Awards

The CRHNet Awards Program is a national awards program established to recognize and honour exemplary individuals participating in and contributing to the study and practice of disaster risk management. The program is run by a standing committee of CRHNet members which reports to the CRHNet Board. Details of individual awards can be found below.

Deadline for submissions has been extended to  January 5, 2024 and will be presented in conjunction with the 2023 AGM in February, virtually.  

The Marion Boon Mentorship  (MBMA) Award was established in 2020 to recognize exemplary mentorship and leadership in the field of Disaster and Emergency Management. This award was created to acknowledge individuals who have demonstrated a commitment to supporting the development of emerging professionals through advocacy, collaboration, and the transparent sharing of learning, experiences, and ideas.  It was named after Marion Boon.

There is no monetary reward associated with this award, and the award is presented to the selected nominee at the CRHNet annual symposium or AGM. However, award recipients will have their contributions recognized and featured in HazNet, CRHNet’ s signature publication, and on the CRHNet website.

Candidates, candidate initiatives, and/or programs must be nominated by a Canadian for their role as a mentor for emerging professionals in the field of Disaster and Emergency Management. The nomination form must be supported by one letter of reference.

Eligibility: Limited to Canadian persons and organizations.

Selection: All nomination packages will be adjudicated by the CRHNet Awards Committee.

Award Notification: While we thank all applicants for their interest in this award, only successful candidates will be notified of the award decision.

Nomination Instructions: Completed CRHNet_MarionBoonMentorship_Award_Nomination_Form are to be submitted by e-mail to the Marion Boon Mentorship Awards Committee in Word or PDF format by the stated deadline.

Please ensure the e-mail subject line reads: Marion Boon Mentorship Award.

Number of Awards: Each year one individual is recognized, and the recipient is announced at the annual AGM.2021

2022

• Rachel Campbell, Air Canada-Director of Emergency Management

2021 Winner

• Sarah Thompson, Canadian Red Cross

2020 Winners

• Chiran Livera, Canadian Red Cross
• Josh Morin, Sturgeon County Emergency Management

The CRHNet T. Joseph Scanlon Lifetime Achievement Award is the organization’s highest honour and is named after the late T. Joseph Scanlon, journalist, researcher, professor for his lifetime contributions to disaster risk management. The award is presented annually to recognize the lifetime contributions and achievements of exemplary individuals to the enhancement of Canadian disaster safety. Eligibility for this award is open to all Canadians, and recognizes individual service to public safety through disaster management practice, research, education, and leadership.

Number of Awards: Each year one individual is recognized, and the recipient is announced at the annual CRHNet Symposium. Recipients are also recognized and profiled in “HazNet”, CRHNet’s signature publication.

Eligibility: All Canadian disaster researchers, educators, trainers, and practitioners are eligible to receive this award.

Selection: All nomination packages will be adjudicated by the CRHNet Awards Committee against the posted eligibility and award criteria. Nomination packages will be assessed based on a combination of the following: a) the nature of the nominee’s contributions; b) the duration of their contributions; and c) the impact of their contributions in the following areas:

• Candidate’s oral and written public safety contributions across various media
• Candidate’s educational and training contributions in the field of Canadian public safety
• Candidate’s support for and participation in Canadian disaster research
• Candidate’s volunteer contributions to Canadian public safety
• Candidate’s contributions to the practice of Canadian public safety
• Candidate’s role as a public safety mentor and leader in Canada.

Award Notification: While we thank all applicants for their interest in this award, only successful candidates will be notified of the award decision.

Award Acceptance: Awards must be accepted or declined by the date indicated for the year in which the award is given.

Nomination Instructions: Individuals can nominate themselves or others. Please submit an award nomination package by email to the Awards Committee at the address indicated below. Please ensure your electronic submission identifies the “Scanlon Lifetime Achievement Award” in the subject line, and includes the following documents in Word or PDF formats:

1. Covering letter outlining why the nominee is deserving of this award
2. Completed CRHNet_TJosephScanlon_LAA_Nomination_Form
3. Brief biography (max. 250 words)
4. Three letters of reference from individuals in the public safety field (e.g. academics, educators, practitioners) who can attest to the contributions of the nominee.

CRHNet Lifetime Achievement Award Awards Committee: Awards@CRHNet.ca Past Award Winners

2022
Stephen Carr, AEMA

2021
Tom Sampson

2020
Paul Kovacs, ICLR

2019
Alain Normand

2018
Dr L. (“Bert”) Struik

2017
Larry Pearce – Awarded for his lifetime contributions to disaster reduction management, community engagement, education and risk reduction initiatives.

