
Notably, as part of the project, an impressive 9,000 person-hours of work were completed by personnel from the Cote First Nation. The total value of purchased local borrow materials, worker wages and equipment rentals supplied by the First Nation was approximately $843,000. Executed in the spirit of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Calls to Action, the project presented on-the-job training and mentorship opportunities for the Cote First Nation. Overall, the project was a collaborative process that was mutually beneficial to all parties and was largely successful because of the local Nation’s involvement.
With the site of the former facility now safely remediated, the Cote First Nation can begin planning for future development in the area. What was once a potential hazard, is now a place of great possibility.
Project Highlights
- Environmental assessments over multiple seasons to delineate impacts and guide remediation
- Remediation of contaminated soils within the former facility footprint
- Tissue sampling on vegetation within the impacted area to confirm no uptake by trees
- Supply and placement of local borrow materials for backfill and site restoration
- Site regrading and cleanup to stabilize surfaces and improve near‑term usability
- Community engagement, on‑site training and mentorship delivered by KGS Group
- More than 9,000 hours completed by Cote First Nation personnel
- $843,000 in materials, wages and equipment rentals from within Cote First Nation
Whitehorse Diesel-LNG Conversion
While the Yukon draws the bulk of its energy from renewable hydroelectric and wind power, the territory’s electrical grid required a backup source of power to meet consumer needs. Yukon Energy retained KGS to modernize the existing diesel system to meet peak demand and maintain territory-wide service for residents.
A new liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled backup power generating station and associated infrastructure was constructed adjacent to Yukon Energy’s existing primary power generating station in Whitehorse, Yukon. Commissioned in 2015, the project site includes two modular LNG fueled reciprocating generators intended to replace Yukon Energy’s aging diesel generating equipment and to provide flexible and reliable backup power to supplement Yukon’s other power sources.
Project Highlights
- An LNG backup station was built with two modular reciprocating generators
- First use of LNG in Yukon
- Lower greenhouse gas emissions than the previous diesel system, long‑term ratepayer savings and improved reliability and peak support
Central Manitoba Mine Remediation
The Central Manitoba Mine, an abandoned mine site in Nopiming Provincial Park, was a top remediation priority for the Province of Manitoba because of the presence of major hazards to the public and environment. The site contained acid-generating tailings, waste rock, abandoned infrastructure and unsafe mine openings that lead to a network of underground mine development.
KGS Group spearheaded the site’s transformation. This project involved the development of comprehensive closure plans, the design of innovative remediation solutions, and construction administration.
The result: public safety was ensured, health hazards eliminated, and the site was restored to satisfactory conditions, mitigating extensive contamination and environmental risks.
Project Highlights
- Site assessment, risk evaluation and closure planning
- Containment and treatment of acid‑generating tailings and waste rock
- Securing unsafe mine openings, decommissioning abandoned infrastructure and debris removal
- Construction administration, contractor oversight and regulatory coordination
Davis Diversion Coanda Fish Exclusion Screen
The Davis Diversion was built in 1939 near the town of Maple Creek. The main purpose of this canal is to divert unregulated flow to Cypress Lake, the main source of drinking water and irrigation projects in Southwestern Saskatchewan. Operation of the original diversion has, in the past, resulted in stranding of at risk fish species.
The Water Security Agency (WSA) ceased operation of the diversion system while contemplating solutions. KGS Group developed a solution consisting of the design and construction of a new concrete weir with a Coanda fish exclusion screen, combined with a new rock ramp fishway. This structure provides a novel solution for WSA to achieve its water management objectives, while protecting the area’s sensitive aquatic environment and bringing infrastructure into regulatory compliance.
Project Highlights
- Conceptual and detailed design of fish exclusion at diversion intake
- Replacement and modernization of aging water control structures
- Upstream fish passage integrated around the control structure
- Final product was in complete compliance with Fisheries Act and SARA
- Enables resumption of diversion operations to Cypress Lake
Pauingassi First Nation Landfill Expansion
Pauingassi First Nation is located in eastern Manitoba, approximately 275 km northeast of Winnipeg, on a peninsula of land that extends southward into Fishing Lake. At the time, the community had a total registered population of 668 and did not have an airport or an all-season road for access and uses winter roads, float planes or helicopters depending on the time of year.
