CICan’s Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding leadership in five categories, celebrating individuals and institutions whose exceptional leadership has revolutionized how colleges and institutes serve as dynamic learning and innovation hubs tackling local and national challenges. Within our network, promoting excellence ignites inspiration and accelerates innovation. For Canadians, it’s underscoring our sector’s commitment to making a real, lasting impact on communities, the country, and the planet. Recognition levels include Gold, Silver, and Bronze.
Silver and Bronze recipients will receive a recognition plaque for both the individual recipient and their institution. The Gold Award recipient will be honoured with a $2,000 prize from TD Insurance, a crystal trophy, and a recognition plaque for their institution.
Nominations Now Open: 2025 Leadership Excellence Award for Students
The Leadership Excellence Award for Students, awarded annually, recognizes an exceptional student from member institutions whose leadership has driven tangible, meaningful change within their institute and the broader community. This award highlights the nominee’s internal impact through significant contributions to student life and external impact through community involvement, all while gaining the job-ready skills essential for a meaningful career.
By honouring student achievements, we underscore the vital role colleges and institutes play in equipping students with skills for successful careers and positive community impact.
Nominations for the remaining four categories will open in spring 2025. These awards are presented every two years.
Call for Selection Committee
Interested in being part of the selection committees for the Leadership Excellence Award for Students?
Awards of Excellence Categories
The Leadership Excellence Award for Students
The Leadership Excellence Award for Students recognizes an individual student that has made an exceptional contribution within their institution and within the communities it serves. The nominee must be currently enrolled in a program at a CICan member institution.
The Leadership Excellence Award for Non-Managerial Staff
The Leadership Excellence Award for Non-Managerial Staff recognizes an individual or a team who has made an exceptional contribution within their institution and within the communities it serves. The nominee or team must be currently employed by the institution and play a non-managerial role.
The Leadership Excellence Award for Managerial Staff
The Leadership Excellence Award for Managerial Staff recognizes an individual or a team who has made an exceptional contribution within their institution and within the communities it serves. The nominee or team must be currently employed by the institution and play a managerial role.
The Leadership Excellence Award for Faculty
The Leadership Excellence Award for Faculty recognizes an individual or a team who has exhibited consistent excellence in teaching and has had a significant impact on the personal and academic growth of students. The nominee or team must be currently employed by the institution.
The Program Excellence Award
The Program Excellence Award recognizes a program or an initiative that is innovative, portable, sustainable, and effective and focuses on one or more of the following areas: Indigenous Education; Sustainable Development; Global Engagement; Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; Applied Research and Innovation.Awards Selection Committees
Each nomination is reviewed by an independent selection committee with representation from across CICan member institutions. Peer reviewers participate on a voluntary basis and a reviewer cannot sit on more than one selection committee. Every nomination is reviewed independently from one another and a nomination will not be reviewed by someone from the same institution as the nominee.
For more information on the Awards of Excellence please contact Julie Trohon, Program Officer, Member Relations.
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