AWARD PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The British Columbia Reconciliation Award recognizes individuals, groups and organizations who demonstrate exceptional leadership, integrity, respect, and commitment to furthering the Calls to Action outlined in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s report; and/or inspired others to do so.
WHY NOMINATE
The Award program provides an opportunity to publicly acknowledge the work of those individuals, groups and organizations committed to furthering the principles of reconciliation in British Columbia. Any person, group or organization may submit nominations for the Award with exceptions noted below.
DOWNLOAD THE 2023 NOMINATION GUIDE & TIPS
DATES TO REMEMBER
- November 22 – Nominations OPEN
- January 20 – Nominations CLOSE
- Spring 2023 – Awardees ANNOUNCED
Nominators may start the online form, save it, then return to complete and submit it by the closing date. The completed form and all nomination materials by must be submitted by January 20 @ 11:59 p.m. for the nomination to be considered.
WHO CAN NOMINATE
Any person, group or organization may submit nominations for the award with exceptions noted below:
- Current members of the selection committee, or members of the selection committee’s immediate family may not submit a nomination
- BC Achievement board members may not submit a nomination
ELIGILIBLITY
Any British Columbian (or former long-term resident) or British Columbia-based group or organization that demonstrates an exceptional commitment to advancing the principles of reconciliation in British Columbia is eligible to receive the REC award and include:
- Sitting federal, provincial or municipal representatives
- Chiefs or other members of a governing body of an Indigenous nation
A person may receive the award posthumously only if the selection committee has recommended the nomination to the Lieutenant Governor before their passing.
If more than one nomination is submitted for the same nominee, both will be presented to the selection committee for their review.
Self-nominations:
- A group or organization may submit a self-nomination
- An individual may not submit a self-nomination
The following nominations are not eligible:
- Past recipients of the British Columbia Reconciliation Award
- BC Achievement board members
- Members of the judiciary
- Nominations from the nominee’s immediate family
- Incomplete nominations are not eligible
Note: Nominations of any individual under the age of 19 must be accompanied by the permission of a parent or guardian
SELECTION OF AWARDEES
The selection committee for the British Columbia Reconciliation Award includes representation by Indigenous Elders and BC First Nations leadership. The committee reviews the nominations and selects the award recipients. The decision of the committee is final. Nominees are notified only if selected for an award. The British Columbia Reconciliation Award is awarded by the Lieutenant Governor on the recommendation of the selection committee.
RECOGNITION
The awards shall be presented to the recipients as arranged by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. This may occur in community, or at other locations, to be determined during the year of the awards. Awardees receive a commemorative certificate plaque signed and presented by the Lieutenant Governor and BC Achievement Board Member, the BC Achievement medallion and lapel pin designed by renowned First Nations artist, Robert Davidson, OC, OBC, and artwork created by the Crabtree McLennan Emerging Artist in First Nations Art. In addition, BC Achievement curates an online #shinethelightbc campaign, highlighting each awardee’s accomplishments, through its social media platforms with a daily focus on individual awardees.
