Championing safety with a vision for growth

Agnes Wietrzynski never imagined her career would lead her to the helm of QM Environmental, one of Canada's largest environmental contractors. Today, as the CEO, she is not only leading the company’s impressive growth but also spearheading its dedication to health and safety. “It feels great,” she says, reflecting on being named CEO of the Year at the 2024 Canada’s Safest Employers Awards. The honor was unexpected but well-deserved, as her leadership continues to inspire a culture where safety is a non-negotiable core value.

Wietrzynski’s journey to becoming the CEO started over two years ago when Wes Hall, the influential Canadian businessman, approached her. Hall, known as the “King of Bay Street,” is a pioneering entrepreneur and the founder of Kingsdale Advisors. His reputation for promoting diversity in leadership roles led him to support Wietrzynski’s rise at QM Environmental. "Wes really wanted to give a woman an opportunity to sit in the driver's seat," she explains. "He has always been a big proponent of diversity, and I think he saw something in me that aligned with the vision for his company." This support helped propel her career to new heights.

Her path to this point, however, wasn’t traditional. With an MBA from Queen’s University and a background in business, Wietrzynski found herself working in the niche field of hazardous materials management early in her career. “I didn’t start in the industry right out of university,” she shares. Initially uncertain, she quickly found her footing, managing industrial projects and growing businesses with precision. One pivotal moment was her role in Accuworx, a company that she helped scale before it was acquired by GFL Environmental. These experiences cemented her expertise, setting the foundation for the leadership role she now holds.

Under her guidance, QM Environmental is not only expanding but handling complex, high-risk projects that come with unique environmental challenges. “Our projects are not your average construction tasks,” Wietrzynski emphasizes. “We do large-scale remediation projects, removing hazardous materials like asbestos, managing contaminated water, and taking down unstable structures. Every project has its own set of risks.” This complexity means that safety must be at the forefront of every operation. Wietrzynski’s leadership style reflects this, as she ensures that each project starts with a meticulously planned health and safety strategy, tailored to the unique hazards involved.

Wietrzynski’s deep commitment to safety stems from personal experience. During her earlier career, she witnessed the devastating effects of workplace fatality. “Watching the impact of a fatality within an organization changes everything,” she says somberly. “It affects everyone—the workers, the families, the entire community.” These moments made her realize that workplace safety is not just a regulatory requirement but a moral imperative. At QM Environmental, she has made it her mission to prevent such tragedies by ensuring that every team member, from executives to frontline workers, embraces safety as a daily practice.

Looking to the future, Wietrzynski is focused on continuing QM Environmental’s growth while maintaining its strong safety culture. “We have great aspirations to expand across the country, taking on more unique and challenging projects,” she says with optimism. But despite the company’s ambitions, her core commitment remains unchanged: “This award solidifies our dedication to health and safety, and I think that’s the most important message to our staff. Safety is embedded in everything we do.”

As a leader, Wietrzynski embodies the balance between growth and responsibility, always pushing her company forward while ensuring that the well-being of her team comes first. And with Hall’s backing and a robust vision for the future, Wietrzynski’s journey is far from over. “We’re just getting started…and I’m excited for what’s next.”