Celebrating Success: Our Awards

The dedication and innovation of our more than 8,000 employees has allowed ATCO to celebrate many achievments, including top industry awards. The following are but a few of our awards.

Safety Peformance

• ATCO Electric and ATCO Gas received two Awards of Excellence in 2011 for their unique approach to safety education. The Canadian Public Relations Society and the International Association of Business Communicators (Edmonton) both recognized ATCO Energy Theatre – a program aimed at educating young people about gas and electricity safety.

• ATCO Electric received the Ambassador for Safety Business Partner Award in 2010 for being a champion among local businesses in Grande Prairie.

• ATCO Power’s Barking Power Plant in the United Kingdom was awarded a “5-Star” rating from the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents in 2010. 

• ATCO Power, ATCO Pipelines, ATCO Midstream, ATCO Structures & Logistics and ATCO Electric have all been honoured over the years as “Best Safety Performers” by Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Council.

• ATCO Power received the Bronze Award of Excellence from the Canadian Electricity Association for employee safety in 2009 and 2006.

• ATCO Structures & Logistics received the Minnesota Star Award in 2008 for going above and beyond basic health and safety standards in the High Bridge Energy Project in St. Paul. 

• ATCO Gas was recognized by the Canadian Gas Association in 2007 for its best practices in pipeline damage prevention. The company achieved the lowest number of third-party damages per 1,000 locates in all of Canada. 

• ATCO Power awarded the Saskatchewan WCB’s 2004 Certificate of Achievement: Best Performer Award.

Business Practices

• Nancy Southern, President & Chief Executive Officer, ATCO Group, was named 2011 Business Person of the Year by Alberta Venture Magazine. In announcing the award, Publisher Ruth Kelly, said Ms. Southern “exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit” that shapes Alberta.

• ATCO Structures & Logistics was awarded, 2011 Employer of the Year, by the Southeast Advocates for Employment. The organization, which works with the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan, recognized ATCO Structure & Logistics for providing employment and job skills to people working at the ATCO Lodge near Estevan, Saskatchewan.

• ATCO Electric received the Edison Award for construction of the 350 km Dover-to-Whitefish transmission line in 2005. The international award recognized ATCO Electric’s leadership, innovation and contribution to the advancement of the electric industry in constructing a major transmission line on-time and on-budget.

• ATCO Electric was chosen Gold Winner, Favourite Corporate Citizens by the Western Wheel Community newspaper in 2005.

• ATCO Electric was awarded Business of the Year in 2006 by the High Prairie Native Friendship Centre and in 2005 by the Fort Vermillion Chamber of Commerce.

Customer Service

• In 2006, 2007 and 2008, ATCO I-Tek's call centre was named the top customer service provider in the North American energy sector.

Aboriginal Relations

• ATCO Structures & Logistics and Fort McKay First Nation were honoured by the Alberta Government and Alberta Chamber of Resources with the 2009 Rewarding Partnerships Award.

Community Commitment

• ATCO Gas received a Canadian Blood Services Lifeblood Award in 2010 for its outstanding support of the national blood donor program.

• ATCO Electric and ATCO Gas received the Mayor's Excellence Award in 2007 in the category of Curriculum Support for its partnership with Drumheller Composite High School and the Royal Tyrrell Museum.

• ATCO Electric and ATCO Gas received the Wild Rose Foundation’s Corporate Volunteer Award of Excellence in 2007.

• ATCO Gas received an Energy-TV award in 2008 for Best Corporate Community Giving Program – ATCO EPIC (Employees Participating in Communities).

The Environment

• In 2011, ATCO Gas’s Drake Landing solar community project in Okotoks, Alberta, won the prestigious Energy Globe World Award after achieving a world record with its first-of-a-kind, large-scale seasonal storage solar heating system. The 52-home solar community is the first in the world to receive 80 per cent of its yearly space heating through solar energy. In 2007, ATCO Gas received an Energy-TV Award for the project.

• ATCO Pipelines achieved the Gold Champion Level Reporter designation – the highest level – from the Canadian Greenhouse Gas Challenge Registry for its Greenhouse Gas Action Plan to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

• ATCO Power’s Poplar Hill Generating Plant was awarded the McGraw Hill Power Plant of the Year Award in 2000.

• ATCO founders, S.D. Southern and his son, R.D. Southern were inducted into the Modular Institute Hall of Fame for their lifetime industry achievments.

• ATCO Structures & Logistics has received several awards over the years from the Modular Building Institute (MBI). 2011 was another winning year.

• 2011 MBI Awards:

• First place for Permanent Modular Retail or Hospitality: Restauarante Rucaray (Chile)

• Honourable Mention for Temporary Modular under 5,000 sq. ft.: US Well site Unit

• Honourable Mention Permanent Modular Healthcare: Centro Referencial De Salud (Chile)

• Honourable Mention for Marketing piece: Blast-resistant building brochure

• ATCO Structures & Logistics completion of the Shell Albian Villiage near Fort McMurray was recognized as the Top Industrial Project by Alberta Construction Magazine in 2006. The company received the same award in 2008 for the construction of Creeburn Lake Lodge in Northern Alberta.