Hydro One and Indspire have partnered together to provide bursaries for Indigenous students. — Photo courtesy Hydro One
Hydro One and Indspire have announced substantial, new financial support for Indigenous students. Hydro One will provide $100,000 per year to Indigenous students through Indspire’s Building Brighter Futures: Bursaries, Scholarships and Awards program from 2018 to 2022. This investment in Indigenous youth activates a fund matching program by the Government of Canada raising the fund to a total of $800,000. Applications can be completed online at indspire.ca and must be received by February 1, August 1, and November 1 each year.
“I am delighted that Hydro One has made the commitment to invest in Indigenous education,” said Roberta Jamieson, President and CEO of Indspire. “Not only does this investment in Indigenous youth signal to Canada that Hydro One is a partner on the path to reconciliation, but it will enable hundreds of First Nations, Inuit and Métis students to pursue their dreams – and for that, we are truly grateful.”
The bursaries will be given to Indigenous students in an Ontario accredited post-secondary institution studying electrical and mechanical engineering including apprenticeships, skilled trades and technicians such as: Electrical Engineering Technology and Technician Programs, Civil Engineering Technology and Technician Programs, Electrician, Power Line Technician, Truck & Coach Technician, Utility Arborist, and Meter Technician and also post-secondary programs in electricity and energy industry related disciplines such as Computer Science, Business, Information Technology, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Science/Studies, Social Sciences/Humanities, and Indigenous Studies.
Successful applicants will also have the opportunity to apply for paid work placements with Hydro One.
"Hydro One has a long history of supporting the education of Indigenous youth. We know that by investing in their education, we are developing the next generation of leaders,” said Derek Chum, Vice President, Indigenous Relations, Hydro One. “We are proud to partner with Indspire as they are champions of change in ensuring that Indigenous youth have access to post-secondary education.”
A panel of jurists, made up of First Nations, Inuit and Métis professionals and/or those employed within the program category for which applicants are being considered, will choose the recipients.
Indspire is an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of Indigenous people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada. With the support of its funding partners, Indspire disburses financial awards, delivers programs, and shares resources with the goal of improving graduation rates for Indigenous students. In 2017-2018, Indspire provided $14.2 million through over 4,900 bursaries and scholarships to First Nations, Inuit and Métis students across Canada. For more information about Indspire, visit indspire.ca.
We are Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with more than 1.3 million valued customers, over C$25 billion in assets and 2017 annual revenues of nearly C$6 billion. Our team of over 7,400 skilled and dedicated regular and non-regular employees proudly and safely serves suburban, rural and remote communities across Ontario through our 30,000 circuit km of high-voltage transmission and 123,000 circuit km of primary distribution networks. We are one of only six utility companies in Canada to achieve the Sustainable Electricity Company designation from the Canadian Electricity Association. We also provide advanced broadband telecommunications services on a wholesale basis utilizing our extensive fibre optic network through Hydro One Telecom Inc. Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: H). For more information about everything Hydro One, please visit www.HydroOne.com.