2016
T Joseph Scanlon – Awarded for his lifetime contributions to disaster scholarship, education and communication as a journalist, journalism professor, and sociologist.

The Larry Pearce Education Award is offered by CRHNet members to deserving post-secondary students undertaking studies in any discipline related to Canadian disaster risk and/or emergency management. This competitive award is intended to encourage innovative disaster risk management work in Canada and defray the post-secondary education costs for recipients in the year the award is granted. Accordingly, recipients must be enrolled in full-time studies in the year in which the award is given.

Number and Value of Awards: Three awards are offered annually. Three awards are presented annually. The recipient with the highest score will receive $1000, while the second and third place recipients will receive $750 and $500 respectively.

Eligibility: To be eligible to receive this award thenominee must:

Be a registered student in a disaster or emergency management related program offered by our Academic Partners including, Brandon University, JIBC, Laurier, NAIT, Royal Roads, University of Saskatchewan and York University.

Deadline: January 5, 2024

Selection: All submissions will be adjudicated by the CRHNet Awards Committee against the posted eligibility and award criteria. Nominations will be assessed based on any combination of the nominees academic achievement, innovation, relevant work experience (voluntary or paid), publications (where applicable), presentations, demonstrated leadership or leadership potential, in addition to two letters of reference.

Award Notification: Successful nominess will be notified of the award decision. We thank all those for nominating a student this award.

Award Acceptance: Awards must be accepted or declined by the date indicated for the year in which the award is given.

Nomination Instructions: Nominations must demonstrate the students commitment and/or contribution(s) to an area related to disaster risk management in the nomination package which is to be submitted by email to the Awards Committee at the email indicated below. Please ensure your e-mailed submission identifies “CRHNet Larry Pearce Education Award” in the subject line, and includes the following documents in Word or PDF formats:

1. Covering letter summarizing the nominee and rationale for the nomination
2. Completed CRHNet_LarryPearce_EA_Nomination_Form
3. Brief biography of the nominator (max. 250 words)

Two letters of reference (max. 500 words each)

Larry Pearce Education Award Committee: Awards@CRHNet.ca

Past Award Winners

2022 – Virtual
First Place: Aidan Osborne, NAIT
Second Place: Willow Weber, York
Third Place: Jennifer Gates, NAIT

2021 – Virtual
First Place: Tiana Putric, York University
Second Place: Jason Molnar, York University

2020 – Virtual
First Place: Amabel D’Souza, NAIT
Second Place: Dan Seguin, Royal Roads University
Third Place: Tiana Putric, York University

2019 – Winnipeg:
First Place: Brady Podloski, York University
Second Place: Abul Kalam Azad, University of Manitoba

2017 – Halifax:
First Place: Kari Lentowicz, Royal Roads University;
Second Place: Sarah Greenberg, York University;
Third Place: Denise Blinn, York University

2016 – Montreal:
First Place: Faraz Hasan (Muhammad Syed), Univ. of Victoria;
Second Place: Catherine Kenny, York University;
Third Place: Zalma Sahar, York University

2015 – Calgary:
First Place (Shared): Jithamala Caldera, University of Calgary;
First Place (shared): Arshad Khan Khalafazi, University of Alberta;
Third Place: Bettina Falloon, Royal Roads University

CRHNet awards Symposium Travel Bursaries annually to deserving students and emerging professionals from across Canada to help defray the travel costs associated with attending the Annual CRHNet Symposium. The bursaries are intended to encourage and promote ongoing learning, participation, and the sharing of research contributions/innovative ideas to the field of Canadian disaster risk management.

Number and Value of Awards: Five bursaries of $500 each are presented at the annual fall CRHNet Symposium. Symposium fees are also waived for bursary recipients.

Eligibility: To be eligible to receive this award the applicant must:

– Be a registered student entering, continuing in, or having just completed (within 12 months of award application date) a disaster or emergency management related program offered by an accredited Canadian post-secondary educational institution.

OR

– Be an emerging professional who has graduated from a disaster or emergency management related program from a nationally accredited institution of higher learning within the past five years.

Deadline: Due to the change to a virtual symposium for 2022, student travel bursaries will not be awarded for this year.

Selection: All applications will be adjudicated by the CRHNet Awards Committee. Applications will be assessed based on the applicant’s articulated rationale for attending the symposium, current contributions to the symposium and field of study/practice, and future goals related to the field of disaster risk management.  Preference will be given to those students who are planning on presenting/volunteering at the CRHNet Symposium.

Award Acceptance: Awards must be accepted or declined within one week of notification.

