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Nomination Guidelines

When is the deadline to submit a nomination?
How can I submit a nomination?
Who can submit a nomination?
Who can be nominated?
Can someone be nominated for more than one award?
Can a past nominee be nominated again?
What information do I have to submit in the nomination?
What is the judging criteria?
How many nominations can my organization submit?
Who will inform the nominee?
When will the award recipients be known?
How will the nomination be used?
Who is on the Judging Committee?
What are all the award categories?


When is the deadline to submit a nomination?

The deadline for all nominations has been extended to Saturday, May 27, 2023 at 11:59pm ET. All nominations received after this date will not be considered for recognition this year.

How can I submit a nomination?

Step 1: Review all of the Guidelines on this page including the Awards Breakdown.

Step 2: Obtain the consent and necessary information from your Nominee to submit a nomination.

Step 3: Press the Submit a 2023 V-Oscars Nomination button or the Name your 2023 Vollywood Stars button from the main V-Oscars page to open the form and submit.

Who can submit a nomination?

Nominations for V-Oscars Awards can ONLY be made by:

  • 2023 Volunteer MBC Premium and Enterprise Member Organizations in good standing
  • The staff or Board of Directors of Volunteer MBC

Nominations for Vollywood Stars can ONLY be made by:

  • 2023 Volunteer MBC Basic, Premium or Enterprise Member Organizations in good standing
  • The staff or Board of Directors of Volunteer MBC

For more information about membership or your eligibility to submit nominations, contact membership@volunteermbc.org.

Who can be nominated?

The Nominee either volunteered in OR is a resident of Mississauga, Brampton, or Caledon.
The Nominee is living at the time of the nomination.
The Nominee provides their informed consent to accept the nomination.
The Nominee has not been a V-Oscars Award Recipient in the past.

An individual volunteer who…

    • …led the way – John Huether Award for Volunteering Excellence
    • …worked hard all year – Helping Hands Awards
    • …has been a lifelong volunteer – Lois Rice Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award
    • …is an outstanding board director – Bonnie Yagar Award for Board Excellence
    • …is an amazing young person demonstrating leadership – Youth Champion Award
    • …is a determined newcomer to Canada – Newcomer Gem Award
    • …stepped up for our community during the pandemic – Vollywood Star

An individual who leads/manages/coordinates volunteers

  • The Nominee can be a volunteer or an organization’s paid staff member for the Leader in Volunteer Engagement Award

A group:

  • Family members – Family VolunTree Award
  • Youth working as a team – Youth Lead by Example Award
  • Caring businesses – Business Vitality Award
  • A collective or community group – Continuum of Care Award

Volunteer MBC reserves the right to disqualify any nomination.

For descriptions of each award and its criteria, please see the Awards Breakdown.

Can someone be nominated for more than one award?

No, an individual cannot be nominated for more than one award, EXCEPT the following:

  • An individual can be nominated for a V-Oscars Award AND also named as a Vollywood Star.
  • An individual can be nominated for a V-Oscars Award AND also be part of a group that has been nominated.

Can a nominee from a previous year be nominated again?

Yes, someone who has been nominated for a V-Oscar in the past may be nominated again by the organization, as long as that person was not selected as the award recipient.
Past award recipients cannot be nominated again for the same award category. We do not provide copies of the previous nomination text to be reused.

What information do I have to submit in the nomination?

