Annual HRPAO awards recognize excellence in HR field
Every year, the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario (HRPAO) recognizes the best in the field at its annual conference. The winners of this year’s HRPAO awards are no exception.
Honorary Life Member Award: Ramona Baillie, CHRP, a consultant and screenplay writer for film and television.
An active member of HRPAO for more than 24 years, Baillie has more than 30 years of experience in human resources, serving on the association’s provincial board of directors, chairing and volunteering on numerous task forces and committees, including the strategic planning and national standards committee for the CHRP designation. Baillie also established the HRPAO/TOSI Scholarship Program.
Honorary Life Award: Harry Garner, CHRP, an HRPAO member for over 30 years.
Garner has contributed to the development of the HR professional in multiple areas. He was a member of the HRPAO board of directors and sat on the editorial advisory board for the HR Professional magazine; he is also a past president of HRPAO’s Peel Chapter. Today, Garner continues his active support of the profession as a presenter and speaker at events and as a contributor to magazine.
Professional Leadership Award: Josée Dykun, CHRP, vice-president, human resources at the Yellow Pages Group.
Dykun has partnered with management teams in numerous companies operating in a variety of industries. She participated in many growth initiatives and cultural transformations, mergers and acquisitions and call-centre management ventures.
Outstanding CHRP Achievement Award: Phuong Blazino, CHRP, HR manager – operations’ division, Bell Canada.
This award is for a new Canadian Human Resources Professional (CHRP) who has successfully put knowledge into practice in the workplace to achieve outstanding results. The winner is determined through an interview process that includes representatives from both the employer’s organization and HRPAO.
Blazino, an honours commerce graduate from Lakehead University, is an active member in her community. She sits on the HRPAO Northwestern Ontario chapter executive board and is the chapter chair of Thunder Bay’s Kids Help Phone.
Ross A. Hennigar Memorial Award: Gwen Brandley, a human resources advisor, International Trade Canada (ITCan).
This award is presented to an HRPAO member who has successfully completed the national knowledge exam while paying tribute to Hennigar, the director of the Personnel Association of Toronto (forerunner to HRPAO) who died in an airplane crash at age 53.
In her role as PeopleFocus Advisor at ITCan, Brandley develops and implements HR management initiatives. She works with managers on issues related to employee retention and engagement in Canada and at Canadian embassies and consulates around the world.
TOSI/HRPAO Scholarship Award: Allison Whyte, a student at Guelph University. The award includes a $2,000 cash prize and is awarded annually to an outstanding HRPAO member.
Whyte was the vice-president of Guelph University’s HR Society, sat on the board of directors for the university's new College of Management and Economics and is the elected Commerce student ambassador.
The winners will receive their awards on Jan. 31, at the kick-off event to this year’s HRPAO conference and trade show, which runs Feb. 1 to 3 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Honorary Life Member Award: Ramona Baillie, CHRP, a consultant and screenplay writer for film and television.
An active member of HRPAO for more than 24 years, Baillie has more than 30 years of experience in human resources, serving on the association’s provincial board of directors, chairing and volunteering on numerous task forces and committees, including the strategic planning and national standards committee for the CHRP designation. Baillie also established the HRPAO/TOSI Scholarship Program.
Honorary Life Award: Harry Garner, CHRP, an HRPAO member for over 30 years.
Garner has contributed to the development of the HR professional in multiple areas. He was a member of the HRPAO board of directors and sat on the editorial advisory board for the HR Professional magazine; he is also a past president of HRPAO’s Peel Chapter. Today, Garner continues his active support of the profession as a presenter and speaker at events and as a contributor to magazine.
Professional Leadership Award: Josée Dykun, CHRP, vice-president, human resources at the Yellow Pages Group.
Dykun has partnered with management teams in numerous companies operating in a variety of industries. She participated in many growth initiatives and cultural transformations, mergers and acquisitions and call-centre management ventures.
Outstanding CHRP Achievement Award: Phuong Blazino, CHRP, HR manager – operations’ division, Bell Canada.
This award is for a new Canadian Human Resources Professional (CHRP) who has successfully put knowledge into practice in the workplace to achieve outstanding results. The winner is determined through an interview process that includes representatives from both the employer’s organization and HRPAO.
Blazino, an honours commerce graduate from Lakehead University, is an active member in her community. She sits on the HRPAO Northwestern Ontario chapter executive board and is the chapter chair of Thunder Bay’s Kids Help Phone.
Ross A. Hennigar Memorial Award: Gwen Brandley, a human resources advisor, International Trade Canada (ITCan).
This award is presented to an HRPAO member who has successfully completed the national knowledge exam while paying tribute to Hennigar, the director of the Personnel Association of Toronto (forerunner to HRPAO) who died in an airplane crash at age 53.
In her role as PeopleFocus Advisor at ITCan, Brandley develops and implements HR management initiatives. She works with managers on issues related to employee retention and engagement in Canada and at Canadian embassies and consulates around the world.
TOSI/HRPAO Scholarship Award: Allison Whyte, a student at Guelph University. The award includes a $2,000 cash prize and is awarded annually to an outstanding HRPAO member.
Whyte was the vice-president of Guelph University’s HR Society, sat on the board of directors for the university's new College of Management and Economics and is the elected Commerce student ambassador.
The winners will receive their awards on Jan. 31, at the kick-off event to this year’s HRPAO conference and trade show, which runs Feb. 1 to 3 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
