Canadian HR Awards 2021 Commemorative Guide by Key Media

2021 COMMEMORATIVE GUIDE

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SOCIAL MEDIA SPONSOR

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#HRAwardsCA

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ORGANIZER

2021

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2021 A WORD FROM KEY MEDIA THANK YOU to everyone who took part in the annual Canadian HR Awards held on September 15, 2021. After another difficult year that tested the resilience of many industries, these awards offer a true snapshot of the best and brightest in HR and those who have stepped up and put their people first at a time when it mattered most. This year, 24 prestigious categories celebrated and recognized excellence in the HR profession, focusing on the achievements of the best HR professionals, teams and employers. It was wonderful to see such strong industry support for these annual awards, and we would like to thank everyone who submitted a nomination and acknowledge our esteemed panel of judges for lending their time and expertise to the endeavor. The Canadian HR Awards is brought to you by Key Media, the organizers of the HR Leaders Summit, HR Tech Summit, Australian HR Awards and HRD Awards Asia, and publishers of the leading global HR news source, HRD. We are proud to continue our tradition of celebrating HR excellence in Canada and would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners. We look forward to bringing the HR profession another successful Awards in 2022. Emily Douglas Managing Editor — HR Key Media

Key Media is an award-winning global media company with eight offices around the world. Our growing portfolio of market-leading products connect business communities and product providers together in six key verticals through print, online and events. www.keymedia.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS INDIVIDUAL AWARDS The HRPA Award for Woman of Distinction

The KPMG in Canada Award for HR Champion (CEO)

The Leadership Agency Award for HR Leader of the Year

Rising Star of the Year

The O.C. Tanner Award for Lifetime Achievement in the HR Industry

COMPANY & TEAM AWARDS The dentsu Award for Best HR Communication Strategy

The Gallagher Award for Canadian HR Team of the Year (500 Employees or More)

The UKG Award for Best Workplace Culture 12 The University of Waterloo Award for Next Generation Employment Innovation

The Venngo Award of Excellence for Financial, Physical & Mental Wellness

The Workhuman Award for Best Reward & Recognition Strategy

Best Remote Work Strategy

Best Labour & Employment Boutique Law Firm

Most Effective Recruitment Strategy

Most Innovative Use of HR Technology

Best Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy

Canadian HR Team of the Year (Retail/Hospitality)

The HRD Readers’ Choice Award for Best Service Provider

Canadian HR Team of the Year (Fewer Than 500 Employees)

Best Employer Branding

Best Learning & Development Strategy

Best Talent Management Strategy

Canadian HR Team of the Year (Finance/Insurance)

Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion

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2021

THE VERY BEST HR HAS TO OFFER

2021’s Canadian HR Awards were dedicated to those who shepherded us through a most disruptive year

EARLIER THIS fall, HRD Canada hosted our 8th annual Canadian HR Awards — a night dedicated to rewarding the very best individuals, teams, and organizations our nation has to offer. In a pre-pandemic age, we would have hosted the ceremony face-to-face — but we didn’t let a global virus get in the way of our fun. Having seamlessly switched to a virtual event, we retained all the flair and festive spirit of our original galas — and gained the added advantage of launching panel debates in our online platform. Hosted by award-winning CBC news anchor Suhana Meharchand, the event featured 24 awards categories — ranging from individual to group to company-wide accolades.

Building resilient HR teams The past 12 months have proved the challenge of a lifetime for HR leaders in Canada. Dealing with overnight digitization, pivoting to remote work, updating communication strategies and replacing out-dated hybrid tech — it’s been a baptism by fire for up-and-coming HR practioners. A recent report from Paychex found that 70% of HR leaders claimed 2020 was the most difficult year of their careers — with 98% adding that the pandemic completely changed their role in

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the organization. And while it’s been difficult to manage, this change has ultimately been for the better. HR teams have learned more skills in the past three months than they would normally have in three years — something can turn an ordinary practitioner into a dream HR leader. “An organization is nothing without its people,” added Sarah Beech, area executive president, central region at Gallagher and sponsor of The Gallagher Award for HR Team of the Year. “A dream HR leader knows this and has mastered how to walk the tightrope, balancing the needs of both the organization and its workforce. They have the ear and respect of the C-suite, have built followership, and gained the trust of the greater team. They naturally see the big picture, strategizing on what’s to come and what needs to be done, while simultaneously getting in the trenches alongside the team to help with daily issues or concerns.”

Overcommunicating as a COVID strategy Communication took on a whole new meaning in the pandemic, with leaders adopting an over-communicative strategy in order to keep their employees informed of any and all policy changes. In fact,

METHODOLOGY NOMINATIONS The call for nominations was open to all HR professionals, teams, companies, and organizations — including HR service providers — from across Canada. Nominations were open from April 5, 2021 to June 4, 2021, 11:59 pm EST.

RESEARCH The Canadian HR Awards team conducted research and drew knowledge and information gained through HRD Canada and Canadian HR Reporter to verify and support nominations received. Finalists will be determined from both pools of information.

FINALISTS After all nominations were considered and research was completed, finalists were selected in each category (except the Lifetime Achievement category) and notified via e-mail or phone. Finalists were announced in July 2021 on the Canadian HR Awards website and promoted by HRD Canada and Canadian HR Reporter.

