The Oakville Community Spirit Awards (CSA) program has opened submissions for their 2024 awards.
Local residents are, according to town staff, "invited to nominate community champions who have made a significant difference in Oakville during the last year for a 2024 Community Spirit Award."
The CSAs are awarded annually to individuals, organizations, businesses and/or community groups who have "demonstrated ongoing leadership, dedication and involvement in Oakville."
Nominations will be accepted until Friday, April 26, 2024 at 4 p.m. in the six CSA categories:
Arts, Culture & Heritage Award: Recognizing outstanding individuals, businesses or organizations who have made a significant voluntary contribution to the artistic and/or cultural community of the Town of Oakville through the development, support, conservation or promotion of local heritage, culture, music, visual, performing, or literary arts. (And, this award is sponsored by Oakville News!)
Climate Action Award: Recognizing outstanding individuals, businesses or organizations who have demonstrated environmental leadership by making significant voluntary contributions to the sustainability, protection, conservation, or beautification of Oakville’s natural and built environments.
Good Neighbour Award: Recognizing outstanding individuals, businesses or organizations who have made significant contributions in their neighbourhood by showing kindness, instilling community pride, or ensuring public safety to make Oakville a better place to live, work and play.
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility Award: Recognizing outstanding individuals, businesses or organizations who have made significant voluntary contributions, beyond legislated requirements, to make Oakville a more inclusive community regardless of visible/invisible disability, race, gender, sexual orientation, income, etc.
Inspiration Award: Recognizing outstanding individuals, businesses or organizations who advocate for others, motivate the community, or have had an inspirational influence on others.
Leadership & Innovation Award: Recognizing outstanding individuals, businesses or organizations who exemplify leadership or innovation and inspire others to work collaboratively and respectfully to enhance the quality of life of others.
Nominees will be celebrated on June 6, 2024 at the annual Community Spirit Awards event taking place at the Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre. Oakville town staff say "more details" will be announced in May when the nominees are named.
The Community Spirit Awards have recognized individual and groups for their outstanding contributions to the community since 2002. This is the second year of what the town calls its "refreshed" program, when the awards and categories were restructured in 2023.
Full details on how to nominate individuals, organizations, businesses and/or community groups can be read on the Community Spirit Awards webpage.