Diversity, Equity
and Inclusion

One of our corporate values

Building a workforce that reflects the diverse population of the communities where we live and work is key to our success.

Diversity Matters, Equity Builds, Inclusion Connects

Our values guide us to view diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) as a source of our strength. We stand behind the fact that DEI positively impacts innovation, engagement and trust, and also improves safety, customer experience and business performance. We strive for a corporate culture where all employees are valued, respected, feel a sense of belonging, and have equal access to opportunities. We foster an open, collaborative work environment and believe in equity for all people.

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We believe that the background, experience, perspective and talent of each individual enriches our company in unimaginable ways. We learn from each other. We embrace our differences. We respect diverse opinions. We respect the things that help grow our company, increase our abilities and help us see new possibilities. Our employees bring the broadest possible perspectives, generate new ideas and deliver the best possible customer service. Building a workforce that reflects the diverse populations of the communities where we live and work is important for us, so we can see the many ways that we can understand and serve the needs of our customers.

 
We regularly work with high schools, colleges and universities to encourage and support young people considering careers in, engineering, skilled trades and other professions in our industry. From sponsorships to scholarships, in-house programs to mentorship programs, we are committed to developing our pool of talent, increasing employee engagement and providing a highly enjoyable and rewarding career.
 

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion expresses who we are as a team. Download our Commitment Statement.


Photo of a group of Hydro One employees holding a large rainbow flag at a Pride event in Toronto

Photo of a Black engineer at Hydro One

Photo of a diverse group of Hydro One employees at a conference

Photo of a Hydro One worker on top of a distribution pole



Hydro One’s Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Our ERGs reflect the diverse communities and cultures celebrated throughout our organization. ERGs connect teammates across physical offices and organizational groups — bringing together employees from different backgrounds and identities, at different levels, across departments, building a sense of community and belonging across the entire company.

Hydro One employees volunteer their time to lead ERGs, which can have a few members or hundreds. They are based upon a demographic (e.g. women), life stage (e.g. Generation Y), or function (e.g. sales), but they may also be based on other identities. They are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment within the context of the organization’s mission, values, goals, business practices and objectives.



image of the Accessibility and Inclusion Network logo

Accessibility and Inclusion Network: The purpose of the A&I Network is to provide a forum for employees with disabilities and their supporters to share information, raise awareness pertaining to their working experience while garnering support, and provide advice on solutions for ensuring the inclusion of people with disabilities within Hydro One.

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Black Employee Resource Circle (BERC): The Black Employee Resource Circle (BERC) is for Black-identifying employees to come together to develop and expand their professional networks, build a sense of community within the workplace and to encourage representation, recognition and visibility for Black-identifying employees in order to help advance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Hydro One.

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Indigenous Network Circle (INC): The Indigenous Network Circle is a gathering of members that create awareness, give support, educate and advocate for change through a learning environment. Our objective is to develop and foster leaders through knowledge, understanding and respect. By working together we will reach a more inclusive workplace for all employees at Hydro One. All employees at Hydro One who self-identify as an Indigenous person (First Nation, Métis or Inuit) are welcome to join INC. Allies also welcome.

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Men as Allies: Men as Allies network is an Employee Resource Group (ERG) whose purpose is to advocate for change, provide allyship and support all equity-seeking groups. Female identifying allies are also welcome.
 

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Mosaic: Mosaic is a multicultural network that aims to foster awareness, appreciation and collaboration within Hydro One through a richer understanding of our employees’ cultural heritage and identity differences. Their mission is to be an action-oriented, global and diverse force that eliminates barriers, adventurously collaborates and unites differences by building a strong foundation that generates forward-thinking leaders. Their vision is to drive innovation through differences.

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People in Energy (PiE): PiE is a member-driven community that strives to provide its members with personal and professional development. Living the Core Values of Win As One and Stand For People, our mission is to support the passionate and diligent employees of our company in order to build future leaders of our industry. We seek to accomplish our vision through knowledge sharing and networking opportunities within Hydro One’s various lines of businesses, and raise awareness about the broader energy sector. PiE will facilitate the platform for employees to be heard and and share their success stories.

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Pride One Network: PrideOne’s purpose is to support a diverse and inclusive corporate culture for Hydro One’s LGBTQ2S+ employees, including allies, so that all employees can be their authentic selves at work.

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Women in Trades, Technology and Engineering (WTTE): WTTE is an employee resource group with a purpose of promoting and advocating for women identifying employees in trades, technology and engineering at Hydro One. WTTE works towards a vision of creating a workplace culture that includes, empowers and inspires more female identifying employees to participate at all levels of the organization with a special focus on the areas of trades, technology and engineering.

To learn more about the Employee Resource Groups that Hydro One has to offer, email DiversityandInclusion@HydroOne.com.

Hydro One’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion


Hydro One’s Women In Engineering University Partnership

The Women in Engineering Consortium is a partnership with Toronto Metropolitan University, Ontario Tech University, the University of Waterloo, and Western University to increase enrolment, support and career opportunities for female students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) specifically in the Electrical and Mechanical engineering programs. Investing $3 million over eight years, the partnership developed the WEMADEIT brand that includes a website, www.WeMadeIt.ca, for students, parents and teachers, and features videos, social media strategy, workshops and curriculum developed for high school teachers and students.

