Introduction

Across Ontario, there are many examples of companies, organizations, communities and individuals that have gone above and beyond what’s required by environmental legislation, often using innovative and unique approaches to reduce their impact on the environment.

The Minister’s Award for Environmental Excellence recognizes outstanding environmental achievement in Ontario. The award honours individuals and organizations working to enhance and protect our environment.

Award recipients are given formal recognition for their outstanding efforts. They receive a plaque, and use of the award wordmark in their own promotional materials. The Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change also profiles recipients and their success stories on the ministry’s website.

Objectives

The objectives of the Minister’s Award for Environmental Excellence are to:

  • recognize and encourage environmental excellence
  • foster innovation in environmental protection
  • raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment

Focus areas

For 2016, the ministry is accepting applications to recognize work in the area of resource recovery. However, initiatives outside of this focus area will also be considered.

Resource recovery

Resource recovery ensures that valuable materials normally destined for disposal, or for release into the environment, are put back into the economy without negative effects on people or the environment.

  • Examples of resource recovery activities include:
    • activities that support the proposed Resource Recovery and Circular Economy Act
    • phosphorus recovery/reuse in greenhouse operations
    • resource recovery/nutrient management for water and wastewater treatment
    • heat recovery, carbon capture and storage

Eligible activities

The program is intended to recognize the following types of action undertaken within Ontario in the last three years:

  1. activities that result in environmental or related human health benefits or
  2. activities that foster knowledge, values or behaviour change through innovation, promotion or outreach that leads to environmental benefits

This program is not intended for basic research activities, however applied research is eligible.

Applications should clearly demonstrate how the activity has or will positively benefit the environment and how it meets the assessment criteria listed at the end of this document.

Examples of eligible activities

To assist applicants in determining whether initiatives may be eligible, examples of activities are listed below. These are not meant to be exhaustive or limiting.

  • environmental achievement through community or stakeholder involvement or collaboration
  • education and outreach approaches
  • leadership, innovation or early adoption of new technology, practices or demonstrations
  • leadership or innovation in achieving compliance

Applicant eligibility criteria

Eligible applicants:

  • must be an Ontario business, non- governmental organization, individual, institution, conservation authority, aboriginal community or organization
  • can be a municipality, only if the municipality applies as part of a group that includes non-municipal applicants
  • can apply together with one or more other eligible applicants
  • must reside in Ontario and must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada if the applicant is an individual
  • must demonstrate outstanding or innovative leadership that inspires or facilitates community actions or behaviour change in others, if the applicant is an individual
  • must submit only one application each application period

The following individuals and organizations are ineligible:

  • provincial or federal government and related agencies
  • individuals employed in the Ontario Public Service or immediate family of individuals employed in the Ontario Public Service
  • sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations in which individuals employed in the Ontario Public Service are owners of or have a controlling financial interest

Previous applicants

Applicants selected for honourable mention in previous years may re-submit in an attempt to win a 2016 award. However, award winning activities from previous years may not be submitted again.

Applicant categories

Successful applicants will be recognized in one of six categories:

  1. small business (less than or equal to 100 employees*)
  2. large business (more than 100 employees*)
  3. non-governmental organizations (not- for-profits)
  4. individuals (including students)
  5. institutions (including schools, post-secondary and research organizations)
  6. communities**

* Refers to the number of employees in the company, including any parent companies worldwide.

** Applies to one or more organizations or individuals and includes conservation authorities, Aboriginal communities/ organizations, municipalities and groups of organizations. Municipalities may apply only as part of a group that includes non- municipal applicants.

Application process

Eligible applicants may apply or be nominated by a third party (with permission from the nominated party). All applications must be submitted electronically, and may also be submitted by mail.

Please ensure that your application includes complete answers to all questions.

Applicants are encouraged to include additional material such as photos, supporting letters, and other background material to support their application, in electronic format if available. Printed copies will be accepted.

Please limit application (including supporting materials) to less than 10 MB in total size for the electronic submission.

Please refer to the last page of the application form for details on how to submit your completed application.

Applications for the 2016 Minister’s Award for Environmental Excellence have closed.

Selection process

The following process will be used to select eligible applicants:

  • applications will be received at the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change
  • all applications will be acknowledged
  • all applications will first be reviewed for eligibility and completeness. Clearly ineligible or incomplete applications will not be further reviewed
  • the ministry will check an applicant’s environmental compliance status. Applicants must have a good environmental compliance record to be eligible for the award. This is at the ministry’s discretion. Applicants (other than individuals) are also required to declare whether they are currently in compliance with environmental, labour, and tax laws
  • applicants are asked to declare whether any provincial government funding was received relating to the application, and the source and amount of the funding. This will be taken into consideration in the evaluation

Assessment criteria

The following criteria will be used to assess the applications:

  • environmental impact or benefits: Refers to tangible benefits to Ontario’s environment or to the health of Ontarians resulting from the activity
  • fostering behaviour change: The extent to which the activity leverages behaviour change in others through outreach, education, social marketing, etc.
  • originality and innovation: Refers to the use of unique or innovative techniques, including the early adoption or demonstration of new applied environmental technologies, practices or approaches
  • community or stakeholder involvement: The extent to which the activity was developed and/or implemented in collaboration with key stakeholders or community groups
  • guiding principles: The extent to which the activity incorporates stewardship and sustainability (see ‘Explanation of Terms’ section for explanation)
  • transferability and scalability: Demonstrated potential for the approach to be used on a wider scale by others
  • social or economic impact or benefit: The benefit to the community and Ontario’s economy
  • overall merit: This criterion will also take into account differences in size, region, scope of activities, and government funding

Explanation of terms

Sustainability and stewardship are related principles that signify taking collective responsibility for the environmental impact of actions. According to Stewardship Canada, stewardship is a "shared responsibility between organizations, communities and individuals to manage and protect our environment and ecosystems. It is both an action and an ethic by which Canadians care for land, water and air today, and for generations to come."

Environment Canada has defined sustainable development as "the process of developing land, cities, businesses and communities so that our current needs are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It recognizes that social, economic and environmental issues are interconnected and that decisions must incorporate each of these aspects in order to be successful over the longer term."

Deadline

Applications for the 2016  Minister’s Award for Environmental Excellence are now closed.

Please submit applications to:

Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change
Environmental Innovations Branch
ATTN: Minister’s Award for Environmental Excellence
40 St. Clair Avenue West, 14th Floor
Toronto, ON M4V 1M2
Environmental.Excellence@ontario.ca

For more information contact:

Public Information Centre
In the Greater Toronto Area: 416-325-4000
Toll-free: 1-800-565-4923
TTY Toll-free: 1-800-565-4923
Email: picemail.moe@ontario.ca