This honour is the highest recognition of nursing achievement that CNA offers. One recipient will be selected to receive this inaugural 2025 Sapphire Award.
Nominees for this award will be expected to have made:
- Significant and sustained contributions to nursing
- Significant and innovative contributions to the health care of people in Canada and/or the global population
- Significant contributions to the status and public recognition of the nursing profession
General guidelines
In fairness to each nominee, we ask that every nominator follow these general guidelines:
- Completed nominations must include supporting documents.
- Each nominee will be assessed based solely on the information in their nomination form. Please do not include phrases such as “see attached curriculum vitae (CV) or resumé” when specific information is requested.
- Each nominee must meet certain eligibility requirements.
- You can only nominate one person for one CNA award in the same year.
- This award may be given posthumously.
Demographic information
You will be asked to provide both your and the nominee’s name, employer information, position, full address, telephone number, email address and CNA membership details.
Eligibility requirements
The following mandatory eligibility requirements apply (not applicable for nominees who are deceased):
- The nominee is a nurse in good standing with their provincial/territorial nursing regulator. Confirmation letter, e-mail or e-validation from the nursing regulator is required.
- The nominee has paid the CNA membership fees and is a CNA member in good standing.
- The nominee has consented to the nomination.
- The nominee has been informed that their name will be made public if they receive an award.
- The nominee lives in Canada or is a Canadian living abroad.
A. Summary of experience and major accomplishments
You will be asked to provide descriptions of the nominee’s work experience and other major accomplishments (volunteer activities, awards, etc.). This summary can be a maximum of 165 words.
B. Summary of specific accomplishments
You must provide three 500-word (maximum) summaries of the nominee’s specific accomplishments related to the Sapphire Award.
- The first summary (maximum 500 words) will show how the nominee has made a significant and innovative contribution to the health care of people in Canada. These may include:
- Participating in the implementation of innovative solutions for nursing interventions and/or health service delivery, education or research programs
- Substantively improving the health care of people in Canada and/or the global population
- The second summary (maximum 500 words) will show how the nominee has made significant contributions to the status and public recognition of the nursing profession. These may include:
- International organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) or International Council of Nurses (ICN)
- National professional associations such as CNA or other national or regional nursing organizations
- The advancement and promotion of nursing
- Nursing theory and/or research
- Senior and executive-level leadership
- The third summary (maximum 500 words) will show how the nominee has made significant and sustained contributions to nursing practice in Canada. These may include:
- Practice innovations or expertise
- Research
- Teaching
- Organizational effectiveness and leadership
- Care system redesign or innovative models of care
- Employment relations or staff engagement strategies
- Publications or presentations
- Decision-making tables or impactful committee work
- Community engagement or advocacy
C. Supporting documents
Please note that you must upload the following supporting documents with your nomination:
- Confirmation letter, e-mail or e-validation from provincial/territorial nursing regulator.
- Three separate letters from individuals from three different organizations in support of the nomination. One of these three letters can by submitted by the nominator.
- The nominee’s curriculum vitae (CV) or resumé.
- A biographical note to a maximum of 250 words with suitable language for sharing with a public audience (e.g., posting on the CNA website).
Privacy Policy: Personal information that is collected will be used only for processing nominations and related followup.
For additional information, contact us.