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A special thank you from Ottawa
Michelle Branigan, CEO, Electricity Human Resources Canada, Ottawa
Year after year our utilities are called out to respond to power outages as a result of storms, fires and accidents. Indeed,  the effects of climate change are being amplified and it becomes more and more apparent storms are getting bigger and occurring more often here in Canada and around the world. Last Friday, the Ottawa - Gatineau region was simultaneously hit by six tornadoes, damaging and destroying hundreds of homes, knocking out power and sending people to hospital. As thousands of people were left without power our local utility Hydro Ottawa, with Hydro One and support from Alectra Utilities in Ontario and Hydro Quebec in Gatineau, as well as many contractors, worked together tirelessly to restore power and keep everyone safe. The speed with which Alectra Utilities sent workers to Ottawa epitomises the way in which this industry comes together to support each other whenever the call goes out. Indeed, Hydro Ottawa had themselves just answered the appeal for help from our neighbours to the south as a result of hurricane Florence in the Carolinas.
 
I would like to say thank you to all of those who worked to get the infrastructure back up and running, with a special acknowledgement to the line workers, crews and all staff working behind the scenes who had to work incredibly long hours during extremely difficult conditions. The work of the Ottawa - Gatineau hydro teams is but one example of the work being done every day by crews and their utilities across Canada to keep the electricity grid reliable and resilient.
  
Why I will support our Industry as long as I can
Marie Mould, Stakeholder Engagement, Electricity Human Resources Canada, Ottawa

I already knew that when I started working at EHRC back in March I would find the role rewarding.  After this past weekend, even more so.  You see I live in Dunrobin where the tornado hit and devastated 90% of our community.  My neighbours and friends have been trying to get back to some type of normalcy, if at all possible, over these 
last  few days.  We were lucky.  Our house had minimal damage compared to several that were leveled.  And we cannot say enough about all of the support we have been receiving.  We take so many things in life for granted.  I was so elated when I was able to take a hot shower and have a cup of tea Monday evening when the power came back on.  The work that was completed by the hydro workers, the electric safety authority, first responders, police, volunteers, friends, colleagues and so much more has been incredible.  I cannot say enough about how grateful we are. I never imagined how important the work this industry does until we experienced the full impact of no power, and then were returned to normalcy after our darkest hours. There is no doubt that I will support the industry and the great work accomplished over the past few days.  We will get through this and we will rebuild making our community stronger and closer.  
 
National Lineworker Appreciation Day

Lineworkers have been around for over a century, often working in difficult conditions to build and maintain the powerlines that provide Canadians reliable, affordable and clean energy. In appreciation for their dedication to serve their fellow Canadians despite the hazards, the Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) has launched an initiative in partnership with Electricity Human Resources Canada and other utilities, to designate July 10th as National Lineworker Appreciation Day in Canada. To learn about how you can support this campaign click here

Where: Mount Royal University,Calgary When: Wednesday, November 7, 2018, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
  
Featured Guest: 

The Honourable Danielle Larivee,
Minister of Status of Women and Children's Services

Come celebrate with us at this one-day FREE event! Our industry is fortunate to have some exceptional Gender Champions who have been working persistently  to move  the dial forward to develop d iverse and Inc lusive workplaces. 

EHRC is calling all organizations and their team's to come out to this event in celebration of the Gender Diversity Revolution that is happening in our industry today!  

Seats are limited: Only the first 100 registered guests will be guaranteed a seat!
70% already registered!  Register here

We have a full d ay of panel discussions, inspirational speakers, and networking activities to introduce you to industry leaders who are paving the way for a future workforce that is truly representative of Canada's talent pool.

 Keynote Speakers:

 
             Joanna Osawe, WiRE       Laura McGee, Diversio       Tina Varughese, t Works Inc.
            
   Follow us on Twitter                                           Follow us on Twitter                                            Follow us on Twitter

     We're excited to celebrate Canada's Gender Champions - we hope you are too!

Agents of Change Sponsorship Opportunities 

2018 Agents of Change  will celebrate the extraordinary achievements and advancements of those individuals and organizations who are leading industry Diversity and Inclusion.

Great leaders are always willing to share what they have learned with others and stand together to action change.   If you'd like to be credited with showing your support for this event and its cause, we offer many different sponsorship options. 

        


Partially funded by the Government of Alberta   
 
CALL FOR 2018 EHRC AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE 


NOMINATE A DESERVING ORGANIZATION OR INDIVIDUAL

Do you know an outstanding employee, team or leader in your organization that you would like to see recognized for their hard work? 



