2026 Awards of Distinction Recipients

The Award of Excellence is a recognition award presented to organizations in the Alberta Capital Region that raised more than $1,000,000 in 2025.

Recipient: PCL Construction

PCL Construction’s “Carnival of Caring: The Greatest Give on Earth” brought connection, creativity, and community to life — raising an incredible $2.5 million! From immersive events to record-breaking jobsite engagement, their campaign blended innovation with hands-on impact. By uniting employees around purpose and generosity, PCL once again demonstrated extraordinary leadership in building stronger communities.

Recipient: Enbridge

Enbridge’s  “Heads, Hearts, Hands” campaign inspired strategic action, compassionate engagement, and meaningful volunteerism — raising over $1 million for United Way. Through innovative gift-matching strategies, strong leadership alignment, and energized employee participation, they fostered a powerful culture of generosity across the organization. Enbridge continues to show what’s possible when purpose leads and commitment follows.

This award is presented to the organization or individual whose new and innovative idea generated a big payoff for United Way and our purpose to build a strong and vibrant community where no one is left behind.

Recipient: Stuff-a-Bus for Schools Committee, City of Edmonton

In 2025, The City of Edmonton launched their inaugural “Stuff-a-Bus for Schools” campaign. In partnership with community leaders, they mobilized volunteers and filled ETS buses to provide students from All in for Youth schools with over 250 backpacks and thousands of dollars’ worth of much-needed school supplies.

Recipient: Enigineering Day of Caring Committee

The Engineering Day of Caring Committee reimagined what a single day of service could accomplish. Hosting their largest project to date in a new community, they mobilized over 150 volunteers to transform a multi-tenant frontline agency hub serving families and youth. By scaling up rather than scaling back, they delivered a bold, collaborative build that expanded visibility and created lasting impact. 

This award is presented to the Workplace Campaign Committee that showed innovation, teamwork, and enthusiasm in promoting and executing their campaign, achieving stronger-than-expected results in the workplace.

Recipient (under 250 employees): MEGlobal Canada

MEGlobal Canada’s campaign committee delivered energy, innovation, and record-breaking results. Through a focused three-week campaign featuring site-wide lunches, creative games, and a new digital Campaign Hub, they kept engagement high among both staff and contractors. Despite operational changes, their strategic planning paid off, raising over $10,700 through events alone — the highest in their history.

Recipient (between 250 – 1000 employees): Spartan Controls

Spartan Controls’ campaign committee brought bold ideas and unstoppable momentum to this year’s campaign. Through events including a new Balloon Pop and Car Smash, they energized participation across the organization. Despite leadership changes and logistical challenges, their early planning, creativity, and resilience led to outstanding engagement and fundraising success. 

Recipient (over 1000 employees): Enbridge

Enbridge’s Campaign Steering Committee brought the “Heads, Hearts, Hands” vision to life, blending strategy, compassion, and action to deliver exceptional results. Through innovative gift-matching strategies, strong volunteer mobilization, and disciplined execution, they inspired a culture of generosity across the organization. Their leadership drove increased donor participation and surpassed ambitious goals.

This award is presented to an initiative that increased awareness of community needs and the impact of United Way donations, showed excellence in coordinating and motivating employees, and achieved stronger-than-expected results in the workplace.

Recipient: BMO Financial Group 

BMO Financial Group elevated education and engagement across their campaign through myth-busting, impactful storytelling, and hands-on experiences. From frontline agency tours to inspiring speakers, their approach deepened their employees’ understanding of United Way’s impact at every level. By empowering leaders and teams with knowledge and purpose, BMO strengthened connection and commitment across their organization.

This award is presented to the Employee Campaign Chair(s) who demonstrated exceptional leadership, creativity, and commitment in planning and executing their workplace campaign. They went above and beyond the call of duty, achieving challenging campaign goals and objectives.

Recipient (Public Sector): Crysta Hammond, Alberta Public Service, Affordability and Utilities

Crysta Hammond has transformed her workplace’s campaign through bold leadership, creativity, and personal commitment. By combining clear strategy with meaningful storytelling and hands-on engagement, she inspired record-breaking participation and exceeded fundraising goals. Crysta built a campaign rooted in education, pride, and purpose.

Recipient (Private Sector): Joshua Swaok, PCL Construction  

Joshua Swaok reimagined what a workplace campaign could achieve. By immersing himself in United Way’s impact, championing innovation, and empowering his team to think bigger, he led one of the region’s most dynamic campaigns. His commitment to education, hands-on action, and bold participation goals inspired record-breaking engagement. 

