Manitobans are being encouraged to recognize the people and organizations making a difference in their communities as nominations open for the 2026 Canada’s Volunteer Awards.
The national program celebrates volunteerism across the country, with nominations open from April 22 to June 17.
Brenda Martinussen, a federally appointed member of the program’s National Advisory Committee, said the nomination process plays a key role in ensuring Manitoba’s volunteer efforts are recognized on a national stage.
“It’s important for Manitobans to nominate individuals and organizations because nominations are how Manitoba’s volunteer leadership is recognized nationally,” she said. “Many contributions are done quietly, and people are only celebrated if someone takes the time to tell their story well.”
The awards are open to individuals, groups, businesses, non-profit organizations and charities that have made a meaningful contribution to addressing social challenges in their communities. Individual nominees must be at least 18 years old and be Canadian citizens or permanent residents, while an Emerging Leader category recognizes those aged 18 to 30.
Martinussen said some of the strongest nominations are those that clearly outline both the volunteer’s role and the impact of their work.
“The strongest nominations make it easy to understand what the nominee actually did — whether they organized an initiative, mobilized others or mentored people — and then back it up with concrete results,” she said.
She added that strong submissions clearly describe the need being addressed, who benefited and how widely the impact was felt, while also highlighting challenges such as limited resources, geography or stigma. Nominations that demonstrate sustained impact, partnerships or programs that can be replicated tend to stand out.
The Canada’s Volunteer Awards program includes 21 awards, including the national Thérèse Casgrain Lifelong Achievement Award for individuals with more than 20 years of service, as well as 20 regional awards presented across five regions, including the Prairies.
Regional awards are presented in four categories: Community Leader, Emerging Leader, Business Leader and Social Innovator.
While Martinussen said she could not speak to specific statistics, she believes Manitoba could be better represented in nominations.
“I would like to see more representation from Manitoba,” she said. “Sometimes people feel they need to be from large urban centres to have reach and impact, but that’s not true. Often the biggest impact is in smaller or rural communities where resources are limited.”
She said a lack of awareness about the awards, along with the time required to prepare nominations, may also contribute to fewer submissions. In many cases, volunteers are focused on their work rather than seeking recognition, and may not see themselves as award-worthy.
For those unsure whether someone is “worthy” of being nominated, Martinussen said to move forward anyway.
“Often the people who feel the least worthy are the ones doing the work most quietly and consistently,” she said. “These awards are about meeting a real need and making a meaningful difference, whether that’s in a small community or within one organization.”
Beyond recognition, the awards can have a lasting impact on recipients and their communities.
“Recognition can boost morale, raise the profile of an issue and open doors to new partnerships and volunteers,” Martinussen said, noting recipients can also direct grant funding of $5,000 to $10,000 to a non-profit organization of their choice.
She added that the benefits often extend well beyond the individual recipient, helping organizations grow their volunteer base, strengthen partnerships and support future fundraising efforts.
To submit a nomination, applicants must complete an online form and include between one and three letters of support from individuals with direct knowledge of the nominee’s contributions.
Martinussen encourages nominators to be clear and specific, tying submissions closely to the program’s criteria and including measurable examples wherever possible.
“A strong nomination is clear, specific and backed by real examples,” she said. “Explain what they did, who benefited and what changed.”
Virtual information sessions will be held May 20 (English) and May 21 (French) to help guide applicants through the process.
“Ultimately, nominating doesn’t just celebrate one person or group — it strengthens a culture of service by showing volunteers that their time and impact truly matter,” Martinussen said.
