2026 panel brings together leaders from across the HR landscape
Every year, thousands of HR professionals across Canada quietly do the work that keeps organizations running: recruiting and developing talent, building inclusive cultures, navigating transformation and compliance, and championing employee well-being. The Canadian HR Awards exists to make that work visible.
Now in its latest edition, the awards ceremony returns on Oct. 1, 2026, at Rebel Toronto — one of the city's most striking event venues on the waterfront. The evening begins with a cocktail reception at 6:00 pm, moves into a full awards ceremony and dinner banquet at 7:30 pm, and continues with a post-awards celebration from 10:30 pm onwards. Broadcaster and eTalk host Sonia Mangat returns as emcee, with live entertainment from Soulfire, a five-piece band spanning Classic Rock, Soul, Motown, Disco, and Top 40, plus performances from circus artist Bella Magic and the Lollipop Lyra duo.
But the evening is only as meaningful as the process that leads up to it.
The Canadian HR Awards is the premier platform on which HR professionals, teams, companies, and organizations — including HR service providers — from across Canada can be recognized for their significant work and achievements over the past year. Whether you are an individual contributor, a people team, or an organization that has transformed how it manages its workforce, this is your chance to showcase your ambition, drive, and outstanding results.
Nominations are open now across a wide range of award categories. The full list of categories and criteria is available at hrawards.ca/nominate.
Why recognition matters for HR
The 2026 panel brings together leaders from across the HR landscape — from national professional bodies and academic institutions to not-for-profit organizations, consulting firms, and the public sector. Three of this year's judges offer a sense of what makes this recognition matter.
One of the 2026 judges, Ashlee Langlois, CEO and registrar at Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) Saskatchewan, offered a compelling case for why programs like the Canadian HR Awards are worth paying attention to.
On the importance of recognition, she noted that it "reinforces the value of a profession that sits at the heart of every organization and community" — and that HR, at its core, is about people: "Every policy, practice, and decision ultimately shapes the employee experience and, in turn, organizational success."
Recognition, she says, does more than celebrate individuals. It "plays an important role in strengthening the credibility and identity of the profession" and, crucially, "inspires the next generation. When emerging professionals see the impact, influence, and meaningful career paths within HR, it strengthens the talent pipeline and ensures the profession continues to evolve and meet the needs of a changing world of work."
Another judge, Tanya Sinclair, Deputy Chief People Officer at Save the Children, puts it plainly:
"HR professionals are often the individuals who design and launch employee recognition programs. As they are focused on working behind the scenes for others, they are not usually recognition recipients. HR-specific awards programs like this provide leaders and CEOs with a vehicle to showcase and celebrate the many achievements of individuals within the HR team who continuously improve our workplaces."
Timothy Tiryaki, Founder & CEO of the Maslow Research Center, speaks to the broader impact:
"The HR awards are a reminder of how we can keep pushing the boundaries of HR's value creation. They reveal stories of the strategic impact HR can have on an organization. And most of all, recognition ignites and inspires many others to do better."
What's next for HR
On emerging practices, Langlois says she is watching two developments closely. The first is AI and data-informed decision making — not for technology's sake, but because of "how it enables more proactive, evidence-based decisions that improve outcomes for both employees and organizations."
The second is human-centred leadership: the continued rise of emotional intelligence, empathy, and self-awareness as core HR capabilities, and a "shift toward leadership models that balance business performance with genuine care for people."
Tiryaki says he’s also looking forward to seeing more of how HR is using AI, "not just in the efficiency and productivity realm, but also in the value creation and innovation realms. Secondly, the convergence of tech and HR. The organizations that figure out AI is not just a tech selection understand there's a whole re-envisioning of the workforce happening, with the organizational structure itself getting redesigned.
“I look forward to hearing more stories of organizations that keep empowering their HR to navigate it better.”
Full list of judges for HR Awards
Here is a look at the full panel that will be evaluating your submissions.
Sydney Elaine Butler — Founder, Accessible Creates
Sydney Elaine Butler brings deep expertise in accessibility and neurodiversity to the panel. Through Accessible Creates, they speak and consult with organizations across industries on how to build more accessible and inclusive workplaces — in policy, practice, and culture.
Diane Carriere — Principal, D. Carriere & Associates
A member of Norway House First Nation in Manitoba, Diane Carriere is a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) with over 30 years of experience in both the corporate sector and Indigenous communities. She holds the rare distinction of dual designations — CPHR and the Tribal Human Resource Professional (T.H.R.P.) Certificate — and is the founder of the Canadian Aboriginal Human Resource Management Association (CAHRMA), a national organization dedicated to HR development for Indigenous communities.
