Central Canadian Branch
2023‐24 IMechE Central Canadian Branch Program Virtual Meeting

Title of talk: The Queenston‐Chippawa Power Development ‐ Construction of the Sir Adam Beck I Generating
Station 1917 ‐ 1922.

Date & Time:7:00 pm on Friday 16 June, 2023 Zoom connection details to follow.
Venue: Virtual. The Zoom link will be posted 7 days prior to the event.
SPEAKER:Peter Mulcaster, Past Branch Chair, PEng, CEng, FIMechE
Date & Time:7:00 pm on Friday 16 June, 2023 Zoom connection details to follow.
Venue:虚拟在放大
SPEAKER:Peter Mulcaster, Past Branch Chair, PEng, CEng, FIMechE

Abstract:
In the early twentieth century, Niagara Falls was the centre of North American hydroelectric power development and production. During this era, Sir Adam Beck had a vision and a goal to provide abundant electricity for the people and industries of Ontario. During World War I, there was an increase in the demand for electricity. Accordingly, Sir Adam proposed and had built at Queenston, what was to be at that time, the world’s largest hydroelectric power generating station. This is an account of what led to the building of this facility and how this mammoth undertaking started producing electricity in early 1922. The talk will include an overview of early hydroelectric power generation at Niagara Falls, the life and times of Sir Adam Beck, the design concept of the generating station, details of each stage of construction and working conditions. Included in the talk will be period maps and many black and white photographs.


SPEAKER Bio:
Peter started his engineering career working in the automotive
industry in the UK and Germany. Upon arriving in Canada, he continued to work in the automotive industry but has spent the major part of his career in the Information Technology (IT) industry working for IBM. At IBM, he held a number of responsibilities: computer manufacturing operations, customer IT engineering solutions, IT support & delivery and consulting. Peter obtained his Higher National Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Bristol College of Science and Technology and served as IMechE Central Canada Branch chairman from 1998 to 2000. Peter retired in 2011, moved to Niagara-on-the-Lake and has taken up an interest in local history and wrote a book on the railway history of Niagara-on-the-Lake. He is now working on his second book, writing an account of the building of the Sir Adam Beck I Generating Station at Queenston from 1917 to 1922.

Links:
1.The Flyer of the Event
2.The Recording of the Presentation by Mr. Peter Mulcaster