The nomination form will ask you the following categories of questions:

  • Nomination type – group or individual
  • Nomination category
    • For groups: select family/youth/business
    • For individuals: select from the award category
  • For group nominees, provide: group name & representative title/position, number of members in the group, names of group members
    • Describe the relationship between the group members
  • For individual nominees, provide: Name, address, contact, age, demography

Individual nominee questions:

  • Does your volunteer have experience being on a board? If yes, please tell us more
  • What is the Nominee’s position title?
  • How did your Nominee discover this position with the organization? When did they first join the organization (approx.)?
  • List/describe any training(s) the Nominee has received from the organization
  • List any certificates, distinctions or awards the Nominee has received from the organization
  • How many years of volunteer experience has the Nominee accumulated with non-profit organizations?
  • Impact Statement – In a sentence, summarize what makes this Nominee special
  • Tell us about the Nominee’s significant achievements or accomplishments. (i.e. significance of contribution, impact of effort, leadership, benefit to community, benefit to organization, etc.)
  • Optionally, you may insert a link(s) to any files that illustrate the impact the Nominee has had on volunteers or on the community (letters, recommendations, media articles, photos, etc.)
  • About how many hours of volunteer(s) time has the Nominee contributed to the organization in total since joining?
  • How frequently does the Nominee(s) volunteer with the organization?
  • Has your Nominee(s) served any other non-profit organizations as a volunteer?
  • Add any additional comments or tell us any other aspects about the Nominee that make them deserving of the nomination.

Additional questions for the Leader in Volunteer Engagement Award:

  • Is the Nominee a staff member or volunteer? How many volunteers does the Nominee lead, manage or coordinate?
  • Tell us about the tools or techniques the Nominee uses in order to provide an effective and meaningful experience for volunteers.
  • Tell us how the Nominee recognizes the important and vital role that volunteers have within the organization

Who will inform the nominee?

Nominator must obtain the consent of the Nominee prior to submission. Nominations cannot be amended after submission. After the nomination is validated by the Awards Clerk, the Nominator and Nominee will be notified by email. Nominations that are incomplete or do not comply with these guidelines may be disqualified. Volunteer MBC takes no responsibility for incomplete, inaccurate, lost or late nominations.

How many nominations can my organization submit?

Each organization may submit one (1) nomination in up to five (5) of the award categories.

Each organization may nominate a maximum of five Vollywood Stars. The same volunteer could be nominated for a V-Oscars Award and also be recognized as a Vollywood star.

Large multi-departmental organizations that have hundreds of active volunteers may be granted special dispensation by the Awards Clerk to exceed this cap (e.g. municipality, hospital system, etc.). Contact us to see if you qualify.

What is the judging criteria?

For descriptions of each award and its criteria, please see the Awards Breakdown.

How will the nomination be used?

By submitting the nomination form, each Nominator and Nominee consents to participating in the awards program and in the nomination process and consents to the use of the Nominee’s name, photograph and nomination material in any awards-related promotion or publicity carried out by Volunteer MBC. Nominations and all supporting materials become the property of Volunteer MBC. We share with media and celebrate the volunteers through our web and social media promotion throughout the year to inspire others. In accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, personal information about Nominators and Nominees is collected for the sole purpose of administering the Volunteer MBC Volunteer Recognition Awards Program. It will be used to select and publicize the achievements of the recipients.

When will the award recipients be known?

Award recipients will remain secret except to the Judging Committee until the V-Oscars. The decisions of the Committee are final and are announced live when the envelope opens.

Who is on the Judging Committee?

The Judging Committee is comprised of leaders from across the sector who contribute their time voluntarily to provide an unbiased comparison of the nominations. More info about our 2023 Judging Committee will be released soon.

Awards Breakdown

Lois Rice Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award

Eligibility Description Award Criteria
Individual:

Volunteer

 

The Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award was created in 2009 to honour the lifetime voluntary contributions of an individual, with Anne Walton being the first recipient. The inaugural presentation of this award took place at Volunteer MBC’s 2012 Annual General Meeting and 2nd Annual Volunteer Recognition Awards Event held in April 2012. · Has accumulated over 25 years of volunteer experience with one, two, three or more community service organizations

· Is a true role model for other volunteers in their organization or in the community

· Has left a legacy through volunteer efforts of which the positive effects on the community continue to be visible

· Sets the example for how just one individual can make such an enormous impact in their community by helping others so unselfishly

