Evelyn Mukwedeya (EngSci 1T0+PEY) has taken another award, this time the William Peyton Hubbard Memorial Award. Mukwedeya, who took the CEMF women in engineering award in April, accepted her new award at a luncheon in Toronto on July 15th, hosted by Laura Formusa, President and CEO of Hydro One.

In 1992, Ontario Hydro established educational awards for black university and college students in recognition of William Peyton Hubbard (1842-1935), the son of a freed slave from Virginia who was first elected to Toronto City Council in 1894. During a career that spanned 20 years, he served as the city’s first black Alderman, Controller and Acting Mayor. Among his many achievements was his unwavering support for the development and public ownership of hydroelectric power, amidst strong opposition by Toronto’s powerful business community.

Hubbard’s leadership and commitment led Sir Adam Beck, regarded as the “father” of Ontario Hydro, to consider him as his strongest ally of the public power movement. Together they made a formidable team. Beck fought for public ownership province-wide, while Hubbard took the lead on the municipal level. In 1907, Hubbard’s efforts were realized when the Toronto City Council approved the development and public control of hydroelectric power.

Since May 2000, Ontario Hydro’s successor company, Hydro One, has continued to support black students through scholarships honouring the achievements of William Peyton Hubbard. The academic awards have been granted annually to two black students (where possible, one male and one female) studying power industry-related disciplines at a recognized Ontario university or community college. The recipients are also offered a work term or summer employment at Hydro One.