2026 EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Award Categories

Capital Markets Deal of the Year


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Alimentation Couche-Tard’s concurrent US$1.5 billion and €1.35 billion notes offerings Canadian Law Firms

  • Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (for the placing agents)
  • Stikeman Elliott LLP (for Alimentation Couche-Tard)

Non-Canadian Law Firms

  • Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (for Alimentation Couche-Tard)
  • Simpson Thacher & Barlett LLP (for the placing agents)

Organizations

  • Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.
  • J.P. Morgan
  • PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
  • Wells Fargo

Browning West’s victory in Gildan Activewear proxy campaign
Canadian Law Firms

  • Goodmans LLP (lead counsel to Browning West, LP)

Non-Canadian Law Firms

  • Olshan Frome Wolosky LLP (US counsel to Browning West)

Canada’s C$4 billion 10-year Green Bond and additional C$2 billion reopening
Canadian Law Firms

  • BCF LLP (Government of Canada’s Translation Counsel)
  • Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (acted for the syndicate of underwriters)
  • Field Law (Government of Canada’s Local Counsel (Initial Issuance and Re-Opening) – NWT and Nunavut)
  • Macdonald and Company (Government of Canada’s Local Counsel (Initial Issuance and Re-Opening) – Yukon)
  • McMillan LLP (lead law firm – acted as sole outside legal advisor to the Government of Canada)
  • MLT Aikins (Government of Canada’s Local Counsel (Initial Issuance and Re-Opening) – Saskatchewan and Manitoba)
  • Stewart McKelvey (Government of Canada’s Local Counsel (Initial Issuance and Re-Opening) – Atlantic Provinces)

Organizations

  • BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc. (underwriter)
  • Casgrain & Company Limited (underwriter)
  • CIBC World Markets Inc. (underwriter)
  • Desjardins Securities Inc. (underwriter)
  • Laurentian Bank Securities Inc.
  • Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. (underwriter)
  • National Bank Financial Inc. (underwriter)
  • RBC Dominion Securities Inc. (underwriter)
  • Scotia Capital Inc. (underwriter)
  • The Toronto-Dominion Bank (underwriter)

Infrastructure & Projects Deal of the Year


2025 Infrastructure & Projects Deal of the Year

Winner: Coastal GasLink Pipeline Limited Partnership's C$7.15 billion refinancing

Canadian Law Firms
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to Coastal GasLink Pipeline)
Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (counsel to Joint Lead Agents)
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (counsel to KKR and AIMCo)


Non-Canadian Law Firms
Mayer Brown LLP (US counsel to Coastal GasLink Pipeline)

Organizations
BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.
CIBC World Markets Inc.
Merrill Lynch Canada Inc.
RBC Dominion Securities Inc.

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Fengate's C$1.8 billion recapitalization transaction of eStruxture

Canadian Law Firms

  • Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (eStruxture counsel)
  • Gowling WLG
  • Miller Thomson LLP (counsel to CDPQ)
  • Stikeman Elliott (counsel to Fengate)

Non-Canadian Law Firms

  • Kirkland & Ellis LLP (for Fengate)

Organizations

  • Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
  • Campbell Lutyens
  • DH Capital
  • eStruxture Data Centers
  • Fengate Asset Management
  • KPMG
  • Leo Berwick

Surrey Langley Skytrain's C$5.996 billion project

Canadian Law Firms

  • Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (acted for SkyLink Guideway Partners)
  • McCarthy Tetrault LLP (for the lenders to SkyLink Guideway Partners)
  • Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (acted for the Province of British Columbia)
  • Weeneebayko Area Health Authority's C$1.8 billion redevelopment

Canadian Law Firms

  • Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (Legal Advisors to Pomerleau Inc.)
  • Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (legal counsel to Infrastructure Ontario and the Weeneebayko Area Health Authority (Hospital))
  • Stikeman Elliott (legal advisor to the Lenders)

Organizations

  • Caixabank, S.A. (Lender)
  • Federation des Caisses Desjardins du Quebec (Lender)
  • Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (Canada) (Lender)
  • Pomerleau Inc. and its affiliates (Preferred Proponent, Dev Co, Project Co)
  • PwC (Financial Advisor to Pomerleau Inc.)
  • Royal Bank of Canada (Lender)