John Huether Award for Volunteering Excellence

Eligibility Description Award Criteria
Individual: Volunteer This award is presented to a volunteer who has showed exemplary commitment and leadership. The John Huether Award for Volunteering Excellence was created in 2010 to honour the late Mr. John Huether. Mr. Huether’s 2007 report, Review of Volunteerism, laid the groundwork for the creation of Volunteer MBC. · Has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to the voluntary sector through sharing their expertise, skill set and knowledge in a leadership capacity

· Supports and mentors others with challenges or issues that they may be experiencing

· Devotes an abundance of their time and resources, and is passionate about helping others

· Continually demonstrates exceptional leadership through example and is a significant contributor to the team and the community

Bonnie Yagar Award for Outstanding Board Leadership

Eligibility Description Award Criteria
Individual: Volunteer Board Member This award was launched in 2014 to honour Ms. Bonnie Yagar, the founding and past President of Volunteer MBC’s Board of Directors. It is presented to an individual that has demonstrated exemplary efforts in board leadership, with Ms. Yagar as the

 

Ms. Yagar has been instrumental in providing leadership and guidance to Volunteer MBC, having joined the Centre’s original Steering Committee. Her dedication and expertise has been a tremendous asset to Volunteer MBC’s growth, and her commitment and dedication to her community through her many volunteer contributions, in particular via her Board of Director leadership roles, has been a shining example of how just one person can make such a profound difference in the capacity building of community service organizations.

· Has demonstrated an exemplary long-term commitment to the voluntary sector through sharing their expertise, skill set and knowledge

· Supports and mentors others with challenges or issues that they may be experiencing

· Devotes an abundance of their time and resources, and is passionate about helping others

· Is able to drive and mobilize community service organizations via his/her exceptional board leadership approach

· Has been voted in as Chair or President with a community service organization in Peel (past and/or present) and has made a significant contribution to its success

 

Leader in Volunteer Engagement

Eligibility Description Award Criteria
Individual:
Manager or coordinator of volunteers (can be paid staff)
Presented to a volunteer manager or coordinator who has developed and supported relevant volunteer opportunities that directly reflect and impact the mission of their organization. In this award category, both unpaid and paid staff of an organization are eligible to be nominated. Leading volunteers is a challenging, but invaluable role and Volunteer MBC advocates for the importance of supporting this profession. · Recognizes the important and vital role that volunteers have within the organization.

· Demonstrates an interest in learning and development to grow in the role.

· Implements impressive tools or techniques to provide an effective and meaningful experience for volunteers.

· Helps empower community members through the power of volunteering

· Developed and supported relevant skills-based volunteer opportunities that reflect and advance the organization’s mission.

 Newcomer Gem Award

Eligibility Description Award Criteria
Individual: Newcomer Volunteer Newcomers account for close to half of Peel’s population, so this award is open to individuals who have lived in the community for less than 3 years, and who have realized the many benefits of volunteering. The inaugural presentation of this award took place at Volunteer MBC’s 2012 Annual General Meeting and 2nd Annual Volunteer Recognition Awards Event held in April 2012. · Moved to Canada less than 3 years ago

· Has demonstrated how they have provided an admirable contribution to their new community as a volunteer

· Has shown an exemplary commitment to share their expertise, skill set and knowledge as a volunteer

· Devotes an abundance of their time and is passionate about helping others

· Sets a positive example for how newcomers can use their volunteering contributions to help define the path for a new life in the community

Youth Champion Award (previously known as Leader of Tomorrow)

Eligibility Description Award Criteria
Individual: Youth Volunteer Volunteer MBC strongly believes that youth are the leaders of our tomorrow. We also believe that it is our role to help nurture youth, to provide them with the correct paths to follow, to lead them by example, and to provide recognition for their efforts of helping out their community.

The inaugural presentation of the Leader of Tomorrow Award took place at Volunteer MBC’s 2014 Annual General Meeting and 4th Annual Volunteer Recognition Awards Event held in April 2014.

