CanSPEP - Awards Program

CanSPEP Awards Program

History

The CanSPEP Awards program was created in 2006 and seeks to recognize members and industry contributors who have had a significant impact on the association. Based on merit as determined by a selection committee, and ratified by the Board of Directors, not all award categories are fulfilled annually.

It is time to nominate fellow colleagues and peers for one or more of the CanSPEP Awards. Nomination forms must be submitted by the deadline of May 20th. We look forward to announcing and celebrating the award recipients at the 2025 CanSPEP Conference in Kingston, ON, June 23-26, 2025.

2025 Award Categories

Below describes the purpose of each award, and past winners.

NEW - New Member of the Year Award

New in 2025, this Award will recognize a new member who has demonstrated a keen dedication to CanSPEP through attendance, volunteerism, being a CanSPEP Champion and overall engagement. Nominate a Colleague for the New Member of the Year Award.

Volunteer of the Year Award

In appreciation of the value the Society places on volunteerism, this annual award recognizes a CanSPEP Member who has demonstrated his/her commitment to the organization with a notable contribution of skills, time and effort in the last 12 months. Nominate a Colleague for the Volunteer of the Year Award.

Industry Partner Award

In appreciation of the value the Society places on industry partners, this award recognizes a CanSPEP industry partner who has demonstrated his/her commitment by supporting and promoting the reputation of CanSPEP within the wider industry community. Nominate a Colleague for the Industry Partner of the Year Award.

Excellence in Leadership Award

As an association governed by volunteers, we place a very high value on the members who step forward to lend their skills, passion and the required time commitment to the leadership roles. This award recognizes a CanSPEP Member who has made substantial contributions to the Society over a prolonged period of time. Nominate a Colleague for the Excellence in Leadership Award.

Heidi Wilker Excellence in Mentorship Award

In appreciation of the value the Society places on mentorship, this award recognizes a CanSPEP Member who has demonstrated his/her commitment to mentoring by guiding, supporting and promoting the training and career development of fellow Members and who has had a significant positive impact on their mentees’ careers.

In 2019, the Mentorship Award was renamed the Heidi Wilker Excellence in Mentorship Award in recognition of the many years that Heidi has provided mentorship support to our community. Nominate a Colleague for the Heidi Wilker Excellence in Mentorship Award.

Awards Program - Previous Award Winners

Joy Fox Award for Innovation

2024 - Sandy Biback, CMP Emeritus, CMM
2022 - Heather Reid
2021 - Natalie Lowe
2019 – Rita Plaskett
2016 – Ingrid Norrish
2010 – Bettyanne Sherrer, CMP, CMM
2006 – Joy Fox

Heidi Wilker Excellence in Mentorship Award

2025 - David Dunlop
2023 - Nalina Williams
2022 - Rose Timmerman-Gitzi
2021 - Heather Reid
2019 – Yvonne Dewar
2017 – Heidi Wilker, CMP
2006 – Sandy Biback, CMP, CMM

Excellence in Leadership

2025 - Michelle Planche
2023 – Bettyanne Sherrer, CMM, CMP, DES
2022 – Caroline Aston
2021 – Joe Orecchio
2019 – Debbie Arato
2018 – Rose Timmerman-Gitzi
2015 – Rita Plaskett, CMP, CMM
2010 – Heidi Wilker, CMP
2006 – Gale Gingrich

Volunteer of the Year Award

2025 - Barbara McRae
2024 – Judit Szepfalvi
2023 – Shaina Scrimgeour, CMP
2022 – Kate Kelly
2021 – Angela Chorney
2019 – Sue Mercer
2019 – Meagan Rockett
2018 – Chris Lutz
2017 – Miranda Salvatore
2016 – Moriah Bacus
2016 – Nikki Sayers, CMP

CanSPEP President’s Award

2025 - Shaina Scrimgeour
2024 – Nichol Turner
2023 – Sue Mercer
2022 – Candace Schierling and Mireille Spencer-Faucon
2021 – Joe Orecchio
2020 – 2019/20 CanSPEP Board of Directors
2019 – Rose Timmerman-Gitzi and Meagan Rockett
2017 – Bettyanne Sherrer, CMP, CMM

Jeremy Tyrell Scholarship

2025 - Desmond Lomas, Explore Edmonton
2024 – Jamal Jordan, Hyatt Hotels Corporation
2023 – Robert Thompson, AV-CANADA
2022 – Jennifer Eddings, Explore Waterloo
2021 – Angela Koshman, pc/nametag Canada
2019 – David Stempowski, Holiday Inn Toronto International Airport
2018 – Vicky Zeppa, CMP
2017 – Candace Schierling, Tourism Saskatoon

New Member of the Year Award

2025 - Amina Hassan

CanSPEP Resilience Award

2021 - All CanSPEP Members