National Capital Region's Top Employers (2025) - Flipbook - Page 20
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SPONSOR CONTENT
NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION’S TOP EMPLOYERS (2025)
Hydro Ottawa is powering the region’s future
I
t’s not just about keeping
the lights on in the nation’s
capital anymore. While that
remains a critical function,
Hydro Ottawa is undergoing
a digital revolution, evolving
from a traditional utility into a
technology-driven organization for
the future.
“The electricity industry is going
through a major transformation,"
says Donna Burnett Vachon,
director, change and organization
development. “What we’re seeing
is a significant move to more
technology, more digitization.
It’s broadening the skill sets that
we’re looking for when it comes to
employees joining us.
“While the importance of our
trades and technical employees
endures, we’re growing in areas
where we’re focused on technology. We have employees coming out
of new and innovative programs
that didn’t exist 10-15 years ago,
such as engineers in data analytics
programs or sustainability. For
example, we’ve got experts in
cybersecurity, which we wouldn’t
have had in the past."
This digital shift is being driven
by evolving industry demands
and a growing population with
increasing consumer needs.
“There’s been an exponential
increase in demand for electricity
due to factors like electrification,
the growth of data centres and
the overall expansion of the city
of Ottawa,” explains Sarah Green,
director, IT planning, programs
and grid technology. “We have
e-vehicles coming out. We know
we have provincial and federal
mandates for zero emissions. All
of these have demands that are
increasing exponentially, which
is in turn increasing the need for
more capacity.
“We’re entering the Fourth
Industrial Revolution, where
everything is becoming digitized,
mobile and connected through
the internet of things,” Green continues. “Everything is smart now
– even our fridges can connect.
We’re able to unlock capabilities
and capacities that previously
weren’t possible just because of
the communication and connectivity that we have through our
devices. We have to find solutions
Kelly Landry, acting manager of human resources, service centre and technology (left), and Sarah Green,
director of IT planning, programs and grid technology at Hydro Ottawa.
to keep up.”
For Hydro Ottawa, this also
means embracing new tools and
capabilities designed for today’s
mobile world while on the job. For
instance, employees in the field
can access critical information
and perform key tasks from their
smartphones and tablets from any
location.
It’s a really exciting time to
be part of what’s happening
in electricity right now.
— Donna Burnett Vachon
Director,
Change and Organization
Development
“We’re piloting digital tailboard
solutions, so tasks that used to be
manual are now something people
can do on their devices in the
field,” says Kelly Landry, acting
manager, HR service centre and
HR technology.
“We’re continuing to streamline
all our business processes through
automation, and doing away with
paper-based processes, making
them more accessible for employees wherever they are.”
This mobile-first approach extends to training and development
as well. As Burnett Vachon says,
“We’re looking for mobile ways
to do that so that employees can
access e-learning and other types
of information all through their
smartphone.”
Additionally, Hydro Ottawa is
focused on fostering a culture
of innovation and collaboration
to empower employees to think
