About this award

The Attorney General’s Victim Services Awards of Distinction (VSAD) recognizes the dedication and achievements of professionals, organizations and volunteers working to support people who have experienced victimization due to crime and raise awareness of victims’ issues in Ontario.

Who is eligible

Nominees must be Ontario residents, of any age, and be either:

  • individuals who have experienced victimization due to crime, their family members or others personally impacted by crime who have raised the profile of victims' issues in Ontario
  • volunteers who offer their time and personal resources to help people who have experienced victimization due to crime
  • professional practitioners and paid victim services providers who have gone above and beyond their regular duties while providing support people who have experienced victimization due to crime
  • programs, groups and organizations that deliver innovative services to people who have experienced victimization due to crime

Crime means an offence under the Criminal Code (Canada).

Nominations are especially encouraged for:

  • youth
  • individuals and organizations
    • who are part of, or support, Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) communities
    • that deliver human trafficking services to people living in Ontario
    • combatting systemic racism and marginalization or focusing on service provider self-care

The person or group you are nominating must agree to the nomination. They will be asked to consent to the collection of their information.

Who is not eligible

You cannot nominate yourself and we will not accept nominations for:

  • employees of federal, provincial and municipal governments and sworn police officers
  • people with criminal cases currently before the courts
  • people and organizations located outside Ontario, with exceptions made for human trafficking work

Nominate someone

We will post information here about nominations for the 2022-23 Victim Services Awards of Distinction when it’s available.

Recipients

Learn more about the 2021-22 award recipients and see a photo of the recipients from the 2021-2022 awards ceremony below.

Screenshot of Zoom video call where the Attorney General presented the Victim Services Awards of Distinction to the 2020-2021 recipients

View a larger version of this image (JPG) 

Learn about the award winners from 2020-21, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015.