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    TORONTO, Feb. 23 /CNW/ - Hydro One accepted an award today from Colleges
Ontario for significant achievements in advancing college education in
Ontario. Hydro One has invested more than $3 million to help Ontario colleges
train and recruit people for engineering technicians, technologists and trades
positions in the electricity sector.
    "I am pleased to accept this award on behalf of Hydro One and all its
employees," said Tom Goldie, Senior Vice President, Corporate Services, Hydro
One. "We have taken a proactive and leadership role in curriculum development
with four Ontario Colleges to ensure workers are trained and ready when we
need them. This has been an extremely creative and productive partnership and
I believe a model for other employers to consider."
    Hydro One is facing the retirement of 30 per cent of its workforce in the
next few years. To help fill these positions, Hydro One has partnered with
Mohawk College in Hamilton, Algonquin College in Ottawa, Northern College in
Timmins and Georgian College in Barrie to develop curriculum for the future
employees of the electricity transmission and distribution sector. Hydro One
is contributing to scholarships, program development and equipment over four
years.
    "Hydro One has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to be proactive, to
the benefit of our colleges, our students and our society," said Rosemary
Knetchtel, vice-president of academic at Mohawk College, which nominated Hydro
One for the award. "This is an important partnership that provides real
opportunities for students. We are pleased to see Hydro One being honoured
with this award."
    The four colleges have seen a significant increase in both applications
and enrollment in the engineering technology program since the announcement of
the partnership in 2007.

    Hydro One delivers electricity safely, reliably and responsibly to homes
and businesses across the province of Ontario and owns and operates Ontario's
29,000 km high-voltage transmission network that delivers electricity to large
industrial customers and municipal utilities, and a 122,000 km low-voltage
distribution system that serves about 1.3 million end-use customers and
smaller municipal utilities in the province. Hydro One is wholly owned by the
Province of Ontario.