JUDGING a failure to do so wouldn’t just have impacted morale — it’ll have harmed your organization irreparably. Data from Pumble found that 86% of executives cite a lack of clear communication as the main reason for overall workplace failures. Speaking at one of the panel debates at the Awards, Carolyn Meacher, chief people officer at dentsu — sponsor of the dentsu Award for Best HR Communication Strategy, revealed how linking business communication to company strategy is key to effective business operations. Speaking to HRD, Meacher added that this year has been transformational for internal comms and its role in C-suite strategy. “In this environment, crafting a thoughtful communications plan linked to strategy is even more critical for unlocking the competitive advantage of our people,” she explained. “A strategically linked communication plan helps everyone understand the direction, values and priorities of the company and demonstrates a higher level of care and commitment by including people in the conversation. Done consistently well, these communications can build the clarity, trust and engagement necessary for achieving the company vison and goals.”

Safeguarding mental wellbeing According to Willis Towers Watson, 68% of leaders claim that their employees’ levels of anxiety have skyrocketed throughout the pandemic. Canadians in particular reported higher levels of depression and feelings of isolation through the seemingly endless lock-

All finalist submissions were forwarded to the independent judging panel comprising esteemed experts, thought leaders and veterans in and around the HR profession. The panel assessed and voted for their winners in each category according to the relevant category criteria. Voting was held in August 2021 and their judgment was impartial, balanced, incisive and fair. Any judge with conflict of interest in a category would have recused themselves from judging that category.

2021

WINNERS Using a simple points system to aggregate the judges’ votes, the finalist with the top score in a category was named winner. Winners were announced at the awards show on September 15, 2021 and on the Canadian HR Awards website. They were also promoted in HRD Canada and Canadian HR Reporter.

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2021

downs. The advent of hybrid work will go some way in helping to bridge this mental health gap — but make no mistake, once the pandemic ends, HR leaders will still have a lot of work to do to improve employee psychological health. Nancy Brickwood, SVP of HR at BGRS — one of our Excellence Award winners for The Venngo Award of Excellence for Financial, Physical & Mental Wellness — added that for them, mental wellbeing and financial health has taken centre stage since the pandemic, and will continue to do so in the years to come. “This past year has accentuated the importance and prioritization of wellness in workplaces,” she told HRD. “As HR professionals, we must continue to drive this as a strategic priority in our businesses for the health of Canadian workers.” By reaffirming your commitment to individual’s mental, physical and financial health, you’re really investing in the future health of your organization as a whole. After all, a company is only as good as their people – so looking after yours, even when the pandemic subsides, should be a key component of your business strategy.

A culture of caring and trust One of the more unforeseen reactionary effects of the pandemic was its impact on company culture — specifically in remote work. Companies that once enjoyed regular one-on-one catch ups and watercooler moments as core components of their culture were suddenly left stranded. HR leaders had to work overtime in moving their organizational values online — using technology to help aid the tricky process. One of the ways this was made possible was through cultivating a culture of trust and care between employer and employee. A recent report from The Workforce Institute at UKG found that 64% of employees say that trust has a direct impact on their sense of belonging at work — something which filters through to employee engagement and morale. Speaking to HRD, Dr. Jarik Conrad, senior director, human insights & HCM evangelism at UKG — sponsor of The UKG Award for Best Workplace Culture — revealed that, in his opinion, employee

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engagement in a WFH set-up was one of the more pressing challenges of COVID. “Workplace culture and employee engagement are probably the most important challenges that organizations are confronting, particularly as we try to work our way out of this pandemic,” he explained. “There is a reciprocal relationship between having a positive workplace culture and high levels of employee engagement — they feed off each other. Culture is heavily influenced from the top through vision, mission and core values that articulate what the company cares about and its expected behaviors. Culture is reinforced through policies, procedures and practices that dictate what gets done and how those things get done. All of this has a significant influence on the degree of employee engagement, which, in turn, strengthens the culture.”

Looking to 2022 and beyond If we can take one golden nugget away from the chaos of 2021, it’s that the key to organizational success lies in your people. While HR has always touted that people are their purpose, it’s really been tested over the past few months. What’s clear is that companies that already invested authentically in their people prepandemic were able to better navigate the issues around COVID. A uniting thread throughout this year’s Canadian HR Awards was our winners’ dedication to their teams. Each and every 2021 winner went the extra mile throughout the pandemic to not only ensure that their people were safe, but that they had everything they needed to thrive through the disruption. Read on to find out more about the winners and excellence awardees of the 2021 Canadian HR Awards. Key Media, HRD Canada and Canadian HR Reporter, along with our esteemed award sponsors, would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners and nominees, who truly exemplify excellence in the Canadian HR profession. Panel recordings from the September 15 virtual event are available on-demand at www.hcamag.com/ca/resources.

2021 JUDGING PANEL Thank you to our esteemed judges for lending their time and expertise to help recognize and celebrate excellence in the HR profession.

ALISSA BARTON Director, Human Capital Planning Infrastructure Ontario

BILL DENNIS President & CEO Cultural & Generational Training

ERIN POLCYN SAILER Director of Public Sector Compensation Government of Manitoba

BARBARA BENOLIEL, PH.D.

PETER ELMAR BORDO

Academic Program Coordinator, Human and Social Services Walden University

Principal, Careers360 Student Affairs Manager, AOLCC Vancouver

CATHY GALLAGHER-LOUISY

TIM MORTON

Senior Director, Consulting and Partnerships Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion

Managing Partner Prompta

DR. NITA CHHINZER

CHERYL CRAN

Associate Professor, HRM and Business Consulting (Dept of Management) University of Guelph

Future of Work Expert, Founder NextMapping

TALENE PALVETZIAN

JADE PICHETTE

Senior Policy Manager, Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development Ontario Public Service

Manager of Programs Pride at Work Canada

SHARON ROBINSON

JEFF SMITH, PH.D.

