B.C. Leaders and Business Celebrated at the 2024 Safety Pinnacle Awards Gala
AT the 2024 Safety Pinnacle Awards Gala, manufacturers and business leaders from across B.C. gathered to recognize the unsung heroes of the sector and beyond—the ones leading the way in safety innovation and performance to keep people safe.
Before the awards presentation, industry professionals networked and connected to celebrate together.
The awards presentation shone a spotlight on award winners from a wide array of industries—B.C. companies that make beer and process fruit, produce combustible dust systems and custom metal work, build boats, manufacture insulation, and much more.
Businesses and leaders from across the province were celebrated for the steps they have taken to achieve, maintain, and refine successful workplace health and safety programs.
MEET THE safety Pinnacle Award RECIPIENTS:
MEET THE safety Excellence Award WINNERS:
Safety Pinnacle Awards are presented to businesses who have met particular criteria within a particular year. Learn more.
2024 Safety Excellence Awards
The Safety Excellence Awards recognize the teamwork, dedication, and innovation of companies who took steps in the past year to build thriving safety cultures and keep their teams safe. Winners for each of these Safety Excellence Awards are determined by an external panel of judges.
Thank you to all the nominees for sharing your stories and achievements. Nominations for next year’s Safety Excellence Awards will open this fall.
Manufacturing Safety Innovator Award
For innovation in OHS management systems, health and safety training, wellness programs, and culture.
For more than 30 years, Urban Impact Recycling has been a leader in waste management strategies and solutions. The company has unified around the safety concept “Safety from the Ground up.” They acknowledge teammates who demonstrate safety excellence, team members who take on a leadership role in safety and mentor others, and team members who observe or notice deficiencies in safety practices and bring forward suggestions on improvement—or simply team members excelling in their roles as they practice the safety systems.
The first company value at Urban Impact Recycling has shaped their culture: “Work safely, always.”
Congratulations to 2024 winner Urban Impact Recycling (New Westminster, BC) and finalists CKF Inc (Langley, BC), Silver Hills Bakery (Abbotsford, BC), and Sunrise Farms (Langley, BC).
Joint Health & Safety Committee Excellence Award
For excellence beyond regulatory requirements—for cohesive teamwork that makes a positive impact on workplace culture.
The JHSC at Vancouver Island Brewing works closely with the social committee look for relatable and engaging ways to include safety in social activities. At their Summer BBQ last year, they included a fire extinguisher demonstration, and for Halloween they conducted a realistic worst-case scenario incident investigation demo—complete with an ample supply of fake blood and limbs.
They also organize an annual “Wellness Challenge” each year to encourage team members to explore self-care so that they can live a healthier and happier life.
Congratulations to 2024 winner Vancouver Island Brewing (Victoria, BC) and finalists CKF Inc (Langley, BC), Garaventa Lift (Surrey, BC), and Kicking Horse Coffee Co. (Invermere, BC)
Fantastic Four Risk Leader Award
For implementing leading solutions in key manufacturing risk areas – and demonstrating leadership in integrating health and safety into their culture.
“Thank you so much for this recognition. It honours a commitment to safety (Peerless) started 15 years ago—when Peerless was on the verge of being closed down by the Workers Compensation Board.
We moved from a production focus to a focus on safety, and we engaged our team through weekly toolbox safety talks, near miss reporting, and crew talks—identifying and participating in the resolution of safety opportunities.
Safety is a goal you choose to pursue each day as a worker, a supervisor, or a business, on behalf of the Peerless team, thank you!”
Congratulations to 2024 winner Peerless Limited (Penticton, BC) and finalists Kingfisher Boats (Vernon, BC) and Sunrise Farms (Langley, BC).
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.
Richmond-based ContainerWest Manufacturing has built shipping container-based buildings and industrial enclosures since 1997. The keys to their safety program are clear expectations, team effort, and pride.
Despite the best efforts of business leaders and safety individuals, unexpected things can still happen. And this is one of the things that drives the team at ContainerWest towards learning more and building a culture that focuses on minimizing risks as much as they can to protect their people.
To learn more, to do more, and to celebrate small victories.
Congratulations to 2024 winner ContainerWest Manufacturing (Richmond, BC) and finalists Environmental Mats (Prince George, BC) and Okanagan Beverage Company (Coldstream, BC).
2024 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 noted that all the Soaring Eagle Leadership Award finalists demonstrated passion for purpose, caring for employees, and were champions and inspiration for health and safety with their teams and in their communities.
This year’s finalists are champions and inspiration for health and safety. The nominees’ leadership styles reflected their dedication and determination and their companies OSSE certification.
While this is an individual award, each organization’s health and safety performance is also taken into consideration. And 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.
All the nominees this year are exceptional safety leaders, making an impact on safety culture within their organizations and beyond. All the nominees are very deserving candidates and the judges offer their sincere congratulations to each of them.
Brent McCrea
Owner | McCrea's Welding Ltd.
The nominees this year brought such varied experience and backgrounds that the judges found it very difficult to choose a winner. Ultimately, Brent stood out not only for his safety leadership at McCrea’s Welding, but in the broader community of Campbell River and Northern Vancouver Island.
As a small business operator, he consistently chooses safety first—insisting on controls to protect his team with clients who don’t always see the benefit, and shouldering the cost of turning away work he feels is unsafe. As a result, his team feels safe in their jobs, and other local business operators now turn to Brent for health and safety advice.
Congratulations to 2024 winner Brent McCrea and finalists Lesli Bradley, President, SunRype Products, a division of A. Lassonde, and Jaime Pacreu, Plant Manager, Kerry Canada.
2024 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.
This year’s Apex Award nominees went beyond the basics expected of a health and safety professional—they demonstrate leadership excellence by providing advice, counsel, and vision. Regardless of their specific role or job title, they are trusted, caring leaders in their organizations.
Some of this year’s nominees are seasoned OHS veterans, while others are rising stars in the field.
Imelda Rivera
Health, Safety, and Environmental Manager | CKF Inc.
Imelda has led and improved the safety culture at CKF for several years now and her contributions are making the difference every day.
Imelda leads safety in four CKF facilities, and she has a clear vision for making the workplace safer for everyone.
Her colleagues described Imelda as someone who is tirelessly promoting the importance of adhering to safety protocols and procedures in the workplace; and someone who is tenacious in her passion for safety.
Imelda exhibits a deeply ingrained belief that everyone deserves to feel secure, protected and should go home healthy at the end of the day.
Congratulations to 2024 winner Imelda Rivera and finalists Aryo Wirastoma of Kerry Canada, and Baylee Out of Andrew Peller Estate Winery.
2024 Academic Awards
2024 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, Stephanie Wu!
2024 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.
To honour Julie’s spirit and passion, we have created an annual bursary to honour her passion and dedication to occupational health and safety.
Congratulations, Juliann McGale!
Thank you to our 2024 Safety Pinnacle Award Gala Sponsors
Threads of Life Silent Auction
Heartfelt thanks to our silent auction donors and bidders. Through your generosity, at the 2024 Safety Pinnacle Awards Gala, we raised nearly $2,900 for Threads of Life, in support of the families of seriously and fatally injured workers.
Door Prize Sponsor
