Sport, Recreation, Youth & Volunteerism

NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards

Every Spring, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs (MACA) calls for nominations for the NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards Program in order to recognize the voluntary achievements and contributions made by volunteers in Northwest Territories (NWT) communities.

Who is a volunteer?

You probably already know a volunteer, a friend or neighbour, who is always there freely helping someone. For example:

  • A youth who raises money for school activities;
  • An elder who helps in the school;
  • A group that provides food for the needy;
  • A person who preserves and teaches their culture;
  • A person who helps those who are less able to take care of themselves; or
  • A helper that cuts wood, shovels walkways, helps with reading.

How do we say Thank You?

Volunteers improve our quality of life and strive to make our communities better places to live. We want to thank them for their work. Territorial winners receive $500.00 to give to a volunteer organization of their choice.

How does the Awards Program work?

Anybody can nominate an individual or a group whose voluntary work strengthens and enriches northern life.

There are four categories:

  • Youth
  • Individual
  • Elder
  • Group

The nomination form requires details about the volunteer's type of achievement, type of involvement and level of impact on the community.

Type of achievement: Describe the significant contributions or participation made by the volunteer or group designed to improve the quality of life. Explain the manner in which the activities were performed (i.e. demonstration of leadership skills, innovative ideas, or mobilization of community resources). The candidate should have played a key role in the volunteer activity.

Type of involvement: Describe the volunteer's participation, or if nominating a group, the work performed by the group.

Level of impact on the community: Describe the ways the community has benefited from the volunteer or group's work. Examples may include starting a food bank or a literacy program, or providing a service that was not previously available. The impact of the volunteerism should be evident, such as increased participation in an activity.

Please include any other information you believe is relevant.

The nomination form can be mailed or faxed back to your MACA Regional office or to the Sport, Recreation, Youth and Volunteerism division office in Yellowknife.

Please contact the Senior Volunteer Development Officer in Yellowknife with questions about the nomination process.

Nomination Forms

Outstanding Volunteer Awards Program poster
Outstanding Volunteer Awards Brochure and Nomination Form
Outstanding Volunteer Awards (French)

Judging Criteria

All nominations will be judged by the Territorial Awards Committee, made up of representatives from each of the six regions in the NWT. The Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs appoints the representatives. The Committee reserves the right to move nominations to other categories if necessary.

The Committee will follow an established evaluation guideline, including, but not limited to:

  • The duration (minimum of 100 hours) and impact of the volunteerism;
  • The number of years, months, and approximate number of volunteer hours the nominee committed to the activity;
  • The uniqueness and inclusiveness (involving others) of the nominee's contributions and commitments;
  • Their leadership role in the community or organization; and
  • The challenges and/or barriers the nominee had to overcome in order to achieve their goal.

Contact Us

Volunteer Development
Municipal and Community Affairs
Government of the NWT
#400 5201-50th Avenue
Yellowknife NT X1A 3S9
Phone: (867) 873-7329
Fax: (867) 920-6467
Email: Cory_Emsley@gov.nt.ca