ERIC TERMUENDE

TIMOTHY TIRYAKI

Director, Human Resources Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia

VP, Strategic Initiatives 15Five

Co-Founder NoW of Work

Founder & CEO Maslow Centre for Executive Leadership

PETER TZANETAKIS

ROBIN YAP

President The Canadian Payroll Association

Professor, Social Data Scientist, AI-Ethicist George Brown College

www.hrawards.ca

2021 THE HRPA AWARD FOR

WOMAN OF DISTINCTION This award recognizes the exceptional women in the HR profession, whose outstanding personal and professional achievements — including championed HR best practices within their organization, accolades and leadership — have earned them a place among the industry’s best.

AWARD SPONSOR

HUMAN RESOURCES PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION WINNER

Ashira Gobrin Wave EXCELLENCE AWARDEES Keira Torkko, Assent Compliance Inc. Susan Snow, Canada Revenue Agency Zabeen Hirji, Deloitte Annie Corbeil, eStruxture Data Centers Jenn Lofgren, Incito Executive & Leadership Development Kristle Bautista, Magellan Aerospace Kerry Tompson, Sobeys Inc. Sindhu John, Tata Consultancy Services Canada Inc.

At the Human Resources Professionals Association, we believe that better HR makes business better. The HRPA ensures that our 23,000 members and students have the most upto-date tools and the advanced skills to lead our workplaces into the future. We regulate HR professionals in the public interest. Our members are held to the province’s highest standards, so Ontario workplaces can trust us to help unlock business growth and optimize employee potential. For more details, visit www.hrpa.ca.

“ HRPA is honoured to sponsor the Woman of Distinction Award. Diversity and equality is an ongoing struggle and women continue to be underrepresented and paid less than their male counterparts. We believe it is important to celebrate the achievements of women in the profession in hopes of inspiring others.” Louise Taylor Green Chief Executive Officer at HRPA

www.hrawards.ca

THE KPMG IN CANADA AWARD FOR

HR CHAMPION (CEO) This award recognizes the CEO who has driven successful HR strategies from the top by putting people first and championing innovative HR values. Their leadership and commitment to support their organization’s HR function contributed much to the workplace culture, values, and employee engagement over the past 12 months.

WINNER

Bruce Anderson Dejero EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

AWARD SPONSOR

KPMG LAW LLP KPMG Law LLP does not pursue a traditional law firm model. The model is to deliver high quality legal services to clients as part of ‘one KPMG’ integrated team, with the aim of providing end-to-end solutions for clients. KPMG Law LLP works closely with colleagues in Audit, Tax and Advisory, offering a truly multidisciplinary approach to business. This fully integrated, collaborative approach enables KPMG Law LLP to proactively anticipate and address emerging business and legal issues even before their clients identify them. For more details, visit www.home.kpmg

Kevin McCreadie, AGF Management Limited Andrew Graham, Borrowell Shahrzad Rafati, BroadbandTV Corp. Melissa Sariffodeen, Canada Learning Code Darrell Burnham, Coast Mental Health Michael Medline, Empire Company Limited Rania Llewellyn, Laurentian Bank Jaqui Parchment, Mercer Canada

“ HR is a critical resource that can guide the CEO’s decision-making process and ensure that the decisions they make for the company are in the best interest of their employees — and therefore the business.”

Kirk Simpson, Wave

Lisa Cabel

Jason Wubs, Westland Insurance

National Leader, Labour & Employment KPMG Law LLP

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2021 THE LEADERSHIP AGENCY AWARD FOR

HR LEADER OF THE YEAR This award recognizes the outstanding HR professional at the executive level, who has demonstrated leadership excellence and innovation, and has improved their organization’s overall HR strategy over the past 12 months.

AWARD SPONSOR

THE LEADERSHIP AGENCY

WINNER

The Leadership Agency was founded with the mission to help the fastest-growing startups find and hire best-in-class talent.

RISING STAR OF THE YEAR This award recognizes the HR leaders of the future, with 5 to 10 years of HR experience, who have demonstrated their commitment to the function. Their contributions improving their organizations’ HR initiatives and their solid efforts to highlight the importance of HR have earned them this well-deserved recognition.

WINNER

With over 15 years of recruitment experience, they are dedicated to building the most impressive companies of our generation, all while disrupting the status quo.

Margaret McBeath Nuclear Promise X

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES Sanita Alias, CIRA Shalini Duggal, Centrilogic Laura Salvatore, Centurion Asset Management Inc. Cheryl Fullerton, Corus Entertainment Brigid Pelino, Economical Insurance Nicole Liddell, Real Estate Council of B.C. Maria McCullough, SaskEnergy Thierry Miras, Schneider Electric Canada Inc. Simon Gagne, Sobeys Inc.

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The goal has always been to be a one-stop-shop for startups, while acting as a true extension of their business. For more details, visit www.leadershipagency.com

“ Sponsoring the HR Leader of the Year category was very symbolic for me and my team! We cannot stress enough the importance of strong HR leadership skills; it will help align the goals of your company and create a better working environment for your team!” Jamie Savage Founder and CEO The Leadership Agency

Melissa Li Canfor

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES Melody Zhang, Atomic Cartoons, the Kids and Family Division of Thunderbird Entertainment Group Devon Lewis, Coast Mental Health Ara Vivek, Colliers Raj Parmar, Colliers Amrit Takhar, Schneider Electric Canada Inc. Fiona Dowsing, Trend Micro Technologies Inc.

THE O.C. TANNER AWARD FOR LIFETIME

ACHIEVEMENT IN THE HR INDUSTRY This is the highest honor and most coveted award at the Canadian HR Awards. This award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the HR profession through visionary people management strategies, leadership and education.

