Celebrating outstanding members of the RRU community
Our vision of inspiring people with the courage to transform the world is brought to life by those who lead with care, creativity, and courage every day. These awards recognize the often-unseen efforts that make a lasting impact, celebrating the dedication and innovation that happen every day, in between the milestones.
Eligibility
Who is eligible to be nominated for a Changemaker Award?
- All employees of Royal Roads University are eligible to be nominated for a Changemaker Award
- Employees on a temporary or casual contract must have a contract in place on the date of the Celebrating U event for that nomination year
- Preference will be given to employees and/or teams who have not previously received a Changemaker Award in the category for which they are nominated
- Self-nominations are not accepted
Who is eligible to nominate someone for a Changemaker Award?
- All employees of Royal Roads University are eligible to nominate a colleague for a Changemaker Award.
- The co-nominator must be someone other than the nominator, and can be provided by an RRU employee, business partner, student, or associate faculty.
Changemaker Award categories
Caring
This award celebrates individuals who have displayed exceptional dedication to creating and nurturing, inclusive, and supportive community within Royal Roads. This award recognizes those who have gone above and beyond in fostering a culture of empathy, understanding, and support among our students, faculty, and staff.
Selection criteria:
- Demonstrates a commitment to fostering inclusivity and a supportive environment within Royal Roads University
- Evidence of actions that promote empathy, understanding, and collaboration among the Royal Roads community
- Consistent efforts in creating a sense of belonging and community, beyond regular duties
- Positive impact on the well-being and engagement of others through direct support or mentorship
- Preference will be given to nominees who have not received this award in the past
Creative
This award celebrates individuals who have displayed exceptional ingenuity and originality in their endeavors, reflecting a commitment to innovation in all aspects of their work. This award celebrates those who continually seek new and better ways to do things, inspiring a culture of creative problem-solving within Royal Roads.
Selection criteria:
- Demonstrates creativity and originality in approaches to problem-solving and projects
- Evidence of implementing innovative solutions that have improved processes or outcomes within Royal Roads
- Commitment to exploring and adopting new ideas, technologies, or methodologies in their work
- Contributes to fostering a culture of innovation and forward-thinking within the RRU community
- Preference will be given to nominees who have not received this award in the past
Courageous
This award celebrates individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary courage and resolve in their actions, embodying the spirit of boldness in the face of challenges. This award celebrates those who not only welcome challenges but actively seek them out, taking thoughtful and calculated risks to bring about positive change.
Selection criteria:
- Demonstrates boldness and courage in facing significant challenges or adversity
- Evidence of taking thoughtful and calculated risks to drive positive change within Royal Roads
- Consistent willingness to step out of their comfort zone to inspire or lead innovation or transformation
- Contributes to fostering a culture of resilience and perseverance among colleagues and the broader community
- Preference will be given to nominees who have not received this award in the past
Excellence in Leadership
This award celebrates individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities, inspiring positive change and guiding Royal Roads toward a brighter future.
Changemakers lead by example, inspire and unite others, envision a better future and achieve transformative results. They create a culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
This award acknowledges those dedicated to shaping Royal Road's future through academic achievements, community involvement, or administrative prowess. This award reinforces our commitment to nurturing and recognizing the leadership qualities that propel our university forward.
Selection criteria:
- Demonstrates outstanding leadership that inspires positive change and growth within Royal Roads
- Proven ability to unite and motivate teams, fostering collaboration and innovation
- Track record of setting a visionary path and achieving transformative results
- Contributes to shaping Royal Roads' future through academic, community, or administrative initiatives
- Preference will be given to nominees who have not received this award in the past
Strategic Impact Award
This award celebrates individuals who create meaningful, lasting impact by advancing Royal Roads University's strategic goals: Any Age, Any Stage, Any Place; Explore, Share, Advance; Invite In, Venture Out; and Vibrant and Sustainable.
These Changemakers demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning, innovation, inclusivity, and engagement. They respond to evolving student and workforce needs, explore and advance solutions to complex challenges, foster connected and collaborative communities, embrace digital innovation to enhance learning and engagement, and champion sustainability, equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation.
Selection criteria:
- Nomination shows examples of how the nominee advances one or more of RRU's strategic goals: Any Age, Any Stage, Any Place; Explore, Share, Advance; Invite In, Venture Out; Vibrant and Sustainable
- Demonstrates a commitment to continuous learning and adapting to evolving student, workforce, and community needs.
- Advances innovative approaches and practical solutions to address emerging challenges and opportunities.
- Promotes inclusivity, collaboration, and meaningful connections within Royal Roads and the broader community.
- Champions sustainability, equity, diversity, inclusion, and reconciliation through their actions.
- Contributes to advancing Royal Roads' strategic goals through leadership, innovation, and the effective use of digital tools and practices.
- Preference will be given to nominees who have not received this award in the past.
Collaboration (team award)
To celebrate the power of collaboration as a catalyst for meaningful change.
This award celebrates collaboration and collective achievement. It may be given to a single team, working group or department for their united efforts, or to a collaboration between teams, working groups or departments. Recipients are recognized for coming together to create innovative solutions, drive meaningful improvements or strengthen our community.
Selection criteria:
- How does the nominated team demonstrate a commitment to collaboration and collective problem-solving within Royal Roads?
- How has their joint effort led to innovative solutions, significant improvements, or strengthened community connections?
- How does the team foster inclusivity, shared responsibility, and mutual support in pursuit of common goals?
- In what ways has the team’s work positively impacted employee engagement, student experience, or the broader Royal Roads community?
When submitting a nomination for the Collaboration Award, please be specific in identifying who is being recognized. Nominators may:
- Name individual employees, if they are part of a collaborative effort.
- Name a defined group or team (e.g., a project team, department, working group, or duo).
If nominating a group, please ensure it is a distinct unit with a clear scope of work, rather than an entire portfolio or division. In your nomination, describe how the individual(s) or the group collectively met the award criteria.
Note: Only one award will be presented for the group as a whole.
FAQ
What are the Changemaker Awards?
The Changemaker Awards are comprised of eight distinct categories presented annually at Royal Roads University. These awards recognize and celebrate individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the university community, aligning with the our core values and goals.
The nine categories are:
- Caring
- Creative
- Courageous
- Excellence in Leadership
- Any Age, Any Stage, Any Place
- Explore, Share, Advance
- Invite In, Venture Out
- Vibrant and Sustainable
- Collaboration (team award)
How do I nominate someone for a Changemaker Award?
To nominate a colleague:
- Complete the online nomination form with your co-nominator
- Submit the nomination by the deadline, following the call for nominations in September
For support completing the online nomination form please reach out to the People and Culture team.
Can I nominate the same person for multiple awards?
Yes, an individual can be nominated for more than one award category.
To nominate a colleague for multiple awards, you'll need to submit a separate nomination form for each category.
What is the selection and timing process?
- Nominations for 2025 open on September 9 and will be accepted until Thursday, October 2.
- Nominees will be notified of their nomination and, upon accepting, their submission will be reviewed by the Adjudication Committee.
- Nominees will be showcased on the Our People website, and awards will be presented at the annual Celebrating U event