About Us
Antoinette Blunt, MPA, CHRL, CHRE, FHRPA
President, Ironside Consulting Services Inc.
Antoinette is the President of Ironside Consulting Services Inc. (ICS Inc.), a company specializing in the provision of a variety of human resources, labour relations and management services for employers primarily in Northern Ontario, since 2000. Her company offers a variety of services including organizational review and design, governance review and strategic planning, workplace investigations, mediation, re-design and development of policies and procedures, compensation system review and design including pay equity services, early stage grievance management, collective bargaining for employers, performance management system design; coaching and training in numerous areas including relationship management, communication, team building and leadership.
ICS Inc. is licensed to engage in the business of selling the services of Private Investigators under the Private Security and Investigative Services Act, 2005, and its regulations. Antoinette Blunt is a licensed Private Investigator with extensive experience in undertaking workplace investigations related to allegations of violations of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Bullying, Harassment, Violence, Sexual Harassment, in the Workplace), and allegations of violations of the Human Rights Code.
In 2018, Antoinette was appointed Integrity Commissioner for the Corporation of the Sault Ste. Marie and is responsible for investigating complaints and alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct of Council and Elected Boards; she will serve as an advisor to Council and an educator for City Council, City Administration, and the Public. In 2019, Antoinette was appointed Integrity Commissioner for seven other municipalities in north eastern Ontario.
Antoinette’s educational background includes a Masters’ Degree in Public Administration, B.A. and BScN. Antoinette also has over 20 years’ experience providing consultative services to employers and over 20 years’ experience in management in the health care industry.
Antoinette is currently the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Human Resources Research Institute, a national not-for-profit organization that is focused on human resources research and educational scholarships and is also a Past Chair of the Board of Directors of the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA), the provincial association for HR professionals. HRPA currently represents more than 24,000 members across the province and internationally. While serving on this Board, Antoinette also chaired a number of committees including the Appeals Committee, Government Relations Committee and represented the provincial association on a national level serving as Chair of the Professional Standards Committee.
From 2016 until 2017, Antoinette was a member of the Standards Council of Canada Human Resources Management Committee and as a Subject Matter expert to the Working Group: Harmonized Human Resources Professionals Competency Framework. Membership of the Working Group was from numerous countries around the world who were collaborating to develop common internationally accepted professional competencies.
In 2013, Antoinette was awarded the Fellow Designation by the Human Resources Professionals Association. This is considered to be “a prestigious title and designation awarded within the human resources profession to an individual that promotes best practices and continually enhances the reputation of the profession.” Outstanding contributions are in the five key areas of strategic positioning of the human resources professions; advocacy on behalf of the HR profession to government policy makers; development, sharing and promotion of innovative HR ideas, policies and practices; service to local, provincial and/or national HR associations and service to the broader community/social responsibility. At the same time, she was also awarded an Honorary Life Membership in the Human Resources Professionals Association “Recognizing Extraordinary Volunteer and Leadership Contributions at HRPA”.
In June of 2011, Antoinette received the Osgoode Certificate in HR Law for HR Professionals from Osgoode Hall Law School, York University which included modules in Employment and Labour Law Statutes, Labour Relations and Dealing with Unions, Occupational Health and Safety Law in Ontario, Conducting Workplace Investigations, Equity, Diversity and Accommodation: Human Rights at Work and Terminating the Employment relationship: Minimizing Your Legal Exposure. In the past three years Antoinette has conducted over twelve different Workplace Investigations.
In 2005, Antoinette was named by the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce as the winner of the Athena Award, an internationally recognized award honouring exceptional women leader who inspire others to achieve excellence in their professional and personal lives.
Ironside Consulting Services Inc. has provided services to employers in both private and public sectors. Some industries services have been provided to include:
- Health Care Organizations (Hospitals; Health Units)
- Long Term Care Facilities
- Agencies providing Community-based Social and Health Services for Individuals with both Physical and Mental Abilities Special Needs
- Automotive Dealerships
- Industrial Companies
- Power Construction and Power-related Industries
- Police Services
- First Nations
- Indigenous Organizations and Service Providers
- Addiction Service Providers
- Motel/Hotel Industries
- Municipalities
- Government Agencies (Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care)
- Children’s Services Agencies including Special Needs and Other Social and Mental Health Services
- Universities
- Library Services
- Medical School (Northern Ontario)