Youssef Belgana
Candiac, Quebec President of Local 6658, United Steelworkers Youssef Belgana is a union president whose leadership is grounded in integrity, respect, and collaboration. His personal and professional interests centre on defending workers’ rights, promoting fair working conditions, and strengthening social dialogue. Youssef has led collective bargaining processes, represented members before decision‑making bodies, and contributed to […]
Élyse Berger Pelletier
Sainte-Foy-Sillery-Cap-Rouge, Quebec Emergency physician, Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis Hospital Élyse is an emergency physician and health system leader with over 15 years of experience in clinical governance and system transformation. She has held national and institutional leadership roles in emergency care and prehospital services. As an associate clinical professor and researcher, her work focuses on hospital […]
Marjorie Balzano
Quebec City, Quebec Labor Relations Advisor, Association of Professional Administrative Staff at Laval University Marjorie Balzano is a labour relations advisor for the Association of Professional Administrative Staff at Laval University in Québec City, representing 1,800 workers. She brings expertise in counselling, career development, and the integration of immigrants, and is known for a people‑centred […]
Julien Baudry
Montreal, Quebec Chief of Staff, Vice-President Communications and External Relations, Port of Montreal Julien Baudry views public relations as a lever for collective progress and peace, grounded in dialogue and mutual understanding. His career is driven by continuous learning and by creating tangible impact through projects shaped by diverse perspectives. At the Port of Montréal, […]
Minnie Annahatak
Kangirsuk, Quebec Executive member of Kativik Regional Government, Kativik Regional Government Minnie Annahatak loves being out on the land year round, gathering, hunting, and fishing, with a particular enjoyment of ice fishing in extreme winter conditions. She is also skilled in making Inuit clothing, creating warm and durable garments for her immediate and extended family. […]
Lauren Alcorn
Montreal-West, Quebec Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Government Relations, One Drop Foundation Lauren Alcorn is Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships and Government Relations at the One Drop Foundation in Montréal. She brings more than 20 years of experience in the non‑profit sector, specializing in climate‑resilient water access (SDG 6) and cross‑sector partnerships. Lauren is deeply […]
Dr. Myriam Denov
Year: 2026 · Québec War-affected Youth as Co-researchers Nominated by: Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council About the Innovation Researching the lives of war‑affected children demands sensitive, innovative methods. A pioneer in youth participation, Dr. Myriam Denov engages young people as co‑researchers in data collection, analysis, and knowledge sharing. Her work has transformed participatory practices, […]
Mr. Stéphane Germain, President and CEO
Year: 2025 · Québec GHGSat Vanguard (C-10): Satellite-Based Emissions-Monitoring Nominated by: Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) About the Innovation GHGSat’s Vanguard (C-10) satellite marks a significant advancement in climate tech and environmental monitoring. As the world’s first commercial satellite capable of pinpointing carbon dioxide emissions from individual industrial facilities, this satellite provides unprecedented accuracy […]
Ms. Nivatha Balendra, CEO & Founder
Year: 2025 · Québec Dispersa – Decarbonizing surfactants through food waste Nominated by: Ingenium About the Innovation Dispersa® has commercialized the world’s first proprietary process to produce waste-derived biosurfactants. These biosurfactants are affordable, non-toxic alternatives to petroleum and palm-based synthetic surfactants in everyday consumer products, such as soaps and cosmetics. At commercial scale, their first […]
Mr. Laurent Dallaire and Mr. François Bédard
Year: 2024 · Québec Inneo Nominated by: ADRIQ About the Innovation Inneo is a revolution in the food world, being the first bacteriocin approved by Health Canada to eliminate bacteria from food. The team develops and produces innovative natural antimicrobials, offering a new generation of natural preservatives to ensure the naturalness and quality of food […]