Insolvency & Restructuring Deal of the Year


Winner: Tacora Resources Inc.’s restructuring under CCAA

Canadian Law Firms
Bennett Jones LLP (acted for the primary creditor group)
Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP (FTI Consulting Canada Inc.)
Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (CrossingBridge Advisors, LLC)
Goodmans LLP (counsel to Cargill, Incorporated and Cargill International Trading Pte Ltd.)
McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for the controlling shareholder on the Tacora CCAA process)
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (lead counsel for Millstreet and OSP)
Stikeman Elliott LLP (counsel to the debtor, Tacora)

Organizations
Cargill, Incorporated
FTI Consulting Canada Inc.
GLC Advisors and Co. LLC
Greenhill Co & Canada Ltd
Jefferies LLC
Tacora

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Ayr Wellness cross-border cannabis restructuring
Canadian Law Firms

  • Goodmans LLP (Canadian counsel to the Plan Sponsors and Ad Hoc Committee)
  • Stikeman Elliott LLP (lead counsel to Ayr Wellness)

Non-Canadian Law Firms

  • Paul Hastings LLP (US counsel to the Ad Hoc committee of senior noteholders)
  • Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (US counsel to Ayr Wellness)

Organizations

  • Ducera (financial advisor to the Ad Hoc committee)
  • Moelis (financial advisor to Ayr Wellness)

Taiga Motors Corp Inc.’s insolvency process
Canadian Law Firms

  • Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (counsel for Deloitte Restructuring)
  • Lavery de Billy LLP (counsel for the acquirer – Stewart Wilkinson)
  • Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (acted for Taiga Motors)
  • Stikeman Elliott LLP (counsel for Export Development Canada)

Organizations

  • Ernst & Young Inc.
  • Deloitte Restructuring

Xplore’s C$1.8 billion recapitalization
Canadian Law Firms

  • Bennett Jones LLP (for primary creditor group)
  • Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to Stonepeak Infrastructure Partners)
  • Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
  • Chaitons LLP (lead counsel to Amynta Surety Solutions)
  • Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (for Xplore)
  • Goodmans LLP (lead counsel to Xplore Inc.)
  • McCarthy Tetrault LLP

Non-Canadian Law Firms

  • Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP (ad hoc committee counsel to the term lenders)
  • Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP LLP (lead US counsel to Xplore)
  • Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (for Stonepeak)

Organizations

  • Perella Weinberg Partners (as lead financial advisor to Xplore)
  • FTI (as financial advisor to Xplore)
  • Greenhill (as financial advisor to the committee of ad hoc term lenders)

M&A Deal of the Year


2025 M&A Deal of the Year

Winner: Royal Bank of Canada’s C$13.5 billion acquisition of HSBC Bank Canada

Canadian Law Firms
Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to Royal Bank of Canada)
RBC Law Group (lead counsel to Royal Bank of Canada)
Miller Thomson LLP (counsel to HSBC Bank Canada board of directors)
Stikeman Elliott LLP (counsel to HSBC Global)

Non-Canadian Law Firms
A&O Sherman
Allen & Overy LLP (UK counsel to RBC)
Linklaters LLP (UK counsel to HSBC Global)
Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (US counsel to RBC

Organizations
HSBC Global
Royal Bank of Canada

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Advent International, Philip Fayer, Novacap, and CDPQ’s US$6.3 billion joint acquisition of Nuvei Corporation
Canadian Law Firms

  • Bennett Jones (for BMO Capital Markets)
  • Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (for Advent International)
  • Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (for Novacap)
  • Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP (for Novacap)
  • Goodmans LLP (for TD Securities)
  • McCarthy Tétrault LLP (for CDPQ)
  • Norton Rose Fulbright Canada LLP (for Special Committee of Nuvei Corporation)
  • Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (for Philip Fayer)
  • Stikeman Elliott LLP (for Nuvei)

Non-Canadian Law Firms

  • Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
  • Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
  • Kirkland & Ellis LLP
  • Mayer Brown LLP
  • Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
  • Ropes & Gray LLP
  • Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
  • Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

