Nominations for the INSPIRE Awards

We appreciate your interest in the Awards and look forward to celebrating all the nominees and recipients with you at Hart House, University of Toronto. To stay informed about the INSPIRE Awards, please Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

How to Nominate a person, business, or organization.

  1. Please complete the appropriate online nomination form linked at the end of each category’s selection criteria above.
  2. A consent form will be required to be filled by the nominated lifetime achievement, person, business, or organization once an application has been qualified and they accepted the nomination. In the case of Youth of the Year category, the Youth nominee will be asked to provide written consent, authorizing an INSPIRE Awards representative to contact their parent or legal guardian. The parent or legal guardian will then be contacted to provide their written consent. Parent or legal guardian’s written consent will be required before the Youth nominee qualifies for consideration.
  3. Once a nominee has been qualified and they have accepted the nomination, they will be required to submit an essay titled “What Inspires Me” and a brief personal biography for Lifetime, Person and Youth of Year categories, and a business biography for Positive Business of the Year and Inspiring Organization of the Year categories. Nominees may be asked to provide references as well.

Who can nominate?

Any member of the community or allies, except the individuals and organizations presenting the awards and sitting on the INSPIRE Awards Board of Directors or the Board’s Advisory Committee.

Who gets nominated?

  • An LGBTQ2S+ Person, youth, positive business, or community organization through a nomination by members of the community
  • In the case of the organizations and entities who are partners of the awards (excluding the actual INSPIRE Awards organization): their members, volunteers, and staff can all be nominated
  • Posthumous nominations are allowed in the Lifetime Achievement and LUX categories.

Who can’t be nominated?

  • Self nominations will not be accepted
  • Any of the actual entities who are Presenting or Community Partners of the awards
  • Any of the individuals sitting on the INSPIRE Awards Board of Directors
  • Any individual currently serving on one of the subcommittees
  • A current sponsor
  • For the Person and Youth of the Year category posthumous nominations are not accepted.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Two awards per year are given to those who made significant contributions to better the lives of others in the LGBTQ+ community in the Greater Toronto Area or any of its surrounding regions.

Nominations are open to:
LGBTQ Persons

The selection criteria are:

  • Significance of contributions
  • Broad effect of the contributions
  • Length of service to the community
  • Availability and commitment to promote INSPIRATION for the year of holding the title

LGBTQ Person of the Year

This award is given in recognition of the outstanding contributions of a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, or queer person who has significantly improved the quality of life in the LGBTQ+ and local community.

Nominations are open to:
LGBTQ Persons 25 and over
Resides in the Greater Toronto Area or any of its surrounding regions.

The selection criteria are:

  • Leadership and Vision
  • An inspirational role model for the community in the Greater Toronto and surrounding area
  • Significant contribution to the community
  • Mentorship
  • Personal interests
  • Future goals and likely impact
  • Previous awards and recognition
  • Volunteer work beyond paid employment
  • Availability and commitment to promote INSPIRATION for the year of holding the title

LGBTQ Youth of the Year

This award is given in recognition of an outstanding youth who has excelled in improving the lives and visibility of LGBTQ+ community, especially with regard to LGBTQ Youth. The award acknowledges the youth’s accomplishments and the contributions they have made to their communities.

Nominations are open to:

  • LGBTQ Youth ages 12 to 24
  • Resides in the Greater Toronto Area or any of its surrounding regions.
  • Parents must sign a consent form (for youth under 18)

The selection criteria are:

  • Average or above average academic standing
  • Extra-curricular activities
  • Personality
  • Community involvement
  • Volunteer Work
  • Healthy lifestyle
  • Availability and commitment to promote INSPIRATION for the year of holding the title

LGBTQ Positive Business of the Year

This award honours leading LGBTQ+ businesses and business owners in recognition of their outstanding contributions in support of our community.

Nominations are open to:

  • Small, medium, or large business
  • Operating in the Greater Toronto Area or any of its surrounding regions.

The selection criteria are:

  • Performances and innovations
  • Promoting equality
  • Superior customer service
  • Contributions to the LGBTQ community and ongoing initiatives
  • Availability and commitment to promote INSPIRATION for the year of holding the title

Inspiring Community Organization of the Year

This award honours leading LGBTQ+ community groups and organizations in recognition of their outstanding contributions in support of our community.
Nominations are open to:

  • Not-for-profit or charity organizations operating in the LGBTQ community
  • Operating in the Greater Toronto Area or any of its surrounding regions.

The selection criteria are:

  • Leadership and Vision
  • Performances and innovations
  • Promoting equality
  • Superior service
  • Contributions to the LGBTQ+ community and ongoing initiatives
  • Celebrating a milestone
  • Launched a very successful initiative in any given awards year
  • Availability and commitment to promote INSPIRATION for the year of holding the title

LUX Award

This award will recognize posthumously the contribution made by an LGBTQ Canadian in the arts, either as a creative person, an arts worker, or as someone who has shown a long commitment to the arts.

Nominations are open to:

  • LGBTQ Persons who are no longer with us
  • Resided in Canada while they were alive

The selection criteria are:

  • Inspirational role model for the artistic community in the Greater Toronto Area
  • Significant contribution to the LGBTQ+ community

The Charles Roy Award for Activism in HIV/AIDS

INSPIRE Awards is pleased to honour and commemorate Charles Roy’s legacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS by naming an award in his honour,” says Antoine Elhashem, President of the INSPIRE Awards. “Our Board of Directors recognizes that HIV/AIDS is still an issue in the LGBTQ+ community and the world. It is part of our Mission Statement to celebrate those who make a difference in our community and work on changing attitudes. Charles is just one of the greatest examples of someone who did just that on the Canadian scene.”

Charles Roy was the Executive Director of the AIDS Committee of Toronto for eight years. He was a member of Toronto People With AIDS Foundation, AIDS ACTION NOW and many other provincial committees. Nationally, he was a board member of the Canadian AIDS Society, and, internationally, he contributed to the World Health Organization and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. In 1985, he worked for the Montreal AIDS Resource Centre, where he organized the city’s first support group for People With AIDS. He is recognized by the Ontario HIV Treatment Network at their annual conference with a lecture in his honour. He is author of Living and Serving: Persons with HIV in the Canadian AIDS Movement.

Accenture LGBTQ Innovator of the Year

LGBTQ Innovator of the Year Award honours an individual for their achievements and contributions within the science and technology sectors to promote diversity, improve lives and raise awareness about LGBTQ+ issues.

Notes and Disclaimer

ALL SUBMISSIONS, FORMS, VIDEOS AND ESSAYS ARE THE PROPERTY OF INSPIRE AWARDS CORPORATION AND THEIR PARTNERS. NOMINEES ARE REQUIRED TO SIGN A CONSENT TO USE THEIR IMAGE, NAME, PHOTO, NOW AND IN THE FUTURE FOR ALL PURPOSES PERTAINING TO THE WORK OF THE INSPIRE AWARDS.*

In the case that there is a shortage of nominations received for a particular category in any given year, the board will consider their own preferences for nominees in the respective category or categories and submit these to the jury panel for consideration.