2024 HSPC Awards of Excellence
From coast to coast to coast, our members have been hard at work this year contributing to the advancement of their profession and to Health and Safety Professionals Canada (HSPC; formerly known as CSSE, the Canadian Society of Safety Engineering). Members have made contributions in many ways, from going above and beyond to keep their workplaces safe, to promoting excellence in their field, to contributing to HSPC in a leadership role or volunteering in their communities.
The HSPC Awards of Excellence recognize and celebrate excellence in health and safety, whether for a special project, an outstanding achievement, or a lifelong commitment to the betterment of the health and safety profession.
Every HSPC member knows someone who deserves to be recognized—a colleague, friend, mentor, or an individual in the safety community who stands out above the rest.
The nomination process opens March 13, 2024, and all nominations need to be submitted by the closing date of April 30, 2024. The winners will be officially announced during the HSPC 2024 professional development conference in Edmonton, Alberta, which runs from July 14–17.
Awards Working Group Call for Volunteers
If you are interested in being involved in the Awards Working Group, please apply by email by March 31, 2024. The application must include your name, contact information, and relevant skills/experience. Send it to [email protected], attention Tamara.
Open Award Categories
All HSPC members can submit nominations for the award categories listed below.
Clicking on the title of each award will take you to the nomination form for that award.
This award is given to an HSPC member who has made a sustained commitment to excellence in the field of occupational health and safety (OHS) in their workplace and/or community.
Details about the following criteria, including supporting documentation, are required.
Profile:
- Nominators must provide details on the nominee’s professional career, including how long they have worked in the OHS industry, how they have demonstrated a prominent and sustained commitment to excellence in OHS, and how they have achieved a high profile in the OHS community.
- Submitted evidence must include the nominee’s professional education, designations, and/or degrees, as well as evidence of involvement in continuing education initiatives.
Professional accomplishments:
- Nominators must provide information on how nominees have fostered public understanding of, interest in, and support for health and safety—for example, innovation in program, project, or policy development. Details on awards received and/or recognition achieved by the nominees must also be included. Volunteer activities should also be highlighted, including involvement in non-HSPC work, such as committee work with other organizations, public speaking experience, or other volunteer activities.
Leadership:
- Nominators should provide convincing evidence of how the nominee fosters a supportive and collegial team environment, including how they motivate and inspire others.
- Leadership contributions by the nominee could include spearheading a major industry conference, making a significant editorial contribution, or establishing a new and successful business area or program in their workplace or volunteer organization.
- Both workplace and community involvement should be highlighted.
Prize:
- Free entry to the 2025 professional development conference (PDC)
- HSPC awards trophy
This award is given to a member who inspires and engages their peers, has helped drive change in OHS throughout their career, and has contributed to HSPC, their community, and the OHS profession. The nominee must have been an HSPC member for at least 20 years to be eligible for this award.
Details about the following criteria, including supporting documentation, are required.
Profile:
- Nominators must provide details on the nominee’s professional career, including how long they have worked in the OHS industry, how they have demonstrated a prominent and sustained commitment to excellence in OHS, and how they have achieved a high profile in the OHS community.
- Submitted evidence must include information about the nominee’s professional education, designations, and/or degrees, as well as evidence of involvement in continued education initiatives.
Professional accomplishments:
- Nominators must provide information on how nominees have fostered public understanding of, interest in, and support for health and safety—e.g., innovations in program, project, or policy development. Details on awards won and/or recognition achieved must also be included.
- Volunteer activities should be highlighted, including involvement in non-HSPC work such as committee work with other organizations, public speaking experience, or other volunteer activities.
Leadership:
- Nominators should include convincing evidence of how the nominee fosters a supportive and collegial team environment, including through motivating and inspiring others (e.g., spearheading a major industry conference, making a significant editorial contribution, or establishing a new and successful business area or program in their workplace or volunteer organization).
- Evidence submitted should include both work and community involvement.
Prize:
- Lifetime membership in HSPC
- HSPC awards trophy
This award provides an opportunity for new safety professionals to be recognized for their professional accomplishments. It is given to an individual who has demonstrated a sustained commitment to excellence in the OHS industry as a new OHS professional. Nominees must have a minimum of two years but no more than five years of OHS work experience,
Details about the following criteria, including supporting documentation, are required.
Profile:
- Nominators must provide details about the nominee’s contribution to the OHS industry, including how they achieved and sustained a commitment to excellence, set the standard for other new OHS professionals, were an inspiration to others, achieved academic excellence, and made a commitment to continuing education.
Professional accomplishments:
- Nominators must provide details about activities by the nominee that promote public understanding of, interest in, and support for health and safety, including volunteer activities, both within and outside of HSPC (e.g., committee work, public speaking); awards or recognition received (for, e.g., innovations in program, project, or policy development); and ways in which the nominee motivates or inspires others.
Leadership:
- Nominators must provide details about how the nominee leads by example and maintains high standards, including through the creation of an innovation or initiative that contributes to safety sustainability; demonstrated leadership within the workplace and the wider OHS community (e.g., through spearheading a major conference, making a significant editorial contribution, or establishing new program at their workplace or another organization); leadership activities within HSPC; and the fostering of a supportive and collegial team environment.
Prize
- Free registration to an HSPC course that counts toward the nominee’s Certified Health and Safety Consultant (CHSC) designation
- HSPC awards trophy
The Distinguished Volunteer Award recognizes individuals who have made sustained contributions to HSPC, demonstrated leadership within the organization, and gone “above and beyond” for the betterment of HSPC and its members.
Details about the following criteria, including supporting documentation, are required.
Profile:
- Nominators must provide details about the positions the nominee has held with HSPC (including how long they held each position), how long they have been an HSPC member, and any relevant higher and/or continuing education courses completed and designations or certifications earned.
Professional accomplishments:
- Nominators must provide details about activities by the nominee that promote public understanding of, interest in, and support for health and safety, including volunteer activities, both within and outside of HSPC (e.g., committee work, public speaking); awards or recognition received (for, e.g., innovations in program, project, or policy development); and ways in which the nominee motivates or inspires others.
Sustained contributions to HSPC goals and objectives:
- Nominators must highlight, in a 500-word (minimum) description, why the nominee deserves to be recognized based on the contributions they have made to furthering the aims of HSPC (e.g., connecting with regional chapters, members, and prospective members; defining the OHS profession; taking part in professional development opportunities; being the “voice” of the profession in the workplace, at HSPC, and in the community; being an OHS leader; and acting as a research and information source).
Leadership:
- Nominators should provide convincing evidence of how the nominee fosters a supportive and collegial team environment, including how they motivate and inspire others.
- Leadership contributions by the nominee could include spearheading a major industry conference, making a significant editorial contribution, or establishing a new and successful business area or program in their workplace or volunteer organization.
- Both workplace and community involvement should be highlighted.
Prize:
- Free entry to the 2025 PDC
- HSPC awards trophy