Honouring Excellence in Evaluation

Our annual national awards celebrate individuals who have demonstrated excellence, outstanding achievements and superior contributions to program evaluation through their own work or their work on behalf of CES. We also recognize professional excellence through our Fellowship program.

CES is committed to equity, diversity and inclusiveness. Our awards showcase the best of the professions by recognizing individuals who have made extraordinary contributions and reflect the diversity of the profession. We encourage nominations from all communities, practice areas, organization sizes and regions across the country.

Timelines for Nominations

The call for entries for 2024 is now closed. 

The call for entries for 2025 for our two awards will open later this year.

  • The Contribution to Evaluation in Canada Award
  • The Service to CES Award

The editorial staff determines the nominations for the Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation Awards.

Submit a Nomination

When the call for nominations for 2025 opens, we will open the online submission form. The form asks for the nominator’s contact information, the nominee’s contact information, and supporting documents.

Our Awards

This award recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the theory and/or practice of evaluation in Canada. It is open to CES members and non-members. 

Nominations must include examples of demonstrated experience or activity with the timeframe and significance of this activity, and represent a cumulative effort over an extended period of time. Nominations should also include evidence of the nominee’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, equity, diversity, inclusion and/or environmental sustainability. 

Examples of areas of contribution include: 

  • Conducted research that advanced evaluation theory and/or practice in Canada;
  • Published one or more books or articles that made a significant contribution to the field; 
  • Undertook one or more projects or studies that advanced the theory and/or practice of evaluation in a meaningful way; 
  • Taught, mentored and/or trained evaluators in academic or cooperative education programs and/or practicum settings; 
  • Carried out advocacy activities, raising the awareness of publics in Canada regarding the need for/benefits of evaluation; 
  • Demonstrably advanced Truth and Reconciliation, equity, diversity, inclusion and/or environmental sustainability in the field and practice of evaluation; 
  • Carried out work related to the above-noted areas outside of Canada, which generated direct and significant benefits to evaluation in Canada; 
  • Any other endeavour by an individual that served to advance the cause of theory and/or practice of evaluation in Canada in a significant manner. 

Who can nominate 

Individual CES members or Chapters are invited to nominate candidates. Each nomination must include a minimum of three letters of support. Collectively, these letters should address the award criteria.

Note that current members of the CES Board of Directors are not eligible to receive the award, nominate candidates or sign letters of support as Chapter members.

This award recognizes an individual who has made a significant contribution to the work of CES. This contribution would normally be made over a period in excess of two years; however, individuals who have performed in exemplary fashion during a shorter period of time may receive the award. It is open to CES members.

Nominations must include examples of demonstrated experience or activity and specify the timeframe and significance of this activity. While work at a Chapter or local level will be considered in determining the award, the individual's contribution should be predominantly at a national level or produce national benefit. Nominations should also include evidence of the nominee’s commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, equity, diversity, inclusion and/or environmental sustainability.

Contributions may take the form of any one or more of the following:

  • Service on the CES Board of Directors or Committee;
  • Publications;
  • Organizational development initiatives;
  • Management of programs or projects;
  • International representation relevant to CES.

Who can nominate 

Individual CES members or Chapters are invited to nominate candidates. Each nomination must include a minimum of three letters of support. Collectively, these letters should address the award criteria.

Note that current members of the CES Board of Directors are not eligible to receive the award, nominate candidates or sign letters of support as Chapter members.

These awards recognize the best article, practice notes and/or reviewer in the Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation (CJPE) over a 12-month period (April to April). The CJPE editorial staff will recommend up to five articles for review based on the following criteria: potential impact, originality, literature review, accessibility and technical rigour.

Accessibility includes “clarity of presentation” and “conceptualization,” in the sense of a clear conceptual framework that lends structure to the article. For practice-based articles, the term “technical rigour” includes methodology, data analyses, interpretation and validity of conclusions; for theory-focused articles, the term might include foundation, logic and validity of conclusions.

Who can nominate 

The CJPE editorial staff will recommend up to five articles for review. A subcommittee of the CJPE Editorial Board will then select the article(s) for the awards.

Award Winners

Congratulations to our 2023 award winners!

Contribution to Evaluation in Canada Award

(Not awarded this year)

Service to CES Award

(Not awarded this year)

Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation Award

Best Article: Sarah Heath and Katherine Moreau

Best Practice Note: Michelle Anderson-Draper, CE

Past Award Winners

See the full list of past award winners