Powerful Women present at Ontario Power Generation's second Women in Science Conference

The Women in Science Conference was held on Monday, February 24 and Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at St. Lawrence College was hosted by the Ontario Power Generation. Speaking to grade nine and ten female students, the OPG Women in Science presenters shared stories of struggle, triumphs and finding 'rewards greater than the struggle' as Gina Parvaneh Cody said.

Akwesasronon Amanda Jacobs, an OPG welder also spoke to the young students.

Jacobs stated, "For the past two days I had the pleasure of speaking at the Women in Science Conference. This is my second year speaking at this conference. There are many different breakout sessions that the girls get to go to and listen to speakers. I was able to speak about the trades. The are many talented women in so many different areas of science and trades we all have amazing stories. Today I was very proud of the two young native girls who at the end of my session came up to talk to me. It was finally nice to see that someone let alone two girls from Akwesasne came to this free conference. I think it was nice for them to see that they could actually relate to one of the presenters. We need more girls to get out to these kind of events to see there's so many opportunities out there for them. Endless possibilities and they have local people to help them in their journey".

Brittany Jock and Mary Herne also presented at the conference.

In a powerful and inspiring keynote Women and Science Conference speech, Gina Parvaneh Cody spoke to a grade nine and ten female students considering entering the world of science.

After hearing Cody speak the atmosphere was clearly stoked; the young female grade nine and ten students were ready to tackle even the most rigorous field dominated by men. They were armed with a confidence generated from the words spoken by a woman who at one time climbed towering construction cranes in Toronto to inspect them.

Born in Iran in 1957, Cody left for Canada in 1979; the year of the Iran's Islamic Revolution, with $2000 in her pocket, today she is one of the most successful women in Canada. Cody was the first woman in Concordia University history to earn a PhD in building engineering, twenty-nine years later, she's donating fifteen million to Concordia University. Concordia renamed its faculty of engineering and computer science after her: the Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science. This distinction made Concordia the first university engineering faculty to be named after a woman, not only in Canada, but also internationally.

After the Iranian Islamic Revolution in 1979, women in Iran were left with little to no power over whom they could marry, their profession, education, divorce, child custody, passports and even to the clothes they wore. Women have been jailed for dancing. All this bears in mind the direct contrast to the matrilineal Haudenosaunee society from which Mohawk women hail.

When Cody spoke the words of, "the right to choose where to apply your talent is precious" is a reminder to all young women of the responsibility that comes with the right to choose.

Inherent or not, Cody stated, "Being here makes you the some of the most empowered women in the history of the world. What are you going to do with this? Choose something to that makes you happy. Do not listen to you are not smart enough, too hard, not good enough. You are good enough and smart enough and strong enough". Fear is natural, courage is being afraid and finding a way to keep going. The reward is much greater than the struggle."

The Women in Science Conference partners include the Cornwall Community Hospital, the River Institute, Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, St. Lawrence College, and Transport Canada. The conference was co-chaired by Jane Travers, Vice-President of Asset Management and Optimization at OPG, and Jessica Polak, Vice-President of South Central Operations at OPG.

OPG is the largest electricity generator in the province, providing almost half the power Ontarians rely on every day. It is also one of the most diverse generators in North America with nuclear, hydro, biomass, solar and gas assets.