Mandamin Awards 2021

2021 Mandamin Awards

Congratulations to the 2021 scholarship recipients

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Hydro One is committed to building a workforce that reflects the communities where we work and live. A key action supporting this commitment to diversity and inclusion includes offering a scholarship award to Indigenous students. Our annual Leonard S. (Tony) Mandamin Scholarship supports First Nations, Métis and Inuit students and their educational studies.

Twenty Indigenous students enrolled in electricity-related programs will receive $10,000 and be considered for a summer work term at Hydro One. The scholarship is named after the Honourable Justice Leonard S. Mandamin, one of the first Indigenous electrical engineering graduates in Ontario.

We recognize the recipients’ hard work and continued commitment to education.

Get to know a few of the award recipients, what they’re studying, and how the Mandamin Scholarship support their future goals.

Krystal Abotossaway
Aundeck Omni-Kaning First Nation and Chippewas of the Rama First Nation

Krystal Abotossaway is from Aundeck Omni-Kaning First Nation and Chippewas of Rama First Nation. She is an urban Ojibwe Anishinaabe Kwe. Krystal is a well sought after expert, speaker and leader on Indigenous engagement. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree at York University. Abotossaway’s passion and leadership is seen through her advocacy work. As the President of the Indigenous Professional Association of Canada, she is helping to redefine the agenda and identify new measures for advancing the opportunities for, and the capabilities of Canada’s Indigenous People.

Katie Baltzer
Métis Nation of Ontario

Katie Baltzer is currently attending Laurentian University and is enrolled in the Indigenous Studies program. Originally from Windsor, Katie now resides in North Bay with her golden retriever, Daisy. Katie is a Métis Nation of Ontario citizen, is actively involved in her community, and loves to bead and jig. She plans to combine her passions and knowledge gained from her program and apply it to her work as a registered social worker.

Winning this award will give Katie the chance to continue focusing on her studies while making a difference in her community.

McKenzie Dorn
Wapole Island First Nation

McKenzie Dorn is a third year Engineering student at Carleton University and he belongs to Wapole Island First Nation. In 2019, he demonstrated high academic skill and commitment to the student community. Through this success he gained readmission into the Mechanical Engineering program and quickly rose to a director position in the Carleton Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (FSAE) team. With the help of this generous support, he has been able to increase his time, focus and responsibilities on his FSAE team, which is helping to further his career and education goals. This involvement has allowed him to work on his project management and leadership skills through the development of timelines, deliverables and peer education programs which directly impacts the completion of the vehicle. The Leonard S. (Tony) Mandamin award has impacted him in so many positive ways and he would like to provide his sincere gratitude to Hydro One and Indspire for this life changing gift.

Connor Lafortune
Dokis First Nation

Connor “Little Thunder Spirit” Lafortune is a second year student from Dokis First Nation in the Indigenous Studies program with a double major in Law and Justice, as well as Race and Gender Studies at Laurentian Unviersity. He is the Male Traditional Coordinator and Vice-President on the Indigenous Student Circle at Laurentian University. He occupies various roles on boards in Sudbury, as both a Francophone and Indigenous person. He is currently working for the Thunderbird Partnership Foundation to create Life Promotion Toolkits for Indigenous people. Since high school, Connor has been a youth facilitator for La Fédération de la Jeunesse Franco-Ontarienne, where he runs workshops, activities, and speaks on panels for Franco-Ontarian high school students. In high-school, Connor sat on the First Nation, Métis, and Inuit council for his school board, where he still sits as a community member and had acquired an internship on his First Nation working alongside O’gema and Council. Throughout his post-secondary career, he was able to participate in various Indigenous symposiums, panels, and policy paper writing sessions that aim to give a voice to Indigenous post-secondary students.

In the future, Connor aspires to attend Law School in Moncton, travel to Northern First Nations during his year of articling, and return to his First Nation to open his own law practice.

Meet some of the 2021 Leonard S. (Tony) Mandamin Award recipients

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Aaryn Zoccole is from Eagle Lake First Nation and is studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Toronto.

Ashely Nadjiwon is from Wiikwemikoong First Nation and Dokis First Nation and is enrolled in a Master of Indigenous Relations program at Laurentian University.

Caleb Cronin is from Beausoleil First Nation and is studying Electrical Engineering at the University of Ottawa.

Connor Lafortune is from Dokis First Nation and is enrolled in the Indigenous Studies program at Laurentian University.

Emilie McDonald is from Métis Nation of Ontario and is studying Civil Engineering at Queen’s University.

Faith Desmoulin is from Wiikwemikoong Unceded Territory and is enrolled in a specialized Honours program in Indigenous Studies at York University.

Jordan Sickles is from Oneida Nation of the Thames and is studying Business Administration at St. Clair College.

Jordan St. Amand is from Métis Nation of Ontario and is studying Engineering at the University of Western Ontario.

Katie Baltzer is from Métis Nation of Ontario and is enrolled in the Indigenous Studies program at Laurentian University.

Krystal Abotossaway is from Aundeck Omni-Kaning First Nation and Chippewas of Rama First Nation, and is pursuing a Master’s degree at York University.

Lauren McConnell is from Six Nations of the Grand River and is enrolled in the Business Administration program at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Liam Shannon-Rhéaume is from Métis Nation of Ontario and is studying Accounting at Laurentian University.

Lucas Viverios is from Wiikwemikoong Unceded Territory and is studying Communications at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Lucille Joyce-Mary Dokis is from Dokis First Nation and is enrolled in the Indigenous Bachelor of Education program at Trent University.

McKenzie Dorn is from Wapole Island First Nation and is studying Mechanical Engineering at Carleton University.

Preston Biedermann is from Moose Cree First Nation and is enrolled in the Business Administration program at Nipissing University.

Roderick Wigwas is from Gull Bay First Nation and is enrolled in the Business Administration program at Confederation College.

Sarah Vanberkel is from Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte and is enrolled in the Bachelor of Commerce program at McMaster University – DeGroote School of Business.

Lizabelle (Stacey) Rae is from North Caibou Lake First Nation and is enrolled in the Native Child and Family Services Program at Confederation College.

Trenton Tong is from Métis Nation of Ontario and is studying Computer Science at Carleton University.

2021 Mandamin Awards

Congratulations to the 2021 scholarship recipients

Krystal Abotossaway Aundeck Omni-Kaning First Nation and Chippewas of the Rama First Nation

Katie Baltzer Métis Nation of Ontario