Congratulations to the Canadians recognized at the 2025 ITE International Excellence in Transportation Awards during ITE’s Annual Meeting in Orlando! Thank you to ITE for highlighting the many individual and group accomplishments of our outstanding Canadian members. Learn more about these winners in the profiles from ITE below and meet all award recipients here.
Burton W. Marsh Award for Distinguished Service – Gene Chartier
The prestigious Burton W. Marsh Award for Distinguished Service, one of ITE’s highest honours, recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the advancement of ITE over an extended period. We are so proud that Canadian Gene Chartier, M.A.Sc., P.Eng. (F), Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Paradigm Transportation Solutions Limited, has been selected as the 2025 recipient.
Gene’s 35-year journey with ITE began as a student member and has included influential roles at every level of the organization. He is a past president of ITE Canada, former Canadian District Director on the ITE International Board of Direction (2016–2018), and is the current chair of the ITE Consultants Council and a director of ITE Canada’s Future Transportation Leaders Fund. His enduring commitment is further reflected in his leadership roles on more than a dozen international and Canadian ITE committees, including contributions to major initiatives such as the Canadian Guide to Traffic Calming, the Canadian Roundabout Design Guide, and ITE’s Recommended Practice on Promoting Sustainable Transportation Through Site Design.
His contributions have been recognized through multiple ITE Canada awards for technical excellence and volunteer service including the most prestigious H. Robert Burton Distinguished Service Award (2022).
Outside of his professional accomplishments, Gene is active in his community—volunteering as a football coach, participating in recreational hockey and cycling, and traveling with his wife, Karen.
“Gene Chartier is a model of professional integrity, vision, and service. His legacy within ITE spans decades and continues to influence emerging leaders and strengthen our community. He exemplifies the spirit of the Burton W. Marsh Award.”
– Steve Kuciemba, ITE Executive Director and CEO
District Innovation Award – ITE Canada District
ITE Canada is honoured to receive the 2025 District Innovation Award, recognizing exemplary leadership in strengthening Section and Student Chapter engagement through a series of well-coordinated initiatives focused on operational support, knowledge sharing, and strategic resource development.
Guided by its 2020–2024 Strategic Plan, ITE Canada prioritized membership value and retention, launching targeted efforts to enhance the capacity of local leaders and volunteers. In 2024, these efforts culminated in significant results: over 80 events supported through centralized registration services, more than 3,600 participants engaged, and nearly $82,000 in registration revenue processed with no service fees charged to local organizers.
Innovations included the launch of comprehensive Student and Section Resource webpages, the expansion of branded website and communications tools for every Section and Chapter, and the facilitation of both virtual and in-person forums to foster collaboration and shared learning. The District also provided direct financial support for student competitions, conference attendance, and grassroots initiatives.
By focusing on consistent operational infrastructure, peer-to-peer mentorship, and accessible tools, ITE Canada empowered its local leaders to deliver high-quality member experiences across a geographically vast region. The measurable outcomes—including an eight percent growth in membership over the past year—underscore the impact of this forward-thinking and inclusive approach.
Section Momentum Award — ITE Hamilton Section
Congratulations to the leadership team at the ITE Hamilton Section who have been recognized with the 2025 Section Momentum Award! This honour celebrates a Section that has demonstrated remarkable advancement in programs, student support, and member engagement—and Hamilton’s achievements this past year exemplified that standard.
The Section’s 2024 success was driven by a clear focus: investing in the future of transportation through dynamic support for students and younger members. From launching the Mohawk College Perpetual Bursary to co-hosting a Joint Student Presentation Competition with neighbouring Sections, ITE Hamilton turned strategic vision into tangible outcomes.
A key initiative included allocating $7,500 from the ITE Canada National Conference proceeds to the Future Transportation Leaders Fund, directly supporting scholarships, networking opportunities, and skills development. Additionally, students were integrated into all aspects of Section programming, from presenting at the Annual General Meeting to showcasing research through poster sessions.