Because access is primarily by winter road, numerous challenges must be overcome for solid waste management and in general for any construction projects in the community. Some of these challenges include heavy equipment access, difficulty removing divertible wastes from the community to proper disposal depots, dependency (and variability) of ice thickness, and overall higher construction costs compared to other, more easily accessible communities.
KGS Group created a new integrated resource management centre for this remote community. Success was achieved even though the COVID-19 pandemic and 2021 forest fires impacted the schedule. An innovative design overcame challenging site conditions, integrated community requests, preserved local heritage resources and Traditional Land Use Areas, and mitigated existing environmental impacts.
The result is a practical, environmentally sound, sustainable and aesthetically pleasing waste management facility that also addresses waste diversion. This project is a model for successful collaboration between Indigenous communities, contractors, consulting companies and government agencies.
Project Highlights
- Community‑informed planning, design and construction oversight
- Remote delivery adapted to winter road logistics
- Engineered facility to centralize waste handling and address diversion
- Design aligned with site constraints while preserving heritage and Traditional Land Use Areas
- A cleaner, safer community environment
Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels
Following severe flooding events in 2011 and 2014, the Province of Manitoba retained KGS Group for the design of the Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin Outlet Channels Project. The outlet channels will serve as new, permanent flood control infrastructure for both lakes.
Completed under tight schedule restrictions, the conceptual design work involved:
- Remote field investigations
- Extensive review and analysis of the various channel configurations
- Preparation of concept designs, cost estimates and constructability reviews
- Identification, assessment and screening of potential environmental and socio-economic impacts
The diverse range of design components and unique site conditions resulted in a challenging engineering undertaking that was successfully managed by the multidisciplinary team of experienced engineers, GIS technicians and support staff assembled by KGS Group.
KGS Group subsequently completed the preliminary, final design and tender preparation for the outlet channel from Lake St. Martin to Lake Winnipeg. The project includes roughly 23 km of channel excavation, multiple drop structures, and construction of a water control structure near the channel inlet complete with gates, hoists, bridge deck and ancillary buildings. The total estimated budget for this portion of the project is over $300 million. The construction phase of the project is pending regulatory approval.
Once constructed, the outlet channels are projected to maintain both lakes below flood stage over 99 per cent of the time. They will provide the ability to better regulate the lakes and reduce the impact of future floods, benefiting residents and businesses in the area.
Project Highlights
- Design for 23 km of channel excavation with defined sections and earthworks quantities
- Design of multiple drop structures sized for hydraulic control and energy dissipation
- Water control structure near the channel inlet for operational regulation
Churchill Rocket Range Environmental Services
The Churchill Rocket Range, a former launch site east of Churchill, required environmental due diligence and cleanup ahead of ownership transfer to the Town of Churchill. KGS Group provided consulting services to assess site conditions, plan remediation and support safe deconstruction.
Before ownership transfer, we completed an environmental site assessment, a non-hazardous and hazardous materials inventory, including hazardous building materials sampling and a rocket debris waste survey, a remediation and hazardous materials management plan and mould and asbestos abatement specifications.
Following completion of the initial work, the rocket range was transferred to the Town of Churchill and KGS Group was retained to manage and coordinate activities related to soil remediation and demolition of several buildings and structures at the site. Remedial activities included excavation and disposal of contaminated soils in an onsite constructed land farm as approved by the province.
Successful completion of this project required careful planning due to short field seasons and limited equipment, as well as the ability to adapt to variable conditions encountered in this unique Canadian subarctic environment.
Project Highlights
- Hazardous/non‑hazardous materials inventory and rocket debris survey
- Remediation and hazardous materials management plan and mould and asbestos abatement specifications
- Soil remediation via excavation and onsite land farm, demolition of selected buildings/structures
Pointe du Bois Spillway Replacement
The Pointe du Bois Generating Station is the oldest operating hydroelectric plant in Manitoba. Despite extensive upgrades and ongoing maintenance over the years, the original spillway required replacement. The Pointe du Bois Spillway Replacement project included the design and construction of a new remotely operated 7-bay spillway and a new 1km long zoned earthfill dam, complete with an ancillary support building for electrical switch gear and control systems, a backup diesel generator, and other related infrastructure.
As the prime consultant, KGS Group worked collaboratively with Manitoba Hydro as the designer in an early contractor involvement project delivery process. KGS also provided full-time technical support and quality assurance assistance through construction, commissioning and close-out activities.
