Another remote First Nation has been connected to the provincial power grid.

Wunnumin Lake held a celebration yesterday for the electrification of the community thanks to Wataynikaneyap Power.

The First Nation is the seventh community to join the grid and as many as nine others are expected to be connected in the next year.

Being connected to the provincial power grid means the community is no longer reliant diesel generators.

“This is a great achievement that will be felt in the community for generations to come,” Wunnumin Lake chief
Sam Mamakwa remarks.

“Now that our load capacity is no longer restricted from diesel generators, Wunnumin Lake has been able to connect our new John George Martin Memorial School, which has space for students from junior kindergarten to Grade 10.

“We have upgraded our teachers’ accommodations and built a new subdivision of 25+ housing units which are just waiting for final assessment procedures.”

A total of 17 communities will be connected once the $1.9 billion project is complete.

It consists of 604 kilometers of power line and five substations starting at the Dinorwic substation near Dryden.

Wunnumin Lake First Nation is located about 575 km north of Thunder Bay.

(Photo provided by Wataynikaneyap Power)