National Capital Region's Top Employers (2026) Magazine - Magazine - Page 22
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NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION’S TOP EMPLOYERS (2026)
Engineers have electrifying careers at Hydro Ottawa
S
ince joining Hydro
Ottawa in 2017, Courtney
Lawton — a civil
engineer by training —
has held roles across
the organization typically held
by other engineering disciplines,
and picked up experience in
research and development, sales,
hydroelectric fleet maintenance,
solar installations, dam safety and
operations.
“Other places I’ve worked at
said, ‘You’re a civil engineer so
you can only do those types of
tasks.’ Hydro Ottawa recognizes
that you have all these skills and
there are a lot of opportunities
to do other things internally,”
says Lawton, now the utility’s
supervisor of standards, a role that
oversees engineering standards
for everything Hydro Ottawa
builds. “I’m not just using my civil
engineering skills, I’m using the
breadth of my engineering skills
and technical knowledge.”
Our engineers are
working on big,
foundational ideas and
projects that will
modernize the
electricity grid and how
electricity reaches our
customers.
— Donna Burnett Vachon
Director of Change and
Organization Development
Donna Burnett Vachon, the
utility’s director of change and
organization development, says
Courtney Lawton, supervisor, standards, at Hydro Ottawa.
Lawton’s experience is emblematic
of Hydro Ottawa’s approach to
career development for engineers.
“The fundamental skills are
what we’re looking for; we can
upskill on things that are specific
to the utility industry,” she says.
“It’s important for the future
as well, thinking about all the
different engineering disciplines
that we’ll need. While core
foundational skills are critical,
we’re prepared to supplement that
expertise where needed.”
The electricity sector is
experiencing unprecedented
expansion to accommodate
population growth, new energyintensive technologies, and the
increasing electrification of
industrial players. To prepare
for that future, Hydro Ottawa
is ramping up its engineering
recruitment and retention
efforts by investing in career
development programs for
engineers.
The company has rolespecific training and upskilling
opportunities for engineers who
have the fundamental skills
needed for the role, Burnett
Vachon says. It also has a
development program specifically
focused on engineering interns to
help them move through all the
requirements involved in getting
licensed, as well as building
professional skills like writing
reports.
Ed Donkersteeg, lead engineer,
says the company has also
developed a new program to
help engineers become senior
technical experts, if they don’t
aspire to move into management
roles. Employees with that goal in
mind work on development plans,
charting how they’ll get from an
intern to licensed engineer role
up to an intermediate, senior and
even lead engineer position.
“We want to ensure they see
a career path for themselves
here versus only in leadership,”
Donkersteeg says. “It’s a retention
tool to give people enhanced
opportunities and recognize the
experience and skills they bring.”
Donkersteeg himself has
been with Hydro Ottawa for 20
years, moving through roles in
operations, engineering and
