Public Works Industry Awards

The Call for Submissions for the 2024 Awards is now closed! Thank you to all who submitted.

Awards (and being nominated) can be a great way to show a member of your team that you appreciate their efforts! There are SO MANY amazing people working in public works that deserve to be recognized!

The deadline to submit an application is August 16 ^th, 2024, in an effort to announce this year’s winners at the PWABC/BCMSA Joint Conference on October 7- 9^, 2024, in Penticton.

We have simplified the nomination process! Awards for communities of all sizes – don’t be shy!

Nomination Process:

Email to membership@pwabc.ca
Contact information for who is being nominated, who is doing the nomination and your organization and the specific award
Include any material starting with a compelling story of the impact of the nominee, project or celebration. Application can include pictures, videos, and (social) media posts – this is a license to be as creative as you want to be.
Before 6 pm Friday, August 16^th, 2024

We encourage large and small municipalities to nominate those in our supporting vendor and consulting industries, who work hard, demonstrate excellence and passion for serving our communities!

Presentations: PWABC will work with all award recipients for an appropriate time/location for the award presentations. This could include physical or virtual presentations at conferences, council meeting or other appropriate meeting/ceremony

For additional information, please contact: membership@pwabc.ca

Awards to Individuals

Women’s Public Works Ambassador Award

Purpose: The Women’s Public Works Ambassador Award is an employee of a Federal, Provincial, Regional or Municipal Agency involved in public works or an engineering or consulting firm that supports public works.

For this purpose, public works is defined as the design, construction, maintenance, operation, or management of facilities and programs such as public utilities, solid waste collection and/or disposal systems, streets and/or highways, water and/or sewer systems, mass transit, airports, public buildings, production and distribution of natural gas or electric power, telephone systems, flood control, etc.

Eligibility: This individual need not be a PWABC/PWAC/APWA member.

Selection Criteria:

Applicants must self-identify as female;
Employed in Public Works for at least one year in BC;
Applicants must act as role models to encourage women to pursue and/or remain in Public Works as a profession; and
Public Works excellence, and recognition of achievement within the profession, business or industry, or education sector that has set a benchmark for public works professionals to strive for.

Outstanding Public Works Employee Award

Purpose: The Outstanding Public Works Employee award is for one individual employed by a Federal, Provincial, Regional or Municipal Agency involved in public works. This individual need not be a PWABC/PWAC/APWA member.

Eligibility: This individual need not be a PWABC/PWAC/APWA member.

Selection Criteria:

Employment history;
Outstanding achievements during the past three years in BC;

Which could include but is not limited to innovations/improvements, community service, and participation in organizations

Promotion of Public Works as a profession; and
Overall value to their organization

PWABC Manager of the Year Award

Purpose: To be awarded to the manager/supervisor who, in the opinion of the Awards Committee, best exemplifies the spirit and professionalism of the Association.

Eligibility: Nominee must be a member of PWABC/PWAC/APWA.

Selection Criteria:

Number of years in public works
Technical accomplishments that could include; design and/or coordination of major infrastructure projects, managerial accomplishments /initiatives /innovation
‘Non technical’ professional involvement could include:

publications or presentations to conferences, community service, support of public works education efforts

PWABC member, active in year of award

PWABC Professional - Dedicated Service Award

Purpose: To be awarded to a private-sector leader for a far-reaching positive impact on local or provincial public works programs, services or policies through distinguished service and commitment.

Eligibility: Non-government members of PWABC who are recognized as leaders working in a public works-related field or special endeavour.

Selection Criteria:

Outstanding achievements during the past five years in BC that could include: membership and participation in organizations; Initiative/Innovations/Improvements; Community Service;
Promotion of Public Works as a profession

Emerging Leader of the Year Award

Purpose: To recognize and encourage young leaders within the public works sector in British Columbia. The award acknowledges the efforts and contributions of young leaders within their organizations, their communities, and the PWABC.

Eligibility: Candidates must be less than 40 years old on the deadline for submission date.

Selection Criteria:

Candidate has demonstrated leadership qualities within their organization regardless of their position title. This may include:

Mentoring or developing other staff,
Implementing innovative processes,
Demonstrating exceptional public relations.
Demonstrated a continuing commitment to advancing their knowledge, skills and abilities through pursuit of continuing education.
Helped enhance the profile of the public works profession through involvement in related professional associations.
Strives to enhance their community through volunteer projects or initiatives.

Awards to Municipalities

Project of the Year Award

Purpose: To be awarded to the municipality which, in the opinion of the Awards committee constructs a major and complex public works or utilities project, which deserves special merit because of its unique features or complexity relative to the resources of the community.

Eligibility: Municipality must be a member of PWABC/CPWA/APWA. The project must have been “substantially completed” and available for public and/or agency use within two calendar years prior to nomination.

If a project has multiple phases or segments, then “substantially completed” will be construed as that point when the final phase or segment is 90% completed and available for public and/or agency use.

Two projects may be selected if there are qualified candidates in both smaller and larger communities.

A project may only be nominated once for recognition as Project of the Year.

Selection Criteria:

Safety record
Provides an environmental, climate resilience or social benefit
Complexity and/or innovation in design
Success of public engagement program
Financing complexity including on time and budget (within allowable tolerances)
Environmental protection measures taken during construction
Quality of final works

CPWA National Public Works Week Award

The CPWA National Public Works Week Awards were established to promote excellence in National Public Works Week (NPWW) public outreach by recognizing municipalities for their NPWW programs and events.

Click here to download the nomination form: CPWA_23NPWW_Nomination_fillable

Awards will be given in three categories:
1. First Time Entry: Any community submitting for the first time.
2. Community under 25,000: Any community with a population under 25,000.
3. Community OVER 25,000 : Any community with a population OVER 25,000

Eligibility
Winners from the provincial awards

Selection
Criteria to be used in the selection process include:
• Creativity (40%) – the level of creativity and innovation in the development and promotion of NPWW activities (including virtual).
• Public Outreach/Events (20%) – the range or scale of people engaged (including virtually).
• Education (20%) – the inclusion of an education component(s).
• Political Involvement (10%) – the level of political presence in the NPWW activities (including virtually).
• Staff Involvement (10%) – the level of participation by Public Works staff and union personnel.

The CPWA National Public Works Week Awards Evaluation Committee reviews the nominations and selects the award winners.

Nomination Process
Nominations will be made by the chapter.

Submissions

Email Submissions to membership@pwabc.ca

Deadline
Friday, July 16, 2024 (electronic submittals only)

Presentation
A designated representative of the public agency or municipality is presented a plaque at the municipal event of their choice (usually a town council meeting) and winners are announced at the CPWA Luncheon at PWX and in APWA publications.

Former Recipients
2022
• First Time Entry: Town of East Gwillimbury, ON
• Community under 25,000: City of Cold Lake, AB
• Community of 25,000 to 99,999: Town of East Gwillimbury, ON
• Community of 100,000 or more: City of Guelph, ON
• Most Creative Entry: Ville de Pointe-Claire, QC