Canadian River Heritage Award

The Canadian River Heritage Award

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN UNTIL JANUARY 15, 2028

In the foreground, a red canoe sits along the rocky shoreline of Hairy Lake. Many reeds and bulrushes are visible on the lake.

The Canadian River Heritage Award is presented every three years in partnership with the Canadian Canoe Museum. The award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution of national significance to river heritage in Canada.

Do you know a river champion who has positively contributed to river heritage in Canada? Do you know someone who has had a profound and lasting influence on individuals and/or communities, and natural or cultural heritage in Canada? The Canadian Heritage Rivers System would like to recognize them.

Nominations can be submitted in English, French, or any Indigenous language spoken in Canada. If necessary, nominations will be translated to support review by the nominating committee.

Award Criteria

The award recognizes an individual who has made an outstanding contribution of national significance to river heritage. Nominations are evaluated based on two key criteria:

Scope: The extent to which the nominee has positively contributed to river heritage in Canada. While regionally important actions may be recognized, they must represent a unique and enduring contribution that is notable at a national scale.
Impact: The degree to which the actions of the nominee have had, or are expected to have, a profound and lasting influence on individuals and/or communities, and natural or cultural heritage in Canada.

Nominations will also be assessed for how well the nominee’s accomplishments embrace diversity and advance inclusion.

Eligibility

Open to individuals who are current or former long-term residents of Canada.
Cannot be awarded to elected or appointed officials while in office.
May be awarded posthumously (if previously nominated).
May be awarded to more than one individual for shared contributions.

Past Recipients

Year	Recipient
1994	Kirk Wipper
1998	Bill Reid
2001	Pierre Elliott Trudeau
2004	Elder William Commanda
2007	2007Hap Wilson
2009	Max Finkelstein
2013	Don Gibson
2016	Bruce and Carol Hodgins
2021	Bobbi Rose Koe
2025	Elder Sheila De Corte

History of the Award

First presented in 1994 as the Bill Mason National River Conservation Award, the Canadian River Heritage Award honours an individual who has significantly contributed to river heritage in Canada on a scale large enough to be considered a lifetime achievement.

The award was renamed in 2020 through a partnership between the Canadian Heritage Rivers System Board and the Canadian Canoe Museum to reflect its national significance while continuing to honour the spirit of the original award.

The Canadian Heritage Rivers System collaborates with the Canadian Canoe Museum to profile this prestigious award and celebrate recipients.

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