GPS '15: First-ever GPS Awards handed out to industry firms in Calgary
CALGARY, Alberta -- Recognizing that evolution in the oil and gas industry, especially during times of low oil prices, is driven by technology innovation and leadership, the Global Petroleum Show (GPS) has embarked on a new effort to recognize these achievements. Accordingly, the first-ever GPS Awards event was held on Tuesday at the Stampede show grounds in Calgary.
The GPS Awards are composed of six categories: Aboriginal Engagement; Community Engagement & Corporate Social Responsibility; Newsmaker of the Year; Leadership–Expanding the Oil and Gas Industry in Canada; Environmental Innovation; and Innovation in Technologies. In an Awards booklet handed out to attendees, Event Director Bruce Carew noted “we created the GPS Awards to shine a spotlight on excellence within our community and promote healthy advancement in the industry.”
A six-man panel of industry professionals, representing companies, associations and academia, judged the award submissions and picked the winners. In the Aboriginal Engagement category, the winner was Primco Dene & Cold Lake First Nations. Additional nominees included the Woodland Cree First Nation/ATCO Structures & Logistics, and Fort McKay First Nation/Shell. This particular award celebrates and recognizes an organization and local or national aboriginal community that has demonstrated best efforts and success in engaging in consultation, business development opportunities or community development.
In the Community Engagement & Corporate Social Responsibility category, the winner was Enbridge Pipelines Inc. Additional nominees included ASEINC and the TERRAPRO Group of Companies. This award recognizes the industry’s efforts in contributing to the betterment of the wider community, which is linked directly to the industry, and in which the organization operates.
The third category, Newsmaker of the Year, recognizes an industry reporter, recorder or journalist, who has contributed to ensuring that the most up-to-date and accurate information is delivered to the public eye. The winner was Yadullah Hussain of Postmedia Network Inc. Other nominees included Erin Collins of CBC and Rob Hislop of iKan Media.
For the Leadership Award, the winner was Peter Tertzakian of ARC Financial. Also nominated was Gary Guidry of Caracal Energy/Glencore E&P (Canada) Inc. and Quinn Holtby of Katch Kan Ltd. This category recognizes an individual, who has contributed to a global impact in advancing the industry through expansion, efficiencies or enhanced perceptions of the Canadian industry.
In the fifth category, Environmental Innovation, the winner was the BC Oil & Gas Commission. Additional nominees included GTIT and Berg Chilling Systems Inc., Blue Spark Energy Inc., MemPore Corporation and SECURE Energy Services. This award recognizes any efforts, initiatives or technological developments that have minimized or eliminated the environmental footprint of the industry.
The final category, Innovation in Technologies, recognizes a project, product or service that creates high-impact, disruptive innovation that will have a major impact on energy efficiency, emissions, HSE, schedule or quality and practical considerations. The inaugural winner in this category was Enereco. Nominees included Alphabet Energy, Blackline Safety, QCD Technology/Dynamic Drilling, SECURE Energy Services and SWTA.
The show organizers at dmg events said that they are pleased with the initial year’s nominees and awards, and they plan to make this project an annual event, timed to occur during GPS.
