The 2026 Provincial Volunteer Awards will be held on Monday, 28 September 2026.

Nominations are now open. The deadline is 29 May 2026 at 11:59pm.

For all awards listed below, applicants can nominate themselves or be nominated by others and must be a resident of Nova Scotia.

Representative (individual) Volunteer of the Year Award

Every municipality and Mi'kmaw community in Nova Scotia selects one or more representative volunteers to receive the provincial award. Contact your municipality or First Nations community for details on applications and nominations.

Specialty Awards

A citizens' selection committee chooses the specialty award winners from the nominations received.

Newcomer Volunteer Award

The Newcomer Volunteer of the Year Award honours newcomers to Nova Scotia from another country who have demonstrated extraordinary outreach and volunteerism to their new communities.

Nova Scotia has seen many examples of newcomers who have overcome barriers of language, culture and unfamiliar surroundings go on to selflessly give back to their communities.

Eligibility

• an individual or group residing in Nova Scotia who has been resident/s in Canada for no more than 5 years
• nominees must give consent to the nomination

Newcomer Volunteer Award Nomination Form

Youth Volunteer Award

A citizens' selection committee chooses the specialty award winners from the nominations received.

Nominees for the Provincial Youth Volunteer Award must:

• be a volunteer aged 13 to 24
• have made a significant contribution to a range of causes, for at least 2 years

Youth Volunteer Award Nomination Form

Family Volunteer Award

Nominees for the Family Volunteer Award must:

• have demonstrated volunteer leadership and consistent caring for their community for at least 5 years
• be a family of 2 or more people (not a couple), living in the same community

Family Volunteer Award Nomination Form

Nova Scotia Strong Award

The Nova Scotia Strong Award recognizes an individual or group who have come together to demonstrate resiliency in community during a time or event when people faced tragedy and struggle. Recipients show that strength comes from community and the deep level of caring Nova Scotians have for one another.

Nominees for the Nova Scotia Strong Award must:

• be an individual, group or organization
• consent to the nomination

Nova Scotia Strong Award Nomination Form