Awards
The ECO IMPACT Awards honour post-secondary students, organizations, trailblazers, and environmental professionals who are driving real change in their organizations, communities, and the broader environmental sector.
ECO IMPACT Awards are Back
IMPACT Awards are back to celebrate outstanding people and workplaces in the environmental sector. Help spotlight the people and organizations strengthening Canada’s environmental workforce and delivering meaningful sustainability outcomes. Your nomination helps recognize leadership, encourage best practices, and elevate the impact of environmental work across the country.
What Makes a Nomination Stand Out?
We are looking for environmental professionals/organizations/groups who go beyond expectations to inspire, lead, and create lasting environmental impact.
Nominees are assessed on:
Community Engagement
Are they actively growing and giving back to the EP® community?
Professional Impact
Have they achieved meaningful environmental results?
Leadership & Influence
Do they inspire others or lead initiatives?
Innovation & Problem-Solving
Are they finding smart and sustainable solutions?
Soft Skills
Do they demonstrate collaboration, adaptability, and resilience?
Award Categories
EP® Awards
EP® ECO IMPACT Award
Recognizing certified Environmental Professionals (EP®s) who demonstrate extraordinary contributions to the field. These individuals lead impactful projects, influence policy, or push the boundaries of sustainable innovation.
Nominate before November 13, 2026.
EP® Auditor ECO IMPACT Award
Honouring certified EP® Auditors, EP®(CEA) and EP®(EMSLA), who are making a measurable impact through rigorous environmental assessment, verification, and stewardship.
Nominate before November 13, 2026.
EPt ECO IMPACT Award
Celebrating Environmental Professionals-in-training (EPts) who are emerging as future leaders. This award spotlights dedication, learning, and meaningful early-career achievements.
Nominate before November 13, 2026.
Top Employer Award
Recognizing employers that demonstrate leadership in advancing environmental excellence through their work and their people. This award honours organizations that actively support, employ, and empower certified ECO Canada members, fostering professional growth, ethical practice, and meaningful environmental impact.
Why Participate?
Recipients of the ECO IMPACT 2027 Awards receive:
- National recognition as leaders in environmental sustainability
- Promotion across ECO Canada channels, including digital platforms and communications
- On-stage recognition at the 2027 ECO IMPACT event
- The Top Employer ECO IMPACT recipients receive the EP Employer designation
Nominate before November 13, 2026.
Women in Leadership Awards
Excellence in Executive Sponsorship & Allyship
Who they are for: Organizations in the environment and ocean sectors.
Excellence in Gender-Inclusive Workplace Practices
What it recognizes: An employer that has made meaningful systemic changes to workplace policies and practices that remove barriers to women’s advancement.
Who they are for: Organizations in the environment and ocean sectors.
Excellence in Women’s Leadership & Advancement
What it recognizes:An employer demonstrating measurable progress in advancing women into leadership and decision-making roles.
Who they are for: Organizations in the environment and ocean sectors.
Other Awards
Sustainability Trailblazer Award 2027
Overview: The Sustainability Trailblazers Award celebrates individuals, organizations, and communities driving Canada’s progress toward net-zero emissions. This award recognizes nominees who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and measurable impact in reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Who is it for: Nominations can be submitted for individuals, organizations, or communities.
Nominate before November 13, 2026.
ECO HR Excellence Award 2027
Overview: The ECO HR Excellence Award recognizes environmental employers across Canada that are leading in workplace and people practices. As part of Canada’s first national environmental HR benchmarking initiative, the award celebrates excellence in health and safety, employee development, talent retention, performance management, accessibility, inclusion and employee engagement.
Why Participate?
- Gain recognition as an HR Excellence Employer
- Receive award and promotional exposure across ECO digital platforms
- Gain insight into your HR strengths and opportunities
- Access a free 30-minute HR consultation
- Contribute to Canada’s first national HR benchmarking across the environmental sector
- On stage recognition for the winner at the 2027 ECO Impact Event
Nominate before November 13, 2026.