HOW TO NOMINATE / APPLY
The nominator must complete the online Nomination form and include the following:
Nominator name & contact information and statement about the length and duration of the relationship with the nominee (1000 max characters incl. spaces or approx. 175 words)
Nominee name & contact information (i.e., street & mailing address, phone number and email. Nominators are encouraged to provide the nominee’s website and social media handles)
Achievement Description (2500 max characters incl. spaces or approx. 450 words)
- Provide a detailed description of the work the nominee has done to advance the principles of reconciliation in British Columbia
- If the reconciliation work is part of the nominee’s job, explain how the nominee rose above the expectations of the position and how the nominee is contributing to reconciliation in a meaningful way that has broader impact
- If the work occurs in the area of education, the nominator should explain how the nominee used the curriculum to amplify and revitalize Indigenous culture; provide examples of what communities can do together; and how their reconciliation work has transformed relationships between them
- Please use bullet points in this section – add a space between points
Impact of the nominee’s achievements (2500 max characters incl. spaces or approx. 450 words)
- Describe the outcomes of the work the nominee has done to advance the principles of reconciliation and in what way has the nominee’s work specifically impacted youth and/or Indigenous Elders
- Please use bullet points in this section – add a space between points
Two support letters from two separate individuals other than the nominator (2500 max characters incl. spaces or approx. 450 words per letter) and the writer's contact information
Support letters should:
- Be written by individuals who are able to speak to about the impact of the nominee's achievements from first-hand experience
- Come from outside the nominee's immediate family (e.g., colleagues, civic or other community members)
- Be current and written specifically for the award program
- Include the writer's name, organization, address, phone and email
All letters should be addressed to the "Selection Committee"
DOWNLOAD THE 2023 NOMINATION GUIDE for tips on writing a compelling support letter
Additional Materials – Optional, but strongly recommended
- Nominators have the option to submit materials such as a biography, curriculum vitae, newspaper articles, video or recorded testimonials, additional letters, links to YouTube videos, photos, etc.
- A maximum of five items (10 pages total and five minutes of video) will be accepted.
- All materials must be submitted electronically.
- Note: each link submitted is considered one additional material
Selection committee members are asked to review up to a maximum of 10 pages total and five minutes of video – anything beyond that may not be reviewed.
Note: It is recommended that the nominator prepare the Achievement Description & Impact of the nominee’s achievements in a word document, then copy and paste the contents into the online nomination form boxes provided (and check character count before doing so).
UPDATING A NOMINATION
Nominations are valid for three years including the first year of nomination and two subsequent years.
Nominators are strongly encouraged to update their nomination package for consideration by the following year's selection committee if their nominee was not recognized in the previous year’s awardee cohort.
To update a nomination:
- Scroll down to the nomination form on the award program page
- Review the eligibility criteria, then select "I agree that the nominee meets the eligibility criteria"
- Indicate if the nomination is for an individual or group/organization
- Select ‘yes’ for the question “Is this an update to a previous nomination?”
- Select the year the nomination was first submitted
- In the box provided, list what information is being updated and replaced (i.e., nominee contact info, new support letters, additional materials, updated Achievement Description / Impact Statement)
All updates should be submitted by January 20 @ 11:59 PM
We are happy to send the documents previously submitted for your nominee. Please email [email protected] to make your request.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What should be stated in the support letter?
The support letter should explain: how the nominee has demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, respect and commitment to furthering reconciliation in the province of BC and / or inspired others to follow their lead; indicate the relationship between the writer and the nominee and the length of the relationship; describe the outcomes of the nominee’s work and what the nominee has done to advance the principles of reconciliation and how their work has specifically impacted youth and/or Indigenous elders.
2. To whom should support letters be addressed?
Support letters should be addressed to “The Selection Committee”. All support letters must be signed by the writer; include their contact information; and be current and specific to the BC Reconciliation Award.
3. Can more than two support letters be submitted?
Other support letters may be submitted as 'additional materials'. A maximum of five items (10 pages total and five minutes of video) will be accepted. These five items may also include biography, curriculum vitae, newspaper articles, video or recorded testimonials, links to YouTube videos, photos etc.
4. Are congratulatory letters from other programs accepted in the nomination package?
Other congratulatory letters may be included as additional material, but they may not serve as support letters.
5. Is a nomination considered for more than one year?
Submitted nominations begin a three-year program and may be reviewed by up to three selection committees. Nominators are given the opportunity to update their nomination each year prior to review by the current year's selection committee.
6. Should the nominator tell the nominee about the nomination?
Generally, the nominee is not told of the nomination. It is up to the discretion of the nominator whether or not to inform the nominee about the nomination.
7. When are the awardees notified and where are the names of the awardees published?
Awardees will be notified following the deliberations of the selection committee. Their names will be announced through the Lieutenant Governor's and BC Achievement’s respective media channels.
