VANCOUVER – BC Hydro announced today that it has awarded a contract for clearing the south bank of the Site C dam construction area to Paul Paquette and Son’s Contracting Ltd. The Site C clearing work on the south bank is required to prepare the dam site for construction. This contract will provide approximately 40 jobs and includes:

• Removal of 620 hectares of trees and vegetation
• Construction of up to 30 kilometres of temporary access roads and associated landings
• Upgrading and maintaining an existing access road
• Collection and deposition of waste wood, as required
• Site preparation for bridge construction

The contract with Paul Paquette and Son’s Contracting meets key procurement objectives — including being within budget — as well as requirements related to safety, quality and production.

Based in Chetwynd, Paul Paquette and Son’s Contracting is supported by four other local companies based in the Chetwynd area — Young’s Mills (1980) Ltd., B.A.C.K. Ventures, Hi-Sky Enterprises Ltd. and Hustle Contracting Ltd. The combined annual production capacity of the five contractors exceeds 1.4MMm3.

The contract for clearing the south bank of the dam site is one of several BC Hydro procurements for the Site C project. On April 30, BC Hydro announced that Two Rivers Lodging Group has been selected as the preferred proponent for the Site C Worker Accommodation contract. Other procurements underway include: Site Preparation - North Bank, Main Civil Works, and Turbines and Generators.

Construction of the Site C Clean Energy Project is scheduled to start in summer 2015 and be completed in 2024. Once built, Site C will provide clean, reliable and affordable electricity in B.C. for more than 100 years.

About Paquette and Son’s Contracting

Chetwynd's Paul Paquette and Son’s Contracting began its business in residential water and sewer services. Twenty years later, the company is diversified and now offers services to the alternative energy, forestry, mining, and oil and gas sectors. The company has worked hard to develop strong local strategic alliances within First Nations, industry and local communities. It is committed to quality, safety and responsible environmental performance. Paul Paquette is a Saulteau member and his company employs many local people, including members of the Saulteau community.

Paul Paquette and Son’s was a recipient of the inaugural BC Aboriginal Business awards in 2009 for Business of the Year - ten or more person enterprise.

About BC Hydro

BC Hydro has been providing clean, reliable power to British Columbians for more than 50 years while maintaining among the lowest rates in North America. BC Hydro is a provincial Crown corporation that serves 1.9 million customers and invests in the electrical system and in energy conservation to deliver a safe and reliable supply of electricity for today’s customers and for generations to come. For more information, visit: bchydro.com.