ACEC National Awards

In this category, firms must demonstrate how their project has achieved one or more of the following:

• Enhanced the community’s quality of life.
• Promoted social cohesion and inclusion.
• Empowered a community by addressing their specific needs.
• Engaged with the local community, demonstrating a commitment to social responsibility and fostering positive relationships through consultation (outreach programs, volunteer initiatives, or educational partnerships.)
• Helped address challenges such as poverty alleviation, healthcare access, social inequality, sustainable development, climate change, etc...
• Collaborated with Indigenous communities, respecting their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge, and rights while delivering positive outcomes and benefits.
• Promoted public health and well-being through improved access to clean water, sanitation, healthcare facilities, or other infrastructure and services that enhance living outcomes.
• Advanced social equity and justice in the community by reducing disparities, promoting equal access to resources and opportunities, and fostering inclusive development.

In this category, firms must demonstrate how their project has achieved one or more of the following:

• Implemented strategies to minimize environmental impact, conserve natural resources, and promote sustainability and resilience in their project and operation.
• Contributed to the preservation and restoration of natural habitats, biodiversity, and/or ecosystems.
• Innovated sustainable technologies, processes, or solutions that contribute to environmental conservation and combat climate change.
• Responded to natural disasters, emergencies, or other crisis through resilience, agility, preparedness, and/or leadership in safeguarding lives, property, and infrastructure.
• Addressed climate change and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, implementing innovative solutions to adapt to climate impacts and promote sustainability.

In this category, firms must demonstrate how their project has achieved one or more of the following:

• Stimulated economic growth and development by creating jobs, attracting investment, and/or fostering entrepreneurship at the local, regional, or national level.
• Contributed to the development and improvement of critical infrastructure systems, such as transportation, energy, water, or telecommunications, enhancing connectivity and driving economic growth.
• Pushed the boundaries of technological advancement in the industry through innovation, research, development, and implementation of cutting-edge technologies and/or processes that improve efficiency, productivity, and quality of life.
• Contributed to education, skills development, and capacity building, empowering individuals and communities to thrive and participate in sustainable development initiatives.
• Revitalized urban areas, enhancing urban livability, sustainability, and resilience through innovative infrastructure, public spaces, or community development initiatives.
• Played an essential role in the delivery of a municipal, provincial/territorial, and/or federal infrastructure programs that had an economic impact.

In this category, firms must demonstrate how their project has achieved one or more of the following:

• Introduced new ideas, methods, or technologies that challenge conventional practices.
• Demonstrated creativity in addressing industry challenges.
• Utilized advanced technical solutions and showcases superior engineering or design.
• Shows evidence of rigorous research, development, and implementation of cutting-edge technologies.
• Contributed to the advancement of industry standards, practices, or knowledge.
• Potential for widespread adoption or adaptation within the industry.
• Successfully integrates innovative and technical elements into practical and effective solutions.
• Showcases seamless execution from concept through completion, with clear documentation of the process.

In this category, firms must demonstrate how they have achieved one or more of the following:

• Prioritized diversity and inclusion within their workforce, demonstrating inclusive hiring and retention strategies that promote equality and representation across all levels of the organization and creating a culture of belonging.
• Initiated programs and activities that support underrepresented groups within the organization
• Exhibited exemplary corporate social responsibility practices, integrating ethical, environmental, and social considerations into their business strategies and decision-making processes.
• Developed and/or prioritized HR practices, procedures and/or training programs that promote and exceed industry standards in areas of well-being, safety and healthy workplaces for employees, contractors, and the broader community.
• Committed to and integrated business practices that support Indigenous reconciliation and the principles of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

The Awards of Excellence honour the best in our industry and showcase the profound difference consulting engineering firms make in shaping a better world.

Awards of Excellence will be presented in each category to recognize the exceptional contributions of our members and the projects that demonstrate innovation and deliver transformative outcomes.

The total number of awards presented in any given category will be at the jury’s discretion.

The Jury will also, at its discretion, present a Special Award in each category to one of the Award of Excellence winners.

