The Calgary Awards is an award given out annually by the Canadian city of Calgary. It is managed by the official citizen recognition program of Calgary and was established in 1994. It is meant to celebrate contributions done to the community by Calgarians. There are several categories, ranging from "Citizen of the Year", "The Award for Accessibility", "The Community Achievement Awards", "The Environmental Achievement Award", "The Signature Award" and the "W.O. Mitchell Book Prize". Recipients are honored at a ceremony attended by the Mayor of Calgary and members of the City Council which is televised.
The Calgary Awards nomination process is administered by The City of Calgary through the City Clerk’s Office. Nominations are submitted annually and reviewed to ensure eligibility requirements are met. Award recipients are selected by independent juries based on the information provided in nomination packages.
Different award categories are reviewed by separate juries composed of City representatives, community members, subject matter experts, and previous award recipients. Jury composition varies depending on the award category.
Following the jury review process, the recommended recipients are submitted to Calgary City Council for approval. Recipients and nominators are then notified by The City of Calgary prior to the public announcement of award recipients.
The Calgary Awards program is administered by The City of Calgary through the City Clerk’s Office. Program administration includes the annual nomination process, coordination of independent selection juries, and preparation of recipient recommendations for approval by Calgary City Council.
Meeting materials related to the Calgary Awards, including committee reports and recommendations, are published through Calgary City Council’s public meeting portal. These records document Calgary City Council's approval steps associated with the awards program in the months leading up to nominations and awards.
The 2026 Calgary Awards were presented on June 17, 2026.
| Award category | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Community Achievement Award: Arts | Wunmi Idowu |
| Community Achievement Award: Calgarian of the Year | Martha Hart |
| Community Achievement Award: Community Advocate – Individual | Lorraine Robinson |
| Community Achievement Award: Community Advocate – Organization | Momentum |
| Community Achievement Award: Education | Pamela Farrell |
| Community Achievement Award: Grant MacEwan Lifetime Achievement | Gordon Moores Bullivant |
| Community Achievement Award: Heritage | The Confluence Historic Site & Parkland |
| Community Achievement Award: Social Impact – Business | XhAle Brew Co. |
| Community Achievement Award: Youth | Evan Li |
| International Achievement Award | Henry Tsang |
| Award for Accessibility – Universal Design | Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) |
| Environmental Achievement Award | Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta |
| City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize | Marcello Di Cintio |
The 2025 Calgary Awards were presented on June 18, 2025.
| Award category | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Community Achievement Award: Arts | Karen Ball |
| Community Achievement Award: Calgarian of the Year | Syed Najam Hassan |
| Community Achievement Award: Community Advocate – Individual | Lucy O. Reyes |
| Community Achievement Award: Community Advocate – Organization | Discovery House |
| Community Achievement Award: Education | Olumuyiwa Igbalajobi |
| Community Achievement Award: Grant MacEwan Lifetime Achievement | Arthur Clark |
| Community Achievement Award: Heritage | Christine Leppard |
| Community Achievement Award: Social Impact – Business | Blackline Safety |
| Community Achievement Award: Youth | Max Du |
| Environmental Achievement Award | Calgary Drop-In Centre |
| International Achievement Award | Julie Sedivy |
| City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize | Julie Sedivy |
The 2024 Calgary Awards recipients were recognized in twelve award categories.
| Award category | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Community Achievement Award: Arts | Immigrant Council for Arts Innovation |
| Community Achievement Award: Calgarian of the Year | Heather Culbert |
| Community Achievement Award: Community Advocate – Individual | Karen Begg |
| Community Achievement Award: Community Advocate – Organization | Aboriginal Friendship Centre of Calgary |
| Community Achievement Award: Education | Bill Rosehart |
| Community Achievement Award: Grant MacEwan Lifetime Achievement | Elaine Cairns |
| Community Achievement Award: Heritage | Edworthy Park Heritage Society |
| Community Achievement Award: Social Impact – Business | Park by Sidewalk Citizen and Sidewalk Citizen Bakery |
| Community Achievement Award: Youth | Laiba Nasir |
| Environmental Achievement Award | Goodwill Industries of Alberta |
| International Achievement Award | Naser El-Sheimy |
| City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize | Clem Martini (Cantata and The Extinction Therapist) |
The 2023 Calgary Awards recipients were recognized in thirteen award categories.
| Award category | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Award for Accessibility | Garden Loft |
| Community Achievement Award: Arts | East Side Dance Festival Society |
| Community Achievement Award: Calgarian of the Year | Usman Tahir Jutt |
| Community Achievement Award: Community Advocate – Individual | Meenu Ahluwalia |
| Community Achievement Award: Community Advocate – Organization | Centre for Sexuality |
| Community Achievement Award: Education | Chantalle Bourque |
| Community Achievement Award: Grant MacEwan Lifetime Achievement | Elder Dr. Reg Crowshoe and Elder Rosemary Crowshoe |
| Community Achievement Award: Heritage | Josh Traptow |
| Community Achievement Award: Social Impact – Business | inclusion FACTOR |
| Community Achievement Award: Youth | Jeanae Elisha C. Ventura |
| Environmental Achievement Award | Carbon Upcycling Technologies |
| International Achievement Award | Dr. Kristina Rinker |
| City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize | Suzette Mayr (The Sleeping Car Porter) |
The 2022 Calgary Awards recipients included the following individuals and organizations.
