Business Impact

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This award celebrates the achievements of a person who displays exemplary confidence, optimism, ambition, and integrity in the ever-expansive business industry; at the same time creating monumental impacts with their roles as executives, leaders, supervisors, and business owners. They are a positive influence in their profession and strive for collaboration over competition. This individual goes above the call of duty and demonstrates character, grit, and resolve to inspire and empower their environment, peers, and community. This award honours a person who has set bold goals and has worked tirelessly to bring their vision to fruition. They are a voice for today and a visionary for tomorrow.

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Creative Innovator

 

This award recognizes a leader in Nanaimo who is a difference-maker, disruptor, pioneer, and go-getter who applies innovative approaches. This is for individuals spearheading, building, launching, or enabling the creation of products, services, and experiences that are inventive and commercially successful. It's about celebrating groundbreaking talents from a range of disciplines in traditional and non-traditional areas, including fashion, hair styling, entertainment, architecture, design, landscaping, marketing, philanthropy, food, tattoos, and more. This award celebrates someone who has the ability to see the bigger picture and possesses the gumption to bring their vision to life.

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Breathe Fire

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This award honours someone who has overcome adversity and turned their pain into pearls. The living example of this person showcases the tenacity, passion, and fortitude to change the narrative of their story and model resiliency for themselves, their family, and their community. The recipient has an iron will and is a cheerleader, visionary, role model, and trailblazer. To be known as a fire-breather is to have a sense of purpose and instill hope in oneself and humanity.

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Arts & Culture

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This award applauds the achievements of an individual who has influenced their community with exemplary artistic and cultural expression and contributions. They cultivate greater visibility and understanding of the value of the Arts and work to preserve and enrich the artisan fabric in Nanaimo. Whether it's with design, media, literature, drama, music, dance, film, paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography, or philosophy, they embody creativity and imagination and inspire others to appreciate artistic and cultural endeavours.

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Health & Wellness

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This award recognizes someone who contributes to the mental, emotional, or physical health of our community, either through the business sector, passion projects, or volunteerism. They set a positive example for wellness and motivate others to lead a healthy, balanced lifestyle. This applies to traditional health practices for humans and/or animals and alternative modalities. This person is in the medical field or is a healer or caregiver. They pick up the mantle of health and promote mind, body, and soul well-being, body-positivity, self-love, and nutrition. They also advocate for positive mental health, encourage belonging and safety, and influence the community in profound ways.

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Fan the Flame (Ally)

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Open to everyone - Women, men, non-binary, 2-spirit, and gender-diverse people. This unique award recognizes an individual or organization that takes on the struggles of vulnerable communities as its own and supports the advancement of others. They are an ally who transfers the benefits of their privilege to those who lack it. They uplift and celebrate diverse and previously unheard groups in their profession or community. They are being the change within their own sphere or they recognize that they're not a member of the underinvested and oppressed communities they support, and they make a concerted effort to better understand the struggle, every single day. They’ve done deep inner and outer work to alter oppressive systems. By sharing their own flame and igniting a spark in others, they’re truly an equity partner for humankind.

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Community & Social Responsibility

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This award recognizes someone who utilizes their position, voice, expertise, and influence to break down barriers and create positive change. They take on matters that affect their community and stand up for social justice. They are the voice for those who have been previously silenced and inspire others to care for their own. The recipient of this award challenges social norms and brings awareness to issues facing various groups including Indigenous (First Nations, Métis, Inuit), Black, or People of Colour (IBPoC), and 2SLGTBQQIA+ communities as well as advocates to improve local and global issues. This person can do this through volunteerism and business initiatives. This award celebrates the unique contributions and perspectives of someone who focuses on diplomacy, building bridges, and is an agent of change. They mobilize a movement that drives economic viability, environmental protection, and social equity.

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Trades

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This award honours women, non-binary, 2-spirit, and gender-diverse people in the skilled trades profession. We know the value of gender equality and inclusivity for tradespeople and the need to break stigmas and barriers in a male-dominated industry. This recipient is an exemplary leader who makes a significant impact in their chosen field. They are a role model who consistently shows up, perseveres, and inspires others to do the same. Their dedication and grit to advancing diversity and equity in the trades are extraordinary. They are passionate about inspiring change in their industry and community and moving the needle on societal standards.

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STEM

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This award celebrates the achievements of someone who has significantly contributed to the science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) sector. They demonstrate and advocate for innovation, curiosity, and creativity in making an impact in their field. They also engage with and communicate their practice to a broader community. The recipient of this award has embraced new concepts and approaches and pushed the boundaries of what is possible. Their contributions improve and evolve our culture, inspiring future generations to pursue STEM careers.

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Matriarch

 

(For those 50+) This award recognizes someone who has made significant contributions throughout their career or volunteerism and has demonstrated exceptional leadership, impact, and excellence in Nanaimo. This is open to someone still working or who has retired and has continued to enrich their community in influential ways. The recipient of this award is an extraordinary person who has manifested a legacy that moves people's hearts and inspires the next generation.

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Youth Resiliency

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Open to everyone - Young women & men, non-binary, 2-spirit, and gender-diverse people. 

Spanning from ages 16-25, this honours exceptional young leaders who not only drive transformative change but also exemplify unwavering resilience in the face of adversity. This recognizes those who have harnessed challenges as catalysts for growth, inspiring others through their ability to bounce back, adapt, and thrive. By celebrating their remarkable journeys, this aims to ignite a ripple effect, motivating both recipients and peers to cultivate resilience, confront challenges with determination, and forge a path of impactful leadership in the pursuit of a brighter future. This accolade celebrates their outstanding leadership, innovative thinking, grit, and dedication to creating meaningful impact. This award also honours young professionals under the age of 25 who embody tenacity and gumption in their career pursuits, serving as inspiring role models for the next generation. Whether through careers, social initiatives, passion projects, advocacy, or defying the odds in their own life, recipients influence others with their quest to take their place in this world. By showcasing these stories, the award empowers others to have hope.

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