The Alberta Emerald Foundation (AEF) is a registered charitable organization with the unique mission of accelerating environmental excellence by identifying and celebrating Alberta's visionary leaders and by sharing best practices through the power of compelling educational narratives. We achieve this mission through AEF's various programs, which include the Annual Emerald Awards, Emerald Documentary Series, What On EARTH Can We Do? Podcast, and Youth Grant Program.
In today’s social landscape, where bad news about the environment is so prevalent, our work is more important than ever. We’re here to share celebrate and share positive stories and inspire acceleration toward environmental excellence. Through our educational narratives and celebrations of Alberta’s environmental leaders, we can build a future where all Albertans advance environmental excellence where they live, work, and play.
We use Submittable to track and facilitate our various programs. If you have any questions about the platform, please refer to the Submittable Help Center. If you have any questions about the AEF or our programs, please refer to emeraldfoundation.ca or contact us directly.
The deadline to submit your nomination is February 9, 2026, at 11:59 PM MST
Please refer to our nomination guidelines for a comprehensive overview of eligibility requirements, the nomination process, and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
About the Alberta Emerald Foundation
The Alberta Emerald Foundation (AEF) is a registered charity with the unique mission of accelerating environmental excellence by identifying and celebrating Alberta’s visionary leaders and by sharing best practices through the power of compelling educational narratives.
With a legacy spanning over three decades, our work is amplifying. Through our educational narratives and celebration of Alberta’s environmental leaders, we’re building a future where all Albertans advance environmental excellence where they live, work, and play
About the Emerald Awards
The Emerald Awards showcase the organizations, projects, and individuals across Alberta working to address environmental challenges and build a more resilient and sustainable future.
Since 1992, the Emerald Awards have showcased nearly 400 recipients and 900 finalists who are raising the bar in addressing environmental challenges. These environmental awards are the only program in Canada to recognize environmental excellence across a diverse range of sectors. Whether you’re a business, nonprofit, or community group, the Emerald Awards offer the opportunity to gain recognition for your impactful work.
Check out our full list of past Emerald recipients here.
Emerald Award recipients receive:
- Provincial Recognition: Your work will be highlighted across Alberta through our website, social media channels, and at the Emerald Awards ceremony, increasing visibility for your project or organization
- A Sustainable Trophy: Recipients are awarded a sustainable and locally crafted Emerald Award trophy
- A Feature in the Emerald Documentary Series: Your story of environmental excellence will be featured in the Emerald Documentary Series, highlighting the impact of your work
Eligibility requirements:
- Your organization or initiative must be based in Alberta or demonstrate a clear and measurable impact within the province.
- You cannot submit a nomination for an initiative that has already received an Emerald Award.
Past recipients are welcome to nominate again for a different initiative.
Example: While Goodwill Industries of Alberta won in 2019 for their Impact Centre Sustainability Program, they were eligible to apply again in 2024 for their Repair for Good Program, which is a separate initiative.
- All nominations must be submitted directly by the organization or initiative being nominated (with the exception of the Lifetime Achievement Award).
Example: If you think “Non-Profit A” is doing great work, you cannot nominate them yourself. However, if Non-Profit A submits its own nomination, it qualifies.
- Nominations must include a third-party reference letter
We define a third party as any group or person who is not directly involved in the administration or operation of a project or organization nominating for the awards. We encourage nominees to get references from people, groups, or organizations who have benefited from your work and can speak to the impacts
- While not required, we recommend that initiatives be active for at least three years before nomination. This timeframe typically allows for sufficient qualitative and quantitative data to demonstrate impact.
How nominations are reviewed
After you submit your nomination, it will be reviewed by our third-party panel of volunteer judges using the Emerald Awards Scoring Rubric.
Each nomination is scored in six areas — Nomination Overview, Challenge, Solution, Environmental Outcomes, Social/Economic Impacts, and Long-Term Sustainability — using a 1–5 scale. Each area carries a different weight, with the greatest emphasis placed on environmental outcomes. The scoring rubric is made available to you within the nomination form.
Up to five judges review each category. Together, they select one recipient and two finalists to be shortlisted, with final decisions confirmed by the full judging panel.
Shortlisted nominees will be announced March 19, 2026
Recipients will be announced at the 35th Annual Emerald Awards on June 4, 2026 at the Calgary Central Library