WINNER

Dr. Raeleen Manjak Director of Human Resources at City of Vernon

“ I actually didn’t choose HR, HR chose me. And I think it was a very natural alignment with the fact that I am a proud public servant. And I just like to provide opportunities for people to succeed... every opportunity I get I will invest in the development of people so that they can be their best self. And really, truly, that is what human resources is all about.”

AWARD SPONSOR

O.C. TANNER O.C. Tanner is the global leader in software and services that improve workplace culture through meaningful employee experiences. Our Culture Cloud™ employee recognition platform helps millions of people thrive at work. Our global team of 1,500 programmers, researchers, designers, client professionals and craftspeople hail from 58 countries and speak 62 languages. Together, we create the technology, tools and awards that help our clients shape productive work environments, drive innovation and fuel positive business results. For more details, visit www.octanner.com. “ Dr. Raeleen Manjak puts human in the heart of her decisions and has made an indelible impact on building cultures of connection, inclusion, professional development and wellbeing in her career. O.C. Tanner improves workplace cultures through recognition solutions, so people feel appreciated, do their best work and thrive. In sponsoring this award, we have the privilege of celebrating Dr. Manjak’s incredible success in her field and that which inspires greatness in those around her, that which is our greatest honor.”

Meghan Stettler Director, O.C. Tanner Institute

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2021 THE DENTSU AWARD FOR

BEST HR COMMUNICATION STRATEGY

This award recognizes the team that has delivered the most unique, compelling and relevant internal or external HR communication strategy within the past 12 months.

AWARD SPONSOR

DENTSU INTERNATIONAL We are dentsu international.

WINNER

Ingram Micro Inc.

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Bimbo Canada Blue Ant Media Inc. Canada Life CIRA City of Vaughan Dynacare Inc. Hydro Ottawa Sollio Agriculture Starlight Investments

In good times and bad, we partner with brands to achieve meaningful progress as a force for growth and good. Our teams of optimists, entrepreneurs and first-movers coalesce around the needs of our clients, unlocking unique possibilities for sustainable value and lasting change. For more details, visit www.dentsu.com/ca/en/

“ dentsu is proud to partner with the Canadian HR Awards to recognize these top HR communication strategists in the country. This year was a particularly challenging and important year for communications, requiring people to show up in new ways with significantly different strategies and approaches. We are honoured to recognize this courageous and creative group of communicators in their ability to generate the clarity, trust and engagement necessary for achieving the company vision and goals.” Carolyn Meacher Chief People Officer at dentsu

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THE GALLAGHER AWARD FOR

CANADIAN HR TEAM OF THE YEAR (500 EMPLOYEES OR MORE) This award recognizes the most outstanding HR teams supporting their organization with more than 500 employees in Canada. This award acknowledges the team’s excellence in fulfilling its HR strategy and partnering with different business functions for various programs/ initiatives over the past 12 months. This award focuses on the team’s collaborative approach to the overall HR function.

WINNER

Sollio Agriculture

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Baylis Medical

AWARD SPONSOR

GALLAGHER CANADA Gallagher Canada helps employers of all sizes, across all industries build workplaces that work better. Gallagher’s comprehensive approach to benefits, compensation, retirement, employee communication and workplace culture — Gallagher Better WorksSM — aligns an organization’s human capital strategy with its overall business goals. It centers on strategically investing in employees’ health, talent, financial wellbeing and career growth at the right cost structures to support a multigenerational workforce. Employers gain confidence in their future having gained a competitive advantage as a workplace that simply works better. For more details, visit www.ajgcanada.com

Canfor CHEP Canada Corp Geotab Hazelview Kinaxis McCain Foods Skyline Group of Companies Toronto & Region Conservation Authority

“ An organization is nothing without its people. A dream HR leader knows this and has mastered how to walk the tightrope, balancing the needs of both the organization and its workforce.” Sarah Beech Area Executive President, Central Region Gallagher

www.hrawards.ca

2021 THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO AWARD FOR

NEXT GENERATION EMPLOYMENT INNOVATION This award recognizes the HR team that has implemented an innovative initiative in the last 12 months that has provided employment opportunities for young people or graduates. Initiatives include graduate programmes, internships, apprenticeships, co-op work programs and/or work experience placements.

WINNER

Rio Tinto

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES Centurion Asset Management Inc. FDM Group Canada Inc. FYidoctorsa Geotab IBM Canada Ltd.

AWARD SPONSOR

THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO The future of work is changing. The University of Waterloo’s commitment to the value of work-integrated learning makes it a global leader in co-operative and experiential education. Waterloo’s future-ready students and alumni are recognized for their unmatched entrepreneurial drive, game-changing research, field-specific knowledge and ability to develop innovative solutions to tackle today and tomorrow’s biggest challenges. Waterloo helps more than 7,500 global employers identify and recruit talent for the skills they need for their business to thrive. Future-proof your organization and claim your space at the forefront of innovation by hiring Waterloo talent. For more details, visit www.uwaterloo.ca/hire/com

Executive Director, Co-operative Education University of Waterloo

www.hrawards.ca

BEST WORKPLACE CULTURE This award recognizes remarkable workplace cultures, of which their HR programs, practices, tools, structures and effective leadership have positively impacted their recruitment, employee engagement and employee retention over the past 12 months.