Additional Requirements for Award Recipients:

• During Symposium: Recipients are required to assist at the Symposium Registration Desk for two hours; and
• After Symposium: Recipients must submit a 200- to 400-word reflection on key learnings/experience at the symposium for publication consideration in the HazNet magazine and/or CRHNet website. This must be submitted by: TBD

Application Instructions: Please submit an application package  to the CRHNet Awards Committee  at the email below by the stated deadline. Be sure to identify “CRHNet Student Symposium Travel Bursary” in the subject line, and to attach the following documents in Word or PDF formats:

1. Completed Symposium Travel Bursary Application Form
2. Short summary describing rationale for attending the CRHNet symposium (max. 500 words).  Be sure to relate this to the selection criteria indicated above
3. Abstract of any poster/presentation planned for the symposium (if applicable)

Symposium Travel Bursary Committee:  awards@CRHNet.ca

Past Award Winners

2016 – 2017 – Halifax
Emily Gray, Univ. of British Columbia;
Diamir de Scally, Univ. of Waterloo;
Kari Lentowicz, Royal Roads University;
Arielle Dalley, Univ. of British Columbia;
Brennan Vogel, Univ. of Western Ontario – declined.

2015/16 – Montreal
Arielle Dalley, Master’s Student, University of British Columbia
Catherine Kenny, Master’s Student, York University
Alexandra Rutledge, Master’s Student, University of Waterloo
Amber Silver, Doctoral Candidate, University of Waterloo – declined.
Lacey Willmott, Doctoral Candidate, University of Waterloo

2014/15 – Calgary
Christopher Carter, University of British Columbia
Michelle Marteleira, University of British Columbia
Alexandra Rutledge, University of Waterloo
Brittany Schina, University of Victoria (declined)
Jeremy Stone, University of British Columbia

2013/14 – Toronto
Stephanie Sodero, Memorial University
Heather McGrath, University of New Brunswick
Alex Valoroso, Royal Roads University
Maher El Hares, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology
Shaun Koopman, Royal Roads University

2012/13 – Regina
Hebba Elmoslimany, York University
Leah de Montreuil, University of Victoria
Rudy Riedlsperger, Memorial University
Sarah-Maude Guindon, York University
Greg Bartlett, Brandon University

2011/2012 -Vancouver
Julia Scharbach, University of Saskatchewan
Mohammed Salim Uddin, University of Manitoba
Umma Tamima, McGill University
Ram Jee Karki, Kathmandu University – Nepal (Declined)
Barry Bouwsema, Capella University

The “Canadian DRM Volunteer Award” is offered to nationally recognize extraordinary and exemplary volunteers, volunteer initiatives, and volunteer programs contributing to Canadian public safety. Up to three awards are granted annually.

The CRHNet “Canadian Disaster Risk Management Volunteer Award” is presented annually to nationally recognize exemplary volunteerism in the advancement of Canadian disaster risk management. This award is supported by the CRHNet membership to encourage disaster risk management volunteerism in Canada and to profile exceptional contributions through direct volunteer work, volunteer initiatives, and/or voluntary programs.

Number of Awards: Each year up to three awards are offered, and recipients are announced at the annual fall CRHNet Symposium. Additionally, award winners are profiled in “HazNet”, CRHNet’s signature publication.

Eligibility: All persons or groups who volunteer their time to contribute to Canadian disaster risk management through practice, research, education and/or leadership are eligible for nomination. Similarly, volunteer initiatives or programs supporting Canadian disaster risk management are eligible for nomination. Nominators must be Canadian citizens.

Selection: All applications will be adjudicated by the CRHNet Awards Committee against the posted eligibility and award criteria. Nomination packages will be assessed based on any combination of the following criteria:

1. The type of contribution(s);
2. The duration of the contribution(s), and
3. The intended/realized impact of the contribution(s).

Award Notification: While we thank all nominators for forwarding award nominations for consideration, only successful recipients will be notified of the award decision.

Award Acceptance: Awards must be accepted or declined in the year in which the award is given.

Nomination Instructions: Individuals can nominate a volunteer, group of volunteers, volunteer initiative or program by submitting a nomination package by email to the CRHNet Awards Committee at the email indicated below. Please ensure your e-mailed submission identifies “Canadian Volunteer Award” in the subject line, and includes the following documents in Word or PDF formats:

1. A one-page covering letter outlining why the nominee(s), initiative or program is deserving of this award (max. 500 words)
2. A completed CRHNet_CDRM_Volunteer_Award_Nomination_Form
3. For individual nominees (only)
   • A brief biography of the nominee (max. 250 words)
4. A brief biography of the nominator (max. 250 words)

CDRM Volunteer Award Committee: Awards@CRHNet.ca

Winners

2022
Lily Yumagulova, PhD

2020 – Ron Kuban, PhD