| Award category | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Award for Accessibility | Accessible Housing for Inclusio |
| Community Achievement Award: Arts | Xstine P. Cook |
| Community Achievement Award: Citizen of the Year | Jane Wachowich |
| Community Achievement Award: Commerce | Not awarded |
| Community Achievement Award: Community Advocate – Individual | Lanre Ajayi |
| Community Achievement Award: Community Advocate – Organization | Sagesse |
| Community Achievement Award: Education | Dr. Turin Chowdhury |
| Community Achievement Award: Grant MacEwan Lifetime Achievement | David Este |
| Community Achievement Award: Heritage | Madisen Hvidberg |
| Community Achievement Award: Youth | Alexander Greco |
| Environmental Achievement Award | Miistakis Institute |
| Environmental Achievement Award (honourable mention) | Soap for Hope Canada |
| International Achievement Award | Barry Sanders |
| City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize | Jaspreet Singh (My Mother, My Translator) |
The 2020 Calgary Awards recipients included the following individuals and organizations.
| Award category | Recipient |
|---|---|
| Community Achievement Award: Arts | Shelley Youngblut |
| Community Achievement Award: Citizen of the Year | Marichu Antonio |
| Community Achievement Award: Commerce | Dr. Breanne Everett |
| Community Achievement Award: Community Advocate – Individual | Aneela Azeem |
| Community Achievement Award: Community Advocate – Organization | Calgary Seniors' Resource Society |
| Community Achievement Award: Education | Dr. Rahat Zaidi |
| Community Achievement Award: Grant MacEwan Lifetime Achievement | Dr. John Lacey |
| Community Achievement Award: Heritage | Not awarded |
| Community Achievement Award: Youth | Curtis Ruttle |
| Award for Accessibility | YMCA Calgary, Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge |
| Environmental Achievement Award | Canadian Wildlife Federation, WILD Outside Program |
| International Achievement Award | Dr. Aamir Jamal |
| City of Calgary W.O. Mitchell Book Prize | Alexandra Latos (Under Shifting Stars) |
The City of Calgary published the names of nominees for the 2026 Calgary Awards across twelve award categories. The published list includes individuals, organizations and groups. The W.O. Mitchell Book Prize submissions were published separately.
| Award category | Nominees |
|---|---|
| Arts | Marvit Ahanonu; Hajar Al Khouzaii; Alvin Francia and Limuel Vilela; Ashley Frerichs; Justine Giles; Jeff Humphreys; Wunmi Idowu; Nancy Laberge; Sushree Mishra; Daniel Pelton; Fredy Rivas; Yolanda Sargeant; Ishita Singla, Aditya Chaudhuri, Aseem Pandey, Bhupinderjit Chana, Partha Sarathi Gouda, Shivek Kanwar and Ineha Thind; Tara Wilson; Calgary Performing and Visual Arts, Teachers Central Memorial High School; The Calgary Songsmiths |
| Calgarian of the Year | Dr. Martha Hart; Uyen Nguyen; Monica Tawfik; Dr. Gabrielle (Tsapinaaki) Weasel Head |
| Community Advocate – Individual | Adekunbi Adetona; Abby Araji; Ahmad Baker; Adam Casole-Buchanan; Duaa-Azeem Choudhary; Jay Chowdhury; Chika Daniels; Ismael Diallo; Matthew Edward; Leanna Kielau; Melanie MacDonald; Maria Marcil; Kris McPherson; Tatiana Meneses-Sab; Afirah Naz; Nadine Niba; Marvin Olson; Shuo Qiu; Lorraine Robinson; Akshay Saxena; Dhruv Sharma; Keith Simmons; Nancy-Lynn Stevenson; Miwa Takeuchi; Nick Twyman; Susan Tyrrell; Grace Yan |
| Community Advocate – Organization | Able Sail Association of Alberta; Alberta Adolescent Recovery Centre; Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF); Autism Aspergers Friendship Society of Calgary; Between Friends; Calgary Construction Association; Cerebral Palsy Alberta; cSPACE Projects; Elephant Artist Relief Society; Guru Nanak Free Kitchen Calgary; I Can for Kids; Immigrant Outreach Society; Junior League of Calgary; LOUD Art Society; Momentum; Not In My City; PCHS Calgary; Ruth’s House Society; Skipping Stone Foundation; Soup Sisters; Sport Calgary; Stardale Women’s Group; Sustainable Calgary; The Alex Community Food Centre; The Calgary Bridge Foundation for Youth; The Veterans Association Food Bank; Wings of Hope for Africa Foundation; Wood’s Homes; YMCA Calgary |
| Education | Peter Adeleke; Melissa Allan; Erin Boukall; John Brown; Lisa Byrgesen; Dr. Pamela Farrell; Brendan Hagan; Casey Kennedy |
| Grant MacEwan Lifetime Achievement | Gordon Bullivant |
| Heritage | Diane Dalkin; Lougheed House Conservation Society; Studio North; The Confluence Historic Site and Parkland; The Ranchmens Club |
| Social Impact – Business | Innerlogue Therapy & Psychology; JB Music Therapy; Microserve; Resilient Hearts; SANDSTONE Asset Management; The Arrowhead Live Music & Events Center and Hitman’s Bar; XhAle Brew Co. |
| Youth | Kingston Chee; Evan Li; Wren Rafael Marcelo; Kamran Shukoor; Jhanna Mariel Villanueva |
| International Achievement Award | Sharon Fraiman; Tola Jimoh; Siu Ming Kwok; Terrance Malkinson; Bijoy Menon; Dr. Melanie Carina Schmoll; Dr. Henry Tsang |
| Award for Accessibility – Universal Design | Synaptic Neuro Rehabilitation Centre; The Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) Indigenous Youth Centre |
| Environmental Achievement Award | Chris Williams; Alberta Ecotrust Foundation: ENBIX; Arusha Centre; Calgary Region Airshed Zone Society; Earth Science for Society (ESfS); Habitat for Humanity Southern Alberta |