2019 Nominations

Awards for organizations

Award for Excellence

Recognizing non-profit housing providers that respond to tenant or community needs with imagination and insight. These outstanding organizations go beyond their housing mandates, building strong communities and partnerships, housing populations that have been poorly served, and demonstrating a strong commitment to managing housing more effectively.

Eligibility requirements
The organization must be an ONPHA Housing Member and meet the following criteria:

• offers services that go beyond housing
• builds strong tenant communities and partnerships
• houses people who have been poorly served by other approaches to housing 
• successfully advocates for the development of new non-profit housing 
• develops new ways to manage housing more effectively 
• demonstrates originality and innovation

ONPHA Innovation Award

Recognizing non-profit housing providers that have developed an innovative response to an environmental, operational or community challenge. Their initiatives demonstrate promising outcomes and serve as inspirations for other non-profit housing providers.

Eligibility requirements
One or more of the applicants must be an ONPHA Housing Member and meet the following criteria:

• has created a unique program or service response to a challenge facing the corporation, its tenants, community, or physical environment, either individually or in partnership
• demonstrates creativity, quality and innovation
• the program or service can serve as a model for other non-profit housing providers
• has evidence (qualitative or quantitative) of the initiative’s impact on individuals, the community, the environment and/or the organization
• is a recent initiative, in place for less than five years

Awards for individuals

Sybil Frenette Outstanding Leadership Award

Recognizing individuals whose energy and vision have furthered the cause of non-profit housing in Ontario. These leaders have created a lasting legacy through significant contributions to their organizations, communities and the sector, and have demonstrated vision, collaboration and commitment in their efforts to serve low-income individuals.

Eligibility requirements
Individuals must meet the following criteria:

• has made a significant contribution to his/her own organization, community or region, as well as to Ontario’s non-profit housing sector
• has demonstrated vision, leadership and the ability to work well with others to serve the needs of low-income people
• has demonstrated a continued commitment to non-profit housing and created a lasting legacy benefiting tenants and the community

Tenant Achievement Award

Honouring up to four tenants or tenant groups who help make their non-profit housing communities and neighbourhoods better places to live. These tenants have fostered community connections and have made meaningful contributions to their communities that can serve as a model to tenants across Ontario.

Eligibility requirements
The tenant or tenant group must be associated with an ONPHA Housing Member and meet the following criteria:

• has made their non-profit housing community a better place to live
• has fostered connection within their community and contributed to the well-being of their neighbourhood
• has made a meaningful contribution that can serve as a model to tenants across Ontario

Lifetime of Service Award

Recognizing the people who have dedicated their careers and talents to Ontario’s non-profit housing sector. Representing some of our sector’s longest-standing contributors, these non-profit housing professionals and volunteers are retiring after 20 or more years of dedication.

Eligibility requirements
Individuals must meet the following criteria:

• be retiring after 20 or more years of service in the non-profit housing sector
• be involved with (or recently retired from) an ONPHA Housing Member, as an employee, board member or volunteer

All eligible individuals who are nominated will receive this award.