· Has demonstrated a dedicated, ongoing commitment to the voluntary sector through sharing their expertise, skill set and knowledge

· Is a youth (24 or under) who is attending school in Peel (elementary, secondary school, university or college)

· Devotes an abundance of their time and resources, and consistently demonstrates a passion for helping others

· Shows leadership through example and is a significant contributor to the team/community

· Helps to mentor their peers by supporting and advocating for the voluntary sector either through their volunteer engagement or another activity (i.e. presentations at their school, involvement on student group or club, etc.)

 

Helping Hands Awards – Mississauga / Brampton / Caledon

Eligibility Description Award Criteria
Individual: Volunteer The Helping Hands Award recognizes individuals who contribute many hours and may not necessarily fall under any of the other award categories, but deserve recognition for their voluntary efforts in our community. · Award criteria:

· Has demonstrated an exemplary commitment to the voluntary sector through sharing their expertise, skill set and knowledge

· Devoted a considerable number of hours

· Demonstrates commitment and passion for helping others

 

Business Vitality Award – Mississauga / Brampton / Caledon

Eligibility Description Award Criteria
Group:

Business

This new award honours a local business that has demonstrated how much it cares by giving back to the community in big ways, such as by providing resources, expertise, or volunteer effort. · Demonstrated commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility

· Emphasizes that the business value community wellbeing and/or commitment to a cause

· Conveyed the importance of caring through its communications and actions

· Contributed significant resources, expertise, or volunteer effort to one or more community service organizations

Continuum of Care Award

Eligibility Description Award Criteria
Group:

Community group/collective

The Continuum of Care Award recognizes a group of adults or community group that demonstrates how the impact of caring is comes full circle. Four Colours Drum Circle is the first organization to receive the newly created Continuum of Care Award. The creation of this award was inspired by its first recipient, Four Colours Drum Circle, for their dedication to cultivate and care for the Medicine Wheel Garden and bringing community together to share their teachings. · Demonstrated ongoing care and dedication to a cause

· Collectively worked on an initiative that benefits volunteers and the community causes they serve

· Educated the community on a social cause

· Brought people together for a common social purpose

Family VolunTree Award

Eligibility Description Award Criteria
Group: Family Volunteers Presented to a family that volunteers together. Whether it’s a parent and child, partners, siblings or any other family structure, caring for others is an amazing way to show you care for each other. · Devoted a considerable number of volunteer hours

· Demonstrates how volunteerism can make families closer

· Demonstrates how the bonds between family can lead to increased caring and empathy

· Has had a significant positive impact on the community

Youth Lead by Example Award

Eligibility Description Award Criteria
Group: Youth Volunteers The Youth Lead by Example Award recognizes youth groups (under 30) in Peel that have contributed to the cause of a non-profit organization by developing and delivering a project that addresses a community need. Volunteer MBC provides Youth Lead training to youth looking to build their skills in project management, volunteer coordination, leadership and community development. · Devoted a considerable number of volunteer hours

· Demonstrates a thoughtful, purposeful approach to community service

· Demonstrates successful teamwork

· Shows how youth can take initiative and have their voices heard

· Has had a significant positive impact on the community

 

Vollywood Star

Vollywood Stars recognize volunteers in Peel who have made a difference in their community in any way. All contributions, big and small, are appreciated. Be it a delivering food and essentials, acts of heroism, sewing masks, spending time with an isolated person, or any other acts of kindness that express care and brings community together.

This is the only category that will NOT be evaluated by the Judging Committee and there is no trophy. Each Vollywood Star will receive a receive a special Star Volunteer medal and will be recognized by name during the event. Each organization can recognize up to 5 Vollywood Stars. If a Vollywood Star has also been nominated for a V-Oscar, then they will only receive the Nominee medal.

More info

If you have any questions not answered above, contact us at info@volunteermbc.org