Perth County named Canada's safest public-sector employer at national awards ceremony

Perth County representatives celebrate being named Canada's safest public-sector employer at the 2026 Canada's Safest Employer Awards ceremony in Toronto Oct. 22. Pictured, from left, are Krystal Holmes (HR generalist), Bill Wilson (director of public works), Vanessa Giroux (executive assistant to the CAO), Charlotte Gravlev (manager of legislative services/clerk), Lori Wolfe (chief administrative officer), Ian Brown (commander, paramedic services), Marion McKeen (director of human resources), Sue Orr (deputy warden), Stefan Zhelev (executive director of legal/corporate services) and Jill Pacheco (court services clerk). Photo courtesy of Perth County

By Galen Simmons

Perth County has been recognized as Canada's safest public-sector employer, an achievement county leadership says reflects years of commitment from staff, management and council to building a workplace culture where health and safety are everyone's responsibility.

The county received the national honour at the 2026 Canada's Safest Employer Awards ceremony in Toronto Oct. 22, recognizing its workplace safety record, innovative programming and ongoing efforts to protect employees and the public.

“I think what set Perth County apart is that safety isn’t just a program here, it’s part of our workplace culture,” CAO Lori Wolfe said. “We take a proactive approach by identifying risks, investing in meaningful training, listening to employee feedback and continuously improving our practices.”

The county's health and safety initiatives include monthly workplace inspections, job-specific hazard assessments, specialized defensive driving training, regular safety education for employees who interact with the public and a proactive mental health program for paramedics.

According to Wolfe, the county's approach goes beyond meeting legislated safety requirements by empowering employees to identify potential hazards and suggest improvements.

“Safety is a shared responsibility, and this achievement belongs to our employees, managers, health and safety representatives, council, and management team,” Wolfe said.

Perth County Warden Dean Trentowsky credited the consistency of the county's health and safety programming and the collective commitment of employees, management and successive councils for the recognition.

“It brings credibility to everyone in the organization – credibility in the decision making, the planning and the execution of the corporate health and safety program, a program that is designed to protect all of our employees and to protect all of the public that we serve,” Trentowsky said.

Beyond recognizing the county's existing practices, both Wolfe and Trentowsky said the award could help Perth County attract and retain employees by demonstrating its commitment to providing a safe, supportive and respectful workplace.

“People want to work where they feel valued, supported and safe,” Wolfe said. “This award reinforces that Perth County is an employer that prioritizes employee wellbeing and invests in its people.”

The Canada's Safest Employer Awards have been presented annually since 2011. Winners are selected through a multi-stage evaluation process involving research, verification, employee perception surveys and assessment by an independent panel of occupational health and safety experts.

Despite the national recognition, Wolfe emphasized the county's commitment to workplace safety will continue evolving through training, investment in equipment and resources, and ongoing assessments of both physical and psychological workplace risks.

“This recognition is something we’re incredibly proud of, but it’s not the finish line,” she said.

Trentowsky echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that continued learning, improvement and attention to detail will remain essential to the county's success.

As warden, Trentowsky also extended his gratitude to current and former county employees and councillors whose contributions helped establish and maintain the program.

“This award belongs to every employee,” Wolfe said. “We're incredibly proud of this recognition, but even more proud of the people behind it.”