Tannin D.

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Niagara Catholic Regional Fair

The DeCew Falls Generating Station, AC DC Current and The Five Men Named John - “An Electric Story”

What would you do without electricity? The hydroelectric power station is considered one of the most important inventions, revolutionizing the world. Generating electricity using water, an effective source for renewable energy, the DeCew Falls Generating Station Number 1 plays such an important role in Canadian history. This generator is the first in Canada to use Polyphase Alternating Current, the oldest hydroelectric station still operational in Canada and gave the name "Electric City" to Hamilton. The DeCew Falls 1 helped start lighting up the world and changing minds across the globe.⁣

What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?

One of the most interesting things that I've learned while researching the DeCew Falls Generating Station Number 1 was that it is just incredible how much power you can generate from something as beautiful and serene as a waterfall.

What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?

An important lesson that I’ve learned that I would like to share with other Canadians is how important a role Canada, and in particular Niagara, played in the evolution of electricity and how it is generated, transmitted and utilized around the entire globe today.

How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?

I would compare my life as easier to the lives of those studied in my project because of how much we take electricity for granted today. In the late 1800s, it took some of the greatest minds of that time to figure out a way to transmit electricity over distances. Now, years later, we are still using the same technology developed over 120 years ago. I believe that most don’t realize how grateful people back then would be if they had what we have today.

Comments

Lola Bradshaw
Tannin, congratulations on your excellent presentation of the history behind the development of this most significant resource that we take for granted. Your delivery was excellent, your content informative, and I loved the relevant locations you chose for your video clip. Well done!
2020-06-30 6:30:18 AM

Liz
Your presentation is so inspirational! Thank you!
The narrative you have woven together through extensive background research, on-site visits, and the educational model is interesting, easy to understand, and certainly sparked my desire to do further reading and hopefully visit DeCew Falls and St Catharines one day soon.
2020-06-27 10:14:25 AM

Joyce Graham
Well done Tannin, that was great and thank you for the history lesson. Very well presented and the model was very impressive. I enjoyed watching it and learn’t something today. Good Luck !!
2020-06-18 11:11:47 PM

Jade Tran
A thorough and interesting investigation of your topic Tannin. Thank you for my history lesson! I couldn’t begin to imagine life without electricity. 👏🏽
2020-06-18 3:51:15 AM

Shelley Roy
Great history lesson thanks Tannin with an excellent presentation & a very impressive model.
2020-06-17 11:51:51 PM

John Slatter
Amazing video presentation Tannin and excellently articulated and narrated. A worthy short contender to rival "The Current War" Enjoyed the history lesson.
2020-06-16 5:26:01 PM

Heidi Poltl
Well done Tannin! You have captured the story and importance of DeCew with your video. I echo others in that I really like how you built and included your model to demonstrate!
2020-06-16 9:39:05 AM

Abby Duc
Amazing presentation Tannin it definitely gets me thinking about how much we need electricity. Your model was super cool. It’s incredible that there were 5 johns who all wanted the same thing. I definitely learned a lot. Good luck!
2020-06-15 7:10:16 AM

Bethany Poltl
Tannin, your video is fantastic, it makes me wonder what would we do without electricity? I learned so much about DeCew Falls, like how there were 5 Johns, what a coincidence! Also the model that you made is great, it shows up close the current and electricity in action. Good luck!
2020-06-13 1:10:50 PM

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