Organizations

  • Advent International
  • Nuvei Corporation

Blackstone Real Estate’s C$5 billion acquisition of Tricon Residential
Canadian Law Firms

  • Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP (counsel to Blackstone)
  • Goodmans LLP (lead counsel to Tricon Residential Inc.)
  • Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (Canadian counsel to the Special Committee of Tricon Residential (“Tricon”))

Non-Canadian Law Firms

  • Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (US counsel to Tricon)
  • Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (counsel to Blackstone)

Canadian Natural Resources Limited’s US$6.5 billion acquisition of Chevron’s Alberta assets
Canadian Law Firms

  • Bennett Jones LLP (lead counsel to Canadian Natural Resources)
  • Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (counsel to Chevron)

Chord Energy and Enerplus C$11 billion merger
Canadian Law Firms

  • Goodmans LLP (counsel to Chord Energy Corporation)
  • Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to Enerplus)

Non-Canadian Law Firms

  • Latham & Watkins LLP
  • Vinson & Elkins LLP (co-lead counsel to Chord Energy)
  • Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (co-lead counsel to Chord Energy)

Glencore’s C$9.93 billion acquisition of Teck Resources Limited
Canadian Law Firms

  • Bennett Jones LLP (for Nippon Steel)
  • Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Teck Resources Limited)
  • Borden Ladner Gervais (BLG) LLP
  • Felesky Flynn LLP (counsel to Teck Resources Limited)
  • McCarthy Tétrault LLP (counsel to Glencore plc)
  • Stikeman Elliott LLP (counsel to Teck Resources Limited)

Non-Canadian Law Firms

  • Covington & Burling LLP
  • Linklaters LLP
  • Norton Rose Fulbright
  • Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (for Teck)
  • Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (for the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of Teck)

Organizations

  • Teck Resources Limited
  • Ardea Partners LP (financial advisor to Teck)
  • Barclays Capital Canada Inc. (financial advisor to Teck)
  • CIBC World Markets Inc. (financial advisor to Teck)
  • TD Securities Inc. (financial advisor to Teck)
  • BMO Capital Markets (financial advisors to the special committee of the Board of Directors of Teck)
  • Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (financial advisors to the special committee of the Board of Directors of Teck)
  • Origin Merchant Partners (financial advisors to the special committee of the Board of Directors of Teck)

Mid-Market Deal of the Year


2025 Mid-Market Deal of the Year

Winner: Trans Mountain Corporation, Lower Nicola Indian Band, and EPCOR’s C$200 million sale of Kingsvale Transmission Line

Canadian Law Firms
Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
Dentons Canada LLP (for EPCOR)
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (legal advisor for Trans Mountain)

Organizations
EPCOR
Lower Nicola Indian Band Development Corporation
Trans Mountain Corporation

EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

Canada Growth Fund’s C$200 million strategic investment in Entropy and carbon credit offtake agreement
Canadian Law Firms

  • Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP (counsel for Entropy and Advantage)
  • Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP (legal advisor for Canada Growth Fund)
  • Torys LLP (counsel for Brookfield Renewable)

Organizations

  • BMO (financial advisor for CGF)

Nations Royalty Corp. and Nisga’a Nation’s C$100 million royalty agreement
Canadian Law Firms

  • Aldridge and Rosling LLP (co-lead firm for Nisga’a Nation)
  • DuMoulin Black LLP (co-lead firm for Nisga’a Nation)
  • Farris LLP (lead firm for Nations Royalty Corp.)

Organizations

  • Canaccord Genuity Corp.
  • Deloitte LLP
  • Fiore Management & Advisory Corp.
  • Nations Royalty Corp.
  • Nisga’a Nation

OpenGate Capital’s C$155 million acquisition of Cineplex Inc.’s Player One Amusement Group
Canadian Law Firms

  • Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP (counsel to OpenGate Capital)
  • Goodmans LLP (counsel to Cineplex Inc.)

