Congratulations to all of the 2012 award nominees and recipients.

Download the Awards Program for details on the Celebrating Excellence dinner and to view the list of the new 2011 CHRPs.
 

Rising Star Award

Sheena Ohnysty, CHRP
Recruitment Coordinator
City of St. Albert

Sheena's role includes reviewing and providing recommendation for changes to all HR policies and programs. As the organizational needs have changed, Sheena has helped her team identify gaps in existing policies and procedures and she has provided input for change that has resulted in a clearer understanding of organizational expectations. Sheena participates in the City's Annual Community Trade Fair Event to showcase career and employment opportunities within the City, sits on the social club committee, and volunteers her time at the annual Corporate Challenge event. 

Award of Excellence - Individual

Tamara Nelson, CHRP
Manager, Human Resources & Recruitment
Summit Liability Solutions Inc.

In her role, Tamara has used Social Networking to support recruitment, and has successfully widened the net that has attracted good people to Summit Liability Solutions.

Tamara’s management, determination, and commitment to improving processes have eliminated deficiencies within the company. She also sits on the Petroleum Services Association Human Resources Standing Committee, is a SAIT Engineering Technology Curriculum Development Committee member and currently mentors three HR professionals in training. At Summit, she is respected and has demonstrated a true interest in the betterment of each individual within the framework of the corporation.

Award of Excellence - Team

West Edmonton Mall
Human Resources

The Human Resources department at West Edmonton Mall has introduced cost savings initiatives in line with the corporate strategic goals and organizational needs.  HR functions have been consolidated to focus on core functions such as Staffing and Training and Development. A cost minimizing strategy incorporating the Human Resources Department as a strategic partner has resulted in allocating budget increase of 100% to Human Resources from 2005 budget. The team is also working with Senior Management to reorganize and/or amalgamate departments to increase efficiency and effectiveness. Effective HR deployment practices have resulted in more efficient utilization of available manpower. 

The team is also revitalizing their involvement in the Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) through local high schools to supply apprentices into trades positions. This includes developing relationships with Work Experience/Career Counselors at the High School level.

Distinguished Career Award

Michael Ford, CHRP
Partner
McCarthy Tetrault LLP

Michael Ford is a partner with McCarthy Tetrault and counsels clients in the energy, manufacturing, warehousing, communications, retail, financial, transportation and high-tech industries, as well as major public sector institutions in the health and education fields.

He is a past President of the Human Resources Institute of Alberta and has been a sessional Instructor of the University of Lethbridge, Faculty of Management (Labour Relations). He is a member of the Canadian Industrial Relations Association, the Canadian Pensions and Benefits Institute, the Human Resources Committee of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce.

Community Champion Award

Bonnie Pascall
Principal
Pascall Management Services Inc

Bonnie is the President of Pascall Management Services Inc. and volunteer Board member for Hospice Calgary. Bonnie has volunteered her time with Hospice Calgary for over 12 years and has served as a Foundation Board member, Society Board member, and as Board Human Resources Committee Chair. During this time, Bonnie has been ‘the mainstay’ for Hospice Calgary, working to develop the capacity for HR management and stabilize the agency when facing immediate employee issues.  She has led the entire organization in the creation of an internal HR infrastructure.  Hospice Calgary’s ability to provide excellent service to the dying and bereaved in the community is directly tied to its greatest resource - its staff.  Bonnie has helped to change the culture at Hospice Calgary from one that supports staff out of ‘good intentions’ to one that develops staff through planned, structured processes - delivered in a caring environment.

Fellow CHRP (FCHRP) Award

Trevor Axworthy, FCHRP
Principal
The Osborne Group - Western Region

Trevor has generously contributed to the broader communities in which he lives through his involvement with Rotary International, where he sits on the Executive Interchange Committee as well as the World Service Committee. Trevor's involvement with the Scarboro United Church includes volunteering with the Inn from the Cold project, Board Chair as well as Chair of the Joint Search Committees to conduct national searches for the Senior Minister for the Church. Most recently, Trevor's role with the Mustard Seed Street Ministry Society saw Trevor contribute strategically to policy, program and organization-wide strategy development. He provided key counsel to the organization and "gave back" doubly by substantially reducing his consulting fees while on this assignment. 

Trevor also served for a number of years (2002-2008) as a Member of the Canada Pension Plan/Old Age Pension Review Tribunal Commission - representing the province of Alberta. The Commission heard appeals under the Canada Pension Plan/Old Age Security Acts.

He was an early volunteer with the HRIA and served on the National Standards Implementation Committee. He would go on to become a founding Director of CCHRA, where he was recognized for his earlier work on advancing the concept of National Standards and professional HR practice in Canada.
Trevor was also a founding executive member of HRIA and served as one of the earliest Presidents. Since that time, Trevor has been a staunch supporter of the mission, goals and objectives of the HRIA.