Awards

Help recognize outstanding contributions by nominating community groups or individuals for one of the following awards.

Click the award title for criteria, eligibility and nomination instructions.

Volunteer Service Awards

The Ontario Volunteer Service Awards honour the thousands of people who generously contribute their time as volunteers across Ontario. These awards are an important way to recognize volunteers who have provided service over many years. Nomination Deadline: January 25 each year

Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers

The Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers recognizes the outstanding achievements of youth volunteers across the province. By honouring outstanding contributions made by youth volunteers, this award recognizes exceptional young people as role models. Many of our youth volunteers are future leaders. Up to 10 recipients are chosen each year. Nomination Deadline: January 31 each year

Champion of Diversity Award

This award recognizes individuals, groups and employers who help promote immigrant success, economic growth, and inclusion in Ontario. There are three categories – Inclusion and Diversity, Cross-Cultural Understanding, and Business Leadership in Immigrant Employment. Nomination Deadline: May 15 each year. All nominations received after that date will be considered for the following year.

The Order of Ontario

The Order of Ontario is the province's highest honour. It recognizes Ontarians who have made an outstanding contribution to society in Ontario and around the world. Past recipients have contributed to education, the arts, community and public service, science and medicine, citizenship and multiculturalism, business, sports, and many other fields. Those who are invested into the Order of Ontario are considered an example of excellence to all Ontarians. Nomination deadline: March 16 of each year. If March 16 falls on a weekend or holiday, nominations are accepted until 5:00 p.m. the following business day.

Excellence in Agriculture Program

Ontario’s farmers, processors, organizations and businesses have made agri-food one of the most innovative sectors in Ontario. To help spur this innovative spirit, the Ontario government created the Excellence in Agriculture program, which:

recognizes and encourage innovators in the agri-food sector
fosters innovation in the agri-food sector which has a direct effect on farms
raises awareness about the importance of agri-food innovation and its impact on the Ontario economy

The program is open to agri-food innovators in the following five categories:

youth (under 29)
primary producer
processor
agri-food innovator
agri-food organization

Senior of the Year Award

Recipients of the Ontario Senior of the Year Award are people who have made their communities better places to live. Recipients must be over 65 years old. Only municipalities can nominate seniors for this award. Information about nominations is provided each year to about 200 municipalities in Ontario.

Lincoln M. Alexander Award

Since 1993, The Lincoln M. Alexander Award has recognized young people who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in eliminating racial discrimination. Each year, three young people, between the ages of 16 and 25, receive an award of $5,000 each and a framed scroll. Nomination Deadline: May 31 each year. If May 31 falls on a weekend or holiday, nominations are accepted until 5:00 p.m. the following business day.