Skip to Main Content

Annual Nation Builder Award

Celebrating and recognizing the people who are building our country.

Empire Club's Annual Nation Builder Award

2022 Recipient

Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser, Canadian Olympic Ice Hockey Player, Assistant General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Resident Physician

The Empire Club of Canada is proud to announce the recipient of the 2022 Nation Builder of the Year Award is Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser, Canadian Olympic Ice Hockey Player, Assistant General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Resident Physician.

Interview with Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser | Special thanks to the In-Kind Sponsor, Humber College, for producing the video.

Interview with Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser | Special thanks to the In-Kind Sponsor, Humber College, for producing the video.

Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser with blond hair and black suit, smiling

Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser, Canadian Olympic Ice Hockey Player, Assistant General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Resident Physician. 

Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser is best known as one of Canada’s most accomplished hockey players and Olympians. As a consummate professional who unapologetically follows her passion, Hayley most recently shattered a glass ceiling for future generations when she became the first woman named Assistant GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Her dedication to the community as a medical professional throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and her advocacy for supporting access to sports for young Canadians are exemplary.

About the Award

The Nation Builder of the Year award formalizes what The Empire Club of Canada has been doing since 1903 – celebrating and providing a platform for people who are building our country.

Since its founding over a century ago, The Empire Club has played a pivotal role in many of our country’s major milestones. That’s why the focus of this award is on efforts by a Canadian individual (or group of individuals) who are making a significant contribution to our country. This individual or group of individuals can be from any walk of life – a political official, a business leader, an artist, or a cultural figure – who has made a major contribution to our national identity during their nomination year.

An independent panel comprised of 13 board members will review the nominees. The successful nominee is presented to the Empire Club Board of Directors for ratification.

Explore our Nation Builder Award Events throughout the years.