Special Awards are presented to a project that exemplifies the essence of the category and stands out for its exceptional impact and overall contribution.

The Special Awards are:

The Engineering a Better Canada Award: Presented to a project that best showcases how engineering enhances the social quality of life of Canadians and the positive impact of the industry on communities.

The Breton Environmental Stewardship Award: Recognizes a project that demonstrates exceptional leadership and innovation in minimizing environmental impact while promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship.

The Prosperity Award: Honors a project that has made a remarkable contribution to economic growth and development while fostering long-term prosperity and positive economic impact for communities.

The Catalyst Award: Recognizes a project that pushes the boundaries of engineering through groundbreaking innovation and significant technical advancements.

The Outreach Award: Honors a company that demonstrates outstanding leadership, ethical practices, and a strong commitment to social responsibility in the consulting engineering industry.

The jury will also have the opportunity, should it choose to, to present two additional Special Awards as follows:

The Ambassador Award: presented to a project constructed or executed outside Canada that best highlights Canadian engineering expertise.

ACEC-Canada Project of the Year: presented to a project the jury deems to be the year's top project.

Submissions are required to meet the following rules and conditions:

• The submitting firm is a member in good standing of ACEC-Canada.
• The submitting office is a member in good standing of the provincial/territorial association.
• The project was performed, led or supervised by at least one engineer licensed in Canada.
• Joint submissions are permitted; at least one of the entering firms must be an ACEC-Canada member in good standing.
• The project must be completed between January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024.
• Completed phases for ongoing projects are eligible for submission if completed between January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024.
• The submission requires approval by the project owner and the client (if different than the project owner. Please download these forms for signature; there is a space to upload the signed forms in the submission process.

Client Consent Form
Owner Consent Form
• If the firm acted as a sub-consultant, their scope of work must be clearly outlined in the submission.
• The project can be of any size and location.
• A firm can make multiple submissions.
• A project can only be submitted in one category.
• Submissions can be made in either English or French.

All submissions will first be evaluated on a total score of 100 points based on the response to five questions.

The Project Summary will be worth 10 points in total.

The first three questions are common to all submissions:
• Addressing Client’s Overarching Goals and Objectives (15 points)
• Client and Stakeholder Engagement (15 points)
• Managing Challenges and Opportunities (10 points)

The remaining two questions, each worth 25 points, are specific to the submission category.

The adjudication process is designed to ensure equity, fairness, and transparency.

We are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and excellence throughout the adjudication process, ensuring that our awards recognize and honour the most outstanding contributions to society.

Jury Composition
The jury is composed of industry experts and key stakeholders from various related sectors. This diverse panel brings a wealth of experience and insight to the evaluation process, reflecting a comprehensive understanding of the industry’s standards and innovations.

Selection Process

1. Initial Review: Submissions will undergo a preliminary review by staff to ensure they meet the rules and conditions and align with the award categories. February 2025

2. Detailed Assessment and Scoring: Qualified submissions will be evaluated in detail by the jury. Each submission will be scored out of 100 using the weighting outlined above. The top scoring projects per category will move to the next phase of the adjudication process. March 2025

3. Deliberation and Final Selection: The jury members will convene to discuss their evaluations, ensuring a collaborative and balanced assessment of each submission. They will then determine the final winners, taking into account the collective insights and scores. The decision-making process emphasizes consensus and transparency, ensuring that the most deserving projects are recognized. April 2025

Submissions accepted: October 2024 through January 31, 2025.

Jury Review: February 2025

Jury Final Meeting: March 2025

Notifications shared with winning firms: April 2025

There are two fee tiers to submit a project:

1) Large Firm, is a firm identified with 100 employees or greater. Payment per submission is $500.00, plus HST.

2) Small Firm, is a firm identified with 99 employees or fewer. Payment per submission is $250.00, plus HST.

Payment can be made by c/c at the end of your submission form. Payment must be received by January 31, 2025 to qualify for entry into the awards.