Meet the 2025 Safety Pinnacle Awards Gala Honourees—Leaders in safety excellence
Congratulations to the 2025 Safety Pinnacle and Excellence Award Winners
Business and safety leaders from across British Columbia joined the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC the evening of June 12 to celebrate the efforts and dedication of individuals and companies towards workplace safety.
At this year’s Safety Pinnacles Award Gala, more than 30 companies received awards celebrated for their leadership and commitment to workplace safety.
Above the laughter and conversation, honourees basked in the recognition from their peers.
In our eyes, you’re all winners.
THE 2025 Safety Pinnacle Award RECIPIENTS:
THE 2025 Safety excellence Award Winners:
2025 Safety Pinnacle Topaz Award Recipients
2025 Safety Pinnacle Sapphire Award Recipients
2025 Safety Pinnacle Emerald Award Recipients
2025 Safety Pinnacle Ruby Award Recipients
Any company can qualify for a Safety Pinnacle Award, take a look at the criteria to see how you can receive one next year.
2025 Safety Excellence Awards
The Safety Excellence Awards recognize the teamwork, dedication, and innovation of companies who take steps towards building a thriving safety cultures and work to keep their teams safe.
Winners for each of these Safety Excellence Awards are determined by an external panel of judges who evaluate each nomination on various criteria.
Thank you to all the nominees for sharing your stories and achievements. We look forward to seeing your nominations for next year’s Safety Excellence Awards!
Manufacturing Safety Innovator Award
The Manufacturing Safety Innovator Award recognizes a company for innovation in OHS management systems, health and safety training, wellness programs, and culture.
NCS International recognizes that safety is not just about policies—it’s about fostering a culture where every employee feels responsible for workplace safety. One way they achieve this is through their employee-led safety initiatives, where employees actively participate and lead weekly toolbox talk discussions on various safety topics. This bottom-up approach empowers workers and strengthens engagement.
The team at NCS International approaches workplace wellness proactively rather than reactively, focusing on creating an environment where employees feel safe, valued, and supported. By providing regular training and resources for both physical and psychological wellbeing, they ensure a respectful and inclusive work environment that reduces stress and improves morale.
Congratulations to 2025 winner NCS International (Abbotsford, BC) and finalists Donald’s Fine Foods (Richmond, BC) and West Coast Reduction Ltd. (Vancouver, BC).
Fantastic Four Risk Leader Award
The Fantastic Four – Risk Control Leader Award recognizes a company for implementing leading solutions in key manufacturing risk areas – and demonstrating leadership in integrating health and safety into their culture.
From engineering to PPE, Asco Aerospace implements different types of controls at a multiple levels to minimize and prevent slips, trips, and falls; musculoskeletal injuries, and machine related injuries. They have comprehensive training and are engaged in continuous improvement strategies that engage all workers.
Asco Aerospace leadership prioritizes safety in their planning and decision making, providing well defined health and safety policies for all their team members. They have built a strong safety culture based a commitment to continuous improvement and proactive risk management.
Congratulations to 2025 winner Asco Aerospace (Delta, BC) and finalists Agropur-Natrel and Fresh Products (Burnaby, BC) and Hansen Industries Ltd. (Richmond, BC).
Joint Health and Safety Committee Excellence Award
The JHSC Excellence Award recognizes a company’s safety committee for excellence beyond regulatory requirements—for cohesive teamwork that makes a positive impact on workplace culture.
The JHSC at Hansen Industries prides itself on visibly prioritizing health and safety by integrating it into their organizational goals and empowering their employees to communicate innovative solutions that contribute to a dynamic and evolving safety strategy.
Through improved safety performance and proactive hazard management, they have been able to reduce the number of workplaces injuries, accidents, and near misses. This has also resulted in decreased expenses related to medical claims, worker compensation, and equipment damage.
Hansen Industries’ JHSC helps foster a culture of continuous learning and adaptation, ensuring the organization stays ahead of emerging risks.
Congratulations to 2025 winner Hansen Industries (Richmond, BC) and finalists Islands West Produce (Victoria, BC) and Merit Kitchens (Surrey, BC).
Small Business People First Award
The Small Business People First Award—recognizes a small manufacturer that goes above and beyond to make a positive impact on workplace culture with demonstrated leadership.
EmkaoFoods’ safety program has a profound impact on both employee experience and workplace culture. By prioritizing health and safety, they have created an environment where employees feel valued, respected, and secure. This fosters trust and boosts morale, as team members know their well-being is at the forefront of their operations.
EmkaoFoods promotes a culture of accountability and collaboration, where everyone takes part in maintaining a safe workplace. Regular training, open communication, and proactive hazard mitigation empower employees to contribute to a safer environment and feel confident in their roles.