"Appreciation can make a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary" - Margaret Cousins

The winners of these Awards will be announced at EHRC's 2018 Awards of Excellence Luncheon being held on February 21, 2019, at Vantage Venues Conference Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Award recipients will be honoured in front of their peers, and given recognition for their outstanding achievements and significant contribution to their organization. 

The Communications Team at EHRC will be launching a Social Media Campaign in the following weeks to help highlight and promote the amazing work being done by award recipients and their organizations.  Keep up to date on twitter with our event Hashtag: #EHRCAboveandBeyond

Do You Want to Get to Know Your Future Workforce? 

Apply for the Empowering Futures Program! 

 

The Empowering Futures Program is helping prepare Electricity's future workforce by giving them the opportunity to gain experience and "work-ready" skills that align with those required by Canadian employers in our rapidly evolving industry.
 
Subsidies of up to $7,000 will be available to employers who create new work integrated learning opportunities such as co-ops, internships, field placements, applied projects or capstone projects. 

So far, the Empowering Futures Program has funded 124 student participants! 

You could be eligible! APPLY here     
INDUSTRY NEWS

EHRC and Ontario Waterpower Association Announce a Partnership Agreement


Electricity Human Resources Canada is pleased to partner with the Ontario Waterpower Association and looks forward to strengthening their relationship with the organization through continuous mutual support of industry initiatives. 

The Ontario Waterpower Association (OWA) is a not-for profit, member based organization promoting the sustainable development of waterpower resources in Ontario since 2001. Responsible advocacy is at the core of the OWA's work on behalf of the industry, both with respect to existing assets and new opportunities. To date membership has grown to over 150 organizations. Our membership includes generators, engineering firms, environmental consultants, legal practitioners, project financing and insurance firms, Indigenous communities and any organization sharing the common interest of advancing waterpower in Ontario.
 
OWA's annual conference and tradeshow, the Power of Water Canada , is the largest watepower specific event in Canada! The conference will take place from October 29-31, 2018, in Niagara-on-the-Lake. This year's event will feature 25 educational sessions, with over 50 speakers from across North America. More than 400 delegates are expected to attend. The conference also hosts a tradeshow with 65 exhibitors from across the globe -showcasing the latest innovations, products and services. The EHRC is excited to be moderating an educational session titled "Next Generation Innovation and Perspectives from Tomorrow's Leaders". Don't miss this opportunity to learn more about the waterpower industry and to grow your network! Register here.

Be sure to follow the Women of Waterpower (WOW) Social Media Campaign! Leading up to the Power of Water Canada Conference. Each week, the OWA will profile individuals and their company, with links to both NRCan and EHRC. All OWA member companies are invited to submit profiles for inclusion in this campaign!  Please contact Paul Norris ( pnorris@owa.ca ) directly.

EHRC and APPrO Announce a Partnership Agreement

APPrO  plays a pivotal role in the development of new capacity and the broader energy policies and market design which will underpin the success of Ontario's electricity restructuring efforts. 

Electricity Human Resources Canada is pleased to announce the signing of an MOU with APPrO. The agreement is a reciprocal agreement that will see both organizations work together on initiatives that will support human resources and share knowledge within the industry using different vehicles to reach stakeholder audiences. 
Canada's G7 Presidency Advances Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment in the Energy Sector



EHRC ha s partnered with NRCan to support the Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) w omen's initiative, the Equal by 30 campaign.  

With EHRC's support, NRCan has developed a way forward that allows existing signatories to the Leadership Accord for Gender Diversity to p articipate in Equal by 30 seamlessly. NRCan recognizes the exemplary work being done by employers in our sector and as such the Accord continues to be the main framework of diversity and inclusion for the electricity sector

Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE) and NRCan hosted "Powering Up Canada's Energy Sector by Advancing Gender Equality" an event aimed at increasing women's participation and leadership in the energy sector. 
The event, which was held in advance of the G7 Ministerial Meetings on Climate Change, Oceans and Clean Energy later this month in  Halifax, Nova Scotia , featured an esteemed panel of experts who provided their perspectives and insight as influential voices in the area of gender equality. Michelle Branigan, CEO of EHRC was pleased to participate in a panel discussion with Michael Kaufman, a G7 Gender Equality Advisory Council member, and Jane Travers, Vice-President of Strategic Operations - Renewable Generation, Ontario Power Generation.  The panel discussed the barriers that women face in the energy sector and explored possible solutions including organizational culture and the role of men in the gender equality revolution.
INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP CHANGES
Canadian Apprenticeship Forum Appoints New Executive Director

Effective October 1, 2018, France Daviault will become Executive Director of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum. The forum is a national, non-profit organization working with stakeholders in all regions of Canada.