WINNER

Fullscript

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES Bluecat CARFAX

“ The future of work is changing and the next generation of talent entering the workforce is adaptable, innovative, connected and ready to make an impact. We are proud to sponsor an award that spotlights the organizations using innovative approaches that go above and beyond the industry standard to hire and develop emerging talent.” Ross Johnston

THE UKG AWARD FOR

Dejero Geotab Hyundai Auto Canada Kinaxis Nutrien Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCHC) ProntoForms

THE VENNGO AWARD OF

EXCELLENCE FOR FINANCIAL, PHYSICAL & MENTAL WELLNESS AWARD SPONSOR

UKG™ At UKG™ (Ultimate Kronos Group), Our Purpose Is People. Built from a merger that created one of the world’s largest cloud companies, UKG believes organizations succeed when they focus on their people. As a leading global provider of HCM, payroll, HR service delivery and workforce management solutions, UKG helps tens of thousands of organizations across geographies and every industry drive better business outcomes, improve HR effectiveness, streamline payroll and make work a more connected experience for everyone. UKG has earned numerous awards for its culture, products and services, including consecutive years on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list.

This award recognizes the organizations with outstanding and innovative employee well-being programs, whilst showing clear evidence of a positive impact on workforce, including reductions in absence levels and/or improvements in staff engagement and performance over the past 12 months.

WINNER

TELUS

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

For more details, visit www.ukg.com

BGRS

“ The most important element that determines whether or not this workplace culture and employee engagement loop works is twoway communication. Not only does the organization have to be clear and transparent with employees, those employees must feel heard and appreciated.”

CSA Group

Dr. Jarik Conrad Senior Director, Human Insights & HCM Evangelism at UKG

British Columbia Lottery Corporation

Dynacare Inc. Ingram Micro Inc. Kinaxis Mercer Canada Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Servus Credit Union

AWARD SPONSOR

VENNGO Proudly a Canadian company for more than 18 years, who started from a humble beginning as a b2b discount program, following our passion for finding great deals lead us to pioneer the concept of employee discount programs that connect people to their favourite brands. Since then, the company has grown exponentially, expanding outside of Canada all the way to the United States and now becoming the largest provider of group discount programs in North America. We’ve always stayed focused on our number one priority though: helping people save money, save time and feel good. With thousands of perks currently available, and new perks popping up daily, there’s always something new to discover on our mobile app and web platform. For more details, visit www.venngo.com

“ As we move ahead, it has become vital to take care of our employees mentally and physically, and WorkPerks can help. WorkPerks empowers employees by giving them more opportunities to take charge of their physical and mental wellbeing, with access to discounts, promotions and exclusives to products and services they’ll feel excited about.” Tom De lulis SVP and Strategy, Venngo

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2021 THE WORKHUMAN AWARD FOR

BEST REWARD & RECOGNITION STRATEGY This award recognizes excellence and innovation in employee reward and recognition programs and initiatives that are aligned with business objectives in order to incentivize and enhance productivity.

AWARD SPONSOR

WORKHUMAN

WINNER

CAA Club Group (CCG)

In the past, you may have known us as Globoforce, pioneers of the movement to make work more human. Today we are WORKHUMAN, the world’s fastest-growing social recognition and continuous performance management platform. This evolution acknowledges both the traction and effectiveness of our Workhuman® Cloud platform, and the demand from progressive global organizations who want to motivate and empower their people to do the best work of their lives.

BEST REMOTE WORK STRATEGY This award recognizes the organizations with excellent and innovative virtual and remote work programs and practices, which resulted in positive outcomes such as in higher employee engagement, productivity and results over the past 12 months.

WINNER

Rexall Pharmacy Group Ltd.

For more details, visit www.workhuman.com

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES CIBC Mellon Compass Group Canada Day & Ross, Inc. Dejero Jobber Schneider Electric Canada Inc. Tech Mahindra Ltd.

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

“ As we enter into the “Great Resignation” and many businesses begin the shift back to offices, retaining a solid, happy and motivated workforce through the use of tools like social recognition should be top of mind for all leaders.” Chris French Executive Vice President of Customer strategy at Workhuman

www.hrawards.ca

BookJane Certn Fidelity Canada Middlesex London Health Unit ModoHR Technologies Inc. Nordia Inc. SmartSweets TELUS Teranet Inc.

BEST LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM

This award recognizes outstanding boutique law firms from across Canada specializing in Labour & Employment law which have demonstrated expertise and commitment to HR professionals. This award also recognizes the firm’s commitment and efforts towards its own talent and workplace development.

WINNER

FEATURED WINNER

Turnpenney Milne LLP

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES Monkhouse Law Rudner Law

Turnpenney Milne LLP was formed in May 2010 and focuses exclusively on Workplace Law. Our practice encompasses support with all aspects of the employment relationship, from the pre-hiring stage to termination, retirement and litigating post-employment obligations. We are recognized as a knowledgeable firm with a balanced perspective. Other lawyers and former clients routinely refer new clients, and we have enjoyed significant growth since our inception. Turnpenney Milne LLP is known within the employment bar as a “big-firm” alternative, such that lawyers who work at the firm enjoy a high calibre of work and professional standards, while still maintaining the ability to prioritize other areas of their lives and achieve work-life balance. All Turnpenney Milne’s lawyers possess a strong background in labour and employment law, and are committed to demonstrating excellence, with the ultimate objective of being leaders in our field. A significant part of our practice involves acting as a neutral third-party investigator in a wide variety of workplaces. We have worked in this capacity in both public and private sector organizations, many of which are unionized environments. We are retained on high-profile cases involving allegations of harassment, discrimination and misconduct. We also provide mediation, facilitation and associated conflict-resolution services, as well as a broad range of training. With respect to training, we develop and provide sessions of varying lengths on topics like the creation and maintenance of respectful workplaces, harassment, discrimination and violence, and on how to conduct investigations in accordance with best practices. Email: administration@tmllp.ca Website: www.turnpenneymilne.ca Phone: (416) 868-1457

www.hrawards.ca

2021 MOST EFFECTIVE RECRUITMENT STRATEGY

MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF HR TECHNOLOGY

BEST CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY STRATEGY

This award recognizes excellent and innovative recruitment and staffing initiatives, with consideration for the resources and tools used and the business challenges addressed (e.g. aging workforce, special projects, skills attraction, graduate recruitment).