This award is presented to the workplace campaign which made intentional efforts to engage the next generation of community leaders, retirees, and/or women and gender-diverse groups in campaign activities to increase awareness and support of United Way initiatives.

Recipient: Dow Canada

Dow Canada expanded the reach of United Way’s Women United initiative through intentional engagement and meaningful conversations across their workplace. From hosting empowering events to engaging new Women United Ambassadors, their efforts are helping build a stronger network of women driving change in a male-dominated industry.

This award is presented to the United Way Funded Partner campaign that showed outstanding commitment, dedication and creativity executing their own United Way employee campaign.

Recipient: The Family Centre

The Family Centre’s campaign reflected the power of collective care. By creating a safe, supportive space for staff to give what they can, they model the belief that we are stronger together. From meaningful kickoff events to strong volunteer leadership and innovative engagement strategies, their annual campaign continues to evolve and thrive.

This award is presented to those who demonstrate unparalleled commitment to United Way’s purpose to build a strong and vibrant community where no one is left behind. These longstanding United Way volunteers have demonstrated exceptional commitment to our United Way for 10 years or more.

Recipient: Colin Lechelt  

Since 2014, Colin Lechelt has been a driving force behind United Way’s growth and innovation. From Employee Campaign Chair to Cabinet leader and Co-Chair of the New Partnerships Cabinet, he has championed initiatives that expand impact and strengthen financial empowerment across our region. As a mentor and community builder, Colin leads with vision and generosity. 

Recipient: Linda Sabourin 

For 12 years, Linda Sabourin has turned commitment into lasting impact — helping to raise more than $550,000 in support of United Way. A fearless, compassionate leader, she mentors campaign chairs across the public service, creates innovative fundraising events, and shares her lived experience to inspire action. Linda doesn’t just run campaigns — she builds community.

This award is presented to organizations that have demonstrated long-standing, consistent support for the Leaders of the Way giving program. Recipients of this award are honoured for their dedication to recognizing and celebrating the impact of workplace campaign donors who give $1,200 or more annually.

Recipient: EPCOR

EPCOR continues to demonstrate what sustained leadership truly looks like. Over the past seven years, they have grown their Leaders of the Way donor base by 72 percent! With more than a third of employee donors contributing 80 percent of total funds raised, their commitment to cultivating and celebrating leadership giving sets a powerful standard.

This award is presented to the committee members or organization volunteers who demonstrated exceptional commitment to the success of the workplace campaign.

Recipient: Janice Fleming, Alberta Public Service, Executive Council 

From securing sought-after auction items to personally handling logistics and leading creative fundraising events, Janice Fleming’s tireless efforts have been instrumental to her workplace campaign committee’s success. Whether building community connections or sharing her lived experience to inspire others, Janice leads with heart, determination, and generosity. 

This award recognizes non-profit leaders who go beyond their roles to strengthen the social sector and create lasting change in their communities.

Recipient: Kaela Hendra, encompass Community Safety Agency

Kaela Hendra is a visionary leader advancing coordinated responses to family violence in our community. Through strategic collaboration and tireless advocacy, she helped launch innovative partnerships that are expanding access to life-saving supports for thousands of individuals and families. Her ability to unite partners around shared solutions is driving lasting systems change.

This award recognizes an organization that is supporting United Way for the first time. Recipients are honoured for demonstrating a commitment to the community by empowering individuals to get involved and make a difference.

Recipient: Baker Hughes  

Baker Hughes made an immediate impact in their first year partnering with United Way. By integrating education, engagement, and fundraising into their vendor golf tournament, they created a meaningful experience for participants while raising over $2,000 in support of our community. Their thoughtful planning and commitment to collaboration set the stage for a strong and lasting partnership.

The new Red Tie Philanthropist Award honours a United Way donor whose incredible generosity, leadership, and heart have helped shape lasting change across our region. 

Inaurgral Recipients: Leon and Vonnie Zupan

For 40 years, Leon and Vonnie Zupan’s steadfast belief in United Way’s mission has shaped meaningful, lasting impact across our community. Together, their support has been truly transformational, not only at United Way, but across countless organizations throughout our region. They continue to lead by example as donors, community leaders, changemakers, and passionate advocates for a stronger, more connected Edmonton. Their giving is not defined by a single moment, but by decades of partnership, heart, and action – embodying everything this award was created to honour.