Award categories
The 14th Annual Awards of Excellence will be presented in the following categories:
Awards of Excellence
Recognizing the extraordinary achievements of individuals and organizations empowering Canada's electricity workforce.
Program Status
- Status
- Active
- Actions
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- Start Date
- July 28, 2026
- End Date
- October 1, 2026
- Notes
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Nominations are now open!
About the awards
The Awards of Excellence recognize the outstanding accomplishments of employees, leaders and teams making a positive and tangible impact in the workplace, while helping to build a highly skilled workforce in the electricity industry.
Since 2013, the awards have celebrated the people who are shaping Canada’s electricity workforce.
Nominations
Individuals and organizations looking to recognize an individual leader, team or organization making a meaningful difference can nominate them today for an Award of Excellence.
Nominations are received online and are evaluated by EHRC’s nomination review committee.
Important dates
- Nominations open: July 28, 2026
- Nominations close: Oct. 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET
- Finalists announced: November 2026
- Recipients announced: Feb. 17, 2027 at EHRC’s Annual Conference & Awards of Excellence in Toronto, ON.
EHRC's Annual Conference & Awards of Excellence
Illuminate 2027
This annual gathering shines a spotlight on the people and projects driving progress and innovation. It brings together leaders from employers, industry and labour organizations, academic institutions and policymakers to connect, collaborate and celebrate excellence.
Feb. 17, 2027
8–3 PM
Toronto, ON
Stay tuned! Registration opens in September 2026.
Eligibility criteria
- A nominator may be anyone active within the candidate’s organization or Canada’s electricity workforce at large.
- An individual nominee must be employed in Canada, within an organization operating in Canada’s electricity sector.
- An organizational nominee must operate within Canada’s electricity sector and have their head office or principal place of business in Canada.
- Nominations are accepted for private and public sector employers of any size.
- Small to midsized enterprises (SMEs) are categorized as those with 1 to 499 employees; large organizations are categorized as those with 500 or more employees.
- Past recipients are not eligible to receive the same award a second time, but may be nominated for other award categories.
- Nominees who were not selected as recipients in a previous year may be nominated again without restriction.
- The nominee must be present to accept the award at EHRC’s Annual Conference and Awards of Excellence on Feb. 17, 2027, in Toronto, ON.
Nomination criteria
Leader of the Year
The nominee demonstrates:
- Outstanding leadership and vision in the workplace. They create standards of excellence and set an example for others to follow. They motivate and enable others through a spirit of collaboration, trust and recognition of individual and team contributions. They inspire a shared vision by creating an ideal and unique image of what the organization can become.
- Operational success from the effective implementation of bold, visionary and innovative people strategies that are instrumental in developing organizational excellence and improved organizational productivity.
- Innovative change and effectiveness in generating new ideas or processes. They invite challenge and encourage colleagues and staff to think boldly to implement new ways of doing business.
- Exemplary commitment to providing opportunities for staff at all levels within the organization. They create a culture that engages and energizes employees.
Emerging Leader of the Year
The nominee demonstrates:
- Rapid growth and impact within their role, taking on responsibilities or leading initiatives beyond what would typically be expected at their career stage.
- Successful leadership and empowerment of others to achieve organizational goals, whether through formal management, project leadership or informal influence among peers.
- Creation and implementation of innovative ideas or approaches that have delivered a measurable benefit to their team, department or organization.
- Active engagement in the electricity sector beyond their immediate role, such as mentoring colleagues, industry association involvement or professional development initiatives.
Excellence in HR Innovation
The nominee demonstrates:
- Innovative approaches to addressing HR issues such as recruiting and retention, talent management, succession planning, HR technology or other forward-thinking people strategies.
- Successful change management through the implementation of specific HR processes, programs, systems, technologies or new ideas that are expected to positively contribute to the workforce supply needs of the organization. The program or approach must be implemented within the last three years.
Excellence in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
This award category examines a range of diversity initiatives that engage and empower women, Indigenous peoples, members of visible minorities, newcomers, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons and other diverse groups.
The nominee demonstrates:
- Leadership in championing aspects of diversity, equity and inclusion within their organization.
- Successful recruitment or retention strategies or campaigns that engage diverse and under-represented groups.
- Effective internal communications and education campaigns or programs that promote diversity in the workplace.
- Development and implementation of meaningful policies that support equal opportunities for all employees.
Excellence in Workplace Culture
The nominee demonstrates:
- Trailblazing initiatives and actions that build a strong organizational culture. They do this through employee engagement, employee recognition, people development, corporate social responsibility or promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion,
- Innovative approaches to developing a workplace environment that goes beyond a written policy or workspace.
- Visionary leadership in establishing, communicating and exemplifying the organization’s purpose, mission, vision and values.
- Key methods of communicating and listening that are used to support culture development throughout the organization.
- Unique approaches to assessing their organization’s culture, measuring its impact on performance and providing and actioning feedback.
Excellence in Youth Impact
The nominee demonstrates:
- Innovative programs, partnerships or initiatives that introduce youth to career opportunities within the electricity sector, such as mentorship programs, co-op placements, school outreach or hands-on learning experiences.
- Measurable impact in engaging young people from diverse backgrounds and communities, including efforts to reach underrepresented groups in STEM and skilled trades pathways.
- Successful collaboration with educational institutions, community organizations or industry partners to build awareness of electricity sector careers among students and young professionals.
- A demonstrated commitment to nurturing long-term interest in the sector, whether through early career support, sustained engagement programs or the creation of clear pathways from education into employment.
Excellence in Skilled Trades Impact
The nominee demonstrates:
- Exceptional commitment to supporting apprentices through mentorship, structured training or on-the-job development that helps them succeed and progress toward certification.
- Innovative approaches to apprenticeship recruitment, retention or completion, including partnerships with training institutions, unions or trade schools that strengthen the apprentice pipeline.
- Leadership in creating a supportive learning environment for apprentices, such as dedicated coaching, wellness supports or accommodations that help apprentices from diverse backgrounds thrive in the trades.
- Measurable success in advancing apprentices into fully qualified, skilled tradespeople, contributing to a sustainable trades workforce for the electricity sector.
Nomination form
Nominations close Oct. 1, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.