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National Awards

Since 1998, the Council has presented the National Awards for Innovation & Excellence in P3s to celebrate and recognize Canada’s cutting-edge infrastructure projects involving public sector entities like governments and educational institutions partnering with the private sector. Individual leaders in the sector are also celebrated in the Champion Awards. 

In 2023, to provide a greater opportunity to celebrate and promote Canada’s top P3 projects, the Council is overhauling its National Awards program. This includes introducing new award categories and a special National Awards Gala Luncheon to announce and celebrate nominees and winners.

Applications have closed for 2023. A shortlist of nominees was released on October 25.

This year’s National Awards Gala Luncheon will take place on Tuesday, November 14 at P3 2023, the Council’s annual conference. Winners will be announced on stage in front of an anticipated crowd of up to one thousand delegates.




Application Window Closed for 2023


National Awards (project):

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION: WORD

DOWNLOAD  APPLICATION: PDF


Champion Awards (individual):

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION: WORD

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION: PDF

P3 Transaction

This category is for projects that have reached Financial Close.
Assessment Focus: Process and activities related to transaction; Success of transaction
Evaluation Focus: Financing solution; Partnering arrangements; Transaction legal structure; Project incentives; Special planning requirements; Transaction-stage agreements with third parties; Public sector program assessment
 

P3 Design & Construction

This category is for projects that have reached Substantial Completion.
Assessment Focus: Process and activities relating to design and construction; Success of construction phase
Evaluation Focus: Design; Construction performance; Delivery timeline; Resolution of implementation-phase disputes/challenges; Partnering arrangements; Supply chain management
 

P3 Service Delivery

This category is for projects that have reached at least Two Years of Full Operation.
Assessment Focus: Operation and maintenance factors and track record
Evaluation Focus: Service performance; Satisfaction of client; Resolution of operations-phase disputes/challenges; Monitoring/dispute management approach; Mitigation of failure points; Accommodation of changing public policy objectives of public sector partner
 

Environmental, Social and Governance

This category is for projects that have reached Financial Close. A project nominated for an award in the Environmental, Social and Governance category may also be nominated for an award in one of the other three categories.
Assessment Focus: ESG goals; Achievement of ESG goals
Evaluation Focus: Contribution of project to environmental protection or enhancement; Wildlife protection; Climate/GHG impact; Natural infrastructure attributes; Indigenous engagement; Community benefits; Other social impacts

Lifetime Champion Award

This award was created to recognize and honour individuals who have made significant and meaningful contributions to the advancement of public-private partnerships. The award has historically been awarded to an individual with significant experience and material contributions to P3s throughout their career.

To be eligible for the Lifetime Champion Award, a nominee must be at least 55 years of age.

Applications should detail the nominee’s key contributions that have advanced the use, understanding and/or reputation of P3s, as well as noteworthy accomplishments/successes made by the nominee in the P3s market.

Nominees do not need to be Canadian citizens. However, nominees should be able to demonstrate a substantial connection to Canadian P3 work.
 

Emerging Leader Award

This award was created to recognize and honour individuals who are making significant and meaningful contributions to the advancement of public-private partnerships.

To be eligible for the Emerging Leader Award, a nominee must be no greater than 40 years of age.

Applications should detail the nominee’s key contributions that are advancing the use, understanding and/or reputation of P3s, as well as noteworthy accomplishments/successes made by the nominee in the P3s market.

Nominees do not need to be Canadian citizens. However, nominees should be able to demonstrate a substantial connection to Canadian P3 work.
July 18, 2023: Applications open for 2023 nominations

September 15, 2023: Applications due no later than 5 p.m. ET

October 2023: Shortlisted nominees announced

November 14, 2023: Winners announced at National Awards Gala Luncheon during the P3 2023 conference. Award winners will not be announced (publicly or privately) prior to the awards luncheon.
An expert selection panel of knowledgeable and objective Canadian leaders will review the applications against the criteria and select the winners. These judges are part of the Council's Awards Committee. They are:
  • Brad Nicpon, Chair of the Awards Selection Committee and Partner, McCarthy Tétrault LLP
  • Shariq Alvi, Managing Director, Infrastructure and Project Finance, CIBC
  • Rupesh Amin, Managing Partner, Infrastructure & Development, Forum Equity Partners
  • Derron Bain, Managing Director, Concert Infrastructure
  • Peter Hepburn, Managing Director and Head, Infrastructure and Project Finance, National Bank Financial Markets
  • Sherena Hussain, Founder, Academic Collaboration Consulting (ACC)
  • Dr. Alan Russell, Professor Emeritus, Department of Civil Engineering, University of British Columbia
  • Lindsay Wright, Partner, Global Infrastructure Advisory – Deal Advisory, KPMG LLP

Award FAQs

We are extending the submission deadline to 5 p.m. ET on FRIDAY, September 15, 2023. They must be submitted electronically to [email protected]
No, the Council does not charge a fee for National Award applications.
For the purposes of an awards application, a public-private partnership is a project delivery model that: (i) provides infrastructure and services to Canadians using efficient solutions to public sector objectives; (ii) provides value to taxpayers; and, (iii) reflects each of the following attributes:
  • Allocation of risk to the party best suited to manage it
  • Consideration of the whole life cycle of the asset
  • Promotion of innovation and efficiencies, and
  • Leveraging of private capital and expertise.
A public sector partner is the partner from the public sector, for example, a level of government (federal, provincial or municipal), an agency representing such government, a public institution (such as a school, hospital or post-secondary institution) or a non-profit or not-for-profit corporation.
A private sector partner is a company that operates solely in the private sector, be it a partnership, joint venture or incorporated entity.
 
No, this is not a true public-private partnership as there is no sharing, by both partners, of resources, risks and rewards.
 
A grant from a level of government or a straight financial commitment without involvement from the private or public sector partner or partners cannot be considered a public-private partnership. There must be a mutual decision-making process that pertains directly to a public-private partnership at all stages.
 
There is no limit to the number of public and private partners that can be involved in the partnership.  However, there must be at least one public and one private partner, each sharing in the appropriate allocation of resources, risks and rewards in the nominated project.
 
Please contact [email protected] if you have questions regarding your submission.