This award recognizes the highperforming HR teams that have maximized HR technology or solutions to the greatest effect, supporting their HR strategies and resulting in positive outcomes (e.g. improved efficiencies, impact on staff engagement, increase in performance).

This award recognizes the organizations that have embedded corporate social responsibility into their workplace culture, particularly through its people and HR programs. This award acknowledges HR’s role in the strategic implementation and execution of the CSR program/ initiative over the past 12 months and the meaningful impact on the associated causes or communities.

WINNER

Department of National Defence

Fidelity Canada

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

BRP

Department of National Defence

Accor Management Canada Inc.

Dejero

Hydro Ottawa

eOne

Invest Ottawa

Geotab

Kinaxis

Seasons Retirement Communities

Nuclear Promise X

Nordia Inc. Revera Wave

FYidoctors

www.hrawards.ca

Tata Consultancy Services Canada Inc. Tech Mahindra Ltd.

Randstad Interim Inc. Rexall Pharmacy Group Ltd. Tata Consultancy Services Canada Inc.

BEST CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY STRATEGY

FEATURED WINNER

Fidelity Canada At Fidelity Canada, corporate social responsibility is embedded throughout our organization. One of our HR goals is to be recognized as an employer of choice, and one of the ways we aim to achieve this is by giving back to the community and enabling our employees to do so as well. Caring about others and the planet is important to us, our employees and prospective employees. How do we give back? We listen to our employees and act based on their feedback. They tell us what causes matter most to them and we try our best to support their causes through corporate donations and contributions on behalf of each employee. Examples of this are the #FidelityHeartChallenge Food Banks Canada fundraising initiative, our annual United Way campaign, our 19-year partnership with BGC Canada (formerly Boys and Girls Club of Canada), our annual CHUM/CP24 Christmas Wish Toy Drive and our many co-op student charity events, including their signature event, Capes for Kids, which raises funds for Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. These are just some of the many ways that Fidelity Cares. Email: chris.pepper@fidelity.ca Website: www.fidelity.ca Phone: (416) 307-5388 Mobile: (416) 795-7762

“ We are thrilled to have Fidelity’s efforts be recognized at the Canadian HR Awards. The strategies we developed and implemented are a team effort. Thank you very much, we all accept this award on behalf of Fidelity.” Diana Godfrey Senior Vice President of Human Resources Fidelity Canada

www.hrawards.ca

2021 CANADIAN HR TEAM OF THE YEAR (RETAIL/HOSPITALITY) This award recognizes the most outstanding HR team of the year within the retail or hospitality industry that has excelled within combatting these unique challenges, using innovative means. This award focuses on the team’s collaborative approach to the whole HR function which made an impact within the organization in the past 12 months.

FEATURED WINNER WINNER

Best Buy Canada, Ltd.

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES Accor Management Canada Inc. Compass Group Canada Longo’s Sephora Canada Sunwing Travel Group Tim Hortons Foundation Camps

Best Buy Canada has long believed that the secret to success is not products or services, but the amazing individuals that make up the Best Buy family. As a whole, Best Buy Canada has dedicated itself to developing a safe and inclusive environment, one in which all employees can bring their whole selves — their best selves — to work every day. Over the last year, our human resources team has collaborated to develop new and innovative policies that allowed our employees to thrive during unprecedented times. Our people-first approach allowed us to touch on key areas such as diversity and inclusion, mental health and wellness, and ensuring the safety of employees whether in-store, in distribution centers, in corporate headquarters or remotely. Examples of our forward-thinking policies include:  I mplemented mental wellness initiatives such as a mental health intranet hub, expanded mental health benefits including added psychotherapy coverage and enhanced paramedical services, introduced free online cognitive behavioral therapy for employees and their family members and expanded virtual offerings such as meditation and stretch breaks.  I ntroduced the HOPE (Helping Our People in Emergencies) Fund, where employees who experience a qualified financial hardship were able to receive up to $2,500 in non-taxable grants over 12 months.  C reated over 40 separate eLearning and video trainings on COVID safety for all of our workplaces and employees.  W ith ever-evolving work and life integration, chose to move to permanent and fully remote work for corporate teams including a new state-of-the-art collaborative workspace in downtown Vancouver. It is policies like these that have led us to be recognized by local governments and public health agencies as a leader in public health protocols. Likewise, Best Buy Canada has been named as one of Canada’s and BC’s Top Employers for several years running and our HR team has been recognized as Canadian HR Team of the Year (Retail/Hospitality) in both 2019 and 2021. Website: www.bestbuy.ca Phone: (604) 435-8823

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THE HRD READERS’ CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST SERVICE PROVIDER

CANADIAN HR TEAM OF THE YEAR (FEWER THAN 500 EMPLOYEES)

BEST EMPLOYER BRANDING

This award recognizes the most outstanding HR teams supporting their organization with fewer than 500 employees in Canada. This award acknowledges the team’s excellence in fulfilling its HR strategy and partnering with different business functions for various programs/ initiatives over the past 12 months. This award focuses on the team’s collaborative approach to the overall HR function.

This award recognizes compelling and successful employer branding initiatives/campaigns that led to a positive impact on the company’s recruitment strategy, employee engagement and employee retention over the past 12 months.

WINNER

O.C. Tanner

Assent Compliance Inc.

