PowerTel History

1946

Clary Gatien begins a career as an electrical apprentice. His older brother, Rene was a big influence on him.

1946

1953

Clary started a sole proprietorship company called Central Canada Construction.

1953

1960

Over the years, PowerTel has always maintained a fleet of vehicles to provide high voltage services required.

1960

1964

Rene Gatien creates the beginnings of PowerTel in a meeting with Clary Gatien and Herb Krueger.

1964

1966

Clary moves from Port William to Iroquois Falls.

Clary and Herb partner on a new venture they call Power and Telephone Constructors Canada Inc.

1966

1968

Clary & Herb incorporate the business and rename it PowerTel Utilities Contractors Limited, in North Bay, Ontario.

1968

1967

Clary and Herb move the business to North Bay, Ontario.

1967

1982

PowerTel is moved to Whitefish, Ontario, to better access the booming Sudbury area mining economy.

1982

1982

PowerTel moves its operations from Copper Cliff to the new and current facility in Whitefish, Ontario.

PowerTel constructs the 115 kV transmission line to power Detour Lake mine for the first time.

1982

1988

Clary retires from PowerTel and he starts up NOPC.

Wayne and Dean become Herb’s partners in PowerTel.

1988

1989

PowerTel is the general contractor for the construction of the Ragged Chute HEP for Cobalt Power Company Inc.

1989

1992

PowerTel constructs 230 kV steel pole transmission line for Ontario Hydro from Timmins to Iroquois Falls. 

1992

1995

Construction of 69 kV substation at INCO Ltd.’s big Eddy Generating Station at High Falls, Ontario.

Construct 115 kV transmission line and 10 MVA substation for the INCO Ltd. – Victor Mine site in Skead, Ontario.

1995

1996

PowerTel executes an EPC contract for the installation of 70 kms – 115 kV transmission line and 10 MVA substation for North American Palladium.

1996

1998

1998 Ice Storm

PowerTel supports Niagara Mohawk and New York State Electric with repairs to damage caused by the Ice Storm.

1998

1999

PowerTel is awarded the contract to construct the Five Nations Energy Ommushkego Ishkotayo project, a transmission line and stations that brought grid-connection to 3 remote diesel-generation communities. It was PowerTel ’s biggest project to date, and was completed on time and under budget.

1999

2000

2000

2001

Five Nations Energy Inc. – Western James Bay Grid Extension energized.

2001

2003

Herb Krueger retires.

Mike and Chris Krueger buy Herb’s share of the company and become Wayne and Dean’s partners. Mike becomes Director of Operations, Chris becomes Director of Business Development.

2003

2004

GLPT – Sault #3 – 115 kV Restructuring and P21G 230 kV Reconstruction work.

2004

2005

PowerTel is awarded EPC project for installation of Erie Shore’s 115 kV transmission line, from Black and McDonald, for the wind energy project.

2005

2006

PowerTel installs the substation for DaBeers – Victor mine, west of Attawapiskat, Ontario.

2006

2011

PowerTel begins construction on the 180km 230 kV transmission line to power Detour Gold for the second time.

PowerTel completes 230 kV line construction for the Enbridge – Greenwich wind project for RES Canada.

2011

2012

PowerTel is awarded the EPC contract for the 230 kV transmission line for Pattern/Samsung – South Kent wind project, by RES Canada.

2012

2013

PowerTel installs the 115 kV transmission line and interconnection for McClean’s Mountain wind project for HB White.

2013

2014

John Risley purchases PowerTel.

PowerTel installs the 230 kV transmission line for the Dufferin Wind project for Longyuan Power at Shelbourne, Ontario.

PowerTel installs 115 kV powerlines for the Bluewater, Jericho and Goshen wind projects; part of the Nextera Six Pack.

2014

2015

Complete substations at the LMRP project in Kapuskasing, Ontario for Kiewit.

PowerTel begins NSPNL Maritime Link project, installing 180 kms of 230 kV transmission line and 70 kms of DC Grounding line.

2015

PowerTel

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