Annual awards honour Canada's top HR innovators driving change in their organizations
HRD Canada has just unveiled its list of Top HR Innovators in Canada and the Most Innovative HR Teams 2025, spotlighting organizations that are radically reshaping HR with trailblazing strategies in recruitment, wellness, and talent management.
Based on HRD Canada’s Innovative HR Teams 2025 report, these awards celebrate HR teams that break traditional molds and tackle modern workplace challenges—from hybrid work models to robust work-life balance initiatives.
The report, powered by reader submissions and rigorous benchmarking of 2024’s initiatives, zeroes in on advanced tech tools for recruitment and performance management, inventive employee engagement programs, and pioneering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategies. Nearly a quarter of nominees redefined HR priorities using cutting-edge technology, while just under one-fifth reinvented their DEI programs.
Located on the traditional and ancestral lands of the kʷikʷəƛ̓ əm (Kwikwetlem), the City of Coquitlam is recognized for its dynamic HR team. With over 1,000 employees across varied roles, the City has rolled out a forward-thinking talent strategy and an EDI recruitment and retention action plan that modernizes HR policies and widens hiring pipelines.
"Our HR team actively innovates and pivots to support the breadth of the city's strategic priorities,” says Corporate Services General Manager Nikki Caulfield.
“Including community safety, environmental sustainability, financial excellence and operational efficiency, inclusion, and social cohesion."
In addition to its forward-thinking talent strategy, the City of Coquitlam’s HR team continually refines its practices to stay ahead of the curve.
By embracing a holistic approach that integrates cutting-edge recruitment tools with continuous professional development, the team not only attracts top talent but also fosters an environment where employees can thrive; innovative training modules, data-driven performance metrics, and targeted leadership development programs are all part of their dynamic HR framework.
"The action plan is about intention: understanding that our practices need a lens of future proofing our organization's talent needs, accessibility, and consideration for emerging technologies,” Caulfield adds.
“It led to tools that have helped hiring managers widen our talent pipelines, and ensure our workforce reflects and supports the community we serve."
This agile strategy ensures that the City remains responsive to changing workforce needs while driving greater employee engagement and satisfaction.
Info-Tech Research Group, a global titan in IT research and advisory services, is turning HR on its head with a data-driven approach.
Serving more than 30,000 professionals worldwide, Info-Tech’s HR division—McLean & Company—empowers its workforce with advanced HR systems, automated workflows, and targeted professional development initiatives.
Their integration of smart technology has streamlined operations and redefined the employee experience, setting a new standard for HR efficiency and innovation. As Rachel Hardman, Director of HR Operations explains, it has also presented challenges.
"You don't have much free time in HR, so balancing day-to-day tasks with building this system was tough,” Hardman says.
“We also faced system limitations within UKG, our HRMS system. People Assist is a module within UKG, so we had to navigate how the modules interacted and fit our processes to the system's capabilities. Transitioning from manual, Word-based processes to an automated system required problemsolving and creativity: it felt like putting together a puzzle."
Symcor is a standout in digital transformation, delivering innovative solutions in payment processing, customer communications, fraud detection, and open banking services.
With a sharp focus on continuous learning and adaptability, Symcor integrates advanced digital tools to fine-tune HR functions, arming its workforce to tackle today’s digital challenges head-on, perfectly blending human insight with technological prowess.
Together, these winners prove that bold, intentional HR practices not only drive measurable results but also redefine the future of work. For a deeper dive into these groundbreaking initiatives and more top innovators in Canada’s HR sector, check out the full HRD Canada report.