EmkaoFoods believes that a healthy and safe workplace is essential to delivering premium quality cocoa products while ensuring the happiness and satisfaction of their team.
Congratulations to 2025 winner EmkaoFoods (Richmond, BC) and finalists Mattress Recycling (Hope, BC) and Sheringham Distillerieis (Langford, BC).
Announcing new Safety Excellence Awards for 2026
Two new Safety Excellence Awards were announced at this year’s event. Nominations for these awards will be collected this fall, and these new awards will be part of the 2026 Safety Pinnacle Awards Gala program.
Culture of Courage Award
The Culture of Courage Award will recognize organizations that integrate psychological safety into their work environment.
Key factors for this award include:
- How is psychological safety integrated into their decision-making and values?
- How does psychological safety factor into the organization’s policies, onboarding, and performance management?
- What is the measurable impact that a proactive psychological safety strategy has made on the organization?
Maureen Shaw Safety Legacy Award
In honour of Maureen Shaw, this award was created to recognize emerging leaders in health and safety.
Individuals will be judged on their commitment, passion, and dedication to workplace health and safety.
Recipients of this award will also receive $2,500 to support professional development.
2025 Soaring Eagle Leadership Award
The Soaring Eagle Leadership Award recognizes an executive leader or business owner for exemplary and inspiring leadership that includes commitment to health and safety.
Our judges looked for strong influencers in health and safety. People who demonstrate a clear passion and commitment to ensuring their people, their peers, make it home safely at the end of the day.
Each of the nominees shone in their own way, making the deliberations of the judges that much more difficult.
All the nominees are very deserving candidates and the judges offer their sincere congratulations to them all. The judges would also like to thank all the nominees for their willingness to share in an open and honest way their vision, focus and experiences. The judging committee very much appreciate the trust this year’s nominees placed in the application and interview process.
Mark Burleigh,
President | Northside Industries Inc.
Mark was so excited to share his work that the judges found it hard to keep up!
Innovation, collaboration, education, and hands-on experience in his team and those who work from the ground up clearly matter to Mark. He shared with the judges that, “…when you demonstrate an actual passion and genuine care for safety, what you’re telling the people around you is that you genuinely care about them.” It was clear that this is his motivation.
Mark demonstrated tremendous leadership and advocacy in building a safety program not just at Northside Industries, but across the group of companies at Decisive Dividend.
2025 Apex Award
The Apex Award recognizes an individual in a member organization for exceptional commitment, passion, dedication, and action in support of health and safety.
This award shines a light on a health and safety advocate and champion for recognition. While this is an individual award, the performance of each organizations health and safety is taken into consideration. To protect the integrity of these awards, we rely on the experience and judgment of a highly experienced and qualified panel of third-party health and safety experts. The judges were rigorous and meticulous in their review.
Laura Spiers,
Health & Safety Specialist | West Coast Reduction Ltd.
For the judges, Laura rose to the top as the unanimous choice for this award. Enthusiastic, humble, dedicated, and clearly invested in the wellbeing of her peers, she exhibits the leadership in this field that all safety leaders should aspire to. Laura reminds us all that there is no proprietary information when it comes to safety. It should be shared. This world is her oyster.
According to her colleagues, every conversation with Laura includes humour, care, and safety. She is often sharing resources, tips, and knowledge in a way that resonates with her colleagues. Her genuine care helps her connect with others, allowing her to build strong relationships. They know that for Laura it isn’t about the rules, but it’s about ensuring that everyone is safe and taken care of at work.
2025 Academic Awards
2025 Daneen Skilling Scholarship
The Daneen Skilling Scholarship is an annual award created in honour of past board chair Daneen Skilling and awarded each year to a post-secondary student pursuing a career in health and safety.
Daneen is a passionate health and safety advocate and leader; and we are honoured to recognize a student in her name.
Congratulations, Kiana Bonamin!
Kiana is enrolled in UBC’s Masters of Science in Occupational and Environmental Hygiene and has a goal of becoming an occupational hygienist.
2025 Julie Cole Bursary
The loss of Julie Cole in 2019 left a hole in B.C.’s safety community. Julie was an external auditor for the Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC as well as a health and safety manager and trainer—she was a vital member of our safety community.
This annual bursary to honours Julie’s spirit, passion, and dedication to occupational health and safety.
Congratulations, Jacky Law!
Jacky is a student in BCIT’s Occupational Health and Safety Diploma program. Last fall, she participated in the inaugural Make It Safe NGen Youth Challenge in Vancouver, and her team came in first place.
Thank you to our 2025 Safety Pinnacle Award Gala Sponsors
Threads of Life Silent Auction
Heartfelt thanks to our silent auction donors and bidders. Through your generosity, at the 2025 Safety Pinnacle Awards Gala, we raised more than $2,700 for Threads of Life, in support of the families of seriously and fatally injured workers.
