About

The Ontario Waterpower Association (OWA) is a not-for-profit, member-based organization promoting the sustainable development of waterpower resources in Ontario. Since 2001, the OWA has been representing the common and collective interests of the waterpower industry. To date, membership has grown to over 160 organizations. Our membership includes generators, engineering firms, environmental consultants, equipment suppliers, manufacturers, legal, project financing and insurance firms, Indigenous communities, and other organizations, all sharing the common interest of advancing waterpower in Ontario.

Our Vision

Waterpower is valued by governments, communities and citizens for the electricity, economic, environmental and social contributions it makes to the province and as a catalyst for Ontario’s transition to the achievement of Electrification and Decarbonization objectives.

Our Mission

To Inform public policy and public opinion to maintain, enhance and build investment opportunities for members of our industry in the communities and regions of Ontario within which they work.

Our Goals

To sustain and enhance the significant contributions of Ontario’s existing waterpower assets.

To provide new opportunities for waterpower development and industry growth across the province.

Our Staff

Paul Norris

President

Paul Norris

President

Paul Norris is the President of the OWA. Under Paul’s leadership the OWA has grown to include over one hundred and fifty (150) members with a shared commitment to the advancement of environmentally sustainable economic development and resource management. Paul has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Toronto and is a graduate of Ryerson’s Public Administration Program. He holds an MBA from Queen’s University and the Certified Association Executive designation.

Phone:866-743-1500 ext. 22
Email:info@owa.ca

Janelle Bates

Director, Communications and Member Relations

Janelle Bates

Director, Communications and Member Relations

Janelle is the Director of Communications and Member Relations. Over the past fifteen (15) years Janelle has led several key initiatives focused on member education, engagement and networking. Janelle has been instrumental in the growth of the OWA’s annual conference and trade show, Power of Water Canada, which is now the largest hydroelectric conference in Canada. Janelle has a Business Administration diploma from Loyalist College and recently has completed the University of Toronto’s (UofT’s) Hydropower Masters program’s Hydropower Essentials course – a program developed in partnership between the OWA and UofT.

Phone:866-743-1500 ext. 23
Email:jbates@owa.ca

Jan Fonseca

Community and Industry Outreach and Media Coordinator

Jan Fonseca

Community and Industry Outreach and Media Coordinator

Jan Fonseca is the Community & Industry Outreach and Media Coordinator for the OWA. Jan leads the development of communications and outreach materials and strategies to sustain and grow the municipal “Waterpower Champions” initiative and provides support to membership recruitment programs. Additionally, Jan is responsible for coordinating OWA’s social media platforms. Jan holds a Masters degree in Environmental Science from the University of Guelph.

Phone:866-743-1500 ext. 25
Email:jfonseca@owa.ca

Jessica Worosz

Events Manager

Jessica Worosz

Events Manager

Jessica is the OWA’s Event Manager. Jessica has over 9 years of experience in event management and marketing within the not-for-profit sector. Jessica leads the planning and execution of all OWA events, including the annual Power of Water Canada Conference, facility tours, educational workshops and upcoming Hydro and Hops.

Phone:866-743-1500 ext. 24
Email:jworosz@owa.ca

Eric Ashbury

Digital Media and Events Coordinator

Eric Ashbury

Digital Media and Events Coordinator

Eric is the OWA’s Digital Media and Events Coordinator (Intern). He is responsible for the design and coordination of various communication materials and the Association’s website. Additionally, Eric is the onsite coordinator for the Power of Water Canada trade show. He is currently pursuing his BA in Communications, at the University of Ottawa.

Phone:866-743-1500 ext. 23
Email:eashbury@owa.ca

Board

Nicholas Pender

Chair

Nicholas Pender

Chair

Nick is the Vice President of Niagara Operations at Ontario Power Generation (OPG)
Nick has responsibility for 2500 MW of power generating facilities in the Niagara region. This includes the Sir Adam Beck Complex in Niagara, DeCew Falls in St Catharines, hydro facilities through out Gravehurst, Campellford and a 44 MW solar farm in Nanticoke. Nick is accountable for public and dam safety, plant operations, reliability and capital investment. In previous roles at OPG, Nick was the Vice President of Energy Markets and had responsibility for the strategy and performance of all energy market activities including generating contracts with the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), Ontario market affairs, 24/7 power control centre and trading activities in the US North East. This included integrating Eagle Creek, a US owner and operator of hydroelectric facilities. Having spent most of his career in the energy sector, Nick has a keen interest in strategies and market designs that deliver economic, social and environmental benefits. He is an advocate for the development of forward thinking, efficient and innovative sector. Nick currently sits on the board of Ontario Water Association and Nanticoke Solar Inc and was a former Chair of the Canadian Electricity Association Power Marketing Council.

