SID QUINN HONORARY HYDROPOWER TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS
The Sid Quinn Honorary Hydropower Training Scholarships are established to honour the legacy of Sid Quinn, and to support access to professional hydropower training grounded in stewardship, collaboration, and responsibility to future generations.
These scholarships reflect a commitment to respectful hydropower operations, environmental care, and long-term capacity building in partnership with Indigenous communities.
Honouring a Legacy
Sid Quinn was a respected Elder and Resource Director of the shíshálh Nation, known for his hands-on leadership in community-based resource management, environmental stewardship, and responsible hydropower operations.
He was involved from the outset of the Sechelt Creek Generating Station, located near the Town of Sechelt, BC, helping guide how the project approached collaborative governance, salmon habitat restoration, and long-term operations within shíshálh territory. Working alongside the Nation, regulators, and operators, Sid played a foundational role in shaping a project that sought balance between energy development, ecosystem protection, and Indigenous rights.
As part of this work, a man-made spawning channel of approximately 400 metres was developed in cooperation with the shíshálh Nation, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), and Regional Power. Fish sourced from hatchery programs were introduced as part of the restoration effort, and over time the enhanced habitat supported exceptionally strong salmon returns, documented in public reporting and widely recognized as a positive outcome of long-term, collaborative stewardship.
This approach helped establish Sechelt Creek as a model of community-conscious hydropower and was internationally recognized through the International Hydropower Association’s Blue Planet Prize for environmental excellence.
Sid often spoke about legacy — the responsibility to ensure that decisions made today protect ecosystems, respect governance, and pass practical knowledge forward to future generations. He believed strongly in mentorship, collaboration, and learning through doing.
Purpose of the Scholarship
The Sid Quinn Honorary Hydropower Training Scholarships
are intended to:
- Honour Sid Quinn’s legacy of stewardship, mentorship, and collaboration
- Support access to professional hydropower training grounded in real-world operations
- Encourage knowledge transfer across generations of operators, engineers, and asset managers
- Strengthen capacity within Indigenous and community-based organizations involved in hydropower and energy infrastructure
What the Scholarship Provides
Scholarships provide access to the Hydropower O&M Essentials Training Program offered by Sunbird Power Academy.
A total of ten (10) scholarships are offered annually to Indigenous learners interested in:
- pursuing a career in hydropower operations and asset management, or
- strengthening their knowledge through a professional refresher for those already working in the industry.
The program incorporates industry-recognized best practices and is structured to support both:
- Experienced professionals seeking a practical, operations-focused refresher, and
- New entrants requiring a structured onboarding pathway into hydropower operations and asset management.
Selection and Administration
The Sid Quinn Hydropower Scholarship is administered by Sunbird Power Academy.
Sunbird Power Academy reviews submitted nominations and awards training licenses to support Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) participation in the hydropower and renewable energy sector. Selection considers individual interest, potential impact, and alignment with long-term skills and capacity development in the industry.
Nominations may be submitted by individuals, employers, or community organizations.
Nominations close March 15 each year.
Recipients are confirmed by March 30 each year.
General Inquiries
Individuals interested in learning more about the Sid Quinn Honorary Hydropower Training Scholarships are encouraged to connect through their community, organization, or partner leadership.
For general inquiries about the scholarship program, please contact:
Acknowledgement
The Sid Quinn Scholarship honours his lasting contributions to responsible hydropower operations, environmental stewardship, and the sharing of knowledge across generations within the hydropower community.