Gala 2026 | Best Sustainability Report Competition: 24 Canadian Public Companies Recognized

On March 17, the awards ceremony of the Best Sustainability Report Competition was held—an annual event that highlights leading sustainability disclosure practices among Canadian public companies, while offering the next generation a hands-on experience at the heart of key industry issues. Hosted at Square BDC, the Gala brought together students, companies, and financial sector stakeholders around a shared objective: advancing transparency, rigour, and the quality of sustainability-related information. 

Learn more about the Best Sustainability Report Competition

An Evening Rich in Perspectives 

We had the privilege of welcoming Chrystal Healy, Assistant Vice President, Sustainability at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), as well as Milla Craig, Founder and President of Millani. In her keynote address, Ms. Craig highlighted the risks associated with ESG factors in a rapidly evolving economic environment, as well as the growing importance of governance issues for investors, including board governance, shareholder rights, and the integration of ESG and artificial intelligence. 

The evening also featured a panel discussion focused on sustainability accountability, moderated by Mouna Hazgui, Professor at HEC Montréal, and bringing together Poonam Madan, Consultant at Gilden; Julie-Anne Belzile (Cogeco); Saphira Suoi (Clear Skies); and Miriel Iputo (IFRS Foundation – ISSB Montréal). We extend our sincere thanks to all speakers for the depth and quality of their discussions. 

Excellence in Sustainability Disclosure: Winners and Jury Members

At the core of the competition were presentations delivered by students from seven Québec universities, who conducted a rigorous analysis of sustainability reports across eight industry sectors, in accordance with the SASB framework. This work made it possible to identify and recognize companies that stood out for the quality and relevance of their disclosure practices. 

We would like to congratulate all participating student teams, as well as the recognized public companies, for the strength of their commitment and their sustainability practices. 

Laval University |  Industry sector analyzed: Technology and Communication  

The recognized public companies, ranked in order, are:

1. Cogeco inc  

2. Telus Corp  

3. CGI 

The analysis team was composed of: Andréa Grégoire, Angela Péloquin, Michaël Béland, Maé Omphalius 

University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières (UQTR) | Industry sector analyzed: Transportation (Transport) 

The recognized public companies, ranked in order, are:

1. Magna International Inc 

2. Canadian National Railway Company 

3. Canadian Pacific Railway Limited 

The analysis team was composed of:  Justin Magier, Rébécca Ouédraogo, Junior Ulrich Koblan, Kouakou Emmanuel Aka, Kodjo Djomdjeu Fokou 

Université de Sherbrooke | Industry sector analyzed:  Banking financial

The recognized public companies, ranked in order, are:

1. BMO 

2. TD 

3. RBC Banque Royale 

The analysis team was composed of: Thomas Paquette, Jacob Lamontagne, Michaël Vincent, Jérémie Quintal 

Université de Sherbrooke | Industry sector analyzed:  Non-banking financial

The recognized public companies, ranked in order, are:

1. La Caisse

2. Manulife 

3. Investissements PSP 

The analysis team was composed of: Charles-Antoine Veilleux, Antoine Lussier, Mathias Bourbonnais 

McGill University | Industry sector analyzed: Renewable resources

The recognized public companies, ranked in order, are:

1. Mercer International Inc.  

2. Ballard Power Systems Inc.  

3. Papier Canada Inc.

The analysis team was composed of: Éloise Potvin, Bogdan Sava, Anthony Martin, Xin Yu Zhang, Tom Quinney 

HEC Montreal | Industry sector analyzed: Services

The recognized public companies, ranked in order, are:

1. GDI Integrated Facility Services 

2. Allied Hotel Properties Inc  

3. TC Transcontinental 

The analysis team was composed of: Kcénia Bondaz, Soudathip Phonlasouk, Émie Turcotte, Fanny Jaslet, Hugo Rossi 

University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM) | Industry sector analyzed: Oil and Gas

The recognized public companies, ranked in order, are:

1. Enbridge 

2. Pembina 

3. Gibson 

The analysis team was composed of: Horl Ritch Codio, Cassandra Bell, Patrick Oumar Sy 

Polytechnique Montreal | Industry sector analyzed: Infrastructures 

The recognized public companies, ranked in order, are:

1. WSP Global (WSP) 

2. Colliers (CIGI) 

3. Granite REIT (GRT.UN) 

The analysis team was composed of: Victor St-Louis, Kenza Zaimi, Lounis Mehmel, Karl Rizk 

We would also like to acknowledge the essential contribution of the professors who supported the teams throughout the process. The presentations demonstrated a high level of professionalism and remarkable analytical rigour. We are particularly proud to see such a committed and promising next generation. 

Strengthening Ties with the industry 

The presence of corporate representatives significantly enriched the student experience by adding a highly practical dimension to the evening and enabling students to build strong connections with the industry. 

In particular, we thank Grégoire Baillargeon (BMO), Frédéric Bélisle (TD Bank), Gina Amoroso, Christian Kokorian and Valérie Dinh (RBC Royal Bank), David Ung (Manulife), Karine Poirier, Laurence Vigneau and Ariane Woodward (La Caisse), Julie-Anne Belzile (Cogeco), Sébastien Barangé (CGI), Jean-Benoît Trahan (Enbridge), Manon Sigouin (TC Transcontinental), Jean-François Rajotte and Ryan Stanford (GDI Integrated Facility Services), Arianne La Boissonnière (Domtar), and Juliette Fournier (WSP Global) for attending the event. 

A Defining Moment with TMX 

Through the collaboration with TMX Group, we had the honour of officially closing the stock markets during the evening. This highly symbolic moment delivered a powerful message: sustainable finance is no longer peripheral—it is now firmly embedded at the heart of financial markets and the dynamics of value creation, access to capital and investor confidence. 

You can watch this moment here: Market Closing with TMX 

Once again, the Gala demonstrated the importance of bringing together the next generation and industry stakeholders around concrete, structuring issues. An inspiring and forward-looking initiative that actively contributes to shaping the future of sustainable finance. 

For more information about the Gala, please contact Florian Roulle, Vice President, Sustainable Finance.