Stephen Somerville

Director

Stephen Somerville

Director

Vice President, Corporate Development and Investor Relations, H2O Power LP.
Stephen has worked in the power industry for 21 years, including all types of hydro, natural gas-fired generation, wind, solar, biomass, and biogas. Stephen leads and executes H2O’s growth strategy; he is responsible for the acquisition, development, and financing of hydroelectric projects across North America. Stephen lead multi-disciplinary teams in the successful acquisition of sixteen U.S. hydro facilities representing almost 1,400 MW of nameplate capacity. Previously, Stephen was a Vice President with Competitive Power Ventures (“CPV”), Inc. where he was responsible for the development of all CPV’s natural gas-fired power generation development projects (and associated natural gas pipeline and transmission lines) and large scale wind projects, across Canada. Prior to joining CPV, Stephen was a member of the Probyn & Company and Clean Power Income Fund team responsible for business development and acquisitions. Stephen has experience working with the IESO, the Ministry of Energy, and various First Nations Groups across Canada and is a member of the Board of both the Association of Power Producers of Ontario (“APPrO”) and Ontario Water Power Association (OWA). Stephen has also been the APPrO Annual Conference Chair from 2005 through 2021. Stephen holds an MBA from the University of Toronto and an Honours B.A. degree in Economics from the University of Waterloo.

John B. Wynsma

Vice-Chair

John B. Wynsma

Vice-Chair

Vice President, Generation & Retail Services, Peterborough Utilities Inc.
John has been involved in the waterpower industry for over thirty years in a variety of roles: consultant, project manager, business development and senior management. His experience encompasses diverse regions including Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and the Philippines; and a wide range of hydroelectric technologies. In his current position as Vice President of Generation & Retail Services for Peterborough Utilities Inc., John has led the growth of the organization’s renewable generation portfolio from 6 MW to approximately 50 MW, including the successful development and expansion of a number of waterpower projects under various IESO programs. John has been an active member of the Ontario Waterpower Association (OWA) for many years, participating as a panelist in numerous Power of Water Canada conference sessions, and as a member of the OWA team responsible for negotiating HCI contracts with the IESO.

Paul Young

Director

Paul Young

Director

Vice-President of Generation Development, Orillia Power Generation Corporation
Paul Young is Vice President of Generation Development at Orillia Power Generation Corporation. He oversees the operation of three hydroelectric generation stations totaling 15 MW. He actively pursues new business ventures including hydroelectric and solar projects in Ontario. Paul directs the activities of supervisors and technical staff; develops and administers operating and capital budgets, review workforce resources and equipment and ensure all applicable regulatory requirements are met. Prior to joining Orillia Power, he worked at Gemini Power, and prior to that Paul managed a small Hydro practice within IBI Group, where he was responsible for undertaking feasibility studies, design, approval, and construction management for over twenty-five waterpower projects mainly in Ontario but also across Canada and abroad (Zimbabwe, Philippines, Bolivia). Paul holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Civil) from the University of Toronto and is a Licensed Professional Engineer in the Province of Ontario

