11th Annual Electricity Sector Awards of Excellence – Awards & Nomination Criteria

Leader of the Year

The recipient is an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to their organization within the Canadian electricity industry through visionary people management strategies and leadership.

Nomination Criteria

When judging this category, key accomplishments and attributes will be considered, including:

• Outstanding leadership and vision in the workplace, creating standards of excellence and setting an example for others to follow. Motivates and enables others through a spirit of collaboration, trust, and recognition of individual and team contributions. Inspires a shared vision by creating for others an ideal and unique image of what the organization can become.
• Operational success due to the effective implementation of bold, visionary, innovative people strategies which are instrumental in developing organizational excellence and improved organizational productivity.
• Innovative change and demonstrates effectiveness in generating new ideas or processes. Invites challenge and encourages colleagues and staff to think boldly to implement new ways of doing business.
• Exemplary commitment to providing opportunities to staff at all levels within the organization and create a culture that engages and energizes employees.

Emerging Leader of the Year

The recipient is an individual with less than ten years of industry experience, an innovative thinker whose accomplishments has motivated their peers, and has demonstrated their dedication to the organization and the electricity industry.

Nomination Criteria

When judging this category, key accomplishments and attributes will be considered, including:

• Why this nominee deserves to be recognized as an emerging leader in the Canadian electricity workforce.
• Demonstrated exceptional initiative and commitment to the principles of the organization.
• Successful leadership of people to achieve organizational goals.
• Formulation and implementation of innovative, pioneering ideas that contribute to the organization’s success.

HR Innovator

The recipient is an individual or team who has displayed a high degree of innovation and creativity in the design and implementation of their HR initiatives  and can demonstrate, anticipate or derive business value from it. It can be a one-time initiative focused on one aspect of an HR plan, or an ongoing initiative that is unique or industry leading. Whether it is a new technology, or new idea, we want to learn about it.

Employers must have their head office or principal place of business in Canada’s electricity workforce to be eligible. Candidate organizations may be nominated by anyone active within the individual’s organization or Canada’s electricity workforce at large. Employers of any size may apply, whether private or public sector.

Nomination Criteria

When judging this category, key accomplishments and attributes will be considered, including:

• Why this nominee deserves to be recognized as the top innovator in HR practices. Please provide specific examples of a HR process or program/system(s) designed and implemented within the past three years that required significant change management and is expected to contribute to the workforce supply needs of the organization.
• Innovation of approach to addressing HR issues such as recruiting and retention, talent management, succession planning, HR technology or other forward thinking people strategies. Program must be no more than three (3) years old.
• Demonstrated success.

Workplace Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion

New this year!

Two (2) awards will be awarded in this category – one for small to medium sized organizations (between 1 and 499 employees) and one for large organizations (over 500 employees). Please indicate which category you wish to be considered for on your submission form.

The recipient is an individual or team who champions diversity, equity, and inclusion, is a role model for developing and cultivating diversity strategies in their organization and communicates the rationale for these strategies to employees.

This award category examines a range of diversity initiatives, including:

• Women;
• Indigenous peoples;
• Members of visible minorities;
• Persons with disabilities
• Sexual orientation
• Other diverse groups

Nomination Criteria

When judging this category, key accomplishments and attributes will be considered, including:

• Leadership in championing aspects of diversity and inclusion within their organization.
• Recruitment or retention strategies or campaigns that are being used by the nominated organization to engage diverse and under-represented groups.
• Internal communications and education campaigns and/or programs that promote diversity in the workplace.
• Policies supporting equal opportunities and how they are employed.

Workplace Culture Innovator

New this year!

Two (2) awards will be awarded in this category – one for small to medium sized organizations (between 1 and 499 employees) and one for large organizations (over 500 employees). Please indicate which category you wish to be considered for on your submission form.

In an ever-changing work environment corporate culture counts, driving performance, values, beliefs, and behaviours. The recipient is an individual or team that demonstrates a strong commitment to building and promoting a healthy, inclusive, and positive work environment for all employees.

Employers must have their head office or principal place of business in Canada’s electricity workforce to be eligible. Candidate organizations may be nominated by anyone active within the individual’s organization or Canada’s electricity workforce at large. Private and Public Sector Employers of any size may apply.

Nomination Criteria

When judging this category, key accomplishments and attributes will be considered, including:

• Why this nominee deserves to be recognized as for their work in building organizational culture. Please provide specific examples of the policies, procedures and practices that support a strong culture e.g., employee engagement, employee recognition, leadership, people development, diversity, equity and inclusion, corporate social responsibility etc.
• Innovation of approach to developing a workplace environment that goes beyond a written policy or workspace – provide examples to support your case, both qualitative and/or quantitative.
• Vision and leadership – the role of leadership in setting the purpose, mission, vision, and values of the organization.
• Key methods of communication/listening used to support culture throughout the organization.
• How and when you measure and assess your culture, how it has impacted performance, and how you action feedback.