Celebrating Changemakers. Inspiring Innovation. Driving Impact.

Cooperation Canada is proud to launch the 2026 Awards nomination cycle, recognizing individuals and organizations whose leadership, creativity and collaboration advance international cooperation and contribute to a more just, inclusive and sustainable world.

These awards celebrate the changemakers who bring people together, turn bold ideas into action and create lasting change. By sharing their achievements, we hope to inspire new approaches and recognize the many ways Canadians and their partners make a difference.

The 2026 awards will honour individuals and organizations who:

  • Demonstrate inclusive and collaborative leadership to advance rights and address inequalities.
  • Develop innovative approaches that respond to global challenges and create meaningful, lasting impact.
  • Inspire others to engage in international cooperation, from local to global levels.

Nominations are open until Friday, November 27, 2026.

Award recipients will be recognized at an online ceremony on Thursday, February 11, 2027, from 4:00–5:00 p.m. ET.

The Karen Takacs Award

Named in honour of Karen Takacs, a respected leader in Canada’s international cooperation community, this award commemorates her legacy of feminist advocacy and collaborative leadership. Karen was known for her unwavering commitment to women’s rights and her ability to build bridges across sectors and borders.

This award recognizes an individual who has made a sustained and collaborative contribution to advancing gender equality and the rights of women, girls and gender-diverse people. It celebrates leaders whose intersectional feminist approach brings people together, strengthens collective action and creates meaningful change.

The 2025 award recognized Frédérique “Fred” Chabot for their longstanding advocacy for sexual and reproductive health and rights and their collaborative feminist leadership across movements.

Submit a nomination for the Karen Takacs Award.

Innovation & Impact Awards in Honour of Lewis Perinbam

Individual Award

Presented in partnership with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and the trustees of the Lewis Perinbam Award, this award celebrates a Canadian individual whose volunteer leadership demonstrates bold innovation and meaningful impact—mobilizing communities, building bridges across borders and inspiring Canadians to contribute to a more just and sustainable world.

The 2025 award recognized Dr. Lauryn Oates for advancing access to education for Afghan women and girls, including through the Darakht-e Danesh Academi.

Organizational Award

This award honours a Canadian civil society organization pioneering innovative approaches to international cooperation. It recognizes organizations that turn new ideas into meaningful results, strengthen partnerships and develop solutions that respond to the priorities of the communities they work with.

The 2025 award recognized The SecDev Foundation for strengthening civic space through digital safety, community-led solutions and locally grounded capacity-building in fragile and high-risk contexts.

Learn more about the 2025 award recipients.

Submit a nomination for the Innovation & Impact Awards in Honour of Lewis Perinbam.

Key Dates

  • Nominations Launch: Monday, October 26, 2026
  • Nomination Deadline: Friday, November 27, 2026
  • Online Awards Ceremony: Thursday, February 11, 2027, from 4:00–5:00 p.m. ET

Submit Your Nominations Today

Who inspires you through their leadership, innovation and commitment to international cooperation? Help us celebrate their contributions and share their impact.

Explore all Cooperation Canada awards and submit your nominations.

For questions or support, please contact the Membership Team.

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