Canadian recipients of 2026 ASHRAE awards demonstrate achievements in advancing sustainability, innovation and professionalism in the HVAC&R and building sciences sectors at all career stages. This year, 15 Canadians number among the nearly 100 outstanding members recognized at the Society’s annual conference, currently taking place in Austin, Texas. Notably, Professor Carey Simonson of University of Saskatchewan earned accolades in two separate categories.

“ASHRAE’s strength is built on the expertise, dedication and leadership of its members,” Bill McQuade, ASHRAE president for 2025-26 observed as the honours were bestowed earlier this week. “Their achievements exemplify ASHRAE’s commitment to advancing the built environment and creating a more sustainable future.”

Dale Carter, an ASHRAE Fellow and Life Member from Comox, British Columbia, is among a select group of 17, worldwide, to be commended as a Distinguished 50-year Member this year. In addition to longevity within the Society, recipients must be an ASHRAE Fellow and/or have served as a chapter president or previously received a Distinguished Service award for their contributions. For Carter, who was named a Fellow in 2012, the new designation expands a slate of honours that also includes the Distinguished Service Award, the Exceptional Service Award, a Chapter Service Award in B.C. and a Regional Award of Merit.

At the early end of her career, Tina Abbasi, is one of three Individual Excellence award winners for Young Engineers in ASHRAE (YEA), for efforts to support and advance ASHRAE’s programs and ideals. Abbasi is Director of Operations with Zapas, a mechanical services firm based in Vaughn, Ontario, who serves as the 2025-26 secretary of the Toronto ASHRAE chapter. She has a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from York University, an ASHRAE HVAC Design Essentials certification and a LEED Green Associate (GA) designation.

Eight Canadians are among the 41 recipients of Distinguished Service awards this year, including:

• Niss Feiner, CHD (ASHRAE certified HVAC designer), principal mechanical designer at Delta-T Designs Inc., Oro-Medonte, ON;
• Kyle Hasenkox, a principal at Rocky Point Engineering Ltd., Victoria, B.C.;
• Heric Holmes, P.Eng. senior manager, mechanical engineering at Bird Construction, Edmonton, AB;
• Genevieve Lussier, president, Eequinox, Montreal, QC;
• Les Pereira, retired, Richmond, B.C.;
• Carey Simonson, professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, SK, (who also received a Exceptional Service award);
• Elia Sterling, president, Theodor Sterling Associates, Vancouver, B.C.; and
• Fitsum Tariku, P.Eng, professor, School of Sustainable Energy Engineering, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, B.C.

Three Canadians are among the eight 2026 recipients of the Exceptional Service award, which recognizes previous winners of the Distinguished Service award who have continued to make exemplary contributions. They are:

• Robert Bean, RET, PL(Eng), retired practitioner, Lake Chestermere, AB;
• Isabelle Lavoie. general manager, Johnson Controls, Montreal, QC; and
• Carey Simonson, professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Saskatchewan, SK. Earlier this year, he received ASHRAE’s E.K. Campbell Award of Merit, which recognizes outstanding service and achievement in teaching.

Two researchers from Quebec’s Université Laval have also earned accolades for the high-calibre insights they shared with delegates to the 2025 ASHRAE winter conference. Marie-Pier Trépanierand Louis Gosselin’s paper, When Variability on Climate and Occupants Meet: How Climate Change Can Affect Different Occupants in Their House? was judged the year’s best presentation at an interactive poster session at a Society conference. Trépanier is a PhD candidate and Gosselin is a professor in Laval’s Faculté des sciences et de génie.