Algonquin College - Hydro One

The Power of Partnerships

Photo courtesy of Gary Roork

Community/Corporate Partnership Award

Algonquin College received an award for Community/Corporate Partnership at the 2009 Colleges Ontario Awards luncheon in Toronto this February. The honour recognized the partnership between Hydro One and Algonquin, Georgian, Northern and Mohawk colleges, which aims to increase the number of graduates from the Electrical Engineering Technology program. Hydro One invested $3 million dollars towards curriculum development, new equipment, scholarships and bursaries for students in these four post-secondary institutions. The overall goal is to address the retirement gap that is expected within the next five years at Hydro One. At Algonquin College, prospective electrical engineering students will benefit from the partnership through the additional financial assistance opportunities and enhanced job readiness from the state-of-the-art learning facilities.

To learn more about the Hydro One / Algonquin College partnership visit our archives.

Photo (L to R): Matthew Bird, Hydro One Station Maintenance Apprentice, and a graduate of
Algonquin's Electrical Engineering Technician Program; Paul St. Denis, Hydro One Superintendent; Robert Gillett, President, Algonquin College; Raymonde Hanson, Vice-President Academic, Algonquin College.

Photo (L to R): Matthew Bird, Hydro One Station Maintenance Electrical Apprentice, and a graduate of Algonquin's Electrical Engineering Technician Program; Paul St. Denis, Superintendent, Stations Eastern Zone, Hydro One; Robert Gillett, President, Algonquin College; Raymonde Hanson, Vice-President Academic, Algonquin College.

Partnership Announced

Robert Gillett, President of Algonquin College, welcomed Paul St. Denis, Hydro One Superintendent, Stations Eastern Zone, to tour the College’s Electrical Engineering Technician and Technology programs’ facilities as part of a partnership that will address the skilled trades shortage in the electricity delivery industry. Algonquin and Hydro One recently signed an agreement that is designed to attract students into the electrical transmission and distribution utility sector.

Hydro One will contribute up to $3 million for scholarships, program development and equipment to Algonquin College (Ottawa, Ontario), Georgian College (Barrie, Ontario), Mohawk College (Hamilton, Ontario) and Northern College (Timmins, Ontario) for programs that will train students for technicians, technologists and trades positions in the sector. Students in Algonquin’s Electrical Engineering Technician and Technology programs will benefit from this unique partnership.

Algonquin College is working with Hydro One as well as three other Ontario colleges to develop customized learning solutions for its looming skills shortage. Upwards of 30 percent of the Hydro One workforce will be eligible for retirement in a few short years, necessitating a large influx of job-ready college graduates trained in the electrical transmission and distribution utility sector. Hydro One is working with its college partners on program review and curriculum development, equipment purchases, and investing in utility stream scholarships and bursaries as incentives to raise student enrollment.

Algonquin College will continue to offer its 2 year Electrical Engineering Technician and 3 year Electrical Engineering Technology enhanced with Hydro One specific curriculum.

For general questions, questions relating to bursaries and scholarships, and questions related to the Algonquin College – Hydro One partnership, please contact:

Rojina Abbas
Secretary, Electronics/Electro-Mechanical Studies
abbasr@algonquincollege.com
613.727.4723 ext.5907

Representatives of organizations wishing to learn more about potential partnerships with Algonquin College and customized learning solutions to address your workforce needs, please contact:

Joe Ranieri
Director, Corporate & Business Development
ranierj@algonquincollege.com
613.727.4723 ext.5569

Program specific questions, or questions about Hydro One curriculum may be directed to:

Stephen Finnagan
Academic Chair, Electronics/Electro-Mechanical Studies
finnags@algonquincollege.com
613.727.4723 ext.7062

All media inquiries relating to the Algonquin College – Hydro One Partnership should be directed to:

David Hall
Communications Officer
halld2@algonquincollege.com
613.727.4723 ext.2091