It’s HRAI Awards season.

Merit Award 

The Merit Award is HRAI’s pinnacle award and is given in recognition of an outstanding contribution by an industry representative to the development and progress of the Institute and the Canadian HVACR industry. 

Life Members 

Recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly to HRAI and the industry for 20 years or more. 

President’s Recognition 

Honours individuals for significant contributions to HRAI and the industry. 

Warren Heeley Environmental Achievement Award 

In recognition of a significant contribution to environmental services, including but not limited to protecting or enhancing the environment within the HVACR industry. 
 
HRAI Staff Recognition Award 

Invites nominations to recognize HRAI staff who go above and beyond in delivering value, solving problems, and strengthening member engagement. 

HRAI Members are invited to submit their nominations to hraimail@hrai.ca 

Use the subject line :AWARD NOMINATIONS 

PAST WINNERS: 

Merit Award 

The Merit Award is HRAI’s pinnacle award and is given in recognition of an outstanding contribution by an industry representative to the development and progress of the Institute and the Canadian HVACR industry. 

Winners of the Merit Award to date are: 

1981 - Harry H. Haughton (Weathermakers) 

1981 - Ralph Fleming (Boehmers) 

1986 - H.R. (Bob) Bach (Atlas Air Conditioning) 

1986 - Walter Koshman (Edmonton Refrigeration) 

1988 - William G. White (Honeywell Ltd.) 

1988 - T. Edward (Ted) Squires (Anova Inc.) 

1992 - Barry C. Bowman (Barry Bowman Mechanical) 

1994 - Gearld G. Inch (Roy Inch & Sons Ltd.) 

1995 - John Blair (Marimore Holdings Limited) 

1995 - Roger Grochmal (Atlas Air Conditioning Co.) 

1996 - Tom Boutette (B & D Thermo Supplies Inc.) 

1996 - Garry Stroud (Copeland Canada) 

1996 - Clarence Boonstra (Boonstra Heating & Air Conditioning) 

1997 - Robert A. Barnett (Boutette & Barnett Trade Distribution Centre) 

1998 - Mike Edwards (Lennox Industries Canada Ltd.) 

1998 - Brian Baker (Custom Vac. Ltd.) 

2000 - Brian Hampton (Furnasman Heating) 

2000 - Rich Toews (B.C. Comfort Air Conditioning Ltd.) 

2001 - Peter Dittmar (Union Energy) 

2003 - Drew Keirstead (Kerr Controls Ltd.) 

2004 - William J. Barnett (Boutette & Barnett Trade Distribution Centre) 

2005 – Neil Smith (Arvin Air Systems Limited) 

2007 – Rick Jones 

2007 – Bill Vale (Lennox International Inc.) 

2008 – John Murphy (JE Murphy Ltd.) 

2008 – Ed Seaward (Union Gas) 

2009 – Nancy McKeraghan (Canco ClimateCare) 

2009 – Dennis Larson (Refrigerative Supply) 

2010 – Pierre Martin (Pro Kontrol) 

2011 – Mark Boncardo (Mexichem Fluor Canada Inc.) 

2011 – Dara Bowser (Bowser Technical Inc.) 

2012 – Rusty Jennings (Carrier Canada Ltd.) 

2012 – Jim Thomas (Refrigerant Services Inc.) 

2013 – Gerry Cellucci (Yorkland Controls) 

2013 – Keith Werner (Independent Supply) 

2014 – Ron Robinson (AtlasCare) 

2015 – David Morden (Morden Sales and Marketing Inc.) 

2015 – Ron Wright (Enertech-Global Canada) 

2016 – Norm Mierkalns (Mitsubishi Electric) 

2017 – Tom Dyer (Dyer HVAC Services Inc.) 

2017 – Jim Flowers (Linde Canada Limited) 

2018 – Dave McPherson (Rheem Canada Ltd.) 

