Awards Program

SAC's Awards and Recognition Program

Click here to view the list the 2018 winners.

Recognize the outstanding achievements of a peer, mentor or colleague... 

Nominate him or her for an SAC award!

Each year, SAC recognizes and celebrates individuals who have made significant contributions to the association or the professions of speech-language pathology and audiology. Please note that only some awards are awarded annually.

Click an award name to jump to the description, criteria and nomination form.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Awarded to a member or associate of SAC (may be awarded posthumously) who has a long history of distinguished and dedicated service to both SAC and the professions of speech-language pathology or audiology in any area; administration, education, volunteer work or clinical services. Nominees must have a minimum of 25 years of SAC membership and may be nominated by SAC members or associates or the general public.

Eve Kassirer Award for Outstanding Professional Achievement

Awarded to an SAC audiologist or speech-language pathologist member or associate who has made a significant contribution in the areas of education, clinical services, administration or public awareness and has fostered the development and advancement of the professions, nationally or internationally. Nominees should demonstrate significant and outstanding individual achievements and have served as a role model for others in their profession.

Mentorship Award

Awarded to an SAC member or associate who has significantly influenced or contributed to the clinical training and/or professional development of a student(s) or colleague(s) in speech-language pathology or audiology, either as a clinical supervisor, a mentor or academic faculty. Nominees demonstrate unique and outstanding individual achievements in the area of mentorship, have contributed to the development of others and have served as a role model for students and colleagues within the profession.

Communication Health Assistant Award of Excellence

Awarded to an SAC communication health assistant associate who has demonstrated professional excellence. Some examples of considerations include distinction in assisting speech-language pathologists or audiologists with implementation of treatment plans, materials, outstanding team participation or excellence in the provision of patient and client care.

Award of Excellence for Interprofessional Collaboration

This award recognizes interprofessional collaboration and acknowledges the role that speech-language pathologists and audiologists play on interprofessional teams. The award is presented to an interprofessional team that has contributed to or strengthened patient/client outcomes in the fields of speech-language pathology or audiology through their collaboration and teamwork. Teams must demonstrate how they have achieved success as an interprofessional team and must consist of at least one speech-language pathologist or audiologist SAC member or associate and at least two other health, education or other appropriate professionals. Any person involved with an interprofessional team in any capacity (e.g., client, co-worker) may nominate provided the application is co-signed by the SAC member or associate on the team.

Excellence in Applied Research Award

This award acknowledges and honours excellence in a completed research project that provides evidence for evidence-based clinical practice. The award also promotes Canadian research in speech-language pathology and audiology and emphasizes the importance of evidence-informed practice. At least one researcher from the project must be an SAC member or associate. Research projects must have been completed within the past three years and involve a product based on the research (e.g., a poster session, published article, contributed paper, presentation).

Consumer Advocacy Award

Awarded to an individual (or group) who is not a speech-language pathologist or audiologist, but has made an outstanding impact on the profession(s) by actively and significantly advocating on behalf of individuals with communication disorders. SAC membership is not a requirement. Nominees must demonstrate unique and outstanding achievements, have contributed to the advancement of people with communication disorders locally, regionally, and/or nationally and have served as role models for people with communication disorders and their families. Applicants may self-nominate for this award. SAC communication health assistant associates are eligible for this award.

Promotions Award

This award honours outstanding contributions in promoting awareness and understanding of human communication and its disorders in Canada. SAC membership is not a requirement and eligible nominees include (but are not limited to) speech-language pathologists, audiologists, communication health assistants, journalists, authors, students, clients, care-givers and related professionals. Entries must have been produced for use within the calendar year. Applicants must have played a significant role in the creation or implementation of the project. Entries will be judged on how well the material demonstrates a high standard of educational activity and a responsible presentation of information on human communication and its disorders. Textbooks will not be considered. Applicants may self-nominate for this award.

Isabel Richard Student Paper Awards

Recognizes the best papers written by SAC student associates on a specific topic related to the professions. Student associates in an S-LP or audiology program and doctoral student associates in any program are eligible. Essays shall be 1,000- 1,500 words for students below the doctoral level and 1,500-2,500 words for doctoral level students. Submissions must be accompanied by a standard nomination form completed by the applicant. Judges will evaluate papers on both style and content. Applicants may self-nominate for this award. Specific style and content criteria and topic choices are listed on the award application forms. There are separate application forms for doctoral level and below doctoral level students.

CJSLPA Editor's Award

Annually recognizes the best paper published in the Canadian Journal of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. SAC membership is not a requirement.

National Clinical Certification Exam Award

Awarded annualy to the SAC member in each profession who attains the highest score on the clinical certification exam.

Student Excellence Awards

Awarded to SAC student associates, in their graduating year of Master’s study, in each of the S-LP and audiology training programs in Canada. Nominees are judged to be the best all-round future professional, shall have shown significant enthusiasm for their profession and have instilled in others a desire to contribute to the development and growth of the professions.

Selection is based on a peer nomination process with student recommendations forwarded to SAC’s Student Representatives. Names of the three most nominated individuals are presented to university faculty advisors who are responsible for choosing the final winner based on clinical ratings, leadership qualities and grade point average. One faculty advisor must sign and submit a standard nomination form for each student and provide a letter of recommendation (not to exceed one page), which contains sufficient documentation to confirm the candidate’s qualifications and clinical grades (official transcripts are not required), as well as a copy of the student’s curriculum vitae.

Questions?

Contact Emily Banzet, Manager, Communications and Marketing, by phone (1.800.259.8519 x 251) or by email (emily@sac-oac.ca).