Non-Canadian Law Firms

  • Baker McKenzie (US counsel to Cineplex)
  • Paul Hastings LLP (US counsel to OpenGate)

Organizations

  • OpenGate Capital

Best Environment Management Program


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • BGIS Global Integrated Solutions
  • CBRE
  • Durabuilt Windows & Doors
  • Green Infrastructure Partners Inc.
  • GWL Realty Advisors
  • Ingram Micro
  • Siemens Canada Limited
  • SLB Canada Ltd.
  • Weatherford Canada Ltd. 

Best Safety Industry Provider


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • 4S Consulting Services Inc.
  • AIP Safety Training
  • Canadian Safety Group Inc.
  • Electrogas Monitors
  • HELP Safety Services inc.
  • HSE Elements
  • Humanology Partners
  • Levitt-Safety
  • Mightyrail Equipment Inc
  • SafeStart
  • Zendelity Corporation 

Canada’s Safest Chemistry Employer


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Greenfield Global
  • KD Pharma Canada
  • LANXESS Canada Co./Cie. 

Canada’s Safest Employer in Services Sector


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Aramark Canada Ltd.
  • Bee Clean Building Maintenance Inc.
  • C & W Facility Services Canada Inc
  • Carmichael Engineering Ltd.
  • CBRE
  • JLL
  • Scandinavian Building Services Ltd.
  • Siemens Canada Limited - Smart Infrastructure Buildings
  • Texcan, a Sonepar company 

Canada’s Safest Logistics and Supply Chain Employer


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • EECOL Electric
  • L'Oréal Canada Inc. 
  • NARL (North Atlantic) Logistics
  • Ryder Supply Chain Solutions
  • The TDL Group Corp.
  • Wills Transfer Limited 

Canada’s Safest Manufacturing Employer – Food & Agricultural


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Burnbrae Farms Ltd
  • Farnell Packaging
  • Johnvince Foods
  • Labatt Breweries of Canada
  • Lindt & Sprungli
  • Mersey Seafoods Limited
  • Tim Hortons Manufacturing 

Canada’s Safest New Employer


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Fire & Flood Emergency Services Ltd.
  • Hancon Mining Division Inc. 

Canada’s Safest Non-Profit Employer


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Calgary West Central Primary Care Network
  • CMHA Durham
  • Coast Mental Health (Coast Foundation Society 1974)
  • Creative Options Regina
  • EfficiencyOne
  • GEF Seniors Housing
  • Immigrant Women Services Ottawa 

Canada’s Safest Oil & Gas Employer


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Beyond Energy Services and Technology Corp.
  • Brock Canada
  • CMD CEDA Environmental Solutions
  • Innovator Industrial services
  • NPL Canada
  • Park Derochie Inc
  • Pronghorn Controls
  • PT Industrial Electric
  • RKM Contracting Ltd
  • Weatherford Canada Ltd. 

Canada’s Safest Public Sector Employer


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • City of Surrey
  • Fraser Health Authority
  • Halton Healthcare
  • Safety and Compliance - Section within the Corporate Real Estate Management Division in the City of Toronto
  • Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency
  • The Corporation of the County of Perth 

The MWG Apparel Award for Canada’s Safest Utilities and Electrical Employer


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Aquatera Utilities Inc.
  • Black & McDonald Limited
  • Capstone Infrastructure company
  • Connect Utility Services
  • FortisAlberta Inc.
  • London Hydro
  • Mott Electric GP
  • Rising Edge Group
  • Symtech Innovations Ltd.
  • Utilities Kingston 

The 4S Consulting Services Award for Canada’s Safest Construction Employer - (Under 300 employees)


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Aryze
  • Cantiro
  • CG Construction Services Ltd.
  • Colony Construction
  • Compass Construction Resources Ltd.
  • DESO Construction Limited
  • LH North
  • North West Paving Ltd
  • Paradox Access Solutions
  • Prodigy Construction Inc.
  • Rabcon Contractors Ltd.
  • Scott Steel Erectors Inc 

The BGIS Award for Safety Leader of the Year


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Carrie Ng - Ontario Power Generation
  • Chad Ralph - QM LP
  • Chelsea Cahill - Bouchier
  • Gaby Victoria - CAPREIT LP
  • Jen Alain - GeoVerra
  • Kelly McGregor - London Hydro
  • Paolo Mete - Green Infrastructure Partners Inc.
  • Rob Kliewer - City of Saskatoon
  • Shilo Neveu - Valard Construction LP
  • Stacia Gunn - MacKinnon and Olding
  • Starr Kanji - EECOL Electric
  • Zachary Hensch - VETS Group 

