Nominations now open for Canada’s Volunteer Awards

Deadline: 8-May-25

Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is accepting nominations for the Canada’s Volunteer Awards.

Description of the Awards

• National award
  • 1 national award in the following category:
    • The Thérèse Casgrain Lifelong Achievement Award:
      • This category is open to individuals who have volunteered for 20 years or more and who:
        • inspired other volunteers
        • made a difference through volunteering
• Regional awards
  • 20 regional awards in the following categories:
    • Community Leader
      • This category is open to individuals or groups of individuals who:
        • volunteer either on their own or as a group
        • give their time to an organization or a cause
        • take a lead role in solving social issues
    • Emerging Leader
      • This category is open to individuals between the ages of 18 and 30 who:
        • show leadership through volunteering
        • help strengthen their community through volunteering
    • Business Leader
      • This category is open to businesses or social enterprises that:
        • practice corporate social responsibility
        • promote and support volunteering at local, regional, and/or national levels
        • create positive social, cultural or environmental impacts in their communities
    • Social Innovator
      • This category is open to not-for-profit organizations, social enterprises or registered charities that:
        • address social challenges in their communities
        • use innovative ways to serve and strengthen communities

Funding Information

• Canada’s Volunteer Awards recognizes recipients at a national ceremony. Recipients also take part in a session to share best practices in volunteering.
• All award recipients receive a certificate.
• Recipients also choose a registered not-for-profit organization in Canada to receive a grant:
  • $10,000 for the national award
  • $5,000 for the regional awards

Eligibility Criteria

• Nominees can be:
  • individuals or groups
  • businesses
  • social enterprises
  • not-for-profit organizations
  • charities
• Only 1 nomination will be accepted per nominee.
• Individuals or groups:
  • Must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons within the meaning of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
  • Must be 18 years of age and over at the time of the submission of the nomination
  • Must have contributed to addressing social challenges in their community
  • For the emerging Leader category, must be between the ages of 18 and 30 at the time of the submission of the nomination
• Businesses, not-for-profit organizations or charities:
  • Must be registered as a business, not-for-profit organization or charity in Canada. (Not-for-profit organizations are incorporated under either federal or provincial non-profit legislation. Registered charities are charitable organizations, public foundations, or private foundations that are created and resident in Canada. They must use their resources for charitable activities and have charitable purposes that benefit communities)
  • Must have contributed to addressing social challenges in their community in Canada

For more information, visit ESDC.