2019 – Peter Steffes (Vollmer) 

2020 – Dave Weishuhn (Blue Flame) 

2020 – Sandy Barber (Carrier) 

2021 – Rick Ellul (Belimo) 

2022 – Bruce Passmore (EMCO) 

2023 – Dennis Kozina 

2024 – Bill Davis 

2025 – Tara Smith 

Life Members 

Individuals who have made a significant contribution to HRAI and the industry for 20 years or more. 

Those honoured to date include:  

1990 - William G. White (formerly of Honeywell Ltd.) 

1990 - Edgar T. Coles (formerly of Johnson Controls Ltd.) 

1990 - Kenneth C. Spinks (formerly of Lennox Industries (Canada) Ltd.) 

1992 - Fred L. Parker (formerly of Emerson Electric) 

1994 - Colin Hersh (formerly of Beaver Engineering) 

1995 - Ted Squires (The Squires Company) 

1996 - Allan R. Wallace (Inter-City Products - Canada) 

1997 - Douglas J. McDonald (Honeywell Ltd.) 

1999 - John Blair (Bridlewood Heating & Air Conditioning) 

1999 - Bill Francis (Francis Fuels Ltd.) 

2000 - Clarence Boonstra (Boonstra Heating & Air Conditioning) 

2000 - Garry Stroud (Copeland Canada) 

2001 - Tom Boutette (Boutette & Barnett Trade Distribution Centre) 

2001 - Gearld Inch (Roy Inch & Sons) 

2001 - Hart Holmstrom (Temp Air Control) 

2002 - Dave Tayler (D. Tayler Consulting Inc.)  

2003 - Tony Carrillo (Coleman/York) 

2003 - Duane Bower (Indoor Air Technologies) 

2004 - Les Wardlaw (York International Ltd.) 

2005 - Dennis Moyer (Carrier Canada) 

2005 - Ron Shuker (Plumbing & HVAC Product News) 

2006 – Walter Libby (Southern Supplies Ltd.) 

2006 – Lou Reitzel (Reitzel Heating & Sheet Metal Ltd.) 

2007 – Barry Bowman (Barry Bowman Mechanical) 

2009 – Bengt Sormon (Trane Canada 

2010 – Norman Fraser 

2011 – Ness Lakdawala (Dectron Inc.) 

2011 – Dan Sorochan (Sinclair Supply Ltd.) 

2011 – Dave Underwood (Isotherm Engineering Ltd.) 

2012 – Bob McKeraghan (Canco ClimateCare Heating & Air Conditioning) 

2014 – Rusty Jennings (Carrier Enterprise L.P.) 

2015 – John Murphy 

2016 – Nancy McKeraghan (Canco ClimateCare Heating & Air Conditioning Ltd.) 

2017 – Pierre Martin (Pro Kontrol) 

2017 – Gerry Cellucci (Yorkland Controls) 

2018 – David Morden (Morden National Sales & Marketing) 

2018 – Ron Robinson (AtlasCare) 

2019 – Roger Grochmal (AtlasCare) 

2022 – Peter Steffes (Vollmer) 

2023 – Marc Gendron 

2024 – Rob Flipse 

2025 – Jim Thomas (Refrigerant Services Inc.) 

President’s Recognition 

In recognition of a significant contribution to HRAI and the industry. 

1994 – Atlas Air Conditioning 

1994 – Bill Vale (Lennox Industries Canada Ltd.) 

1995 – Steve Gertsman (Sheltertech Services) 

1995 – Manitoba Chapter 

1996 – Robert A. Lane (Loss Leader) 

1997 – Trevor Frith (York International) 

1998 – Southern Alberta Institute of Technology 

1999 – Ron Verch (B.C.I.T.) 

1999 – Bengt Sormon (Trane Canada) 

2000 – Barry Beck (Stewart and Beck Ltd.) 

2000 – Ed Seaward (Union Gas Ltd.) 

2001 – Dara Bowser (Bowser Technical Inc.) 

2001 – John Hockman (J.L. Hockman Consulting Inc.) 

