Recognizing the accomplishments of Canadian Women Business Enterprises (WBES)
Celebrating the impact of corporate and government Supplier Diversity Initiatives
Recognizing Champions, Change Makers and Leaders in Supplier Diversity in Canada
Each year the call for nominations for the Excellence Awards is opened up to our certified WBE community, Corporate and Government member organizations, partners and the public who can then submit their nominations for the various awards under their respective categories.
Awarded to a certified WBE who, within their first 3 years of certification, has demonstrated significant achievements and progress. This company shows quick implementation combined with business acumen and active involvement in the WBE Canada community.
Certified WBE Company within first 3 years of certification
Actively engaged and participating in WBE Canada events
Successful in landing corporate/government contracts and/or B2B opportunities
New WBE. Company must be a Certified WBE with WBE Canada for less than 3 years as of July 31, 2025.
Business Growth. Describe the business expansion with year over year analysis.
Success. Describe what opportunities the business has won since becoming certified.
Community Engagement. Describe how the business has engaged and participated in WBE Canada events.
Recommendation Letter. Provide a recommendation letter from a Corporate Member organization.
You! Interested in sponsoring this award? Please connect with our sponsorship team at partner@wbecanada.ca
This award recognizes certified women-owned businesses that are actively engaged with the WBE Canada Community or our partner organizations. An individual who owns or works with a WBE Canada Certified Company.
Actively involved in WBE Canada Programs, Projects, Committees
An individual who is a champion of WBE Canada programs and initiatives
Role Model. List the activities the Nominee has undertaken to assist other women in her community.
Partnership. Identify how the Nominee has demonstrated a commitment to their community.
Advocacy. List examples of the Nominee’s accomplishments that have contributed to making a distinct and describable difference in the advancement of Canadian women.
Encourages others Identify how you have been a champion of WBE Canada programs.
Impact. Identify how the Nominee has had a measurable impact on women in their industry through either job creation, partnership with other WBEs.
Recommendation Letter. Provide a recommendation letter from an individual different than a Nominator to support this nomination.
This award recognizes the efforts and success of a certified women-owned businesses in expanding their business globally with a strategic export plan. The recipient of this award achieved global business growth, impacted the trade economy, and leveraged supplier diversity to grow.
The Nominee must be a Certified WBE
Currently exporting products or services to at least one international market
Has a strategic export plan for continued growth and market diversification, which includes leveraging supplier diversity as an entry strategy to a new market
Export Sales. Will demonstrate that a significant portion of the company's business comes from exporting.
Leveraging Supplier Diversity as a strategy to enter new markets. The Nominee will demonstrate how their supplier diversity strategy has given their organization opportunities to reach new markets including networks, trade missions, conferences, B2B meetings, etc.
Strategic export. Provide a high-level overview of your strategic exporting plan.
This award recognizes a certified WBE who has demonstrated excellence in their business. The recipient of this award has achieved business growth and shown dedication to supporting other women-owned businesses.
The Nominee must be a Certified WBE who incorporates best practices in business operations
Is current on industry trends and incorporates best practices in business operations
Offers exemplary customer service
Conducts business with other women owned businesses
Business Growth. Outline how the Nominee has had a measurable impact by the expansion of their business.
Innovation. Identify how the Nominee has demonstrated innovative thinking in her business practices, which has driven change.
Career Accomplishments. Identify and list career accomplishments and initiatives that have set the Nominee apart from other businesses.
Community Service. List how the Nominee has demonstrated her commitment to the community at large through volunteer work, mentorship.
Recommendation Letter. Provide a recommendation letter from a Corporate Member organization.
You! Interested in sponsoring this award? Please connect with our sponsorship team at partner@wbecanada.ca
This award recognizes a WBE Canada Corporate Member who has made a distinct and describable difference in their Supplier Diversity Program. The recipient of this award is an organization with measurable improvement to their procurement benefiting diverse suppliers.
The Nominee is a Corporate Member with WBE Canada
The Nominee will demonstrate measurable qualitative and/or quantitative improvement of its supplier diversity program
Vision and Leadership. Please provide a description of the Nominee’s supplier diversity program. Identify diverse initiatives directed to women-owned business enterprises currently underway or planned for the future.
Supplier Diversity Program. Identify how the Nominee furthered its Supplier Diversity program in the last year.
Innovation. Identify innovative strategies that have provided opportunities for WBEs.
Progress. Identify how the Nominee plans to further increase its support for WBEs.
Recommendation Letter. Provide a recommendation letter from an individual different than a Nominator to support this nomination.
You! Interested in sponsoring this award? Please connect with our sponsorship team at partner@wbecanada.ca
This award recognizes a procurement professional within WBE Canada’s Corporate Membership who is a champion among peers. This individual shows tremendous leadership while leveraging innovation to advance supplier diversity. A role model internally with colleagues and externally with vendor partners. This individual is a visible champion in the supplier diversity community as well as their respective industry.
