These awards recognize Manitoba organizations that demonstrate how strategic people leadership drives organizational success through innovative workforce practices, leadership excellence and initiatives that result in meaningful and measurable business outcomes.
If you've implemented an initiative that made a meaningful difference—even if it wasn't large or expensive—you may be a great candidate. We're looking for impact, innovation and thoughtful HR practice, not simply organizational size or budget.
Application Process
Applying for an HR Excellence Award is a two-step process. For specific award category information, see below.
PART ONE
Click here to complete Part One of the application. Nominations can be made for yourself or on behalf of someone else confidentially. It should take less than ten minutes to complete your application!
The Awards Committee will review all Part One applications. CPHR Manitoba staff will follow up with approved applicants to provide the Part Two online application.
Part One deadline: October 31, 2026
PART TWO
Part Two is a deeper dive into the initiative. Unlike Part One, the individual being nominated must be involved in the process of completing the application.
The second part of the nomination process is through an online application. Questions will be in short answer format.
The Awards Committee will evaluate all complete Part Two applications against scoring criteria to determine finalists and the recipient for each category. A maximum of five finalists will be recognized in each category. Only submissions that meet the minimum scoring threshold will be eligible, and finalists will be selected from the highest-scoring eligible submissions.
Part Two Deadline: December 14, 2026
Why You Should Submit a Nomination
Nominating yourself, a colleague, or an organization gives you the chance to:
- Celebrate and promote your team’s achievements and recognize the people behind successful initiatives
- Demonstrate HR leadership, strengthen professional and brand reputations, and inspire future HR Leaders
- Showcase measurable business impact and celebrate career achievements
- Honour mentors and colleagues through nomination
- Benchmark your work against leading organizations
Awards Information Sessions
We host information sessions throughout the Fall to help answer your questions and guide you through the application process. To join us for one of our upcoming sessions, click here.
Business Excellence Awards Categories
Minimum Eligibility Criteria:
The initiative was:
Implemented within the past five years and has been in operation for at least one year
Developed and carried out in Manitoba (national initiatives may qualify provided the HR team member in Manitoba was actively involved in planning and execution of the initiative)
The Ascent Award | |
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For investing in leadership and talent development.
Your initiative may demonstrate impact in one or more of the following areas or through other similar contributions.
Please note: The following are examples. Initiatives are not required to address all listed areas to be considered - Leadership Excellence - Establishing a leadership culture
- Continuous Learning - Offering progressive professional development
- Workforce Capability - Addressing skills gaps
- Future Talent Planning - Undertaking career path and succession planning
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The Thrive Award |
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For making work more meaningful and engaging.
Your initiative may demonstrate impact in one or more of the following areas or through other similar contributions.
Please note: The following are examples. Initiatives are not required to address all listed areas to be considered - Culture & Safety - Respectful and people-centred with a strong focus on psychological and physical safety, prevention, and supportive return-to-work practices
- Wellbeing & Flexibility - Flexible work approaches that support work-life balance, mental health, and overall wellbeing
- Connection & Community - Opportunities for employees to connect with each other and contribute to the community
- Growth, Retention & Workforce Sustainability - Career development and advancement that support long-term futures, along with strong recruitment and retention.
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The Unity Award |
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| For advancing diversity, inclusivity and accessibility at work.
Your initiative may demonstrate impact in one or more of the following areas or through other similar contributions.
Please note: The following are examples. Initiatives are not required to address all listed areas to be considered - Inclusive Workplaces - Establishing a culture of inclusion
- Reconciliation & Relationships - Advancing truth and reconciliation
- Accessible Opportunities - Removing barriers to access
- Diverse Perspectives - Actualizing the full value of diversity
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The Innovation Award |
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For advancing HR practices, at any scale, through transformative ideas and improved approaches.
Your initiative may demonstrate impact in one or more of the following areas or through other similar contributions.
Please note: The following are examples. Initiatives are not required to address all listed areas to be considered - Tech & Digital Innovation - Using tools to improve practices, from simple digitization to advanced systems
- Process Improvement & Efficiency - Streamlining or modernizing processes to improve effectiveness, efficiency, or employee experience
- Creative Problem-Solving - Developing approaches to address organizational needs or challenges
- Strategic & Future-Focused Thinking - Introducing ideas that support long-term success and evolving workforce needs
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The HR Team Award |
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For people leading business as a team. Your team may demonstrate impact in one or more of the following areas or through other similar contributions. Please note: The following are examples. Teams are not required to address all listed areas to be considered - Building connection and well-being by working together with trust, shared purpose, and a commitment to inclusive, people-centered practices.
- Driving talent forward through collaborative problem-solving, cross-functional teamwork, and a unified approach to supporting growth and development.
- Transforming organizations by navigating change together, combining diverse strengths, and aligning around a shared vision for innovation and progress.
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Finalists
Finalists will be announced once all Part Two submissions have been reviewed.
All Finalists will participate in the creation of nominee videos, be invited to attend the Gala with friends, family and co-workers. Winners will be announced live at the 2026 HR Excellence Awards.
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Past Nominees
Reading through the nominations of past nominees may assist you in completing your application by giving you ideas of what others have been recognized for.
View the 2026 Finalists
For more information, please contact:
devon@cphrmb.ca
