Outstanding Volunteer Awards

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Nominations for the 2025 NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards Ceremony are open year-round!

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What are the Outstanding Volunteer Awards? 

Every year, the Department of Municipal and Community Affairs issues an annual notice of the nomination deadline for the NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards Program to recognize the voluntary achievements and contributions made by volunteers in Northwest Territories communities.

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Who is a volunteer?

You probably already know a volunteer, a friend, or neighbour, who is always there ready to help someone. For example, someone who:

  • raises money for school activities;
  • helps in the school;
  • provides food for the needy;
  • preserves and teaches their culture;
  • helps those who are less able to take care of themselves; or
  • cuts wood, shovels walkways, helps with reading.
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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. The NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards is a great way to say thank you to the selfless individuals who give their time to our communities.

Territorial recipients receive $1000.00 to give to an organization of their choice as well as an award recognizing them for their efforts in building our communities through volunteering.

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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 (under 25)
  • Individual (25-54)
  • Elder (55+)
  • Group

You can nominate an individual or group by downloading a nomination form

OR

Fill out the Online Nomination Form here!

Only Northwest Territories residents are eligible for an award.

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How to Nominate an Outstanding Volunteer

The nomination form requires details about the volunteer’s length of service, why they deserve an NWT Outstanding Volunteer Award and the level of impact on their community.

Type of Involvement: Type of volunteering, how frequently they volunteer, if they have overcome any personal challenges or acted as a role model in their volunteer service.
Type of Achievement: 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.

Please include any other information you believe is relevant.

Only Northwest Territories residents are eligible for an award.

Fill out the Online Nomination Form Here

The PDF nomination form can also be printed and mailed, or faxed back to your MACA Regional office or to the Sport, Recreation, and Youth Division office in Yellowknife.

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Evaluation Guideline

Includes, but is not limited to:

  • The duration of the volunteerism;
  • The type of Achievement, the significant participation or contributions made by the volunteer or group which help to improve the quality of life in their community. Their leadership role in the community or organization.
  • Level of Impact on the Community, how the community has benefited from the volunteer or group’s work.

  • Print the Nomination form Here:

  • Fill out the Online Nomination Form here

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Recipients of the 2024 NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards

Outstanding Elder Award – Roger Pilling, Fort Simpson

Outstanding Youth Award – Tafadzwa Mufandaedza, Yellowknife

Outstanding Individual Award – Melissa Faith Johns, Fort Smith

Outstanding Group Award – Ulukhaktok Search and Rescue, Ulukhaktok


For more information please contact: Youth_And_Volunteer@gov.nt.ca

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