Larry Jones talks mentorship, promoting from within and what’s next as Canada’s Safest Employers Awards return to Toronto
As his reign as Safety Leader of the Year draws to a close, Larry Jones, vice-president of health, safety and environment at Ledcor, a Vancouver-based construction and infrastructure company, says the past 12 months have been less about personal glory and more about reflection. A new Safety Leader of the Year will be crowned when the Canada’s Safest Employers Awards (CSEAs) return to Toronto on Oct. 22, 2026.
“I think most of all for me it’s been humbling, from the point when I got shortlisted and through the year,” Jones said. “I’ve been doing a lot of self-reflection, reflecting back on my career and the opportunities I’ve been given, and Ledcor being supportive of changes I wanted to make when I came into the organization to help the organization build on its strong safety performance.”
A humbling year of reflection
Jones, who has spent 15 years with Ledcor, said winning hasn’t changed how he approaches the job so much as it has reinforced it. “I think the challenge with an award like this is not to let it go to your head and think you’re more important than you actually are,” he said. “I’ve tried to be very humble with the recognition and appreciate the fact that a lot of the people I work with have been very excited about it.”
That reaction from colleagues, he added, has meant more to him than the award itself – a point he explored further in his 2025 profile on building a safety mentorship culture at Ledcor, published shortly after his win.
Promoting from within pays off
Much of Jones’s reflection centred on people development, a theme that’s followed him through his career at Ledcor. “I’ve been here 15 years, and the impact has been to see people that we have grown, whether they’ve come from the trades or leadership or even right out of school – to see over the 15 years that these people are now becoming directors and leaders in our organization,” he said.
Not everyone stays in safety, Jones noted, but the training carries forward regardless of where people land. “We’ve had some people move into our equipment group, then to a director level, and the knowledge they’ve gained by being in safety gives them an ability to look at how we prevent equipment damage from occurring from a safety lens, which helps reduce the risk for our people even further,” he said.
That track record led Ledcor’s leadership to change its hiring approach entirely. “Our executives make a point of developing our people and prioritizing growth within the organization to promote from within,” Jones said, calling it recognition for the program his team has built. The approach echoes a broader industry push around mentorship and career-building for safety professionals discussed at recent COS events.
Advice for the next Safety Leader of the Year
With the award about to pass to someone new, Jones had practical and personal advice for whoever takes the title next. “One of my mentors told me that it’s a privilege to lead people, and don’t ever lose sight of that,” he said. “It is a great award to be recognized with, but don’t let it change you. Don’t let your head get too big. It’s really your people that make you successful. And the commitment by your organization to support you throughout is key. I was not expecting to win, so I would also say come prepared to make a speech.”
Jones also pointed to a tension he sees playing out across the industry: the pull toward automation and efficiency versus the role of people on the ground. “True success comes from your people,” he said. “We’re on the journey of elevating technology within the business, but stay anchored to the fact that it’s people that make it a success.”
This year’s CSEAs, part of the expanded COS Live programming, take place alongside the Women in Safety Summit and the Canadian Safety Summit. Readers can find full details on this year’s awards night and the rest of the COS Live lineup in Toronto.
