BSCN – BC Hydro, Burnaby, BC
For my final co-op term, I am working for BC Hydro in Vancouver. Specifically, I am a part of the Integrated Vegetation Management team. This team falls under the Integrated Planning department and manages vegetation along BC Hydro’s 80,000 kilometers of line. Along with maintenance (i.e. pruning, tree removal, herbicide application), the team estimates growth rates, looks at wildfire risk and recommends compatible use projects.
Due to COVID-19 I am working from home, but I have still been able to be a part of various exciting assignments. One of the main projects I have been involved with has to do with critical care feeder identification. Because of the pandemic, BC Hydro is interested in identifying all feeds that connect to major hospitals or care homes where patients may rely on electricity for proper medical care. My role has been to cross reference the province of BC’s data catalogue on extended care facilities with BC Hydro’s GIS system (SAM Office). This allowed me to compile a document with the lines providing power to BC’s major care facilities.
In addition to that project, I have been helping gather a wildfire risk report for the executive and have been reviewing BC Hydro’s vegetation management standards. This term has been a wonderful mix of technical and professional development and I am so thankful for my supervisor and the Co-op team!
