|
Core Values Awards
Recognizing the organizations, projects, and individuals setting the standard for public participation and engagement across Canada.
What are the IAP2 Canada Core Values Awards?
The IAP2 Canada Core Values Awards recognize the outstanding efforts of individuals, organizations, and projects that embody the core values of the International Association for Public Participation in Canada. They celebrate those who go above and beyond to involve communities in decisions that affect their lives — fostering transparency, inclusivity, and innovation in meaningful public engagement.
The 2026 program introduces a clearly defined structure with explicit criteria and a high expectation for the quality and impact of the work submitted.
Why apply for the Core Values Awards?
Showcase your impact
Spotlight your creativity
Stand out in the industry
Build influence in the field
Attract clients & partners
Celebrate your team
Six categories reflect the breadth and depth of public participation practice across Canada. All organizations, practitioners, and researchers are eligible — membership is not required.
Creativity, Contribution & Innovation
Work that advances P2 through original thinking, exemplary leadership, and measurable community impact.
Indigenous Engagement
Effective processes designed by Indigenous practitioners, or culturally safe engagement with Indigenous Peoples and communities.
Respect for Diversity, Inclusion & Culture
Engagement with historically marginalized populations using inclusive, multicultural, or linguistically diverse approaches.
Visual Engagement
Effective use of design in notification, participation materials, reporting, and alignment with IAP2 Core Values.
Organization of the Year
Organizations that have embedded the Core Values throughout operations and integrated participation into decision-making.
Research Project of the Year
Work that expands the body of public engagement knowledge and contributes new theories or understanding to the field.
Submitting is a straightforward two-step process. IAP2 Canada membership is not required to apply. Applications are accepted until June 15, 2026.
Complete the online submission form
Provide your name, organization, contact details, award category, and a brief description of your submission. You will receive a unique Core Values Awards Application Number and kit instructions via email.
Download and complete your Application Kit
Select the kit for your category. Each contains an Overview & Instructions document and the Application Form. A separate application is required for each category entered.
Submit your completed package by email
Email to Hina Ali, Program Director at hina@iap2canada.ca. Use subject line: Attention: Hina Ali — Core Values Application ### (replacing ### with your assigned number).
Application Kits
Application Kit 1
- ›Creativity, Contribution & Innovation
- ›Indigenous Engagement
- ›Respect for Diversity, Inclusion & Culture
Download – Application Form ↓
Application Kit 2
- ›Visual Engagement
- ›Organization of the Year
- ›Research Project of the Year
Download – Application Form ↓
Key milestones for the 2026 IAP2 Canada Core Values Awards cycle.
| March 2026 |
Call for Judges
Experienced P2 professionals invited to apply to the judging panel.
|
| April 2026 |
Awards Program Opens
Submissions open for organizations and practitioners across Canada.
|
| April – May 2026 |
Submission Period
Submissions welcomed from across Canada showcasing meaningful public participation.
|
| June 15, 2026 |
Submission Deadline
All submissions must be received by this date. Judging continues through mid-August.
|
| Aug 31, 2026 |
Recipients Notified
Successful applicants contacted and prepared for public recognition.
|
| Oct 1–3, 2026 |
Awards Celebration — Vancouver
Winners recognized at the IAP2 Canada North American Conference Gala.
|
Explore recipients from previous years of the Canadian program, or visit the IAP2 Federation Showcase for international recipients.
Canadian recipients by year
Meet the 2026 CVA Judges
Our panel of experienced public participation professionals brings diverse expertise and perspectives to evaluate submissions across all award categories.
Siobhan Takala
Public Engagement Advisor, City of SaskatoonSiobhan is a youth, civic engagement, and climate justice advocate from the prairies. With a B.Sc. in Environmental Science and Sustainability from Dalhousie University, she is rooted in intersectional, cross-sector approaches to problem solving. She has over 10 years of experience in youth education and engagement, with a keen interest in supporting youth ages 18–30 in climate action. She has recently joined the Board of Directors for the Prairie Chapter of IAP2 Canada. Siobhan is a lifelong creative who enjoys dancing, learning textile arts, and being inspired by nature and her loved ones.
Gabriel Chung
Manager of Training Standards, Apprenticeship ManitobaGabriel is a higher education and public administration professional with an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Western University. He leverages his unique combination of higher education teaching experience and graduate studies in business, policy, and public administration to the postsecondary applied education sector. With over 15 years of experience in the public engagement community, he is passionate about building collaborative and innovative approaches with stakeholders. Outside of work, he can sometimes be found researching or exploring local or global tourist attractions.
Obianuju Asiodu
Program Management ProfessionalObianuju is a program management professional with over ten years of experience across government, nonprofit, and management consulting. Her work spans community-informed program design, system transformation initiatives, and evaluation practices that emphasize clarity, accountability, and sustainable impact. She brings a grounded, practical approach to engagement, informed by the principle of “nothing for us without us” and a strong focus on listening to and working alongside communities. She is a member of the IAP2 community, bringing both professional expertise and lived experience to her work, with a consistent focus on fairness, context, and meaningful participation.
Anila Sunnak
Patient Engagement Consultant & Past President, IAP2 Great Lakes ChapterAnila is an experienced IAP2 professional with over 15 years of engagement expertise across government, media, and healthcare sectors. As past Public and Patient Engagement Program Manager (2016–24) for the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, she collaborated with jurisdictional partners to tackle disparities in cancer outcomes for underserved populations, including First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. In 2019 she helped lead the organization to two IAP2 awards: Organization of the Year and a Core Values Award. She served on the IAP2 Great Lakes Chapter Board from 2020–26, the last two years as President, and is Co-Chair of the Health CoP. She holds a Bachelor of Journalism and Law (Carleton) and a Masters of Environmental Studies (York).
Ruby Carrico
Community Planner, Sq̱wx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation)Ruby Carrico was born and raised on the unceded and shared territories of the Sq̱wx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, səl̓ilṿətaʔɬ, and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Nations in what is now known as Vancouver. She has been with the Squamish Nation since February 2022, helping create several long-range community plans for Squamish People — most notably Úxwumixw 2050: Sq̱wx̱wú7mesh Generational Plan, recipient of Project of the Year at the 2025 IAP2 North American Conference. Ruby has a passion for community-led planning and is honoured to work where community voices are centred in decision making.
Stay Connected
Subscribe Today For News & Updates Subscribe to our mailing list to get the latest updates from IAP2 Canada. |
