CPC Awards of Excellence Recipients

CPC Awards of Excellence Recipients

Congratulations to all of Career Professionals of Canada's Awards of Excellence program Winners, Honourable Mentions, and Nominees!

Outstanding Career Leader (National Impact)

Winner: Stephen Andrada

Nominee: Eman Ismail-Elmasri

Outstanding Career Professional

Winner: Afreen Sayyed(opens in new tab)

Winner: Carolyn Leeson

Honourable Mention: Ayesha Saeed

Honourable Mention: Michelle Schafer

Honourable Mention: Shauna Specht

Nominee: Jennifer Bouley

Nominee: Nadia Qasmieh

Nominee: Rachel Kubacki

Outstanding Community Outreach Strategist

Winner: Michelle Schafer

Winner: Shaye Belanger

Outstanding Employment Interview Strategist

Nominee: Barb Penney

Outstanding Social Media Strategist

Nominee: Karuna Dhawan

Outstanding Résumé, Career Change

Honourable Mention: Nadia Qasmieh

Nominee: Karuna Dhawan

Nominee: Natalie MacLellan

Outstanding Résumé, Creative

Winner: Amy Britta Watt

Outstanding Résumé, Executive

Winner: Barb Penney

Honourable Mention: Gabrielle Suttis

Nominee: Dorothy Keenan

Nominee: Karen Shane

Nominee: Marian Bernard

Outstanding Résumé, New Graduate / Entry-Level

Winner: Any Britta Watt

Winner: Shauna Specht

Honourable Mention: Marian Bernard

Nominee: Dorothy Keenan

Nominee: Natalie MacLellan

Nominee: Shobana Thangavadivel

Outstanding Résumé, Technical

Winner: Gabrielle Suttis

Nominee: Karen Shane

Outstanding Volunteer Contributors (Executive Director's Awards)

Recipients:

  • Jennifer Bouley for her enthusiastic leadership and commitment as Special Events Group Lead. As a relatively new CPC member, Jennifer quickly became a supportive and engaged member of the Events Team, generously making time to facilitate and moderate events. Her holistic perspective brings another valuable dimension to CPC’s career conversations and member experiences.
  • Britt-Mari Sykes for her exceptional initiative, dependability, and generosity as a CPC volunteer. Britt-Mari frequently offers her support before being asked and approaches every request with enthusiasm and professionalism. Her contributions across CPC reflect her genuine commitment to the organization and its community.
  • Eman Ismail-Elmasri for her outstanding contributions to CPC’s Communications Team. Eman has written several meaningful articles for CPC’s News Feed and regularly helps extend CPC’s reach and community engagement through her active presence on LinkedIn. She has also stepped forward as Social Media Group Lead, where she will encourage continued participation across CPC’s social channels.
  • Sharon Graham for her extraordinary mentorship, guidance, and volunteer leadership as CPC advanced several important organizational initiatives. Sharon helped restore and strengthen CPC’s brand, style, and professional standards while championing Certification Modernization. She also volunteered extensive time and expertise to create the Certified Future Strategist certification.
  • Cathy Milton for her exceptional commitment to protecting the integrity and excellence of CPC’s programs and initiatives. Cathy’s leadership and careful oversight helped the 2026 Awards of Excellence program maintain its high professional standards. She also generously contributes her editorial expertise to reviewing CPC projects, publications, and initiatives.
  • Barb Penney for her valuable guidance as CPC strengthened its organizational and operational foundation. Barb contributed a thoughtful perspective throughout the human resources recruitment process, helping CPC carefully assess its staffing needs and move forward with confidence. Her practical insight and willingness to contribute supported CPC’s continued growth and development.
  • Dorothy Keenan for her thoughtful leadership and wide-ranging contributions to CPC’s continued evolution. Dorothy helped guide the human resources recruitment process, contributed valuable perspective to CPC’s vision and future direction, and actively supported various volunteer teams. Her strategic insight, encouragement, and willingness to contribute wherever needed strengthened the organization.
  • Brad Whitehorn for his significant contributions to CPC’s communications and strategic development. As volunteer Communications Team Lead, Brad helped strengthen CPC’s public voice and connection with its members. He has continued to generously share his experience, perspective, and professional insight, providing thoughtful guidance that has supported CPC’s outreach, decision-making, and continued progress.

Honourable Mentions:

  • Board of Directors for its collective leadership throughout a year of transition, progress, and renewed momentum. Every Board member contributed meaningful support, guidance, and strategic counsel. Their shared commitment helped CPC advance important initiatives, strengthen its foundation, and create new opportunities for continued success.
  • Events Team for creating welcoming, relevant, and engaging opportunities for CPC members to learn, connect, and participate in their professional community.
  • Certification & Awards Team for safeguarding the quality and credibility of CPC’s certification and awards programs while supporting candidates, maintaining professional standards, and contributing to ongoing modernization.
  • Communications Team for strengthening CPC’s public voice, sharing member-centred stories and resources, and encouraging meaningful participation across CPC’s communication channels.

If you have any questions about the Awards of Excellence program, please e-mail info@CareerProCanada.ca.

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