Nominations
Land Awards recognize outstanding projects and remarkable leaders that protect the lands and waters we love and create sustainable, inclusive, and resilient communities.
There are five categories for projects and two categories for individuals.
Winners and finalists are selected by judging committees composed of community leaders and subject-matter experts, supported by REFBC Governors and staff.
Key Dates
Follow the key dates that define the awards cycle, including nomination deadlines, jury review periods, finalist announcements, and the gala celebration.
Project Awards
These awards recognize projects that raise the bar for sustainability, equity, and social justice in land use and real estate.
Eligible projects include buildings, campaigns, plans, policies, programs, publications, research, tools, and other initiatives in BC.
Projects may demonstrate leadership through innovation, impact, collaboration, and engagement; by advancing Indigenous governance, knowledge, and rights; and/or by addressing the impacts of climate change.
There are five categories. Judges will select one winner and up to three additional finalists in each category.
Built Environments
This award recognizes projects that advance affordable housing, climate resilient buildings, inclusive spaces, or sustainable communities.
Food Sovereignty
This award recognizes projects that increase food security, improve access to culturally important food lands, and build resilient local food systems.
Fresh Water
This award recognizes projects that protect, restore, or steward watersheds and ensure rivers, lakes, and wetlands are healthy and valued.
Land Use
This award recognizes projects that strengthen relationships between people and land, as well as contribute to a healthy environment and resilient communities.
Real Estate
This award recognizes projects led by real estate organizations, professionals, or developers that advance sustainability or inclusion, contribute to reconciliation, or address climate change.
Requirements
Instructions, Eligibility, & Criteria
Eligibility
- Project is based in BC
- Project is led by organization(s) with strong ties to BC (e.g. non-profit, First Nation, public or private sector)
- Project achieved a milestone in 2024 or 2025
- Project is undertaken in collaboration with others
Judging Criteria
- Innovation
- Impact
- Collaboration
- Engagement
Please prepare the following:
- A completed nomination form
- Photos/images (up to 8)
- Optional: Letters of support (up to 2)
- Optional: Additional supporting material (e.g. reports, CVs, news articles, links to websites) to help communicate the nominee’s impact. Supporting materials should be brief, as judges have limited time for review.
Nomination form
2026 Land Awards: Project Awards
Nomination Criteria
Individual Awards
These awards recognize people who are leading the way with respect to sustainability, equity, and social justice in land use and real estate.
There are two categories. Judges will select one winner in each category
Land Champion
2024 Winner
Xtil’li’ye Lydia Hwitsum
This award recognizes a person who has made exemplary and lasting contributions to land use, conservation, freshwater or food systems, community planning, or real estate practices in BC.
The Land Champion has a clear vision, brings communities together, inspires action, and is certain to leave a remarkable legacy for future generations.
Emerging Leader
2024 Winner
Sulatiye’ Maiya Modeste
This award recognizes a person or small group (age 35 or younger) who is having a positive impact on land use, conservation, freshwater or food systems, community planning, or real estate practices in BC.
The Emerging Leader inspires and empowers others and has demonstrated early successes and the capacity to make wider change.
Requirements
Instructions, Eligibility, & Criteria
Eligibility
- Nominee is a BC resident
Judging Criteria
- Leadership
- Impact
- Legacy
- Capacity-Building
Please prepare the following:
- A completed nomination form
- Photos/images (up to 8)
- Optional: Letters of support (up to 2)
- Optional: Additional supporting material (e.g. reports, CVs, news articles, links to websites) to help communicate the nominee’s impact. Supporting materials should be brief, as judges have limited time for review.
Nomination Forms
2026 Land Awards: Individual Awards
Frequently Asked
Questions & Answers
Still have a question? Contact us here.
Can I self-nominate?
A project may be nominated by the lead organization.
Land Champion and Emerging Leader nominations must be submitted by another person (not a family member).
My organization isn’t a non-profit — can we still nominate a project?
Yes, nominations are open to First Nations, non-profit organizations, universities and colleges, trade associations, governments and public agencies, and private companies.
Can I nominate someone who is deceased?
We accept posthumous Land Champion nominations, in recognition of a lifetime of work.
Emerging Leader nominations are open to living individuals.
My project was nominated in a previous year — can I nominate it again?
If a project is not a past winner or finalist, it is eligible to be nominated — provided it achieved a milestone in 2024 or 2025.
In the judging criteria, what do you mean by “engagement”?
Engagement includes community engagement, rightsholder engagement, stakeholder engagement, public engagement, etc.