Centurion Asset Management Inc.

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Applauz

Bethesda Community Services

CIRA

Blu Ivy Group

Bluecat

Revera

Bright + Early

Coast Mental Health

headversity

Covenant House Vancouver

Seasons Retirement Communities

Igloo Software

eOne

ModoHR Technologies

Fullscript

Peak Performance Human Resources Corp.

Hyundai Auto Canada

Peninsula Canada Salopek & Associates Ltd.

Jobber

Sephora Canada SmartSweets Teranet Inc. Wave

Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCHC) Starlight Investments

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2021 BEST EMPLOYER BRANDING

FEATURED WINNER

Centurion Asset Management Inc. Centurion Asset Management Inc. is recognized as a leading asset management company, offering valuable investment and financing solutions for investors and clients since its inception in 2003. Our culture is driven by our Founder, Greg Romundt, who was nominated for EY’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2014 and named CEO of the year by the Canadian Apartment Magazine in 2015. He created a unique set of values that guide our business practices and strategy to effectively serve the best interests of our investors, clients, residents and employees. At Centurion, we believe in Respect for all people and demonstrate Integrity in all our dealings. We seek value in Simplicity and efficiency and embrace Excellence through our products and services. These core values define who we are as a company and are rooted at the heart of everything we do. In December 2020, Centurion earned the coveted Great Place to Work Certification, recognizing employers who display credibility, respect, fairness, pride and camaraderie in everything that they do. In April 2021, Centurion was named as one of the Best Workplaces in Canada, demonstrating Centurion’s continued commitment to building a strong employer brand and providing Employees with one of the best places to work in the country. In May 2021, Centurion received the TinyPulse award for Happiest Employees in the financial industry, surpassing 60 other

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companies who are equally dedicated to fostering a strong workplace culture and brand. Email: info@centurion.ca Website: https://centurion.ca Phone: 416-733-5600

“ On behalf of the team here at Centurion, I would like to express our most sincere appreciation to Canadian HR Awards, HRD Canada, and Canadian HR Reporter. It’s an absolute honor to be selected as a recipient for such prestigious awards and to be recognized for our accomplishments in the field of HR.” Laura Salvatore Associate Vice President, Human Capital

BEST LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

This award recognizes organizations with outstanding and innovative approaches to learning and development, with consideration for the delivery of the learning and development services (e.g. through virtual mentoring, e-learning, software, gamification, etc.), relevant internal communications and positive outcomes.

WINNER

FEATURED WINNER

Purolator Inc.

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES ADP Canada Axonify Inc. Canadian Pacific Railway Conwest Developments Ltd. Export Development Canada (EDC) Fidelity Canada Hydro Ottawa Tata Consultancy Services Canada Inc. Tech Mahindra Ltd. The Corporation of the City of Vernon

Purolator values the health and safety of our employees and the communities we serve. With the global pandemic shifting to virtual learning environments, and the increasing demand for transportation and courier services, Purolator needed to successfully onboard a largely skilled-based staff — quickly, safely and effectively to keep the Canadian economy and supply chain moving. In one of the largest onboarding efforts in Purolator’s history, the team virtually trained 3,845 new employees in a single year through 67,101 hours of virtual instructor-led content. Purolator saw a reduction in injuries, achieving our lowest number of injury incidents in history. It’s a testament to the focus we place on our health and safety culture, and the impact of safety training. “Purolator is driven by people — we’re committed to supporting our team by investing in training and development programs as well as mental and physical wellness,” says Ken Johnston, Senior Vice President, People and Culture. “In the midst of a global pandemic, our teams were able to quickly move from our traditional learning methods to effectively meet the new needs of our employees, including thousands of new team members, to help ensure we could successfully deliver for Canadians.” Purolator proudly accepted the award from HRD Canada, and we’re committed to support training programs, developing new staff and utilizing new technology to keep our workplace and our people safe. Website: www.purolator.com Phone: 1-888-SHIP-123 (1-888-744-7123) Tweet us 24/7 @PurolatorHelp

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2021 BEST LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY

FEATURED WINNER

Export Development Canada (EDC) As Canada’s export credit agency, Export Development Canada (EDC) plays a leading role on the world stage supporting Canada’s post COVID-19 economic recovery. Playing an equally important behind-the scenes role is EDC’s Learning and Development (L&D) team. The team was recognized with an Award of Excellence for Best Learning and Development Strategy in the 2021 annual Canadian HR Awards for delivering outstanding organizational benefits by directly linking the training needs of employees, at all levels, to the business needs of the organization. “EDC’s ability to help Canadian businesses get back to global business rests on the ambition, drive and capabilities of each and every one of us to acquire new knowledge, develop new skills and adopt new behaviours,” says L&D Director Hugues Bouchard. “Our work and how well we perform has a direct impact on the well-being of Canada, its communities and people.” Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the L&D team challenged itself to transform its traditional ways of working and meet the changing needs of the organization and a remote workforce.

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With its forward-thinking L&D strategy and precise action plan, the team implemented a governance structure linking its activities to EDC’s business strategy. It also evolved classroom training programs into an online format, significantly increased its offering by introducing more than 160 new courses and programs and implemented a new cloud-based Learning Management System with enhanced tools, functionality and the ability to provide an integrated experience with Microsoft Teams. “Aligning and integrating our work with our 10-year corporate strategy, along with shifting our focus on capability-building and supporting the changes in mindsets and operations critical for us to better help Canadian businesses grow internationally, is also allowing EDC to enhance returns on its training investments and strengthen its learning culture for driving business agility and efficiency.” Email: hbouchard@edc.ca Website: www.edc.ca

BEST TALENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

CANADIAN HR TEAM OF THE YEAR (FINANCE/ INSURANCE)

EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

This award celebrates excellent and innovative approaches to identify and manage internal talent, as well as the ways in which development opportunities are delivered and aligned with broader business objectives and with employee ambitions (i.e. succession planning, training and development and performance management).