An individual who works for a WBE Canada Corporate Member
Demonstrates extraordinary leadership in promoting Canadian women-owned businesses
A role model internally and externally to champion supplier diversity
Vision and Leadership. Identify how the Nominee has demonstrated vision and thought leadership in the area of Supplier Diversity.
Innovation. Identify how the Nominee has demonstrated innovative thinking in creating and advancing opportunities for certified WBEs.
Advocacy. Identify how the Nominee has utilized their business and personal networks to create opportunities to actively support and advance supplier diversity in Canada.
Role Model. Identify how the Nominee has served as a role model for others with regard to advancing supplier diversity. Additionally, describe activities undertaken by the Nominee to share their expertise and expectations of supplier diversity within corporations.
Recommendation Letter. Provide a recommendation letter from an individual other than the Nominator to support this nomination.
This award recognizes a special individual for their successful achievement and passionate commitment to supplier diversity.
Proof of Certification or Corporate Membership
Supplier Diversity Awareness. Identify how the Nominee contributed to building awareness and promoting supplier diversity
Community Impact. Identify how the nominee has supported and made an impact within the WBE Canada Community.
Innovation. Identify how the Nominee has contributed to WBE Canada’s sustained growth and development.
Geographical Impact. Identify and provide support as to how the Nominee is creating supplier diversity as a business imperative within their broader communities - locally, regionally, and nationally
Recommendation Letter. Provide a recommendation letter from an individual other than the Nominator to support this nomination.
- Recognition for excellence
- Demonstrate to your clients and community the quality and scope of your work
- Enhance your organization's brand and reputation
- Recognition that can support your career progression
- Show appreciation for the hard work and results of your employees and team
- Take the opportunity to celebrate your success
You can nominate:
- Yourself, a colleague, a friend in your organization
- Your company or other eligible organization
- Any supplier or buyer
Certified WBE
- WBE Rising Star
- WBE Leadership
- Top WBE Exporter
- Top WBE Supplier
Corporate Member
- Most Improved Supplier Diversity Program
- Supplier Diversity Leader
Open to All
- WBE Canada Award of Distinction
All nominations must include the following documentation, in English:
1. Nominator's information
2. Nominee's information
3. Nominee's relation to WBE Canada
4. Award selection - the form allows for single submission for multiple awards
5. A narrative (written by the Nominator), not to exceed 500 words, in support of the nomination, addressing the following areas: (a) Significance of contributions, (b) Quality and impact of contributions, (c) Years (duration) of significant effort
6. One (1) letter of support from a person familiar with the Nominee's achievements.
1. This is an opportunity
Take time to read the criteria carefully and be sure you write a relevant entry. Criteria is different for each category. Make sure you understand the entry process and have covered what the judges will be looking for.
2. Be outstanding
Award nominations are about "shouting it out". If you struggle to put achievements into words, this might not be the right time for you. Think about what you have done to add extra value. Write an exciting intro and make your best points first. Judges will often have dozens of entries to read - make sure that your nomination is filled with impressive accomplishments.
3. Back it up
Back up your facts with evidence and detail. Stay away from generic statements, use statistics and provide numbers where possible. How do you measure growth and impact? Independent feedback, especially from WBEs or Corporate Members, can be very persuasive. Including a positive sourced quote could be the difference between two strong entries. Do make sure it’s a really good quote. Quotes such as “The product was very quick and efficient” is not particularly outstanding.
4. Don’t forget the basics
- Don’t send in an old entry that was written for a different set of awards. While entries for different awards might be similar, the criteria and word count will often be different.
- Stick to the word count: some judges might be ok with an entry that goes slightly over but many will automatically discount entries that ignore the word count, likewise any entries that are woefully short are likely to be dismissed.
- Don’t miss the deadline: try your best to be on time and if you ask for an extension be aware that late entry is likely to be marked down.
- Don’t waffle and don’t waste your words: telling judges where you are based or saying things like “We are proud to be nominated and thank the judges for their time”, is often just a waste of words that could be used to say something really important.
5. If at first…
Don’t be put off if you entered before and didn’t win. Try, try, and try again. It might take a few hours to write a good entry, in fact it will probably take half a day – but the process of taking time to summarize all the good things your organization does is a worthwhile process on its own that can help your development in the future.
6. Sensitive data in your entry
Backing your project up with supporting evidence and data might involve sharing sensitive information. We only share the information in your nomination with our judges who are themselves under a confidentiality agreement. You can include sensitive information in your nomination, and advise us not to mention it while we introduce you or your organization as a finalist / winner, should this be the case.
7. Success Story
Through your nomination, you share valuable information and insights into your projects, knowledge which can inspire and empower other businesses or individuals to create similar results. As such, we may invite shortlisted nominees to come and discuss their projects at future events and also to have your success stories published in our magazine.
