Horizon Holdings Inc. Ranks First in Canada for Sustainability

Horizon Holdings Inc. Ranks First in Canada for Sustainability

Horizon Holdings Inc., the parent company of Horizon Utilities Corporation and Horizon Energy Solutions Inc. has been ranked first in a 2016 national corporate responsibility listing published by Corporate Knights magazine. The list highlights public and privately held Canadian corporations that are top sustainability performers, have with revenues under $2 billion, and fewer than 2,000 employees.

Horizon Holdings made the list for its third consecutive year, topping a total of 107 organizations. The ranking assesses entities on their environmental, social and governance performance based on objective and transparent metrics. Other electrical industry companies appearing on the list include London Hydro (14th) and EPCOR Utilities (38th).

“What many medium-sized companies are beginning to realize,” writes Corporate Knights in its coverage, “is that sustainability is not an expensive luxury only available to the largest companies, but an integral part of staying competitive in today’s marketplace. This view is best exemplified by Horizon Utilities, the top company in this year’s Future 40 ranking.”

Neil Freeman, VP, Business Development and Corporate Relations at Horizon, explains that “many people have asked me over the years why we spend more money on sustainability measures. And my response is that we spend less than you. Measurement gives us increased mileage on what we do spend.” “It is a tremendous honour to have our culture of performance measurement recognized for its national leadership in corporate responsibility by Corporate Knights,” says Max Cananzi, President and CEO, Horizon Holdings. “Just being on this list in an age when all companies are seeking to tackle climate impacts proves our ongoing commitment to sustainable development is being noticed — being number one across Canada is truly a reason to celebrate.”

“Future 40 companies represent Canada’s finest up-and-coming companies working toward a sustainable future increasingly desired by employees and customers,” says Toby Heaps, CEO of Corporate Knights. “Reporting data transparently isn’t just the future of sustainable business — it’s the future of business.”

The data underlying Future 40s ranking use 12 key performance indicators in the areas of resource, financial and employee management. Practicing sustainable development is essential to Horizon Holdings’ success as a provider of electricity and innovative energy solutions that is delivering value to customers and shareholders. The organization is committed to protecting and promoting the health, safety, environment and well-being of our employees and contractors, and the communities in which it operates.

Horizon Holdings Inc. is the parent company of Horizon Utilities Corporation, its principal operating subsidiary, a regulated local electricity distributor, and Horizon Energy Solutions Inc., its competitive services company. Horizon Utilities Corporation provides electricity and related utility services to 244,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Hamilton and St. Catharines, ON. Horizon Energy Solutions Inc. develops solar photovoltaic generation renewable energy projects and provides metering services to commercial clients and local distribution companies, conservation and demand management services for other utilities, and streetlight maintenance for municipalities.

See the list of top 40 companies: www.corporateknights.com/reports/2016-future-40/2016-future-40-results-14593142/.

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • Stephanie Medeiros on EV Infrastructure in Canada, Innovative Technologies, Well-Planned Charging Networks, & Commercial Fleets

    Stephanie Medeiros on EV Infrastructure in Canada, Innovative Technologies, Well-Planned Charging Networks, & Commercial Fleets

    September 3, 2026 By Blake Marchand In this Q&A with Stephanie Medeiros, the Head of Mobility at Schneider Electric Canada provides insight into her perspective on EV charging infrastructure in Canada, factors that will contribute to growing EV adoption, grid modernization for commercial fleets, the role of Vehicle-to-Grid and other innovative approaches to electrification. The focus of… Read More…

  • LEDVANCE: Understanding Light Beam Angles

    LEDVANCE: Understanding Light Beam Angles

    September 3, 2026 Light Beam Angles: How It Affects Different Types of Lighting, Where It Is Applied & What to Consider When Choosing the Right One Beam angle is important in lighting design. It determines how light spreads within a space and influences both functionality and atmosphere. By understanding beam angles, you can achieve both… Read More…

  • ITC 101 Series: Why Certifications (UL, CSA) Matter in Industrial Components

    ITC 101 Series: Why Certifications (UL, CSA) Matter in Industrial Components

    September 2, 2026 By ITC Electrical Components When selecting industrial electrical components, certification is more than a logo on a datasheet. A certification mark indicates that a product or component has been independently evaluated against specified requirements for its intended market. In North America, selecting products with the appropriate certification can affect regulatory acceptance, equipment… Read More…

  • Project Spotlight: Leigh Square Fountain

    Project Spotlight: Leigh Square Fountain

    September 2, 2026 In spring 2025, the City of Port Coquitlam unveiled a transformed Leigh Square, reimagined as a vibrant, accessible, and welcoming gathering place in the heart of downtown. At the heart of the renewed plaza, a Bellagio-style programmable dancing fountain is integrated directly into the paving—three interlocking rings where jets rise, fall, and… Read More…


Changing Scene

  • Leviton Canada Appoints Salex as Network Solutions Sales Agency for Ontario

    Leviton Canada Appoints Salex as Network Solutions Sales Agency for Ontario

    September 9, 2026 Leviton Canada is pleased to announce the appointment of Salex Inc. as their authorized sales agent for the Network Solutions (NS) product portfolio across the Ontario market, effective immediately. This appointment reflects their commitment to strengthening customer engagement, expanding market coverage, and providing enhanced local support throughout the province. Salex brings a… Read More…

  • Ontario Electrical League Brings Free Electrical Industry Roadshow to Barrie September 22

    Ontario Electrical League Brings Free Electrical Industry Roadshow to Barrie September 22

    September 9, 2026 The Ontario Electrical League is bringing its Roadshow to Barrie on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, and the invitation is simple: if you are part of Ontario’s electrical industry, or interested in becoming part of it, you are welcome. The free event will bring together independent electrical companies, Licensed Electrical Contractors, business owners,… Read More…

  • 2026 Ontario Apprenticeship Awards Call for Nominations

    2026 Ontario Apprenticeship Awards Call for Nominations

    September 3, 2026 Skilled Trades Ontario is proud to open nominations for the 2026 Ontario Apprenticeship Awards, recognizing outstanding apprentices, journeypersons, organizations and skilled trades leaders who are helping strengthen Ontario’s apprenticeship system. Award recipients will be announced at the Ontario Apprenticeship Summit on November 4, 2026, at the Toronto Congress Centre. Nominations must be submitted… Read More…

  • Bartle & Gibson Announces New Partnership with Hubbell Canada

    Bartle & Gibson Announces New Partnership with Hubbell Canada

    September 3, 2026 Bartle & Gibson Co. Ltd., an Alberta-based premier plumbing, heating and electrical distributor and Hubbell Canada have announced a new regional partnership enabling increased access to Hubbell Canada’s end-to-end electrical product portfolio across Western Canada. “With our strong presence in the west through 31 branches and counting located in Alberta, Saskatchewan, British… Read More…