Connected Women Mentorship Program

Electricity Human Resources Canada’s (EHRC) Connected Women is a national mentorship program designed for women who are either already working in electricity or are preparing to enter the industry.

Women make up approximately 26% of the electricity workforce. Less than 7% of those women are employed in trades occupations. While the proportion of women in the industry is rising, it remains well below the average for the Canadian workforce.

Mentors can play a significant role in the successful attraction and retention of women working in the sector. Many women leaders in electricity attribute their success partly to mentorship and are often committed to passing on their experiences and knowledge to up-and-coming leaders.

If you are looking to:

make a new connection with an experienced professional in the sector,
pass on your own knowledge to empower others, or
participate in a reciprocal professional development opportunity,

mentorship might be right for you!

Connected Women is hosted on EHRC’s Mentor Junction platform.

Connect Now

Acknowledgements

EHRC assembled a national steering committee to guide, oversee, and provide strategic direction to the project. The committee also provided input into any recommendations that emerge from the research/model implementation. Finally, the committee encouraged people to identify innovative approaches to mentorship and sponsorship opportunities.

Committee Members at the time of project launch:

Nirav Patel, Manager – Recruitment & Diversity, Talent & Business Change, Ontario Power Generation (Project Chair)
Michelle Branigan, CEO, Electricity Human Resources Canada (Project Manager)
Germaine Chazou-Essindi, Senior Program Officer, Women’s Program, Status of Women Canada
Daniele Fleming, Staff Officer, Power Workers’ Union
Norm Fraser, COO, Hydro Ottawa (EHRC Chair)
Michelle Johnston, Executive Vice President, Society of Energy Professionals
Dana Knoll, Employment Evaluation Specialist, Manitoba Hydro
Andrea McQuillan, Local Assistant Business Manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Christy Morrison, Supplier Relations Manager Canada, Electrofederation/WESCO
Louise Reid, Manager, Talent Attraction & Acquisition, Hydro Ottawa
Kathryn Reilander, Coordinator, Electrical Technician and Technology Programs, Algonquin College
Alice Sahazizian, Diversity Consultant, Hydro One
Joy Shikaze, Executive Director, Women in Nuclear-Canada
Amena Zafar, Work Experience & Mentoring Coordinator, Licensing International Engineers into the Profession, School of Continuing Studies, University of Toronto