Congrats to the HR Excellence Awards 2020 Winners!
December 10, 2020
CPHR Manitoba’s HR Excellence Awards is an event that celebrates the successes, achievements and impacts of HR in Manitoba and all the individuals and employers who are advancing the human resources profession.
For the past 18 years and counting, CPHR Manitoba members and businesses have gathered to hear the stories of all the innovative individuals and teams who have risen to the occasion and made a lasting impact to their workplaces.
Colleen Coates, Chair of CPHR Manitoba, and Michelle Whyard, Chair of the Awards Gala Nominations Committee, opened the event to recognize, support and celebrate all of CPHR Manitoba’s members and organizations who were nominated.
“When we first postponed this event, we were hopeful to eventually be able to host an in-person celebration,” said Coates. It became increasingly apparent that we may not be able to do so in the near future, so we made the difficult decision to host the Gala virtually. Even though we are not able to gather together, we are excited to be hosting this virtual event to recognize, support and celebrate our members that have made a significant achievement in their careers and organizations that have made an impact in their workplaces over the past year and beyond.”
Whyard then placed emphasis on the role HR has played throughout the ongoing pandemic, stating, “No matter the industry, human resources professionals are acknowledged for their expertise and excellence. This year has been unlike any other for us, but HR professionals continue to work tirelessly to help keep employees safe and feel confident about organizational protocols. It’s been great to see our community come together and grow stronger as we continue to face these challenges.”
Each nominee’s story painted a vivid picture of their dedication to the profession and captured the innovation within the workplace.
The Professional Excellence Awards recognize individuals who have applied their expertise to the objectives of their organization and the people they support.
Ron Gauthier, CEO of CPHR Manitoba, delivered the first award. A $1,000 scholarship for a student in a Degree Program was awarded to Bilal Ansari for his outstanding portfolio of academic, leadership, extra-curricular and human resource activities.
The Spark Award – sponsored by The University of Manitoba Extended Education – was presented to Sonia Sharma, CPHR Candidate, Manager, Human Resources at Western Glove Works who was recognized for sparking change in her organization, taking ownership and responsibility, in ways beyond her years.
The Momentum Award – sponsored by Manitoba Blue Cross – was presented to Wendy Barlishen, CPHR, Manager, Human Resources & Occupational Health and Safety at St. Boniface Hospital for establishing her expertise and leadership, becoming a trusted resource to her colleagues and moving long term priorities forward.
The Leadership Award – was presented to Beth Millard-Hales, CPHR, Vice President, Human Resources for The North West Company for being an executive level HR Professional who is a trusted resource to organizational leaders, advancing corporate objectives, setting policy and supporting sound governance.
The Visionary Award recognizes executives who endorse, support or champion the HR function within their organization and is intended for individuals working in non-HR positions. This year we have two very deserving recipients:
- Kevin Gill, President of Staffmax Staffing & Recruiting
- Judy Murphy, CPHR, President & CEO or Safety Services Manitoba
The Legacy Award recognizes HR Professionals who have personified community and corporate leadership, advanced the HR profession and inspired others toward success through their lived example. This year’s recipient is John Stott, CPHR-Retired, who continues to be a strong advocate for HR and supports workplaces with competency-based mentorship programs philanthropically through his company stottHR.
The Business Excellence Awards recognize businesses that have harnessed the power of HR to advance their business goals.
The Ascent Award – sponsored by ACHIEVE Centre for Leadership – was presented to the Wawanesa Mutual Insurance Company for their Leadership Development Program, which helps to ensure leaders are better equipped to succeed in their roles.
The Impact Award – sponsored by People First HR Services – was presented to Payworks Inc.
for this year’s award for making work more meaningful and engaging. Their initiative ‘The Purpose Project’ was created to enhance a thriving organizational culture as the company grew while continuing to give back to the community.
The Unity Award – sponsored by Roquette Canada – was presented to The North West Company for their Cultural Awareness and Understanding program to help foster authentic relationships with the Indigenous communities in which the stores are located.
The Vitality Award – sponsored by Safety Services Manitoba – was presented to Richardson International Ltd. for their Mental Health Strategy, which is focused on reducing the stigma associated with mental health and help leaders and employees feel more comfortable discussing mental health.
Emcee, Chrissy Troy, concluded the ceremony of events with a personal message to all nominees. “Congratulations to all of the nominees and award recipients. When you and your team look back on this year, please take time to acknowledge your accomplishments – 2020 was truly your year to shine.”
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