What is the Community Stewardship Awards program?
The Islands Trust Council created the Community Stewardship Award program in 2002 in order to encourage, recognize and reward leadership in preservation, protection, and stewardship of the Islands Trust Area’s amenities, environment, and resources (helping achieve the Islands Trust object*).

The Islands Trust Act says “The object of the Trust is to preserve and protect the Trust Area and its unique amenities and environment for the benefit of the residents of the Trust Area and of British Columbia generally, in cooperation with municipalities, regional districts, improvement districts, First Nations, other persons and organizations and the government of British Columbia.”

Who is eligible to be nominated?
The program is open to any individual, Indigenous community member and/or an Indigenous society, school (or classroom), community group, non-profit or business entity that has demonstrated efforts to enhance a community or its environment in the Islands Trust Area in a manner consistent with the object of Islands Trust. Organizations that provide goods or services to Islands Trust are eligible so long as the nominated project did not receive payment from Islands Trust. Projects that have received support from the Islands Trust Conservancy are eligible if the value of the Islands Trust Conservancy cash and in-kind support is less than 50 per cent of the project budget. Former Islands Trust staff, trustees (including Islands Trust Conservancy appointees) and contractors are eligible 24 months after they have received their last payment for services.

Who is NOT eligible to be nominated?

• A nominee who is subject to an open bylaw enforcement action with a confirmed land-use bylaw violation for which Islands Trust is seeking compliance is not eligible to be nominated as an individual nominee
• A nominee cannot nominate themselves, or a business or committee/organization to which they belong
• Current staff members, contractors, and trustees (including Islands Trust Conservancy Board appointees)
• Organizations with current Islands Trust staff members, contractors or trustees playing a leadership role in the organization
• Projects that have received support from the Islands Trust Conservancy Board if the value of the Islands Trust Conservancy cash and in-kind support is more than 50 per cent of the project budget

What types of projects are eligible?
Nominations can relate to either a single project, or to work carried out over a period. At the time of nomination, the project or work must be ongoing or must have been completed within the previous 24 months.

Previous nominated and selected projects have addressed a wide range of issues including: land, water and marine conservation, agriculture, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, community publications, and the compilation and management of community records.

How do I nominate someone or an organization?

1. Seek the consent of the person to be nominated
2. Make one nomination per category every two years
3. Complete and submit the Islands Trust Community Stewardship Awards Nomination Form and have the nominee indicate acceptance by signing the form or emailing. Nomination forms are available on the program webpage or upon request by emailing csa@islandstrust.bc.ca or calling 250-247-2208

Are there program guidelines?
Yes. The Islands Trust Council’s Policy 2.1.11 Community Stewardship Awards Program defines the steps to ensure a fair and effective process and ensures the Community Stewardship Awards program complies with other Islands Trust Council policies.

What is the deadline?
The deadline is April 10, 2026. Islands Trust will not accept nominations submitted after the announced deadline unless the Islands Trust is responsible for the delay.

How are the nominations evaluated?
In May of the final year of each term, Islands Trust Programs Committee will evaluate and recommend award recipients to Trust Council for up to two awards in each of the individual and organizational categories, and for up to two additional awards in those or other categories while considering:

• The confidential comments provided by the local trustees; and the following criteria:
  • relationship of project or work to Islands Trust Policy Statement
  • collaboration with others
  • innovation
  • community support
  • time and effort
  • ongoing public service

In June of the final year of the term, Islands Trust Council will decide upon the Community Stewardship Award recipients while considering the items noted above, as well as Islands Trust Programs Committee’s recommendations. Trust Council reviews the Trust Programs Committee recommendations in an in-camera meeting and decides upon the award recipients in June.

Nominations will be evaluated based on the information in the nomination form. Letters of support or other supporting materials will not be part of the evaluation.

How are the award winners announced?
Following Islands Trust Council’s decision in June, the Islands Trust announces the winners in a news release. Staff try to notify all award recipients by phone before they are publicly announced.

How many awards are given each year?
The number of awards varies, based on the nominations received and the quality of those nominations. Islands Trust Council normally makes two awards in each of the individual and organizational categories, and up to two additional awards in those or other categories.

When are the awards presented?
Local trust committees and island municipalities will present the awards in the fall on the island where the recipient(s) live or where the project took place.