Catalyst Canada Honours Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Catalyst Canada Honours?

The Catalyst Canada Honours recognizes exceptional role models for accelerating progress for women in the workplace. Since 2010, more than 42 outstanding individuals have been honoured as Champions, representing the gold standard for leadership in corporate Canada. Annually, Champions are honoured at a gala event in the Fall in Toronto.

2. What makes this recognition unique?

The Catalyst Canada Honours salutes individuals who are making a difference. Champions challenge their colleagues to accelerate the advancement of talented women in an effort to build inclusive workplaces where both men and women thrive.. Their leadership example motivates both their corporate colleagues and their industry peers to think and act inclusively. This recognition is a valuable platform for sharing individual successes with the broader Canadian business community.

3. Why should I nominate a leader?

The Catalyst Canada Honours program seeks to recognize role models who are driving positive, important and sustainable change for women in Canadian workplaces.  This recognition is an opportunity to celebrate the efforts, actions and achievements of individual leaders, and to share their stories and experiences with a national audience.

Catalyst Canada Honours Champions are celebrated at the Catalyst Canada Honours Conference and Dinner, attended by senior business leaders from across the country and across industries. Catalyst also publishes a public profile of each Champion, outlining his or her outstanding achievements. Each Champion’s name will appear in promotional materials for the Catalyst Canada Honours.

4. Who can apply? How do I know if someone is qualified?

Catalyst Canada Honours is designed to recognize individuals who have successfully undertaken efforts to accelerate progress for women in the workplace. They have advanced their organization(s), and, in some cases, their industry to a more gender-inclusive state.  These individuals demonstrate inclusive leadership behaviours in their day to day interactions in the workplace and beyond.  We are looking for people from a variety of backgrounds and with different experiences, but they must all be able to demonstrate positive and sustainable progress for women at work. If you believe an individual’s background might be of interest, we encourage you to complete and submit a nomination package.

5. Can I nominate myself?

We encourage you to nominate individuals who are making  a difference in their industry. If you are interested in being nominated, you must be endorsed by someone who is familiar with your accomplishments and who will complete and submit the nomination form.

6. What experience should an applicant have?

Champions mentor and sponsor women, challenge the status quo, influence others within the organization and the broader community to commit to diversity and inclusion, actively participate in diversity and inclusion programs/initiatives demonstrating tangible results, and have a marked impact on the advancement of all women.

7. What do previous champions look like?

The Catalyst Canada Honours has recognized Canadian business leaders hailing from various industries and with differing backgrounds and experiences. All previous Champions have demonstrated outstanding commitment to, and achievement, in advancing women. Read more about past champions.

8. What is the nomination process?

To nominate a candidate for the 2019 Catalyst Canada Honours, a completed Nomination Form must be submitted by February 15, 2019, to [email protected].

All Nominees will be alerted as to whether they will be honoured prior to the public announcement in June 2019.

9. What is the time commitment?

The Nomination Form consists of the nominee’s contact information and a recommendation describing the nominee’s efforts and outcomes in advancing women in the workplace.

If short-listed after the nomination is reviewed, 3-5 references will be requested who are able to attest to the Nominees accomplishments as described on the submitted Nomination Form.

Individuals named as Catalyst Canada Honours Champions will be asked to review a public profile written by Catalyst, and to attend the Catalyst Canada Honours Conference and Dinner in Toronto on November 4, 2019.

10. When will I hear about the result of my nomination?

Individuals selected as Catalyst Canada Honours Champions will be notified in June 2019.

11. If I am not selected this year, can I be nominated again next year?

Yes, we encourage all individuals who meet the eligibility criteria to be nominated in subsequent years.

12. Who should be references?

We encourage Nominees to select professional references who are very familiar with the Nominee’s accomplishments, and who can provide tangible examples of how the Nominee has created positive impact for women in the workplace. References can be individuals of varying seniority and can be internal/external to the Nominee’s immediate workplace.

13. The Nominee’s organization does not have any diversity initiatives. Should I still nominate him or her?

Yes. The Catalyst Canada Honours recognizes individuals who accelerate progress for women through workplace inclusion; we seek to honour individual efforts, behaviours, and outcomes, not organizational initiatives.

14. What is the difference between the Catalyst Award and the Catalyst Canada Honours?

The Catalyst Award is open to organizations across the globe and recognizes specific initiatives or programs that promote gender diversity and inclusion within an organization. In contrast, the Catalyst Canada Honours recognizes Canadian business leaders who accelerate progress for women in the workplace.