Ontario Energy Board innovates co-op hiring through Energython competition
By: Emily Totzke
A new competition-based approach helps the Ontario Energy Board identify emerging talent in new, innovative way that focuses on impact.
When the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) launched its first Energython earlier this year, their goal was to raise awareness of Ontario’s energy regulator and evolve how the organization attracts early-career talent.
In the two-week case competition, graduate students from select universities addressed a real-world energy policy challenge. The competition format allowed the OEB to assess the impact, collaboration and depth of thinking of the students who participated.
The OEB initially planned on offering the winning team co-op positions in the following term. However, the OEB was so impressed with the depth of research completed by the University of Waterloo team, they offered each member a co-op position, even though the team came in second place. The offer reflects the OEB’s commitment to innovative, skills-based hiring and long-term talent development.
“Energy talent isn’t born, it’s created,” says Lenore Robson, Vice President, People, Communications & Strategy, Ontario Energy Board. “By moving beyond traditional recruitment practices, we create a more intuitive path to engage directly with students and, in doing so, build a student pipeline to develop the next generation of energy leaders.”
Company snapshot
- Industry: Energy (electrical and natural gas)
- Location: Toronto, Ontario
- Years in operation: 27
- Years as a Waterloo co-op employer: 5
- Key co-op roles: Integrated planning, consumer policy, distribution policy, project management
Competition that mirrors real work
The OEB created Energython to expose students to its mandate while giving hiring managers a deeper understanding of how candidates think, collaborate and apply knowledge under pressure.
Rather than relying on traditional interviews alone, the OEB challenged teams of graduate students to respond to a single, complex policy question that reflects real issues facing the energy sector.
Over nine days, teams conducted independent research, worked with assigned OEB coaches and delivered a final presentation to senior leaders who judged the competition.
Through Energython, the OEB evaluated students’:
-
Responsiveness to unfamiliar subject matter
-
Willingness to learn and adapt
-
Collaboration and leadership
-
Judgment and decision-making under time constraints
-
Effectiveness in communicating ideas to a diverse audience
Waterloo Master of Public Service students pitching their idea during the Energython competition
“This format reveals students’ eagerness to learn and their curiosity in a way traditional hiring often misses,” says Claudia Morrison, Advisor, People & Culture, Ontario Energy Board. “We truly value fresh ideas, especially in our sector, where we cannot afford to become complacent.”
Turning student insight into impact
At the OEB, co-op students work on meaningful projects and engage with real policy discussions. The organization also views co-op hiring as a long-term investment, with many leaders having started their careers as students, reinforcing the value of early-career pathways.
We make it a priority to integrate students into real-world projects, not just administrative work. When students are doing purposeful work, it becomes much easier to see their potential, and many of them return as full-time employees after graduation.
Master of Public Service students (left to right): Parneet Kaur Singh, Anmol Muhar, Furqan Siddiqui and Vaishali Krishnan
For participating students, the competition offered a preview of what a work term might involve. By engaging with OEB coaches and leadership, they enter their work terms with a clear understanding of expectations and how their skills can contribute from day one.
“Energython helped us understand how meaningful the work at OEB is,” says Furqan Siddiqui, a Master of Public Service co-op student. “It reinforced why many of us are drawn to public service and made us feel excited and prepared for what that work could look like.”
Key takeaway
The OEB’s Energython shows what can happen when employers prioritize impact over outcomes. By looking beyond first place, the OEB identified co-op students who demonstrated readiness, curiosity and strong judgment, qualities that matter far beyond a competition.
For employers exploring new ways to recruit co-op talent, Energython offers a powerful reminder: the best candidates are the ones who don’t just tell you what they can do, they show it.