About ESA

Powerline Safety: Charlie Leibold and Ryan Good at Enova Power Corporation

Recognized for strengthening electrical safety among first responders, Charlie Leibold and Ryan Good at Enova Power Corporation transformed technical electrical safety guidance into practical, scenario-based training now embedded within emergency services across Waterloo Region. The program is mandatory for approximately 400 Region of Waterloo paramedics, is used to train new Waterloo Fire Rescue recruits and has helped improve hazard recognition while contributing to no reported electrical contacts involving the region’s three emergency service groups since its implementation.

Worker Safety: Barton Malow Canada

Honoured for setting a new benchmark for electrical safety in Ontario’s emerging battery energy storage sector, Barton Malow Canada safely delivered one of the province’s first permitted utility-scale battery energy storage facilities. The Sanjgon Battery Energy Storage Facility in Lakeshore, Ontario, was completed with more than 70,000 work hours and zero lost-time incidents. The project also contributed to Barton Malow Canada surpassing one million consecutive hours worked without a lost-time injury, demonstrating a deeply embedded culture of safety that extends well beyond a single project.

Consumer and Home Safety: Toronto Community Housing Corporation

Recognized for embedding electrical safety into one of Ontario’s largest social housing portfolios, Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) has taken a proactive, data-driven approach to identifying, tracking and correcting electrical hazards through its participation in ESA’s Continuous Safety Services (CSS) program. The initiative has strengthened oversight, standardized safety practices and helped protect thousands of residents by driving continuous improvement across its housing portfolio.

Winner Spotlight: Inaugural Electrical Safety Partnership Award

In 2026, ESA introduced the Electrical Safety Partnership Award to recognize organizations whose collaboration helps Ontario grow and electrify safely.

The seven inaugural recipients, FIFA Canada, The City of Toronto, Toronto Hydro, Exhibition Place, Aggreko, Arena Group and Showtech Power & Lighting exemplified that vision as Toronto prepared to host the World Cup — one of the largest sporting events in the world. Through early engagement, open communication and coordinated planning with ESA, they supported the safe installation and operation of a complex temporary electrical system that included well over 600 individually scheduled electrical circuits and an estimated 10 to 15 kilometres of temporary power cable. Their partnership helped ensure the event was delivered safely and established a model for future large-scale events. 

Winner Spotlight: Licensed Electrical Contractor Recognition Award for 2026

For more than 50 years, Conestogo Electric has built a reputation for technical excellence, exceptional customer service and community leadership. This year, the company was recognized for helping strengthen the electrical profession through mentorship, skilled trades education and by opening active job sites to researchers studying how electricians work, helping develop safer practices that will benefit electrical workers across the industry.

Winner Spotlight: Public Safety Officer Special Recognition Award for 2026

This year, the Heavy Construction Equipment Operator programs at Conestoga College and Fleming College received ESA’s Public Safety Officer Special Recognition Award.

For nearly a decade, the two programs have partnered with ESA to embed electrical safety into their curriculum, preparing students to recognize hazards before they enter the workforce. The impact extends well beyond graduation, with former students sharing real-world stories of how those lessons helped them identify electrical hazards and make decisions that prevented serious incidents.