Industry’s champions celebrated at glam gala recognizing HR’s greatest achievements
HR’s champions have celebrated a triumphant year, with the fourth annual HR Awards honouring the industry’s best and brightest stars.
More than 600 attendees toasted success at a glitzy gala at the Liberty Grand, hosted by TV personality Ben Mulroney, where the winners of 20 awards were revealed.
The glamorous event was produced by Key Media, the publisher of HRD Canada.
The panel of judges described making “extremely difficult” decisions to choose winners from hundreds of nominations, after receiving submissions from organizations and HR professionals across Canada.
Tangerine’s Cheryl Stargratt won the KPMG in Canada Award For Canadian HR Leader of the Year, for demonstrating outstanding leadership in the HR field. Stargratt was recognized for her leadership role during the bank’s significant organizational change, and her development and execution of its transformational people strategy.
RBC’s longtime global chief human resources officer Zabeen Hirji was recognized with the Ivey Business School Award For Lifetime Achievement in the HR Industry. Throughout four decades at RBC, Hirji has been a passionate ambassador for diversity and women in leadership.
Christina Juneja of the Business Development Bank of Canada won the ADP Canada Award For Canadian HR Rising Star of the Year. Juneja’s recent achievements include creating a pioneering event for parents – including those on parental leave, and expectant mums and dads – and their kids to connect, exchange tips, and receive resource kits containing toys, books and advice, including about their return to work.
The Aird & Berlis LLP Award for Canadian HR Champion, CEO Of The Year went to Karim Mamdani of Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences, for his dedication to employee engagement.
Praised by staff for always having his door open, Mamdani backed initiatives asking staff to submit their ideas for improving the centre’s operations, recognizing everyday heroes at work, and holding CEO lunches with staff, resulting in a leap in engagement scores at the organization.
Ipsos Limited Partnership won the Accompass Award for HR Team of the Year, 500 Employees or More in Canada, while Pelmorex was awarded the HR Tech Award for HR Team of the Year, Fewer Than 500 Employees in Canada.
Ultimate Software took home the HRD Magazine Readers Choice Award for Best Industry Service Provider for its cloud-based human capital management solutions, which are used by 3700 customers with employees in 160 countries.
FULL LIST OF WINNERS:
The Globoforce Award for Best Reward & Recognition Strategy
O2E Brands
The HRD Magazine Readers Choice Award for Best Industry Service Provider
Ultimate Software
The Award for Excellence in Diversity & Inclusion
Miller Thomson LLP
The Award for Best HR Communication Strategy
McDonald’s Canada
The Xref Award for Most Innovative Use of HR Technology
JYSK
The Ultimate Software Award for Best Workplace Culture
MD Financial Management Inc.
The TalentEgg Award for Best Employer Branding
Mattamy Homes
The Beyond Boardrooms Award for Best Employee Engagement Strategy
Niagara Casinos
The ADP Canada Award for Canadian HR Rising Star of the Year
Christina Juneja, Business Development Bank of Canada
The Venngo Award of Excellence for Financial, Physical & Mental Wellness
CAA Club Group (CCG)
The Seneca Award for Best Learning & Development Strategy
ADP
The University of Waterloo Award for Next Generation Employment Innovation of the Year
Hydro Ottawa
The Ivey Business School Award for Lifetime Achievement in the HR Industry
Zabeen Hirji, Royal Bank of Canada
The Award for External HR Consultancy of the Year
Clear HR Consulting
The HR Tech Award for HR Team of the Year, Fewer Than 500 Employees in Canada
Pelmorex Media
The Feldman Daxon Partners Award for Best Talent Management Strategy
LoyaltyOne
The MaxSys Staffing & Consulting Award for Most Effective Recruitment Strategy
J&M Group Inc.
The Aird & Berlis LLP Award for Canadian HR Champion, CEO of the Year
Karim Mamdani, Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
The Accompass Award for HR Team of the Year, 500 Employees or More in Canada
Ipsos Limited Partnership
The KPMG in Canada Award for Canadian HR Leader of the Year
Cheryl Stargratt, Tangerine
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