The Canadian College of Health Leaders, and the sponsors of the National Awards Program, are proud to honour the individuals, teams and organizations that are making a difference across the healthcare system.
Individual Awards
Colin Zieber – Iniskim (Buffalo Stone), CHE
Human Spirit Award
Award Sponsor: HIROC
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Steve Kovacic, CHE
Mentorship Award
Award Sponsor: Roche
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Tiziana Rivera, CHE
Nursing Leadership Award
Award Sponsor: Canadian Nurses Association
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Valerie Holmes, MHA CHE
Robert Zed Young Health Leader Award
Award Sponsor: Brighlight Health
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Marie Ennis-O’Connor
HMF Article of the Year Award
Award Sponsor: SAGE
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Feisal Keshavjee, CHE
Distinguished Leadership Award
Award Sponsor: GE Healthcare
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Team and Organizational Awards
Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH)
Award of Excellence in Mental Health and Addictions Quality Improvement
Award Sponsors: Mental Health Commission of Canada & Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
William Osler Health System
Excellence in Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility (IDEA) Award
Award Sponsor: Sodexo Canada
Providence Health Care
Recognition in Delivering Value-based Healthcare
Award Sponsor: J&J MedTech
BC Children’s Hospital (PHSA)
Excellence in Patient Experience Award
Award Sponsor: Abbott Laboratories
Solventum Health Care Innovation Team Awards
Interior Health
Solventum Health Care Innovation Team Award (Disruptive innovation initiative(s) across a health system)
Award Sponsor: Solventum
Providence Health Care
Solventum Health Care Innovation Team Award (Within an Organization)
Award Sponsor: Solventum
Robert Wood Johnson Awards
Clara Ho
University of Toronto
Amelia Hartnett
Dalhousie University
Evita Molino
University of Alberta
Yaara Nouri
University of British Columbia
Fatoumata Banel Thiam
Université de Montréal
Alison Reid
University of Ottawa
These awards, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson MedTech.
Read More about the 2025 Robert Wood Johnson award recipients.
Chapter Awards for Distinguished Service
BC INTERIOR
Lila-Mae White, CHE
Projects and Initiatives Lead
Interior Health
BC LOWER MAINLAND
Norm Peters, CHE
Chief Operating Officer
Providence Health Care
BLUENOSE (NS AND PEI)
Sonia Chaudhary
Physiotherapist
Health PEI
EASTERN ONTARIO
Sylvie Forgues-Martel, MHA, CHE
Research Operations Management Support
Gestion santé SFM Health Administration
GREATER TORONTO AREA
Peter Conteduca
Vice President, Sales
Canadian Hospital Specialties Ltd
HAMILTON AND AREA
Marianne Walker, CHE, C.Dir
Retired Health Executive
Accreditation Canada Surveyor
MANITOBA
Jan Byrd, CHE
Director, Health Policy
Healthcare Excellence Canada
NEON LIGHTS
Melissa Cotesta, MHSc., CHE
CEO, AuthenticExec
Past Chair, NEON Lights Chapter
NEW BRUNSWICK
Jennifer Sheils
Vice President Strategy, Transformation and Chief Innovation Officer (CIO)
Horizon Health Network
NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR
Amy Howard, CHE
Director, Children and Women’s Health
Eastern Urban Zone, NL Health Services
NORTHERN ALBERTA
Doran Walker
Manager, Alberta Health Services
Founder, BioMD Consulting Ltd.
NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO
Darcy McWhirter, CHE
Director, Student Success
Confederation College
QUÉBEC
Stéphanie Despins, CHE/LCS
Directrice générale adjointe
CIUSSS de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec
SOUTHERN ALBERTA
Krista Chapman, CHE
Assistant Vice President, Clinical Excellence & Quality
CBI Home Health
SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO
Steph Ouellet, CHE
CEO
Alzheimer Society Southwest Partners
VANCOUVER ISLAND
Melanie Stack, CHE
Manager, Leadership & Organizational Development
Island Health