A hand holding a City of Vancouver's Award of Excellence trophy

Celebrate excellence in Vancouver!

Nominations for the 2025 Awards of Excellence are now open

June 3 2025 –

Vancouver is brimming with visionaries, changemakers and trailblazers - and now it’s time to recognize them! Now running every four years, the Awards of Excellence celebrate outstanding achievements by community champions who make Vancouver a more prosperous, innovative, equitable, inclusive and vibrant city.

Nominate someone exceptional!

Whether they live, work, volunteer, or study in Vancouver, they’re eligible.

This year, awards are spread across six dynamic categories:

  • Leadership in Reconciliation – Honouring those who lead efforts to advance reconciliation in Vancouver.  
  • Impact in Innovation – Recognizing excellence in science, technology, and sustainability.     
  • Vibrant Vancouver Award (NEW!) – Showcasing those who enrich the city’s cultural scene through events and public activations.  
  • Entrepreneurial Cornerstone Award (NEW!) – Celebrating businesses making a lasting impact with their vision, services or community impact.  
  • Event Excellence Award (NEW!) – Applauding contributions to major national or international events in sports, arts, and culture. 
  • Champion of Change Award (NEW!) – Honouring those who break barriers and create equitable opportunities for all.

Nominations are open to individuals (youth and adults are evaluated separately), organizations and businesses based in the City of Vancouver, including: 

  • Non-profit organizations 
  • Group or service clubs 
  • Educational institutions 
  • Hospitals  
  • Unions, or professional and trade associations 
  • Media organizations 
  • Public or private corporations

A $500 bursary will be granted to each youth award recipient along with their Award of Excellence to commend and honour their impact on the city’s future.

The Mayor will also personally select up to three recipients for the Mayor’s Achievement Award, which recognizes long-term dedication to public engagement and volunteering in the city. This award will be presented by the Mayor during the award ceremony in the fall. 

Nominations will be accepted online until midnight on August 10, 2025, with an awards ceremony held in fall 2025. 

For more information, visit vancouver.ca/awards-of-excellence.