Day: January 7, 2026

As we step into a new year, BC Achievement is reflecting on the milestones and achievements outlined in our 2024-2025 Annual Report (September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025).  

During this period, BC Achievement continued to strengthen its role as a platform for recognizing leadership, creativity, and community impact. Over the past year, the Foundation focused on expanding reach, deepening partnerships, and ensuring that excellence across British Columbia is recognized with care, integrity, and purpose. 

BC Achievement’s five award programs — the Community Award, Indigenous Business Award, Polygon Award in First Nations Art, Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design, and the BC Reconciliation Award — reflect the breadth of achievement across the province. Together, they recognize individuals and organizations whose work strengthens communities, advances reconciliation, supports creative practice, and contributes to a more inclusive and connected British Columbia. 

Partnerships remained central to the Foundation’s work. This year marked the introduction of RBC as BC Achievement’s inaugural Platform Partner, providing cross-program support and reinforcing shared values around leadership, recognition, and community investment. Long-standing partners continued their commitment, while new supporters helped strengthen program sustainability and reach. 

As Board Chair Walter Pela reflected, “Each year at BC Achievement, we are reminded that the real inspiration for our work comes from the awardees themselves. Their creativity, leadership, and commitment to community are what bring our mission to life.” That perspective guided both governance and programming throughout the year, ensuring that recognition remains grounded in the lived experiences and contributions of British Columbians. 

Alumni engagement, mentorship opportunities, and cross-program gatherings helped extend recognition beyond ceremonies, creating space for shared learning and relationship-building. These efforts reinforce the Foundation’s belief that recognition is most meaningful when it supports ongoing connection and impact. 

Looking ahead, BC Achievement remains focused on its purpose: to elevate excellence, share success, and inspire change. The past year demonstrated the continued relevance of recognition as a tool for strengthening communities and highlighting leadership across sectors. As the Foundation moves forward, it does so guided by the people it honours — and by a commitment to reflecting the full range of achievement across British Columbia. 

The 2024-2025 Annual Report is available online. We invite you to explore it and learn more about the incredible individuals and organizations who have been recognized. Their stories are a testament to the spirit of innovation, resilience, and generosity that defines British Columbia. 

Thank you to everyone who has supported BC Achievement over the past year—our partners, sponsors, volunteers, and, most importantly, the nominees and recipients who inspire us daily. Together, we celebrate excellence and build a brighter future. 

Stay connected with us as we continue to honor and uplift those making a difference across our province. Here’s to another year of inspiring achievement! 

#recognizeremarkable

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change. 

Nominate for the 2026 BC Achievement award programs! Any nominations submitted before February 15, 2026, will be included in jury deliberations. If your nomination is completed after this deadline, it will automatically roll over to the following year’s consideration. To make sure your nominee is in the running for the upcoming award cycle, submit a nomination online at bcachievement.com. 

Helpful Tips for Nominating 

To help make your nomination process smooth and successful, we provide a range of resources. These include advice on crafting a strong nominator statement, selecting impactful images, and using YouTube videos or news articles to strengthen your nominee’s case. And if you ever need assistance, the BC Achievement team is just a click away! 

Award Programs to Recognize Remarkable British Columbians 

Nominations are accepted across all five of BC Achievement’s annual programs, each highlighting the accomplishments of individuals, groups, and organizations in various fields: 

• Indigenous Business Award – Celebrates excellence within Indigenous-owned businesses, with categories including Business of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Community-owned Business, and Business Partnership of the Year. 

• Polygon Award in First Nations Art – Recognizes artistic excellence in both traditional and contemporary visual arts by First Nations artists. 

• Sam Carter Award in Applied Art + Design – Honours outstanding achievements in functional art and design. 

• Community Award – Celebrates excellence and inspiring contributions in community service and leadership. 

• BC Reconciliation Award – Recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations advancing the principles of reconciliation. 

If you know someone whose work deserves recognition, don’t miss the February 15, 2026 deadline.  

Join Us in Celebrating Remarkable People all Year Long 

Nominations can be made online at bcachievement.com. Get involved, celebrate excellence in BC, and nominate!  

#recognizeremarkable 

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.

Photo: Debra Rogers, 2025 Community Award recipient

A new year always brings a moment to pause, reflect, and look ahead—and as we step into 2026, we’re starting the year with a simple but important question: what would you like to hear about from us? 

This is our first blog post of the year, and rather than telling you what’s coming next, we want to open the door and invite you in. Our programs, stories, and celebrations are built around people—your ideas, your experiences, and your voices. Now feels like the perfect time to listen. 

Are there stories that inspire you and that you’d love to see more of here? Perhaps you’re drawn to personal journeys—moments of challenge, growth, or recognition that remind you why these programs matter. Maybe you’d like us to spotlight past recipients and share what recognition has meant for them over time. Or perhaps you’re curious about the “how” behind the work: how programs take shape, how selections are made, and how impact is measured. 

We also hear often that the nomination process can feel mysterious. Would it be helpful to read more about how nominations work, what makes a strong nomination, or what happens after a form is submitted? Are there parts of the process you’d like us to explain more clearly, or questions you’ve always wanted to ask? 

Behind every program is a dedicated team, and we’re curious—would you like to get to know the staff who bring this work to life? From program directors to communications and operations, ours is a small but mighty team, working quietly behind the scenes. 

If you’re an alumnus or alumna of one of our programs, we especially want to hear from you. How did recognition impact you—personally or professionally? Would you like to be involved as a nominator, a mentor, or an ambassador who helps spread the word? Would you be open to being featured in a future blog post and sharing your story with others who may be earlier in their journey? 

And if you’re a potential nominee, we’re curious too. How can we reach you more effectively? Where do you get your information—newsletters, social media, word of mouth, community networks? Knowing this helps us ensure opportunities don’t pass people by. 

For nominators, your time and care mean everything. How did you find the nomination form? Did the process feel worthwhile? Do you feel your investment helps shine a light where it truly matters? 

There’s no single right answer—only honest ones. You can email us, send us a DM on our social media channels, or give us a call. However, you choose to reach out, please know this: we genuinely want to hear from you. 

Here’s to starting 2026 together—by listening first. 

#recognizeremarkable 

BC Achievement: Elevate Excellence. Share Success. Inspire Change.