It’s that time again! Canada’s Volunteer Awards is now accepting nominations for 2021. The nomination period is open until March 4th.

Nominating a person or organization for a Canada’s Volunteer Award is a terrific way to say thank you to the great volunteers in your community. We recognize and celebrate their stories because somebody took the time to nominate them. The 2020 recipients include inspiring young people who are passionately serving their communities, social purpose organizations supporting vulnerable segments of the population, and corporate leaders leaving a positive mark on the communities where they do business.

Canada’s Volunteer Awards is a comprehensive volunteer recognition program with five categories of awards. For individual volunteers, there are three categories: Emerging Leader for youth between the ages of 18 and 30; Community Leader for individual volunteers of all ages, and the Thérèse Casgrain Lifelong Achievement Award for volunteers with twenty or more years serving their community.

To recognize the spirit of volunteering in organizations, the Social Innovator category is for not-for-profit organizations and social enterprises, while the Business Leader category celebrates social responsibility demonstrated by businesses and social enterprises.

The recognition package for award recipients includes a $5,000 or $10,000 grant to be awarded to the not-for-profit organization of the recipient’s choosing. Recipients are also invited to participate in a facilitated discussion with their fellow recipients regarding their experiences and best practices. This is a fantastic opportunity for making connections with like-minded people and organizations.

To read more about past recipients and learn more about the program, please consult the website. To nominate a group or individual, please visit the Canada’s Volunteer Awards nomination page.