This award recognizes the most outstanding HR team of the year within the financial services industry that has excelled in combatting these unique challenges, using innovative means. This recognition focuses on the team’s collaborative approach to the whole HR function which made an impact within the organization in the past 12 months.

This award recognizes the organizations with diversity and inclusion at the heart of their business by consistently providing programs for employees from five groups including women, members of visible minorities, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples and the LGBTI community.

WINNER

Health Standards Organization

Green Shield Canada

PSP Investments

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Centurion Asset Management Inc.

AGF

Best Buy Canada, Ltd.

Borrowell

Canada Life

BroadbandTV Corp.

Economical Insurance

Coca-Cola Canada Bottling Ltd.

Financeit

Colliers

Manulife

D2L

Prospera Credit Union

DHL Supply Chain

Scotiabank

EllisDon

Wave

Hootsuite

Westland Insurance

Securiguard Services

Dejero Fidelity Canada Ingram Micro Inc.

Wave

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2021 EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

FEATURED WINNER

PSP Investments Unleashing full employee potential through Equity, Inclusion and Diversity PSP Investments credits its commitment to Equity, Inclusion and Diversity (Ei&D) as a critical driver in maintaining its inclusive culture and supporting and keeping its people connected through the pandemic. PSP is deeply committed to embedding Ei&D principles throughout its employee life cycle — to ensure employees feel valued, safe, respected and empowered to grow. While the Crown corporation’s Ei&D Council is led by its CEO and CHRO, its eight Affinity Groups are led by employees, who put on dozens of highly popular initiatives per year. Initiatives range from a powerful panel discussion on the impacts of racism, to a moving “We Are PSP” article series in which employees share, via intranet, the unique experiences that have shaped their identities. “ Since the beginning of our Ei&D journey, I’ve been truly touched by the commitment and relentless efforts of our Ei&D Council members who go above and beyond their roles to contribute to our Ei&D objectives. They have had a tremendous impact on all of us.” —G iulia Cirillo, Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Global Communications Officer

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Committing to change PSP remains humble in its success and knows that much remains to be done. With a long-term ambition and a strong foundation of respect and empathy, it is pursuing its journey to continue to break down barriers, build a truly inclusive working environment and empower its people. For more information, visit www.investpsp.com

“ Our Ei&D culture is a very important focus for PSP, and we are continuing to strive to engrain it within the fabric of our organization. We have learned that it is a cultural pillar that brings our people together and supports an authentic, open and sharing culture. We want to be an industry leader in this area and will continue to take action to make this happen.” Neil Cunningham President & CEO

A LOOK BACK: THE 2020 WINNERS BEST EMPLOYER BRANDING Rexall Pharmacy Group Ltd.

BEST LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT BOUTIQUE LAW FIRM Whitten & Lublin PC

BEST TALENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY Revera

CANADIAN HR TEAM OF THE YEAR (FEWER THAN 500 EMPLOYEES) Coast Mental Health

CANADIAN HR TEAM OF THE YEAR (FINANCE/INSURANCE) Wave

CANADIAN HR TEAM OF THE YEAR (RETAIL/HOSPITALITY) Rexall Pharmacy Group Ltd.

MOST EFFECTIVE RECRUITMENT STRATEGY Invest Ottawa

THE ACHIEVERS AWARD FOR MOST INNOVATIVE USE OF HR TECHNOLOGY University Health Network

THE ADP CANADA AWARD FOR RISING STAR OF THE YEAR Tania Chaudry City of Penticton

THE DENTSU AEGIS NETWORK AWARD FOR BEST HR COMMUNICATION STRATEGY Tim Hortons Foundation Camps

THE GALLAGHER AWARD FOR HR TEAM OF THE YEAR (500 EMPLOYEES OR MORE) Humber River Hospital

THE HRD READERS’ CHOICE AWARD FOR BEST SERVICE PROVIDER Schulich Executive Education Centre (SEEC); WorkTango

THE HRPA AWARD FOR WOMAN OF DISTINCTION Lauren Davey Compass Group Canada

THE KPMG IN CANADA AWARD FOR HR CHAMPION (CEO) Jaqui Parchment Mercer Canada

THE LEADERSHIP AGENCY AWARD FOR HR LEADER OF THE YEAR Kathryn (Katy) Player Canfor

THE MERCER AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN DIVERSITY & INCLUSION Wave

THE O.C. TANNER AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THE HR INDUSTRY Dr. Melanie Peacock — Past President, Mount Royal Faculty Association; Associate Professor, Bissett School of Business

THE SENECA AWARD FOR BEST LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY Sephora Canada

THE ULTIMATE SOFTWARE AWARD FOR BEST WORKPLACE CULTURE Pethealth Inc.

THE VENNGO AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR FINANCIAL, PHYSICAL & MENTAL WELLNESS Ericsson

THE PAYWORKS AWARD FOR BEST CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY STRATEGY Ottawa Community Housing Corporation

THE UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO AWARD FOR NEXT GENERATION EMPLOYMENT INNOVATION Flybits

THE WORKHUMAN AWARD FOR BEST REWARD & RECOGNITION STRATEGY Peel Senior Link

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Canadian HR Awards 2021 Commemorative Guide

Articles inside

Canadian HR Team of the Year (Retail/Hospitality)

The O.C. Tanner Award for Lifetime Achievement in the HR Industry