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The CCPA and its Chapters recognize the professional contributions of Canadians in the field of counselling/psychotherapy by offering a variety of different awards.

We, together with our Chapters, are proud to recognize the outstanding contributions of professionals in counselling and psychotherapy through a variety of prestigious awards. 

NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS: Nominations are open until January 31, 2025 (unless otherwise noted in the award description). Please send your nomination to [email protected]. 

WHY NOMINATE? 

Nominating someone for an award in the mental health field is a meaningful way to recognize their hard work, dedication, and positive impact. Mental health professionals play a vital role in supporting individuals’ well-being, often overcoming complex challenges with compassion and expertise. 

By nominating someone, you not only celebrate their contributions but also help raise awareness about the importance of mental health care in our communities.  

Awards also shine a light on the often unseen, yet essential, work of mental health professionals. It’s an opportunity to celebrate innovation, compassion, and the transformative power of mental health care.  

Your nomination can inspire others, promote the value of the profession, and encourage broader support for mental health.  

Please note: CCPA Board members and CCPA staff are not eligible for non-time-limited awards unless nominated prior to joining the Board/Association or in exceptional circumstances. 

Biennial Awards

An awards competition is held each year with each of the awards listed below given out on a biennial basis. ‘Odd year’ awards are presented at CCPA’s annual spring conference during odd years. ‘Even year’ awards are presented at CCPA’s annual spring conference during even years.

To apply for an award, please submit the Application form to the CCPA National office by January 31, 2025.

Awards will be presented at CCPA’s annual spring conference in odd years (2015, 2017, etc.) in the following categories:

Awards will be presented at CCPA’s annual spring conference in even years (2016, 2018, etc) in the following categories:

Student Awards

Please note that many Chapter awards are also student awards.

Special Awards

Click HERE for more information about deadlines and requirements for these awards.

The intention of the Special Awards is to highlight members, in good standing with CCPA, who have contributed to and have shown outstanding commitment to CCPA and to the counselling and psychotherapy profession. For that reason, the Special Awards are based on merit rather than annually or biannually awarded. We invite members to nominate colleagues who have demonstrated exceptional contributions and commitment to CCPA and the counselling and psychotherapy profession that are above and beyond the scope of their employment.

Please note that self-nomination is not permissible for these awards.

Nominations for Special Awards must include two nominators. Both nominators must be CCPA members in good standing.

The nominee’s curriculum vitae must be provided along with a completed application form and a letter of reference from both nominators outlining the nominee’s exceptional contributions and commitment to CCPA and the profession of counselling and psychotherapy.

In order to receive the award, the nominee must receive recommendation from the CCPA Executive as well as two-thirds majority of the CCPA Board of Directors.

For the Special Award – CCPA Indigenous Practice Award, the nominee must receive recommendation from the CCPA Indigenous Director, the CCPA Executive, as well as two-thirds majority of the CCPA Board of Directors.

The CCPA Honorary Life Membership may be awarded to members who have made a considerable contribution to the aims and objectives of CCPA.

The CCPA Professional Contribution Award may be awarded to a member in recognition of outstanding professional contribution to Counselling and psychotherapy in Canada.

The Lorne Flavelle Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service may be awarded to a long-serving member in recognition of outstanding volunteer service to CCPA.

The Chris Campbell Memorial Study Grant

The Dr. Lynda Younghusband Counselling Award has been established by Dr. Younghusband to promote the counselling and psychotherapy profession and to improve access for students to the annual CCPA conference. This award will be given to either a full-time or part-time graduate student enrolled in the Master of Education (Counselling Psychology) programme at the Memorial University of Newfoundland and who is attending the national CCPA conference to present a scholarly paper or poster. The recipient must meet the academic requirements for an award. It will be awarded by the Dean of Graduate Studies upon the recommendation of the Dean, Faculty of Education. Please contact the Memorial University of Newfoundland for more details on the award.

