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Powered by Ryerson University, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, University of Waterloo and Western University

TORONTO, March 8, 2013 /CNW/ - Today, Hydro One announced a new partnership with Ryerson University, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, University of Waterloo and Western University to increase enrolment and career opportunities for female students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

The Hydro One Women in Engineering University Partnership program will target and support young females by:

• Developing new outreach activities for elementary and high school girls to increase awareness and understanding of engineering as a preferred career option.
• Enhancing the success of women undergraduate students by providing support through mentoring and other networking opportunities with female engineers.
• And creating supportive networks and support for female engineering graduates as they transition into the workforce, through co-op and internship opportunities and workforce preparation development.

Currently just over 10 per cent of all electrical engineers in the province of Ontario are women (1). By leveraging the expertise and leadership of each of the partner Universities and Hydro One the goal is to increase the number of female engineering students and graduates over the next four years.

"Businesses thrive on a diversity of thought and perspective, and that's why Hydro One is committed to investing in educating and training our future workforce," says Carmine Marcello, President and CEO of Hydro One. "We are proud that 20 per cent of our engineers are women, more than double the national average for companies our size, but we want to see that number increase."

"On behalf of the four partner institutions, we are thrilled to be part of the Hydro One Women in Engineering University Partnership program," says Pearl Sullivan, dean of the University of Waterloo's Faculty of Engineering. "For the past decade, there has been a slight decline in the number of women interested in studying engineering. Through this new initiative, we'll be able to reverse this trend by drawing on the strengths and experiences of all the partners to promote exciting and diverse opportunities in engineering."

This $1.4 million investment is the second major partnership Hydro One has created with educational institutions in Ontario. In 2007, the Hydro One College Consortium was created in partnership with Algonquin, Georgian, Mohawk and Northern Colleges. The funding provided for this program supports scholarships, curriculum development, co-op placements and equipment to educate the next generation of energy professionals. With up to 36 per cent of Hydro One's workforce eligible to retire in the next five years, promoting careers in the utility sector is a timely initiative.

In 2008 Hydro One was awarded the Ontario Colleges Community/Corporate Partnership Award in recognition of its contribution to the advancement of Ontario's college system. 

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 121,000 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.

1. 2006 Census, Statistics Canada

SOURCE: Hydro One Inc.