In a virtual event on Thursday, the most prestigious awards in Canadian occupational health and safety were unveiled. The Canada’s Safest Employers Awards (CSEAs) honour exceptional health and safety practitioners and businesses for their accomplishments, leadership, and inventiveness.
The 14th annual event, which celebrated the winners in 20 different categories, drew over 650 guests to the downtown Toronto Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex.
Arisa Cox, a celebrity host and executive producer of the popular reality television program Big Brother Canada, presided over the star-studded event.
Agnes Wietrzynski, CEO of QM Environmental, received the WSPS Award for CEO of the Year, which was one of the evening’s major highlights. “We discuss safety practically every day, and it’s reflected in all of our national KPIs. Thus, I believe it to be the primary motivator for our business,” Wietrzynski remarked upon collecting the esteemed honor.
She wasn’t the only female winner of the evening’s major prizes. The BGIS Award for Safety Leader of the Year was given to Adelia Marchese, the leader of Wolseley Canada’s health, safety, and environment department.
She said, “I’m still a little bit in shock,” as she accepted the honor. “I love to share that safety is not a priority. This kind of shocks people, but it’s actually a core value because our values don’t change with priorities that come and go.”
Full list of winners
Canada’s Safest New Employer
Top Grade Energy Services
The Minerva Award for Rising Star of the Year
Aliakar Eslamibaladeh – Toronto Metropolitan University
Canada’s Safest Chemistry Employer
Greenfield Global
The Mark’s Commercial Award for Most Innovative Use of Safety Technology
EnergySolutions Canada
Canada’s Safest Mining & Natural Resources Employer
Dufferin Aggregates
The MSA Safety Award for Canada’s Safest Oil & Gas Employer
Pronghorn Controls
Best Environment Management Program
City of Calgary – Green Line
Canada’s Safest Utilities and Electrical Employer
Black & McDonald Ltd.
The WSPS Award for CEO of the Year
Agnes Wietrzynski – QM Environmental
The SafeStart Award for Canada’s Safest Employer for Young Workers
City of Barrie
Canada’s Safest Employer in Services Sector
Compass Group Canada
Canada’s Safest Construction Employer
Modern Niagara
Canada’s Safest Logistics and Supply Chain Employer
NexGen Transportation Ltd.
The Avetta Award for Canada’s Safest Manufacturing Employer
Burnbrae Farms Ltd.
Best Safety Industry Provider
SafeStart
Canada’s Safest Public Sector/Non-Profit Employer
The Calgary Airport Authority
The DriverCheck Award for Canada’s Safest Public Transportation Employer
Metrolinx
The BGIS Award for Safety Leader of the Year
Adelia Marchese – Wolseley Canada
The CloudMD Award for Best Wellness Program
Gibson Energy Inc.
The WSIB Award for Canada’s Best Health & Safety Culture
4Refuel