At a glance
- Two small hydroelectric generating stations in eastern Ontario are marking major anniversaries.
- OPG's Sills Island station turns 125 this year while Hagues Reach is celebrating a century of service.
- With regular maintenance, upkeep, and investment, OPG's hydro stations are capable of operating reliably for decades.
In eastern Ontario, two small but hardworking hydro stations are celebrating some big, big birthdays.
An aerial view of Sills Island Generating Station. The station marked 125 years of service for Ontario in 2025.
On the Trent River, OPG's Sills Island Generating Station (GS) is marking its 125th year of service for Ontario.
And further upriver, OPG's Hagues Reach GS is celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Despite their age, they have no plans on quitting anytime soon. The stations' impressive track record is a testament to the longevity of OPG's hydroelectric plants, which are capable of operating reliably for many decades with regular maintenance and upkeep.
Over the years, Sills Island and Hagues Reach have played a central role in supporting their surrounding communities, from Campbellford to Quinte West to Belleville.
The stations' impressive track record is a testament to the longevity of OPG's hydroelectric plants, which are capable of operating reliably for many decades with regular maintenance and upkeep.
Early on, they provided reliable electricity for industries such as paper mills. As Ontario's economy and local communities grew during the second half of the 20th century, these plants continued to generate the electricity needed to support that growth.
OPG's Hagues Reach Generating Station is celebrating a century of reliable operations.
For Sills Island, it all started way back in 1900, when the two-unit station first went into service. It was acquired by OPG's predecessor, Ontario Hydro, in 1937.
The two-megawatt station was originally used to provide mechanical and later electrical power for the nearby G.E. Sills Paper Mill. For more than 70 years, the powerhouse remained attached to the paper mill structure until it was demolished in the 1970s after years of sitting idle.
Sills Island GS is OPG's second-oldest remaining station in its entire fleet, preceded only by the DeCew Falls I GS in St. Catharines, which was built in 1898.
Meanwhile, the three-unit, four-megawatt Hagues Reach GS first went into service in March 1925.
The station's name is a bit of a misnomer, as it is correctly known as Haig's Reach, named for Thomas Haig, a local farmer who worked just below the powerhouse in the late 19th century. The Haig name is still used throughout this portion of the Trent River, which is part of the meandering, 386-kilometre-long Trent-Severn Waterway that connects Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay.
As for the odd spelling? The name "Hague" was likely created by government surveyors during the area's railway and canal construction period.