How the 2026 Nomination Process Works
We have designed a more inclusive and streamlined approach for EP, EPt, and EP Auditor categories allowing for more recognition and less red tape.
There are now two avenues for nomination:
ECO Canada-Selected Nominees
Recognized • Respected • Rewarded
ECO Canada will identify and shortlist at least 10 exceptional candidates per award category based on:
- Certification status and history
- Sector contributions and measurable impact
- EP® Community and ECO Canada engagement
- Public contributions (e.g. mentorship, publications, presentations)
- Representation across disciplines and regions
Member Submissions
Acknowledge • Empower • Influence
We’re looking for outstanding professionals who embody the following qualities:
- Leadership and mentorship
- Meaningful sector impact or innovation
- Ethical excellence and collaboration
- Creating problem-solving or soft skills
Submit your nomination today and help shape this year’s list of finalists.
What Makes a Nominee Stand Out?
We are seeking environmental professionals who exceed job expectations to inspire, lead, and create a lasting impact on the environment. Nominees will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Community Engagement: Are they actively contributing to and supporting the EP® Community?
- Professional Impact: Have they achieved significant environmental results?
- Leadership and Influence: Do they inspire others or lead initiatives?
- Innovation and Problem Solving: Are they developing smart, sustainable solutions?
- Soft Skills: Do they demonstrate collaboration, adaptability, and resilience?
Who Selects the 2026 Recipients?
You do — the EP® Community!
The recipients of the 2026 ECO IMPACT Awards will be determined through a vote by the community. Every certified EP®, EP® Auditor, and EPt will have the opportunity to vote for their preferred finalist through an online voting system.
Top Employer Nominees
Candidates are evaluated based on:
- Sector contributions and measurable impact
- Demonstration of commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability
Community Nominees
Candidates are evaluated based on:
- Dedication to Canada’s environmental growth
- Positive impact on the environmental workforce and/or community
Key Dates
June 3, 2025
Optional submissions open
September 30, 2025
Nominations submission deadline
October 31, 2025
Deadline for Sustainability Trailblazers Award Nomination
October 1, 2025
Nominee profiles released and a “Meet the Nominees” campaign begins
October 1 – November 1, 2025
EP® Community voting period
February 19, 2026
Winners revealed at the ECO IMPACT Awards ceremony in Calgary, AB
Want to Get Involved?
VOTE for your peers this fall
SUBMIT a brief if you or someone you know deserves to be recognized
SHARE nominee stories and celebrate the people making a difference
CELEBRATE with your industry peers at ECO IMPACT 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the ECO IMPACT Awards?
Since 2017, the ECO IMPACT Awards have celebrated certified environmental professionals who are
making a meaningful difference in the environmental sector through leadership, innovation, community
involvement, and professional excellence.
What’s changing about the nomination process?
You can self-nominate or nominate someone in your network. ECO Canada will shortlist 5 qualified candidates per award category, and a selected board of external expert judges will vote to select the final recipient.
Who is eligible for a member award nomination?
Nominees must be:
• A certified member in good standing (EP®, EPt, or EP® Auditor)
• Actively working or contributing to the environmental sector
• Aligned with the EP® Code of Ethics and its values: stewardship, advocacy, professionalism, and
integrity
Can I still nominate myself or someone else?
Yes! While ECO Canada will lead the shortlisting process, we welcome optional submissions from
members who feel they—or a peer—should be considered. These submissions will be reviewed
alongside internal nominations and may be added to the final shortlist.
What kinds of contributions are recognized?
We’re looking for environmental professionals who demonstrate:
• Leadership and mentorship
• Tangible impact in environmental projects or initiatives
• Innovation and problem-solving
• Active involvement in the EP® Community
• Strong personal attributes like collaboration and adaptability
When are award recipients announced?
Winners will be revealed and celebrated at the ECO IMPACT 2027 Awards Ceremony in February 2027.