Beyond the Checklist: Celebrating our 2025 Safety Centered Leadership Award Winners!
At our April 21, 2026, Annual General Meeting, we took a moment to step away from policy and performance metrics to focus on something far more impactful: how people choose to lead.
Annually, Service Hospitality recognizes how our members lead through the Safety Centered Leadership Award. The criteria considered when determining the honouree goes beyond those who simply follow the rules – there are manuals that help us do that! Instead, it honours those who treat safety as a non-negotiable value rather than an optional consideration. It recognizes leaders who integrate safety into every decision and conversation, transforming it from a “requirement” into a culture that people genuinely believe in.
We were thrilled to present this award to two exceptional leaders from K-Bro Linen Systems, a dedicated member of Service Hospitality.
Jackie Belanger ~ Director of Customer Service & Board Member
Jackie is the ‘trail blazer’ of K-Bro’s journey. More than five years ago, she didn’t just agree to a safety initiative; she ignited one. By signing off on the very first Level 1 Health and Safety Leadership Certificate (HSLC) application, Jackie built the foundation upon which K-Bro’s safety success now stands.
Her leadership helped shift the organizational mindset from reacting to incidents to preventing them. Furthermore, Jackie’s influence extends far beyond K-Bro; through her dedicated role on our Board, she has helped elevate safety standards across our entire community.
Barb Lewis ~ General Manager
Barb was the ‘catalyst’ that ensured the structure and system reached new heights. As General Manager, Barb demonstrated what it means to turn momentum into measurable results. Under her leadership, K-Bro accelerated their progress, officially achieving HSLC Level 4 this past June.
Barb’s impact is felt in the day-to-day operations of the business. She has successfully embedded safety into the very fabric of the workplace, ensuring it shows up on every shift and in every decision. To Barb, safety isn’t a policy – it’s the way they do business.
Safety Centered Leadership isn’t a one-time effort. It’s a shared commitment to building something, strengthening it, and making sure it lasts.
Together, Jackie and Barb prove that leadership is most powerful when no one is watching and when it would be easier to just meet the minimum requirements. Because of their combined vision and persistence, the team at K-Bro Linen Systems goes to work and returns home whole every single day.
Take a moment to send congratulations to our 2025 award recipients, Jackie Belanger and Barb Lewis!
