Outstanding Volunteer Awards

The 2023 Call for Nominations is live!

Nominations for the 2023 NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards are due December 15, 2023

Click here for a downloadable form

What is it?

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

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.

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.

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 someone online or download a nomination form.

Only Northwest Territories residents are eligible for an award.

How to Nominate an Outstanding Volunteer

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.
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.

Please include any other information you believe is relevant.

Only Northwest Territories residents are eligible for an award.

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

NWT Outstanding Volunteer Awards Nomination Form

Judging Criteria

The evaluation guideline includes, but is not limited to:

  • The duration of the volunteerism;
  • The type of involvement the volunteer’s participation or, if nominating a group, the work performed by the group.
  • 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.

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