Feb. 21, 2025, Toronto, ON – Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) celebrated the winners of its 12th Annual Awards of Excellence event in Toronto on Feb. 20, 2025. This prestigious event brought together industry stakeholders from across the nation to honor the remarkable achievements of innovative leaders within Canada’s electricity sector.
“Our mission is to strengthen the Canadian electricity workforce by promoting safety, innovation, and inclusivity,” says Michelle Branigan, CEO of EHRC. “The Awards of Excellence allow us to celebrate those making a significant and positive impact in our industry.”
Award of Excellence recipients
Clockwise from left: Jessie Spring, Dustin Willett, Lenore Robson, Kerry Penner, Hydro Ottawa w/ EHRC’s Michelle Branigan
A highlight of the annual awards is the name of the Leader of the Year, a title honouring an individual who has performed exceptionally and who inspires professionals across the country.
This year, Jesse Spring, President & CEO of Primary Engineering and Construction, was honoured with the Leader of the Year award for his outstanding leadership and dedication to fostering an inclusive, values-driven work culture.
When presenting the Award, Kevin Weaver, EHRC Vice Chair and President of Georgian College, said, “Jesse is celebrated today for his compassionate leadership and unwavering support of the Primary team. His genuine care and dedication have earned him immense respect and admiration, and his empowering and transformative approach has made a lasting impact on both the organization and its communities.”
The winners in other categories, serving as inspirations to colleagues nationwide, are:
- Emerging Leader of the Year – Dustin Willett, Chief Operating Officer, Exactus Energy
- Workplace Culture Innovator – Lenore Robson, Vice-President, People, Culture & Strategic Policy, Ontario Energy Board
- HR Innovator – Hydro Ottawa’s Learning and Development Team
- Workplace DEI Champion – Kerry Penner, Vice-President, Enterprise Advancement, OEC
Opportunities and Challenges of the electricity labour market
Each year, this event highlights distinguished experts who share insights on key industry priorities. This year’s theme, ‘Lighting the Path,’ focused on workforce capacity in rural and remote Indigenous communities for low-carbon energy transitions. Max Skudra from Mokwateh presented the findings from this latest EHRC report, emphasizing a sustainable and inclusive energy future aligned with traditional Indigenous values. EHRC extends its gratitude to the Indigenous communities for their valuable counsel during this research.
The distinguished panel included JP Gladu, Founder and Principal, Mokwateh (Moderator); Jordan Peterson, President & CEO, Affinity North; Jeremy Rhodes, Executive Director, Elephant Thoughts; and Valerie Vanderwyk, Executive Director, Aboriginal Apprenticeship Board of Ontario (AABO). The panel also discussed youth education initiatives, and attendees then had the opportunity to engage with the Great Canadian Electricity Map.
About EHRC
Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) is Canada’s leading provider of trusted HR research intelligence for our sector. Our primary role is to strengthen the ability of the Canadian electricity industry to meet current and future workforce needs. EHRC develops the resources that inspire our next generation and is the steward of forward-thinking initiatives that drive positive change as together we build Canada’s low carbon economy. Our vision is to build a world-class electricity workforce. We will achieve this by growing our Canadian electricity labour force to be safety-focused, highly skilled and inclusive.
Media Contact
Ryan Baan (he/him)
Marketing and Communications Manager
baan@ehrc.ca
613-235-5540, ext. 255