The Bruce Power Award for Canada’s Safest Manufacturing Employer – Industrial


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Charl-Pol
  • Dufferin Concrete
  • Durabuilt Windows & Doors
  • INNIO Waukesha Canada Corporation
  • Michelin Canada Pictou County
  • OPmobility
  • Precon Manufacturing Ltd.
  • Stanpro
  • Thermon Canada Inc
  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc 

The Carmichael Engineering Award for Canada’s Safest Construction Employer – (Over 300 employees)


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Alberici Constructors, Ltd.
  • AlumaSafway, Inc.
  • Borger Group of Companies
  • Canadian Turner Construction Company
  • Empire Homes
  • Maple Reinders
  • Morgan Construction and Environmental Ltd.
  • North America Construction (1993) Ltd.
  • Plan Group Inc.
  • Strike Group Limited Partnership 

The DriverCheck Award for Canada’s Safest Mining & Natural Resources Employer


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Bouchier
  • Dufferin Aggregates
  • Klohn Crippen Berger
  • NPLH Drilling 

The Geotab Award for Canada’s Safest Fleet


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • 4Refuel
  • EnergySolutions Canada/PHTS Logistics
  • Miller Waste Systems Inc.
  • Myshak Crane and Rigging Ltd.
  • NexGen Transportation
  • RST Industries
  • Sunbury Transport
  • Weatherford Canada Ltd. 

The Kii Health Award for Best Wellness Program


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Calgary West Central Primary Care Network
  • Centurion Asset Management Inc.
  • CRH Canada Group Inc.
  • ECC
  • London Hydro
  • Myshak Crane & Rigging
  • Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency
  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc 

The Mark's Commercial Award for Most Innovative Use of Safety Technology


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Burlington Hydro
  • Compass Group Canada
  • Durabuilt Windows & Doors
  • EnergySolutions Canada
  • Green Infrastructure Partners Inc.
  • Innovator Industrial services
  • SLB
  • Terra Velo Solutions (A North Atlantic Company)
  • The Universal Group
  • Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc 

The Minerva Award for Rising Star of the Year


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Alayna Uhrig - Kiewit Construction Services ULC
  • Ben Ward - Dalhousie University
  • Deliya Sidhu - Burnaby School District
  • Ethan Ko - GWL Realty Advisors
  • Jackson Webster - Toronto Metropolitan University
  • Martinique Stastna - Dalhousie University
  • Mehakpreet Singh - Memorial University and PCL
  • Morteza Cheraghi - Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU)
  • Payton Brown - Dalhousie University

The Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Award for Young Worker Safety


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Carmichael Engineering Ltd.
  • City of Surrey
  • EnergySolutions Canada
  • Flomax Compression
  • Green Infrastructure Partners Inc.
  • Pronghorn Controls
  • Utilities Kingston 

The WSIB Award for Canada’s Best Health & Safety Culture


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • GeoVerra
  • Honeywell BA Canada
  • JLL
  • Labatt Breweries of Canada
  • L'Oréal Canada
  • PCL
  • PNR Railworks
  • Pronghorn Controls
  • QM LP
  • Rabcon Contractors Ltd.
  • Siemens Canada Limited 

The WSPS Award for CEO of the Year


EXCELLENCE AWARDEES

  • Carey Kostyk - Valard Construction LP
  • Derek Kelleher - Flanagan Foodservice
  • Don Cooper - Innovator Industrial services
  • Jon DiMascio - QM LP
  • Ken Robuck - EnergySolutions Canada
  • Marc Breault - Paradox Access Solutions
  • Matthew Bryan - SLB Canada Ltd.
  • Mercy Lawluvi - Immigrant Women Services Ottawa
  • Neil Waugh - NPL Canada
  • Tim Hollander - Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada Inc
  • Wayne Arondus - Manufacturing Safety Alliance of BC
  • Yves Tremblay - Pronghorn Controls