Frequently Asked Questions
The Hometown Heroes Award Program was established in 2004 by Earth Day Canada to recognize and celebrate environmental leaders who foster meaningful, long–term community awareness and action.
The Hometown Heroes Award Program is made possible through a committed partnership with Cascades and the RBC Foundation.
Who can win the Hometown Heroes Award?
Hometown Heroes are individual Canadians, groups and organizations who take a stand for the environment in their community. They lead others to environmental awareness, action and a more sustainable future. They make a difference and improve the state of the environment at the local level. A Hometown Hero can be:
- Community groups
- Teachers
- Families
- Community leaders
- Volunteers
- Government employees
- Non-profit organizations
- First Nations organizations
- Activists
- Schools
Eligible candidates can win either the Individual Hometown Heroes Award, with a $10 000 cash-prize ($5 000 to keep and $5 000 to donate to the environmental cause of their choice), or the Group Hometown Heroes Award, with a $10 000 cash-prize to support their work.
When is the application deadline?
Hometown Heroes nomination packages, including all forms and supporting documentation, must be received by April 22, 2010.
Submit hard copies to:
EDC: Hometown Heroes
111 Peter Street, Suite 503
Toronto, ON M5V 2H1
What must be submitted to Earth Day Canada?
To apply for the Group or Individual Hometown Heroes Award, submit the following to Earth Day Canada
- A typed Hometown Heroes Nomination Form, including
- The candidate’s information
- A summary of the candidate’s environmental accomplishments (Sections A and B)
- The Candidate’s Declaration Form—signed by the candidate.
- Two items of supporting documentation (with a limit of five pages or five minutes for each item) substantiating the candidate’s environmental achievements (e.g. newspaper articles, photographs, project plans, video clips, testimonials, etc.)
- Two reference letters signed on letterhead and sealed in an envelope sent directly from the reference. References cannot come from relatives or employees of the candidate.
How do I submit the nomination package?
Submit hard copies by April 22nd 2010, to:
EDC: Hometown Heroes
111 Peter Street, Suite 503
Toronto, ON M5V 2H1
Please note
- Earth Day Canada is not responsible for nominations lost during delivery
- Handwritten nominations will not be accepted and materials will not be returned
- All supporting documentation in audio/visual format must be submitted electronically or will not be sent to judges for consideration
- All supporting documentation and references must be reproducible on 8.5” x 11” paper. Supporting documentation that cannot be replicated will not be sent to judges for consideration.
Who judges the nomination process?
A judging panel of community, business and environmental leaders from across the country will select the 2010 Earth Day Hometown Heroes Award winners. Candidates will be judged on the quality of their environmental contributions to the community.
What is the nomination review process?
- Upon receipt of your package, an e-mail confirmation will be sent to you. If you do not receive a confirmation within two weeks of sending us your nomination, please contact us at heroes@earthday.ca.
- Nominations missing an e-mail address will not receive a confirmation e-mail.
- A judging panel of community, business and environmental leaders will select the 2010 Earth Day Hometown Heroes Award winner. Candidates will be judged on the quality of their environmental contributions to the community.
- Only the award winners will be notified in May 2010.
- To find out this year’s award winners, please check back in early June 2010.
When will I know if I am a finalist?
Following the judging process, only the award winners will be notified in May 2010. If you are not selected as this year’s award winner, you are still a Hometown Hero to Earth Day Canada. We will highlight some of your environmental success stories on our website.
To find out this year’s award recipients, please check back in early June 2010.
What are the eligibility criteria?
Please refer to the Eligibility page.
If you are not selected as this year’s award winner, you are still a Hometown Hero to Earth Day Canada. We will highlight the environmental success stories of up to ten finalists on our website!