The Hamilton Section’s AGM emerged as a standout event—featuring student presentations on critical topics like equity in transportation, interactive problem-solving sessions, and high-impact networking with industry leaders. Participation in the ITE Canada National Conference further amplified student involvement with events such as Traffic Bowl, a student mixer, and a leadership summit.
Looking beyond borders, the Section also collaborated with peers at the Upstate New York Mini-Conference and laid the groundwork for a formal mentorship program, transforming an initial pilot into a growing network of professional support.
With a strong 2025 agenda that includes launching a K–12 STEM outreach initiative, reviving technical tours, and hosting leadership development workshops, the Hamilton Section continues to build momentum. Its bold, student-focused approach is not only inspiring future transportation leaders but
also strengthening the fabric of ITE across the ITE Canada District.
Congratulations to the ITE Hamilton Section for reimagining what engagement can look like—and for building a vibrant, inclusive community that’s ready to shape the future of mobility
Employer Council Nelson J. Shaffer Outstanding Consultant Award – Bruce Belmore
We are proud to highlight Bruce Belmore, P.Eng., PTOE, VMA, as the recipient of the 2025 Nelson J. Shaffer Distinguished Consultant Award. This award recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to the transportation consulting profession through leadership, innovation, and service to ITE—and Bruce exemplifies each of these qualities at the highest level.
A Principal and Transportation Department Head at KGS Group in Regina, Saskatchewan, Bruce brings over 35 years of experience spanning transportation planning, engineering design, and public engagement. He leads a team of 25 professionals at KGS Group, a firm with more than 500 employees across North America. His portfolio includes standout projects such as the event traffic and parking management plan for Mosaic Stadium, home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Bruce’s service to ITE is both deep and distinguished. He has held leadership roles at every level of the organization, including Saskatchewan Section President, Canadian District President, and ITE International President in 2019—becoming only the fourth Canadian to hold that office in ITE’s history.
His contributions on ITE’s most strategic committees—including the LeadershipITE Committee, Legacy Fund Committee, and Transportation Planning Advisory Group—have advanced the organization’s mission and inclusivity across practice areas.
In Canada, Bruce is also leading the development of the Future Transportation Leaders Fund, a new initiative designed to support students and young professionals. His dedication to cultivating the next generation of transportation experts reflects his belief in mentorship and his passion for advancing the profession. That passion extends to academia as well, where he has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Regina, teaching Engineering Law and Professionalism for six years.
Known for promoting active transportation in both work and life, Bruce can often be found biking to the office—and even created an annual August Commuter Cycling Challenge to celebrate sustainable commuting with his team.
Bruce Belmore is a consummate consultant, educator, leader, and advocate. ITE congratulates him on receiving the 2025 Nelson J. Shaffer Distinguished Consultant Award and thanks him for his enduring commitment to the transportation profession.
ITE Young Leaders to Follow
The 2025 Class of Young Leaders to Follow was highlighted and includes three Canadians:
- Erik Nevland – Toronto Section, City of Mississauga
- Breanna Jackson – Greater Vancouver Section, Associated Engineering
- Jacob Lamb – Southern Alberta Section, University of Calgary
ITE District Rising Star
Our 2025 Rising Star Erik Nevland, ITE Canada Board Member from the Toronto Section, was highlighted as part of the overall class of District Rising Stars.
LeadershipITE
Congratulations to the Canadian graduates from the 2025 Class of LeadershipITE:
- Breanna Jackson, Associated Engineering
Greater Vancouver Section, Section President (2024) - Stephen Oliver, GHD
Southwestern Ontario Section - Destiny Piper, KGS Group
Saskatchewan Section, ITE Canada District Treasurer (2024-2025)
More in Canadian transportation excellence
ITE Canada celebrated the great achievements of many more in the Canadian transportation field at our Annual Conference this past June in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Meet all of the recipients of the ITE Canada 2025 Excellence in Transportation Awards here.
