In a major announcement highlighting industrial safety across North America, CN Rail has unveiled the recipients of its CN Safe Handling Award 2025. A total of 194 rail shippers were honored for their commitment to the highest safety standards in the loading and transportation of regulated products. Given Durham Region’s status as a critical hub for the energy, petroleum, and chemical sectors, the award serves as a benchmark for the regional industries that rely on CN’s 20,000-mile network to move essential goods between Canada and the United States.
The CN Safe Handling Award 2025 is a cornerstone of the Responsible Care® Program, an international initiative dedicated to the safe and sustainable management of chemicals. To qualify, shippers must meet stringent criteria, including zero non-accidental releases of regulated products over the course of the year. This year’s list of winners includes major players with a significant footprint in Ontario, such as Cando Rail & Terminals, which provides essential rail support and terminal services within Durham’s industrial zones. Other notable recipients with regional operations include Imperial Oil (Esso), Shell, Enbridge (Targa), and Nutrien, all of which play vital roles in the regional supply chain.
For communities like Oshawa, Pickering, and Clarington, the CN Safe Handling Award 2025 provides reassurance regarding the transit of hazardous materials. Janet Drysdale, Executive Vice-President at CN, emphasized that safety is the company’s core value, guiding every shipment that passes through densely populated areas. By recognizing shippers who “lead by example,” CN aims to mitigate risks to local residents and the environment. This partnership is especially crucial in Durham, where rail lines frequently intersect with major residential developments and environmentally sensitive areas along the Lake Ontario shoreline.
The 2025 awards also highlight the technological advancements being made by shippers to improve loading precision and leak prevention. As the CN Safe Handling Award 2025 recipients demonstrate, the integration of digital monitoring and rigorous employee training has significantly reduced the likelihood of transport-related incidents. For the 194 companies listed, the award is not just a trophy but a “Responsible Care” badge of honor that influences their standing within the global logistics market.
As Durham Region continues to grow as an industrial powerhouse—particularly with the expansion of clean energy and advanced manufacturing—the standards set by the CN Safe Handling Award 2025 will remain a vital component of local economic planning. Ensuring that the 300 million tons of natural resources and manufactured goods moved by CN annually are handled with zero errors is a shared responsibility between the railway and the local businesses that power the regional economy.
For a full list of the companies honored or to learn more about the safety protocols governing rail transit in Ontario, residents and stakeholders are encouraged to visit the official CN media portal.