Tim Lang — President & CEO, YES – Youth Employment Services
Timothy Lang leads one of Canada's premier youth employment organizations, counselling and empowering tens of thousands of young people annually. His executive career spans Xerox, Bell, and StFX University, where he helped raise $120 million for institutional leadership programs. He holds a Queen's Jubilee Medal for outstanding community contributions.
Ashlee Langlois — CEO, CPHR Saskatchewan
Ashlee Langlois is the CEO and Registrar for CPHR Saskatchewan, with over 20 years of HR experience spanning organizational development, recruitment, and employee experience. She holds a Master's in Applied Industrial Organizational Psychology from Colorado State University and carries both her CPHR and Associate Certified Coach (ACC) designations. She also serves as President of the Board of Trustees for the MacKenzie Art Gallery.
Dr. Dave Mammoliti — Director of Executive Programs, DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University
Dr. Dave Mammoliti leads executive innovation programs within McMaster's Faculty of Health Sciences, overseeing flagship programs including the Health Leadership Academy. He spent more than 16 years building executive leadership programs at the DeGroote School of Business. He holds a PhD from the University of Toronto, a Chartered Director designation, and has been appointed by Ontario's Lieutenant Governor to serve on the board of the Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA).
Ayo Owodunni — Councillor, City of Kitchener; Management Consultant and Author
Ayo Owodunni is a management consultant, facilitator, and author with over a decade of experience coaching enterprise clients on diversity, inclusion, and cultural strategy. His client list includes Spotify, Microsoft, Canada Life, CIBC, and Thomson Reuters. Originally from Lagos, Nigeria, he has authored two books, including Values, Culture, Period and Inclusive Leadership: The Immigrant View.
Janine Pajot — Executive Consultant and Coach, Janine Pajot Consulting
Janine Pajot works at the intersection of business performance, leadership, and boardroom dynamics. Drawing on a background as a senior enterprise leader, she coaches executives through transformation, organizational change, and high-complexity growth environments — helping individuals and leadership teams operate with greater alignment and impact.
Surranna Sandy — Chief Executive Officer, CivicAction
Surranna Sandy brings more than two decades of cross-sector leadership to the panel. As former CEO of Skills for Change for over 13 years, she led a full organizational turnaround, grew revenues by more than 130 percent, and expanded the organization to a multi-site, multi-provincial footprint. She holds advanced degrees from Harvard University and Western University and has built a reputation for convening business, government, and community leaders around complex economic and social challenges.
Tanya Sinclair — Deputy Chief People Officer, Save the Children
Tanya Sinclair is a community-focused people and culture leader with experience in healthcare, public libraries, academia, and the not-for-profit sector. She holds the Certified Human Resources Executive (CHRE) designation, the Distinguished HR Professional (DHRP) lifetime award, and the 2020 Harry Jerome Leadership Award. She is also the founder of Black Human Resources Professionals of Canada. When evaluating nominees, she looks for innovation and inclusion.
Thanuja Thananayagam — Senior Manager, People and Culture, Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion
Thanuja Thananayagam is an antiracism scholar and senior HR leader with over 20 years of experience in talent strategy, organizational development, and equity, diversity, and inclusion. She holds a PhD in Social Justice Education from OISE at the University of Toronto, where her research examines systemic barriers faced by immigrant women of colour in the Canadian labour market. She also serves on the advisory council for ElevateHer.
Timothy Tiryaki — Founder & CEO, Maslow Research Center
Timothy Tiryaki brings an unusual combination of corporate depth and coaching expertise to the panel. He has held marketing, sales, and HR roles at Procter & Gamble, Intel, and Index Group, and has taught at Bogazici University, Global Knowledge Canada, and Simon Fraser University. He holds five coaching certificates and is a PhD candidate researching coaching culture in 21st-century organizations. He is particularly focused on how organizations are deploying AI — not just for efficiency, but for workforce reinvention and redesigning organizational structures themselves.
Nominate before October
The 2026 Canadian HR Awards offers HR professionals, teams, and organizations across Canada a rare and well-deserved moment to be recognized. With a judging panel of this depth and rigour — and an evening of genuine celebration to follow — it is a program worth entering.
Browse all award categories and submit your nomination at hrawards.ca/nominate.
