Students interacted with mentors on a one-on-one basis and learned about electricity, Hydro One's role in the electricity industry and the different job opportunities we offer.  The mentors explained the various career paths available within Hydro One, and spoke to students about the different educational streams that can lead to careers with us.

Representatives from P&C Technical Services, Field P&C, Provincial Lines, Network Operating and Lines Technical Services spoke to the students.

Mentors brought props allowing the attendees to experience electricity in action.

Corry Ruch from Provincial Lines brought in photos of her working as a regional line maintainer, as well as her tools and equipment for demonstration. The students had the opportunity to try on gloves,  and a harness, and check out a few insulators and cables.

Employees from P&C Technical Service brought interactive simple circuits that represent Ontario's power system. The simple circuit included a power source, transmission lines and load.

The simple circuit got the students thinking about how power gets from generating stations to their homes, and the role Hydro One plays in their daily lives. As well, A "World of Electricity" poster  was created to highlight the different education levels that someone can pursue in the electricity industry.

The top attraction of the day was brought by Blazenka Monachino from Field P&C. Monachino demonstrated the importance of electrical safety by electrocuting a pickle. The burning pickle smell definitely made a deep impression and everyone went home a little more aware of the importance of electrical safety.

The Hydro One's Women in Trades, Technology and Engineering (WTTE) Network is open to any Hydro One employee, female or male, from any level of the organization and any representation (PWU, Society, & MCP).

Lorraine Gray is a Protection and Control Supervisor at Cherrywood Transmission Station, where she is responsible for managing commissioning projects. From a young age, she never doubted she would become an engineer. She was drawn to field work during a placement at theCherrywood Transmission Station as a New Grad.

“I have always been a hands-on person and enjoy seeing the end product of my work,” she said. Throughout her career, Gray has never felt intimidated in the male-dominated field. Instead, from the start she saw it as a welcome challenge.

“I was confident that I could do the job regardless of my gender.” Gaining respect in a male-dominated field can be a challenge, and Valerie Lane, Customer Operations Manager, believes that is part of the reason why some woman don’t pursue field work.

“I think there are many young women who are interested in the field but decide not to pursue it because they are intimidated by it or question their ability to comprehend or complete the work,” Lane said. “There is a notion that you have to be tough and act like a man. At times throughout my career, I have been labelled as too aggressive for choosing this path.”

Lane was working in Hydro One’s Corporate Relations department when she got a taste of the work involved in the field and decided she was up for the challenge. Her first field work position was with a forestry brushing crew, and she has since transitioned through several field roles.

In 2012, Lane’s drive landed her the position of Customer Operations Manager, becoming one of the few women to achieve this role in Hydro One’s history.

Although more women like Lane and Gray are taking on traditionally male-dominated roles, the numbers are only slowly increasing. In 2008, women in Electrical Technician/Technologist positions at Hydro One accounted for 16 per cent, compared to 18.4 per cent today.

Women in Power Line Technician roles accounted for zero per cent in 2008, while it’s 0.9 per cent today.

As for Utility Arborists, women accounted for 1.4 per cent in 2008, compared with 2.4 per cent today. “The first step in increasing these numbers is to get women interested in those career paths at a young age,” said Amy Pavao, Area Distribution Engineering Technician (ADET).

Pavao’s father encouraged her to pursue field work as a career. Combined with her interest in architecture and the outdoors, her father’s encouragement paid off.

Pavao was originally hired as a summer student and bounced between roles as a dispatcher at the DOMC and various clerk and Field Business Centre positions before obtaining her current position as an ADET.

Pavao believes having a strong support group that offers mentoring, coaching and encouragement is extremely important in order for women to succeed in any chosen career regardless of the industry.

“I am extremely fortunate to be able to stay in touch with a few women from my ADET trainee program and we have continued to support each other throughout our careers,” said Pavao.

This fall, Hydro One launched the Women in Technology, Trades and Engineering (WTTE) network. This internal forum is designed for Hydro One women working in non-traditional roles. It provides mentorship and support by creating a place for female employees to share their experiences and discuss matters of common interest. The forum also focuses on promoting trades, technology and engineering careers to women inside and outside of Hydro One, as well as recognizing the accomplishments of women within all lines of business. “It is important that Hydro One contribute to supporting current employees in addition to educating and informing young women about the career opportunities available to them within the electrical trades and technology sector,” said Gray.

Lane also believes the forum will be extremely valuable to current and future female employees at Hydro One. “It will provide a place for employees to have honest discussions about their likes and dislikes and recognize the accomplishments of others,” said Lane.