Celebrating the 2026 Core Values Awards recipients.

Strathcona County

Serving more than 100,000 residents across one urban centre and eight rural hamlets, the County has modernized its engagement policy and processes and embedded public participation across every department and level of decision-making.

“We are honoured to receive IAP2 Canada’s Core Values Award for Organization of the Year. This recognition belongs to the entire Strathcona County community. We know trust is earned. Our staff are committed to continually improving how we listen, engage and create space for all voices to be heard. We thank residents for being co-authors of our community’s future by sharing their experiences, insights and perspectives, which help inform municipal decisions.”

Stacy Fedechko, Chief Administrative Officer

Strathcona County is a thriving municipality of more than 100,000 residents located in Alberta’s heartland. As a specialized municipality, it is made up of a unique combination of urban and rural communities governed as a single municipality, and is recognized for its strong local economy, vibrant neighbourhoods and commitment to innovation and sustainability.

Learn more: www.strathcona.ca

City of Kitchener

Kitchener 2051

The engagement process behind the City’s new official plan. Over 18 months, the City held more than 70 engagement activities and more than 3,000 conversations, working alongside youth, Indigenous communities, people with lived experience and a community working group. Residents’ values, ideas and lived experiences informed growth scenarios and helped shape the plan.

“We’re grateful to IAP2 for recognizing Team Kitchener’s innovative approach to public engagement. One of Kitchener’s strengths has always been how we come together to shape our future, but Kitchener 2051 took that a step even further. By starting with community values, meeting people where they are, and using creative, hands-on approaches to explore how we grow, we’ve built an Official Plan from the ground up. The result is a plan that truly reflects residents’ priorities and supports a more inclusive, caring, and connected city for the future.”

Mayor Berry Vrbanovic

“This recognition reflects the dedication of thousands of residents, our Community Working Group, local organizations, Indigenous community members, and City staff who contributed their perspectives throughout the process. Through Kitchener 2051, we created a strong foundation for a new Official Plan that reflects the values, aspirations and lived experiences of our community.”

Justin Readman, General Manager, Development Services

Kitchener 2051 formed the foundation of the City’s new Official Plan, which will guide growth and development through 2051. It was the project’s novel, community values-based approach, which asked residents to identify what matters most to them before policy development began, that made it stand out to the adjudication committee.

Learn more: www.engagewr.ca/kitchener2051

Simon Fraser University’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue

A Maturity Model for Public Participation

Developed with leading practitioners and the Open Government team at Canada’s Treasury Board Secretariat, this open-source evaluation framework drives conversations about engagement standards, project planning and organizational development.

“It’s an honour to receive this award for the Maturity Model for Public Participation, a framework designed to increase the quality of engagement so that governments can build trust with the public, increase social cohesion and get the most value out of limited funds. The IAP2 community, the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and thought leaders across Canada and internationally have been instrumental in co-creating and piloting this tool. This open-source tool is now available to evaluate quality, scope new projects, set standards and create a plan to improve the capacity to deliver.”

SFU Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue

SFU’s Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue uses dialogue and engagement to facilitate transformative conversations and create real-world impact for society’s most pressing challenges. The Centre strengthens Canadian democracy by promoting democratic participation and innovation, spreads best practices through dialogue training and tools, and helps governments engage citizens and stakeholders through its consulting services.

Learn more: www.sfu.ca/dialogue.html

City of Vancouver

Killarney neighbourhood traffic safety engagement

Working with the Killarney Youth Council and a Cantonese-speaking seniors group, the City co-designed accessible activities and in-language materials. Their input helped refine the plan’s proposed traffic calming measures.

“Thank you to IAP2 Canada for this recognition. This award reflects the dedication of our team and community groups to making engagement more inclusive, accessible, and meaningful. By working alongside youth and seniors, providing culturally responsive opportunities to participate, and demonstrating how feedback shaped decisions, we delivered a stronger traffic calming plan and helped build trust in the public engagement process.”

Paul Storer, Director of Transportation

Situated on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, Vancouver is British Columbia’s largest city, serving a diverse population of more than 660,000 residents.

Learn more: www.vancouver.ca

City of Vancouver, Indigenous Relations

Urban Indigenous Engagement Framework

Co-created with Indigenous partners, Elders, knowledge carriers and more than 200 Indigenous participants, the framework helps staff bring local Indigenous protocols into engagement, so Indigenous voices are reflected in City policies, programs and decisions.

“This framework is leading the way for municipalities across Canada. It creates safer spaces for Indigenous voices and leadership while building trust by providing clear, respectful and reciprocal approaches to engagement. This is another meaningful step forward in our long-term commitments to Reconciliation.”

Rachel Wuttunee, Senior Manager of Urban Indigenous Relations, City of Vancouver

The City of Vancouver works in partnership with the local Nations and urban Indigenous communities to strengthen relationships, advance safety and Reconciliation and ensure Indigenous perspectives help shape services, infrastructure and programs that support residents, businesses and communities.

Learn more: www.vancouver.ca

ISL Engineering

Meewasin Valley National Urban Park engagement, Saskatoon region

Working with Dawn Deguire and First Nations and Métis partners, the team created a culturally grounded visual identity drawn from the South Saskatchewan landscape. It reached over 4,000 participants across 17 pop-up events, and nearly half identified as First Nations or Métis.

“It was important to us to create a visual identity that people could see themselves in, one that reflects the diversity, cultures, and landmarks of the region. This approach helped build connection, foster belonging, and inspire people to imagine what’s possible for their community. This award validates the value of collaborating with local voices and resources to create meaningful, authentic engagement.”

ISL Engineering

The visual strategies for the National Urban Park Exploration were developed by consultants from ISL and Truth Inside Coaching and Consulting. The exploration is a joint initiative between Meewasin Valley Authority and Parks Canada’s National Urban Park Program.

Learn more: islengineering.com