James Elliott Davis
Sherwood Park, Alberta President, Alberta Professional Fire Fighters’ & Paramedics’ Association Elliott has very much enjoyed representing his peers in the areas they were misunderstood and underrepresented for the betterment of their working conditions. This has brought him from the Fire Station coffee table to the Boardroom table – a place he never imagined he’d […]
Alison Claire Croft
Pincher Creek, Alberta Senior Manager, Scotiabank Alison Croft’s work reflects a commitment to understanding and strengthening resilience in people, communities, and systems. Her education in environmental science (M.ES, M.Sc) examining climate-sensitive urban water systems and High Arctic wetlands, shaped her view that diversity strengthens resilience and sustainable systems must adapt to change. While building her […]
Falice Chin
Calgary, Alberta Executive Producer, CBC Ottawa Falice Chin is the Alberta bureau chief for The Hub and a former executive producer of news at CBC. She has reported from Canada and the Middle East, covering business, energy, politics and public policy. Her work focuses on the structural forces shaping Western Canada — from federal–provincial relations […]
Harold Brandt
Fort McMurray, Alberta Membership Development Advisor, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 955 Harold Brandt is a dedicated leader driven by public service and the industries that power his region. He serves as Team Lead for Membership Development with IUOE 955 and is an outspoken advocate for the oilsands and firearms rights. His community involvement […]
Thalia Aspeslet
Calgary, Alberta Indigenous Engagement Manager, Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation Thalia Aspeslet weaves her personal and professional interests together through a lifelong commitment to family, community, and ancestral responsibility, guided by the Cree teachings of miyo pimatisiwin (living a good life) and wahkohtowin (relationship with all our relations). This journey deepened more than twenty years ago […]
Melanie Arsenault
Cochrane, Alberta Commanding Officer Real Properties Operations Unit (West), Department of National Defence, Canadian Armed Forces Lieutenant-Colonel Melanie Arsenault is a Canadian Armed Forces Construction Engineering Officer and licensed Professional Engineer with a passion for infrastructure, inclusive design, and organizational improvement. She has served across Canada and overseas, including a deployment to Afghanistan and command […]
Dr. David Wishart
Year: 2026 · Alberta Creating the field of metabolomics Nominated by: Universities Canada About the Innovation Dr. David Wishart pioneered and defined metabolomics, the high‑throughput study of small molecules central to understanding health, disease, and the environment. As founder of the Human Metabolome Project and creator of databases including HMDB, FooDB, and DrugBank, he helped […]
Helen Watts, Executive Director of Student Energy (team lead, pictured), Angela Paley, Shakti Ramkumar, Abdullah Khair, Claris Canta
Year: 2025 · Alberta Student Energy Nominated by: PrairiesCan About the Innovation Student Energy represents a truly global movement for advancing youth-led energy solutions and equipping a new generation of leaders to accelerate the transition to a sustainable, equitable energy future. It is harnessing the critical talent and abilities of youth to drive the energy […]
Team Co-Leads: Dr. Sumantra Monty Ghosh (pictured), Lisa Morris-Miller, CEO, Grenfell Ministries, and NORS
Year: 2025 · Alberta National Overdose Response Service – NORS Nominated by: Universities Canada About the Innovation The NORS program is currently the only national service supporting individuals who use drugs alone. Currently, the opioid crisis is the largest public health crisis facing Canadians, and 70% of individuals who have died, died by using drugs […]
CAAWGUG
Year: 2024 · Alberta The Canadian Archaeological Association Working Group on Unmarked Graves (CAAWGUG) Nominated by: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. About the Innovation The Canadian Archeological Association Working Group on Unmarked Graves (CAAWGUG) developed resources for those affected by the search for missing children and unmarked burials. CAAWGUG has served as an expert […]