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.

Deadline to submit nomination: May 20, 2025


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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

CanSPEP Resilience Award

  • 2021 - All CanSPEP Members

Jeremy Tyrell Scholarship

  • 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

Industry Partner Award

  • 2024 – Cities in Sync
  • 2023 – Angela Koshman, pc/nametag Canada
  • 2022 – David Stempowski, Business Events Victoria
  • 2021 – Debbie van der Beek, Ignite
  • 2019 – Krista Cameron, Freeman Audio Visual Canada
  • 2018 – Candace Schierling, Tourism Saskatoon
  • 2017 – Hélène Moberg, Freeman Canada
  • 2016 – Denise Weise, Business Events Toronto
  • 2016 – Scott Harradine, Kempenfelt Conference Centre
  • 2015 – Robert Thompson, AV-Canada

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