Award categories

Project Impact Award

The Art Smith Project Impact Award recognizes a project, initiative, or collaborative effort that has made a meaningful contribution to preventing homelessness and ensuring experiences of homelessness in Calgary are rare, brief, and non-recurring.

The project demonstrates innovation, effectiveness, and a commitment to improving outcomes for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Through strong partnerships, creative approaches, and measurable results, the project has addressed a community need and contributed to positive change within Calgary’s homeless-serving system of care.

The recipient project serves as an example of how collaboration, innovation, and evidence-informed practice can create lasting impact for the people and communities it supports.

Leadership Award

The Art Smith Leadership Award recognizes a senior or mid-level leader whose vision, commitment, and leadership have made a significant contribution to ensuring homelessness in Calgary is rare, brief, and non-recurring.

The recipient demonstrates strategic leadership that extends beyond their immediate responsibilities. Through collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to system improvement, they have strengthened their organization, built partnerships, influenced positive change, and contributed to better outcomes across Calgary’s homeless-serving system of care.

Their leadership has inspired others, advanced new approaches, and created lasting impact for the sector and the communities it serves.

Frontline Employee Leadership Award

The Frontline Leadership Award recognizes a frontline staff member who leads through their actions, integrity, and commitment to improving outcomes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The recipient does not need to hold a formal leadership position. Instead, they demonstrate leadership by fostering collaboration, supporting colleagues, sharing knowledge, and helping create positive change within their team, organization, or the broader homeless-serving system of care.

They are trusted by peers, model excellence in their work, and inspire others to strengthen their practice. Through their influence, they help improve services, build stronger teams, and contribute to better outcomes for the community.

Excellence in Prevention and Diversion

The Excellence in Prevention & Diversion Award recognizes a staff member who demonstrates exceptional skill, dedication, and creativity in helping individuals and families avoid or quickly resolve experiences of homelessness.

The recipient takes a proactive, person-centred approach to identifying solutions before a shelter stay becomes necessary. Through strong partnerships, creative problem-solving, and a deep understanding of available resources, they help people maintain housing, reconnect with supports, or secure safe alternatives during times of crisis.

They are persistent in navigating barriers and committed to finding practical, individualized solutions that help make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring. Their work improves outcomes for the people they support and strengthens prevention and diversion efforts across Calgary’s homeless-serving system of care.

Frontline Excellence in Case Management

The Frontline Excellence in Case Management Award recognizes a frontline staff member who demonstrates exceptional skill, dedication, and professionalism in supporting individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The recipient consistently provides person-centred, trauma-informed support that respects the unique strengths, goals, and circumstances of each individual. They build trusting relationships, navigate complex situations with compassion and creativity, and work persistently alongside those they serve, even when progress is difficult or setbacks occur.

Their practice is distinguished by their ability to coordinate supports, facilitate effective warm hand-offs, advocate for individuals, and help people access the resources they need to achieve greater stability and wellbeing. Through their commitment to quality care and accountability, they set a high standard for case management across Calgary’s homeless-serving system of care.

Open to staff working in housing programs, outreach teams, shelters, and other frontline roles, including those who use HMIS as part of their practice.

Leadership in Our Indigenous Communities Award

The Leadership in our Indigenous Communities Art Smith Award recognizes an Indigenous individual who has demonstrated transformational support, guidance, and leadership in working with Indigenous peoples experiencing homelessness in Calgary.

This award was developed in partnership with the Stoney Nakoda Tsuut’ina Tribal Council, the Aboriginal Standing Committee on Housing and Homelessness, and with guidance from Elder Jackie Bromley. Through conversations about Indigenous leadership, responsibility, and community impact, partners emphasized that leadership is not defined by personal achievement alone, but by service to others, strengthening relationships, creating opportunities for future generations, and walking alongside community with humility and respect. Their guidance helped shape both the intent of this award and the qualities it seeks to recognize: leaders who inspire positive change while remaining grounded in culture, community, reciprocity, and accountability.

Indigenous leadership comes in many forms and is often grounded in relationships, reciprocity, humility, and service to community. This leadership may not be reflected through a formal title or position, but through actions that uplift others, build trust, share knowledge, strengthen cultural identity, and contribute to collective wellbeing. This leadership may be demonstrated through walking alongside community members, supporting healing and belonging, creating culturally safe spaces, and advancing Indigenous ways of knowing, being, and doing.

Examples of this leadership may be reflected through building trusting relationships that contribute to safe, supportive, and culturally relevant supports for Indigenous peoples experiencing housing instability and homelessness. Leaders may also demonstrate a commitment to strengthening community, supporting self-determination, fostering connections between generations, and creating positive change for future generations.

We encourage applicants to apply through any means that supports them. Video applications, audio recordings, written submissions, or other formats are welcome. The questions below may be used as guidelines when applying. If you would like to submit a nomination outside of the form, please email your nomination to [email protected].