The final design was carried out entirely within a 3D digital environment, and was paramount for the successful execution of all stages of the project. This innovative approach gave the team the ability to visualize the end product at the design stage and enabled harmonious advancement of the project across multiple disciplines.
The several hundred-million-dollar project was successfully completed without any interruptions to the ongoing operation of the plant, while protecting and preserving established lake sturgeon habitat and restoring the natural landscape in this environmentally sensitive provincial park setting.
Project Highlights
- New remotely operated seven bay spillway, support building and backup diesel generator
- New 1km long zoned earthfill embankment dam
- 3D digital design environment
- The several hundred‑million‑dollar capital program was completed without operational interruptions
- Enhanced safety and control, extended asset life and a more reliable discharge capacity
- Lake sturgeon habitat protected and the landscape in the provincial park was restored
Seine Riverbank Stabilization at the Branch 1 Aqueduct
Riverbank movements near the Seine River crossing threatened the City of Winnipeg’s 100‑year‑old Branch 1 Aqueduct, which carries 40% of the city’s drinking water. KGS Group helped stabilize the riverbank while keeping the aqueduct in service throughout construction, protecting a critical supply and reducing risk to the community.
Our team applied an extensive design evaluation process, a full-scale field-testing program, a ground-breaking instrumentation monitoring program and a highly prescriptive construction methodology to manage risk at each stage of construction.
This approach required more intensive engineering but reduced the construction timeline by one full year and resulted in significant project cost savings. After the stabilization work was completed, a complete revegetation project ensued, ensuring the area was ready for community use for years to come.
Project Highlights
- Planning, design, geotechnical evaluation, construction oversight, monitoring and stakeholder coordination
- Advanced instrumentation program and prescriptive construction sequencing
- Project timeline was completed one year ahead of schedule, leading to significant cost savings
- The site was restored and revegetated, improving the public realm and long‑term resilience
Newton Force Main River Crossing
KGS Group and Associated Engineering designed and oversaw the construction of a new, 466 meter river crossing installed trenchlessly 40 meters below grade to replace the failing Newton Force Main River Crossing. This vital piece of infrastructure supports the wastewater flows from the entire Hawthorne sewer district in Winnipeg. Under dry weather conditions, the Newton Force Main River Crossing transports over 2.3 million litres of wastewater daily under the Red River.
The existing crossing was installed along the river bottom in 1978 and was connected to lands that have become densely urbanized, which limited solutions. An alternate alignment was developed to both reroute the force main and install it safely within the bedrock strata below the river.
The result is a durable, long‑term asset that improves system resilience and safeguards the environment and the community.
Project Highlights
- 466 meter river crossing installed trenchlessly, 40 meters below grade
- Horizontal directional drilling with horizontal and vertical curves – a first in Manitoba
- 780 meters of new force main on an alternate alignment in bedrock below the river
- Replaces 1978 river‑bottom crossing which lowers environmental risk and maintenance needs
Cote First Nation Solid Waste Transfer Station
Cote First Nation had been experiencing significant solid waste management challenges including inconsistent collection services and unmanned and non-engineered dump sites throughout the Reserve. Additionally, the main landfill site was note engineered which posed a significant risks to the surrounding soil and groundwater.
To ensure waste was being managed in a sustainable manner, Cote First Nation engaged KGS Group to review their waste management practices and design and oversee the construction of a new solid waste transfer station. We also supported community engagement events to share the importance of transfer stations and responsible waste management practices.
During construction, nearly 2,000 hours were completed by Cote First Nation members, and the total value of purchased material, worker wages and equipment rentals from the Nation was approximately $126,500. This project also presented on-the-job training and mentorship opportunities for members of Cote First Nation and was seen as a community-driven process that was mutually beneficial to everyone.
The positive effects of the project will be evident through the waste diverted from unmanned dump sites, the protected soil and groundwater, and the sense of empowerment felt across Cote First Nation to continue with responsible waste management practices.
Project Highlights
- Design and oversaw construction of a new solid waste transfer station
- 2,000 hours contributed by Cote First Nation members to complete the project and $126,500 spent on local materials, wages and rentals
- Improved protection of soil and groundwater with waste diverted from unmanned landfills
- On‑the‑job training and mentorship for Cote First Nation members