New President and Chief Executive Officer appointed for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) today announced that Ms. Rumina Velshi has been appointed President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a five-year term effective August 22, 2018.
Ms. Velshi replaces Dr. Michael Binder, who has served as President and CEO since January 2008.


NETCO Appoints a New Executive Director

The National Electrical Trade Council (NETCO) has appointed Melissa Young as its Executive Director. Young was previously Assistant Director, Apprenticeship and Occupational Certification, for the Province of New Brunswick.


DIVERSITY & INCLUSION:

EHRC would like to welcome our newest Accord signatories.

 
Be Part of the Movement:  Join our Leadership Accord on Gender Diversity

The Accord is a public commitment by employers, educators, unions and governments to promote the values of diversity and inclusion within their organizations.

To learn more on how your organization can participate click  here

(Electrical Industry Canada)
"One of our objectives here at EHRC is to bring together industry stakeholders to proactively address the issues and challenges we see emerging. We have long advocated for the need for employers to commit to hiring apprentices, co-op students or interns."

( Electrical Industry Canada)
Much media coverage during the last year has focussed on the emergence of robots, artificial intelligence technologies (AI), and the threat this poses to a significant number of Canadian jobs. So does this mean we need to hit the panic button? No, not yet.

(Government of Canada)
This year, Prime Minister Trudeau set a new precedent for the G7 by creating the Gender Equality Advisory Council, which is led  by Melinda Gates and Canadian Ambassador to France, Isabelle Hudon and is s upported by an extraordinary team of leaders from around the world.

Over the course of the last nine months, these women and men have brought together their considerable talents and perspectives to advance gender equality.  Their seminal work, the report "Make Gender Inequality History" now provides a blueprint for the G7 to transform good intentions into measurable, concrete action.  Read the recommendation here

( Airds & Berlis: Energy Insider Blog Post)
EHRC's CEO Michelle Branigan is profiled in Airds & Berlis Powerful Women responding to some interesting questions and highlighting some of the initiatives such as the Leadership Accord in September's issue.

(College of North Atlantic)
"With the limited amount of prep time we had (approximately three weeks), Julia did excellent," said Slaney. "She worked very hard to understand the concepts of electrical circuitry, which was not easy to do with the amount of time we had. It took a significant commitment of time working at this on her own." 

(560CFOS)
Bruce Power has received recognition from the Public Relations World Awards, winning silver in the 'Best App of the Year' category.

Michelle Branigan, CEO of Electricity Human Resources Canada at QUESTtalks: Security - Protecting Our Infrastructure in a High Tech World

Join our own Michelle Branigan at QUESTtalks taking place in Toronto on October 23, 2018. This QUESTtalk will focus on cybersecurity, physical security, data management, and privacy. Learn about what communities and business are doing to deepen their understanding of the security risk, secure their assets, and ensure the benefits of Smart Energy decisions. Michelle Branigan will be leading a tabletop discussion on Supporting Innovation - Changing Labourforce Requirements in a High Tech World.  Find more details about the program you can visit the site here  to register and to ensure you get a 20% discount off the regular rate.
Ontario Energy Association announced the winners of its 2018 OEA ENERGYAWARDS on
September 24th



EHRC would like to congratulate all of the winners from the OEA ENERGYAWARDS that recognized the remarkable achievements from Ontario's energy sector.  Congratulations to all winners!  

2018 OEA CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD
Oakville Hydro
 
2018 OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEE AWARD
Jodi Engel, Director Employee Labour Relations, Training and Development, Toronto Hydro
 
2018 OEA COMPANY AWARD
A6N, a joint venture between the Six Nations of the Grand River Development Corporation and Aecon Group Inc.
 
2018 OEA INNOVATION AWARD
MaRS Cleantech
   
2018 OEA CONTRIBUTOR AWARD
Sarah Griffiths, Director, Regulator Affairs, EnerNOC, an Enel Group Company
 
2018 OEA LEADER AWARD
Steve Baker, President, Union Gas Limited
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UPCOMING INDUSTRY EVENTS
(click on event title to learn more)


Halifax, NS  - Oct. 2-3 

Calgary, AB -  Oct. 23-24 

Toronto, ON - Oct. 23

Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON -  Oct. 29-31
 
Calgary, AB - Nov. 7

Toronto, ON Nov. 12-13

Calgary, AB - Nov. 15 
Banff, AB -  Nov. 28-29


Membership

Are you an EHRC member?  
If not, we want you to be! 
Join EHRC by becoming a member and you will contribute to this mission and engage with like-minded peers.
When you become a member, you are investing in the future of Canada's electricity labour force economy. Our mission is achieved through the hard work and dedication of professional staff who work in partnership with industry stakeholders to develop and communicate practical workforce development strategies. 


LEARN MORE HERE