Bonnie Hiltz

Corporate Secretary

Bonnie Hiltz

Corporate Secretary

Vice President, Energy, and the Environment, Sussex Strategy
Bonnie Hiltz has over a decade and a half of experience working in Ontario’s electricity sector. Since 2005, Bonnie has been intimately involved with the evolution of electricity supply policies, having worked at both the Ministry of Energy and the Ontario Power Authority (now the IESO). She has contributed to the design and implementation of the coal phase-out strategy and multiple supply procurements for renewable and gas generation. She was also involved in contract management functions for billions of dollars of supply agreements with the OPA/IESO. Bonnie left the public sector in 2014 to oversee Government and Regulatory Affairs for a major international utility and energy services provider. In this role, she advised on supply and de-carbonization policies and assisted business development efforts across Canada. In her current role as Vice President in the Energy and Environment group at Sussex Strategy, Bonnie serves a number of clients in the energy sector as they navigate the complex government and regulatory environment. Bonnie has previously served on the Boards of the Canadian Solar Industries Association and the Canadian Wind Energy Association (now merged as the Canadian Renewable Energy Association). She has an M.A. in International Relations and Political Science from the Munk School of Global Affairs, University of Toronto. She is fluent in French and Spanish and has lived in the United States, France, Switzerland and Costa Rica.

Bill Touzel (CPA/CA)

Director

Bill Touzel (CPA/CA)

Director

President, TBSi
Bill Touzel has been immersed in Renewable Energy and Environmental Science industries for over 30 years. In addition to executive leaderships and entrepreneurial roles with consultancy and technology companies, he is directly involved in waterpower project development, construction, and operations in Canada and abroad, on behalf of many public and private sector clients. He is also co-owner/operator of a run-of-river Hydro Low Generating Station, giving him direct hands-on experience in all aspects of the waterpower industry. Bill has been a member at various times of several board of directors. For several years he was a member of the Project Peer Review Committee for the FCM “Green Municipal Fund” and was once nominated for the Canadian Business “Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, and “Employer of the Year” by ECO Canada. He has spearheaded several corporate development initiatives, including the acquisition of a public company by RTO, and the acquisition of sale of several waterpower facilities, an analytical laboratory, and three environmental engineering businesses. Bill has been active in the OWA for over a decade, particularly in areas related to First Nations capacity building, environmental assessment, and regulatory issues.

James Carter

Treasurer

James Carter

Treasurer

Vice President, Development & Operations, Regional Power
Mr. Carter has more than 18 years of experience in the independent power industry and has focused primarily on the development, permitting, construction, and operations of hydroelectric generating facilities. Since 2002 he has developed, permitted, and is now responsible for operating 51 MW of generating capacity for Regional Power. He has also permitted a 25 MW development-stage project, and two projects (19 MW total) which are under construction and will be complete in early 2016. James also manages Capstone Infrastructure’s portfolio of operating hydro sites totaling 36 MW and is actively pursuing new business development opportunities in the international renewable energy space for partnership, development, or investment by Regional Power.

Jon Atkinson

Director

Jon Atkinson

Director

Director, Business Development & Regional Manager (Ontario) – Hydropower & Dams, Hatch
Jon is the Director of Business Development and Regional Manager (Ontario) for Hydropower and Dams at Hatch. He provides leadership for both projects and business development activities and has over 20 years of experience in consulting in the management and design of hydropower projects, and in leading engineering teams. This includes projects ranging from concept to commissioning, as well as due diligence and independent engineering assessments.

Michael Morgenroth Dipl. Ing., Ph.D., P.Eng.

Director

Michael Morgenroth Dipl. Ing., Ph.D., P.Eng.

Director

Principal, Hydropower & Dams – Canada, Stantec Consulting
Michael is a mechanical engineer with over thirty years of experience from concept to implementation of water and wind power projects in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and the Americas. He is currently responsible for Stantec’s hydropower and dams sector in Canada. Michael’s technical latitude has spanned component and system level design, site engineering, commissioning, laboratory and field performance testing, equipment selection inspection and assessment, troubleshooting, assessment of aging infrastructure, risk, and other specialty studies. He has managed projects, emerging technologies, contractor prequalification, technical bid evaluation, and contract negotiations for equipment supply, construction and service contracts. Michael has developed computerized optimization tools for risk-based capital expenditure planning on hydro plants and for the collector system and layout of wind farms. Prior to Stantec, Michael was part of the executive team of an Independent Power Producer, and early in his career was a product developer for a manufacturer. He led multidisciplinary engineering teams during project initiation, development, construction, and operations. His longer-term construction engagements include a 20MW run-of-river hydro plant and a 138-kV transmission line in Canada, and a Resident Engineer position on a 45MW hydro plant in Guatemala. He has served on standard setting committees as well as advisory panels to government and academia including as lead instructor of a M.Eng. course at University of Toronto.