The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) proudly recognizes and congratulates all recipients of the 2023 CGA Annual Awards. CGA recognized recipients in four categories: Excellence and Innovation in Customer Care and Service; Environmental Stewardship (Innovation in Emissions Reductions); Safety Awards for Excellence; and the Young Energy Leader of the Year.
The Michael Mulcahy Award for Excellence and Innovation in Customer Care and Service was awarded to ATCO for Improving Customer Satisfaction in Operations while Reducing Opex, Reducing GhG, and Improving Safety. The awardee has made tremendous strides in enhancing customer satisfaction by implementing AI-assisted video solutions in their Contact Center, boosting response times and service efficiency.
Enbridge Gas Inc. was awarded the Environmental Stewardship Award for Innovation in Emissions Reductions for their Installation of a Hydrogen Combined Heat and Power Facility in Markham. The CHP unit, among the first in North America, showcases low-carbon technology and reduces the facility’s carbon footprint.
The Young Energy Leader of the Year Award was presented to Imad Khaled, Director, Engineering & Construction, Apex Utilities Inc. Since joining Apex Utilities Inc., Imad has achieved numerous accomplishments, including leading a pilot that transitioned to mainstream a builder dug trench program, resulting in increased efficiencies and a positive relationship with AUI’s builders. Imad’s leadership and drive for innovation have propelled Apex Utilities Inc. forward.
CGA also recognized the recipients of Safety Awards for Excellence at the conference. EPCOR Natural Gas Limited Partnership, Gazifère, Liberty New Brunswick, and Pacific Northern Gas (PNG) were awarded the Corporate Safety Award for Employee Safety, and the Corporate Safety Award for Vehicular Safety was presented to Liberty New Brunswick. The Community Safety Champion Award was awarded to Elmer Hollinger, Operations Manager at SaskEnergy, for his continuous work to advance the company’s strong safety culture. Rob McPherson, Engineering Specialist, Asset and Threat Management at SaskEnergy, was awarded the Leadership Safety Award for Safety Innovation for his contribution to the development of the Distribution Risk Framework that has significantly improved the way risks are managed. Darren Tymofichuk, Technician, Distribution Operations, St. Paul, Apex Utilities Inc. received the Leadership Safety Award for Outstanding Driver for setting a strong example by demonstrating how following speed limits and staying attentive enhances road safety.
“Our industry does an exceptional amount of work each day to ensure Canadians have safe and reliable access to natural gas to fuel their lives. Our members have shown outstanding leadership in customer service, environmental stewardship, safety, and in guiding the gas energy industry for the benefit of our customers and Canada as a whole,” said Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO of the Canadian Gas Association. “On behalf of the Canadian Gas Association, I congratulate all the organizations and individuals recognized with awards today.”
Quick Links
Canadian Gas Association | CGA Annual Awards Program
About the Mulcahy Award
The Mulcahy Award was created in memory of Michael Mulcahy, former President and CEO of FortisBC and former Chair of the Canadian Gas Association. It recognizes significant achievement (over and above everyday activities) by members of the natural gas delivery industry in the area of innovation and service to natural gas users/customers. The award also serves to help guide other CGA member utilities on their journey to excellent and innovative customer service. Through participation in the Mulcahy Award process, all will benefit from exposure to the efforts of others in the industry, thereby raising its overall standard of customer care – a huge priority for Mike Mulcahy in his many years of service to customers in the industry.
About the Environment Stewardship Awards
Environmental Stewardship Awards are divided into two categories: Environmental Stewardship Award for Operating Practices and Environmental Stewardship Award for Innovation in Emissions Reductions. The Environmental Stewardship Award for Operating Practices recognizes superior performance in the building, operating and/or maintenance of gas energy infrastructure including methodologies & techniques that can be shared industry-wide to help nationally in the preservation of Canada’s air, land & aquatic resources. The Environmental Stewardship Award for Innovation in Emissions Reductions recognizes superior performance in the reduction of overall emissions through increased efficiency in everyday downstream usage applications, new innovative end-use technology, fuel switching to gas energy and/or addressing fugitive or operationalized methane emissions.
About the Young Energy Leader of the Year Award
CGA’s Young Energy Leader of the Year Award is intended to recognize emerging leaders (40 years of age and under) in the gas energy industry who have demonstrated their potential to guide the industry of the future from a business, environmental, regulatory and/or public service perspective.
About the Safety Awards for Excellence
The Canadian Gas Association Safety Awards for Excellence are intended to honour significant examples of the natural gas industry’s dedication to safety management. Through engagement in the awards program, member utilities have an opportunity to gain recognition at the corporate and individual level for their work, and through that recognition, to inspire a culture of continuous improvement in safety for employees, contractors, customers, and the public at large.
About CGA
The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) is the voice of Canada’s gas energy delivery industry, including natural gas, renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen. CGA membership includes energy distribution and transmission companies, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers of goods and services to the industry. CGA’s utility members are Canadian-owned and active in eight provinces and one territory. CGA members meet 38 per cent of Canada’s energy needs through a network of almost 584,000 kilometers of underground infrastructure. The versatility and resiliency of this infrastructure allows it to deliver an everchanging gas supply mix to over 7.6 million customer locations representing approximately two-thirds of Canadians. CGA members ensure Canadians get the affordable, reliable, clean gas energy they want and need. CGA is also working to constantly improve that gas energy offering, by driving forward innovation through the Natural Gas Innovation Fund (NGIF).
For more information contact:
Myasha Tamanna
Communications Coordinator
Canadian Gas Association
mtamanna@cga.ca