Programming strategy includes:

  • Inspiring young women-identifying students to pursue university studies in electrical and mechanical engineering

  • Developing university communities that both help women-identifying students feel engage and foster professional growth

  • Supporting women-identifying engineering graduates as they transition in to careers in electrical and mechanical engineering

  • Recognizing engineering students, graduates, mentors and community members who contribute to our mission.


Catalyst Accord 2023​: Accelerating the Advancement of Women

Hydro One has been a member of the Catalyst Accord since 2017 and this demonstrates Hydro One’s public commitment to gender parity. Catalyst is a global non-profit organization focused on accelerating progress for women through workplace inclusion. Through the Accord, Catalyst issued a call to action from Canadian corporations to increase the overall proportion of board seats and executive officer roles for women to 30% by the end of 2022. Hydro One has exceeded this commitment, achieving 40% women board members and 33% women executives in 2023.


Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) Leadership Accord on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The Leadership Accord on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a public commitment by Canadian employers, educators, unions, associations and governments to advance, integrate and prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion in their organization’s policies, processes, culture, and workplace environment to proactively create a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace. Developed and launched by EHRC in 2017, the Accord proposes united action to:

  • expand the breadth and depth of the skilled workforce;

  • ensure that under-represented groups are informed of the opportunities available in the sector of their choice;

  • and, once employed, are fully supported and provided with equal opportunities to grow and develop to their full potential.

The Accord provides a real opportunity for all stakeholders to actively engage in building a workforce that is truly representative of Canada’s people. For more information visit: Leadership Accord on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.


BlackNorth Initiative

Hydro One signed the BlackNorth Initiative’s pledge committing their organizations to specific actions and targets designed to end anti-Black systemic racism. The BlackNorth Initiative was created to remove anti-Black systemic barriers negatively affecting the lives of Black Canadians. This is just one of the ways that Hydro One is beginning to deliver on our commitment to combat systemic racism faced by employees who are Black, Indigenous or People of Colour.
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Photo of women at the Women in Trades, Technology and Engineering conference

Photo of Indigenous men playing drums

 

Photo of a woman at the Hydro One call centre

Photo of Hydro One in-field workers in a forest





One Awards

Helping future leaders succeed

The One Awards acknowledge and share the ingenuity of aspiring professionals to the joint benefit of Hydro One and our customers. November 1 marks the closing date of submission and nominations for outstanding people who demonstrate the traits that make us the innovative, diverse organization we are.

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William Peyton Hubbard Memorial Award

William Peyton Hubbard was instrumental in the development and public control of hydroelectric power in Ontario. The son of a freed slave from Virginia, he was Toronto’s first Black Alderman, Controller and Acting Mayor in the early part of the 20th century. In his honour, Hydro One sponsors annual awards for outstanding Black undergraduate students attending an Ontario college or university studying energy industry related disciplines. In addition to a cash award, recipients will be offered a paid work term with Hydro One. The deadline to apply is November 1, 2024. 

Apply Now
 

Leonard S. (Tony) Mandamin Award

Hydro One is committed to supporting Indigenous students who are interested in pursuing careers within the electricity sector. In 2011, Hydro One established the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Scholarship which was renamed the Leonard S. (Tony) Mandamin Award in 2014. The Honourable Justice Leonard S. (Tony) Mandamin is Anishinaabe and a member of the Wikwemikong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island. He attended the University of Waterloo where he received his B.A.Sc. in Electrical Engineering in 1971 and in 1982 received his LL.B. from the University of Alberta. During his distinguished legal career, he focused his legal practice on representing First Nations, Indigenous organizations and individuals.

The award is granted annually to Indigenous students studying in the energy industry related disciplines at a recognized university or community college. In addition to a cash award, recipients will be offered a paid work term with Hydro One. The deadline to apply is November 1, 2024. 

Apply Now
 


Women In Engineering Award

Hydro One has a history of fostering the professional growth of women in engineering, creating mutually beneficial opportunities for career development. Part of this support has been community engagement through avenues such as Go Eng Girl and the Women in Engineering, University Partnership. 2014 marked the establishment of the Hydro One Women in Engineering Award, an extension of Hydro One’s tangible support for young women wishing to embark on a career in Engineering. In addition to a cash award, recipients will be offered a paid work term with Hydro One. The deadline to apply is November 1, 2024. 

Apply Now

Congratulations to this year’s Women In Engineering Award recipients:

  • Angela Lewis, McMaster University, Mechanical Engineering and Management

  • Alexandra Levert, McMaster University, Electrical and Biomedical Engineering

  • Alexssandra Fuentes, Conestoga College, Power Systems Engineering

  • Anisa Matan, Western University, Electrical Engineering

  • Ashviya Jeyaseelan, McMaster University, Electrical Engineering

  • Erin Hannah, Ontario Tech University, Electrical Engineering

  • Grace Bingham, Lakehead University, Electrical Engineering

  • Helena Mojsoska, McMaster University, Electrical and Biomedical Engineering
     

The Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) Award of Excellence for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion

Recognizing champions of diversity and inclusion

The EHRC Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Award recognizes and celebrates professionals who champion diversity and inclusion, are role models for developing and cultivating diversity strategies in their organization, as well as communicating the rationale for these strategies to employees.

Congratulations to Hydro One Employee Resource Groups 2019 EHRC Awards of Excellence Winners for the Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Award.​

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photo of two Indigenous Hydro One employees

photo of a Hydro One Forestry employee in a tree

photo of a group of Hydro One employees holding a Pride flag

Photo of a Hydro One employee in front of a transformer station



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