Gala event 'does a really great job of highlighting people that deserve to be highlighted'
As HR departments finalize travel budgets ahead of the Oct. 1 Canadian HR Awards gala at Rebel Toronto, several of this year's finalists say the real payoff comes not from sending one representative, but from bringing the whole HR team.
Among this year's finalists, Miller Thomson LLP — recognized in Excellence in HR Team Performance and Excellence in Employer Branding and Talent Attraction — frames the gala as a shared win. Senior director of people and culture Terry Doyle said the process lifted the department's spirits: "It really has given everyone a boost," tying that momentum to a sense the team is "hitting the mark" on its people strategy.
Charles Riegel, people and culture manager at Regency Fireplace Products and a past Rising Star, points to shared events as central to workplace cohesion, saying, "It's really good for building culture here.”
Attending as a group can also change how HR is perceived internally. Jennifer Maki, national manager of human resources at Hyundai Auto Canada — a past Canadian HR Team of the Year winner — said a win did not stay confined to HR: "The executive team shared that pride," reflecting on leadership as well as the department.
A room built for peer learning
Beyond recognition, finalists describe the gala as a rare concentration of HR expertise in one room, spanning sectors, company sizes and specialties. Chris Pepper of Fidelity Canada said the density of practitioners is itself valuable, noting it's "great to be surrounded by so many amazing people" working across every corner of HR.
Nicole Desloges, former SVP, people at LifeLabs and a board director at HRPA, has pointed to the networking value of the evening as distinct from, but complementary to, the recognition itself, adding that "all these individuals make a difference" even when they rarely get public credit.
Aman Malhi, director of people and culture at Refrigerative Supply Limited and a finalist in three categories this year, said he treats the gala as a working night, taking detailed notes on winning submissions to apply back at his own organization (HRD Canada, Sept. 9, 2026).
Addressing a structural gap
Judges interviewed ahead of this year's event argue the awards exist partly to correct a structural gap: HR teams design recognition programs for others but rarely receive it themselves. Tanya Sinclair, deputy chief people officer at Save the Children and a 2026 judge, said such programs "provide leaders and CEOs with a vehicle to showcase and celebrate" HR achievements that otherwise go unseen.
Emotional intelligence coach and past judge Jamelle Lindo made a similar point, saying the event "does a really great job of highlighting people that deserve to be highlighted" for work that is often thankless.
Andrea Wynter, vice-president people at ADP Canada, a Silver Award Partner for 2026, framed the broader stakes: "A rising tide lifts all boats," describing the awards as a benchmark-setter for HR practice nationally (HRD Canada, April 27, 2026).
The gala runs from a 6 p.m. cocktail reception through a 7:30 p.m. dinner and ceremony, with a post-awards celebration from 10:30 p.m., at Rebel Toronto on Oct. 1.
