A company has announced it is looking to hire for several positions as it returns to southeast Alberta to manage construction for a wind farm in the Cypress Hills.--CP FILE PHOTO
kking@medicinehatnews.com
MasTec Canada is returning to the Medicine Hat area nearly two years after shuttering its Brier Park location, to manage construction of the EDF Renewables’ Cypress Hills wind farm, and is looking to hire for the project.
“We’re so excited to be partnering and contributing to the transitioning of our energy industry in Western Canada,” Leanne McLean, vice president of corporate services for MasTec Canada, told the News. “The overall scope of the project is the erection of 48 (wind) turbines on the Cypress Hills site, the construction of the sub-station and, ultimately, tying it to the grid (as well as) reclamation of the land surrounding the project.”
Construction of the wind farm is taking place in two phases, with the first completed in December of 2021 and the second to begin in March.
“Ultimately, we’ll mobilize to the site again here in late March … for the next phase, completion in December of 2022. Most of the reclamation will occur in the subsequent summer – June of 2023,” said McLean.
MasTec is seeking skilled individuals to take part in phase two by hosting job fairs across the region. Recruiters from MasTec will be at the local YMCA Employment Centre on March 2 and 3 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to accept resumes and conduct preliminary interviews with interested parties.
“They’ll kind of do a pre-screening, sit-down with each candidate, and from there they’ll decide who they want to proceed with offering a job offer to,” said Jodie Engbert, YMCA Employment Centre manager for Medicine Hat and Brooks.
McLean explained there are numerous roles available.
“It’s everyone from our construction management team, which includes project management, construction management, our safety team, as well as our concrete workers, our operators and then some of the specialists we’re hiring to support the turbine erection and install,” she said.
With approximately 220-230 positions to fill, McLean believes the project will provide a boost to the region’s economy, as well as an opportunity for skilled workers, like those who once worked in the oil and gas industry, to learn new skills.
“We’re really excited,” she said. “Our experiences with the local community in Medicine Hat and surrounding area has been incredibly positive.”
Project owner EDF Renewables is also optimistic about the Cypress Hills wind farm and its effects on the region.
“The objective is to deliver competitively priced and clean energy to the electricity grid for use by Albertans,” Mark Gallagher, director of development with EDF Renewables Canada, told the News. “There was strong support from local landowners in the area who wanted to diversify and support renewable power by hosting wind turbines on their property.