The Vance Peavy Memorial Award

The R. Vance Peavy Memorial Fund was established at the request of his family to continue Vance’s legacy of innovation and scholarship in career counselling research, writing and practice.  The Memorial Fund has been used to ensure that Vance’s publications, published and unpublished, remain accessible, and his SocioDynamic constructivist approaches continue to be available.  A remainder of the fund will be used to establish a Vance Peavy Award for Leadership in Career Counselling.  The award will be presented annually at the CCPA conference.

CCPA Indigenous Practice Award

The purpose of the CCPA Indigenous Practice Award is to honour excellence in advancing culturally safe counselling and psychotherapy services for Indigenous Peoples in Canada.

In addition to the criteria for special awards, the nominee must be: currently engaged with Indigenous Peoples, community(ies) or contexts as a counsellor/psychotherapist; involved in ongoing professional development related to issues that impact Indigenous Peoples; integrate Indigenous ways of knowing and healing in their practice; may be engaged in advocacy related to Indigenous mental health; the nominee does not have to self-identify as an Indigenous person although must clearly demonstrate their relationship to the Indigenous community they work with. * Please note that Indigenous includes all Original Peoples of the land now called Canada, including First Nations, Métis, and Inuit.

CCPA Humanitarian Award

The CCPA Humanitarian Award recognizes the spirit of good will and humanitarianism in CCPA members. Specifically, these individuals have demonstrated the spirit of humanity in a local, national or international capacity by contributing to one or more of the following: Mutual understanding and cooperation among citizens; Alleviation of human suffering; Mental health and well‐being; Social justice and enhancement of human dignity; Respect for diversity.

CCPA Unsung Heroes Award

This award will recognize special individuals within CCPA membership, who have gone above and beyond the call of duty. These individuals have taken part in an inspirational activity for those in need or for someone unable to do things for themselves.

The CCPA is honouring excellence, and we need your help!

Are you passionate about the mental health profession and the incredible work being done to support individuals, families, and communities across Canada? We are seeking dedicated volunteers to join our Adjudication Committee for the CCPA Awards. 

This is your opportunity to honour and uplift those who are making a profound difference in the profession. 

By volunteering, you will: 

  • Celebrate Impactful Work: Help identify and highlight the incredible contributions of mental health professionals who are shaping the future of care. 
  • Shape the Future of the Field: Your thoughtful decisions will inspire others to strive for excellence in their work, fostering positive change in mental health care. 
  • Be Part of a Community: Collaborate with like-minded individuals who share your commitment to mental well-being, working together to elevate the profession. 
  • Make a Difference: Your involvement will directly contribute to promoting mental health awareness, and ensuring the work of dedicated professionals is celebrated. 

This is more than a volunteer opportunity — it’s a chance to be a voice for those who may not always be heard, and to amplify the important work of the mental health community.  

What You Need to Know: 

  • No specialized training is needed (with exceptions for a few specific awards)—we’ll provide everything you require to succeed! The adjudication period will run from February 1st to March 1st. 
  • The time commitment is approximately 30–120 minutes, depending on the award category and number of submissions. 
  • Comprehensive training and clear guidelines will be provided to make the process efficient and straightforward. 
  • As an adjudicator, you’ll have the flexibility to select which awards you’d like to review based on your interests and expertise and time commitment. 
  • You can still be nominated for an award if you’re on the adjudication team; you’ll just be excluded from reviewing submissions for that specific award. 

Eligibility: Volunteers must be CCPA members in good standing, students are encouraged to apply! 

 If you are interested, please send an email to [email protected] before January 22, 2025.  

We appreciate your passion in helping us recognize those making a difference in providing access to affordable and inclusive mental health care to all Canadians. 

Clapping

The award application form is required for every award.

View Form

Winners with trophy

Learn About Our Previous Award Winners

Click Here to Learn More About the CCPA Awards

More info

Awards Policy

Click here to read CCPA’s Awards Policy

2024 Awards Ceremony

CCPA 50th Awards Ceremony Video

CCPA Members and Award winners talk about their achievements and why they value their CCPA membership during our 50th Awards Ceremony.

Watch here

The decision of the CCPA Awards committee is final and reserves the right to not award any prizes if deemed appropriate. An applicant cannot be granted the same award for two consecutive years.
The application deadline for most awards is January 31, 2025 unless otherwise stated within their description.