Government of Canada celebrates National Volunteer Week by launching Canada’s Volunteer Awards call for nominations

April 8, 2019                        Gatineau, Quebec                        Employment and Social Development Canada

The Government of Canada is committed to recognizing the significant contribution volunteers make to Canada. Canada’s Volunteer Awards is the time to say thank you to those who are committed to building stronger and more resilient communities. The Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced today during National Volunteer Week that the call for nominations for Canada’s Volunteer Awards is now open and will run until June 21, 2019. This is the chance for all Canadians to nominate exceptional individuals, a not-for-profit organization that helps to find innovative solutions to social challenges, or a business or social enterprise that demonstrates social responsibility in its community.

This year, 21 awards will be presented during an award ceremony in April 2020. Recipients will also have a chance to give back; regional award recipients are eligible to identify a not-for-profit organization to receive a $5,000 grant, and the national award recipient is eligible to identify a not-for-profit organization to receive a $10,000 grant.

Nominations are being accepted in the following categories:

• one national award – Thérèse Casgrain Lifelong Achievement Award for individuals who have volunteered for at least 20 years;
• five regional awards – Emerging Leader for young volunteers between the ages of 18 and 30;
• five regional awards – Community Leader for individuals or groups of volunteers;
• five regional awards – Business Leader to recognize businesses that demonstrate social responsibility in their practices, including promoting and facilitating volunteerism locally, regionally and nationally, as well as for-profit and not-for-profit social enterprises dedicated to creating social, cultural or environmental benefits for their communities; and
• five regional awards – Social Innovator to recognize the contributions of not-for-profit organizations, including not-for-profit social enterprises that find and use innovative approaches that address social challenges in their communities.