2002 – Tony Carrillo (York International Ltd./Coleman) 

2002 – John Menzies (Union Gas Ltd.) 

2002 – David Underwood (Isotherm Engineering Ltd.) 

2003 – Barry Bowman (Barry Bowman Mechanical) 

2003 – Canco ClimateCare Heating & Air Conditioning 

2003 – Ron Robinson (Atlas Robinson ClimateCare) 

2004 – HRAC of Waterloo/Wellington 

2005 – Cathy Hanlon (Enbridge Gas Distribution Inc.) 

2005 – Manitoba Hydro 

2005 – Mechanical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) 

2006 – Mark Boncardo (Ineos Fluor Canada Inc.) 

2006 – Nutch Brands 

2007 – John Hockman (J.L. Hockman Consulting Inc.) 

2007 – Stewart Creaser (Halifax Heating & Air Conditioning Co. Inc.) 

2008 – John Williams (Deflecto Canada Ltd.) 

2009 – Bruce Shaw (Trane Canada) 

2010 – Guy Howell (Union Gas) 

2011 – Wayne Fischer (AIRIA Brands Inc.) 

2012 – Robert Flipse (Gordon Latham Ltd.) 

2013 – Ian Thornley (Union Gas) 

2013 – Refrigerative Supply 

2014 – Jacques Brodeur (Natural Resources Canada) 

2014 – Randy Dyck (Elmira District Secondary School) 

2014 – Eric Foren (Roode & Rose Plumbing & Heating) 

2014 – Tom Vovk (Bramalea Secondary School) 

2015 – Environment Canada 

2015 – Bea Olivastri (Friends of The Earth) 

2016 – John Bonus (Wolseley HVACR) 

2016 – Dianne Murray (Union Gas) 

2016 – David Weishuhn (Blue Flame Heating & Air Conditioning) 

2017 – Tom Cates (On The Level HVAC Design) 

2017 – Andy Gould (Reliance Home Comfort) 

2017 – Nick Reggi 

2017 – Steve Smith (Enertech Global) 

2017 – Scott Stevens (Broan-Nutone Canada ULC) 

2018 – Dave Derksen (Tech-Air) 

2018 – Tim Inch (Service Experts) 

2018 – Mark Szpytma (Master Group) 

2019 – Peter Spoelstra 

2019 – Simon Blake (Plumbing & HVAC) 

2020 – John Marshall (TSSA) 

2020 – Sandy Barber (Carrier) 

2021 – Victor Hyman (Climate Care Group) 

2021 – Gord Cooke 

2022 – City of Vancouver 

2022 – Francis Bell 

2023 – William Yeo 

2023 – Ralph Suppa 

2023 – John Harris 

2024 – Dick Thomas 

2024 – Brad Mavin 

2025 – Andre Pirnat 

2025 – Jamie Hutt-Semple 

2025 – Dick Foster 

2025 – Tom Vasilak 

2025 – Mike Miller 

Warren Heeley Environmental Achievement Award 

In recognition of a significant contribution to environmental services including but not limited to the protection or enhancement of the environment within the HVACR industry.  

2010 – Jim Thomas – Refrigerant Services Inc. (1st Environmental Achievement Award) 

2015  - Veolia Environmental 

2015 – SENA Waste Services 

2015 – A-Gas/RemTec 

2015 – Fielding Chemical Technologies Inc. 

2015 – Refrigerant Services Inc. 

2015 – Harold Marcus Ltd. 

2015 – Friends of the Earth Canada 

2015 – Environment Canada 

2015 – Linde Canada Ltd. 

2018 – Ontario Geothermal Association 

2019 – Katelyn Imrie - Fielding Environmental 

2020 – Stuart Smith – Chemours Canada 

2021 – Marie Li-Ying – Honeywell Ltd. 

2022 – Jim Bolger – Waterloo Energy Products 

2023 – Ruth Talbot 

2024 – Veolia – North America 

2025 – Tim McRae (Chemours) 

Back to Newsletters