Supporting the next generation of clean energy professionals

The Trellis Fund is supporting talent and increasing diversity in Canada’s energy sector.

Responding to a looming labour shortage, Trellis supports students who plan to work in the clean energy transition, connecting them with the good jobs in Canada’s energy transition and making measurable impact through our outreach and programming.

Here’s how:
– The Trellis Fund $10,000 annual scholarship program offers $2500 grants to female-identifying students who plan to work in the energy transition. All fields of study are applicable for financial support.
– Wrap around programming including mentorship, networking and speaking opportunities are included.

In only 2 years, the Trellis Fund has:

– received 120 grant applications;

– awarded $20,000 to 8 highly qualified and diverse students;

– hosted over 200 attendees at grant application launch and networking events;

– chaired a conversation with Trellis grant recipients at Electricity Transformation Canada;

– supervised an academic research project about barriers to jobs in energy;

– won a Clean50 Top Project award for our role in supporting diverse labour plans in the energy sector.

Founded by the original group of energy professionals who established Women in Renewable Energy WiRE, this group knows how to build equity-focused organizations and scale impact!

Thank you for donating to Trellis and supporting the next generation of clean energy professionals.

The Trellis grant program was established in 2024 in honour of Veronica Gardner by her daughter Rebecca Black alongside an advisory committee of women dedicated to equity, diversity and inclusion in the renewable energy and infrastructure sector. Veronica was an inspirational woman and community builder. Her example encouraged Rebecca and Trellis Advisory Committee members to establish Women in Renewable Energy WiRE in 2014, and the Trellis Fund in 2024.

Our name: Trellis is a supportive element that allows plants to climb, reach for the sun and thrive, just as the Trellis Fund aims to support students in a clean energy future.

Our mission: To remove barriers to non-traditional participants who seek work in the clean energy sector.

Our vision: An inclusive and thriving clean energy sector powering a healthy planet.

Read more about Trellis at trellisfund.ca and in this Globe and Mail article.