WiRE & APPrO x OEA Woman of Distinction Award
Announcing the 2026 Woman of Distinction Award Nominations!
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The opportunity to honor and celebrate the exceptional women shaping Ontario’s energy future is here. Women in Renewable Energy (WiRE), the Association of Power Producers of Ontario (APPrO), and the Ontario Energy Association (OEA) are proud to announce that nominations for the 2026 Woman of Distinction Award are officially open.
This award recognizes women whose leadership, expertise, and dedication are advancing Ontario’s energy sector; from electricity and power generation to clean energy innovation, policy development, and industry transformation. If you know a woman whose impact deserves to be celebrated, now is the perfect moment to submit her name.
Who Should Be Nominated?
We encourage you to nominate individuals who have demonstrated excellence in areas such as:
Leadership: Driving innovation, strategic direction, and positive change within their organization or across the energy sector.
Policy & Advocacy: Championing policies, regulatory advancements, or initiatives that strengthen Ontario’s energy system.
Technical Advancement & Innovation: Contributing to cutting‑edge research, engineering, system operations, or technological development.
Project Development: Leading or delivering significant energy projects that support Ontario’s reliability, sustainability, or modernization goals.
Community Engagement: Positively impacting communities through energy initiatives, outreach, or public engagement.
Clean Energy Leadership: Advocating for or enabling the adoption of renewable, low‑carbon, or innovative energy solutions.
Volunteerism: Supporting women, emerging professionals, or the broader energy sector through volunteer efforts.
Role Modelling & Mentorship: Inspiring, mentoring, and empowering women and future leaders in the industry.
Nomination Details:
Who Can Nominate: Nominations can be submitted by individuals, associations, universities, colleges, professional societies, and other organizations (including for-profit and non-profit).
Self‑nominations are welcome, and letters of support are strongly encouraged.
Eligibility:
Nominees must:
identify as a woman
Lives and works in Canada
Has 10+ years of professional experience in the energy sector (electricity, power generation, renewables, utilities, policy, or related fields).
Nominations from outside Canada are accepted if the nominee’s work significantly impacts Ontario’s energy sector. A CV is encouraged but not required.
Supporting Documents: After submitting the nomination form, additional materials (letters of support, CV, portfolio, publications, etc.) may be emailed to info@womeninrenewableenergy.ca
Please ensure the subject line reads “2026 Woman of Distinction Award - Candidate Name”
Timeline:
Nominations Deadline: Monday September 7th, 2026 at 11:59PM EST
Award Presentation: During the APPrO / OEA Ontario Energy Conference Gala
Date: October 13th, 2026
Location: Marriott Downtown at CF Toronto Eaton Centre
Why Nominate?
This award is more than just recognition; its a celebration of leadership, impact, and inspiration.
Inspire Future Leaders: Highlight women whose achievements encourage young professionals to pursue careers in energy.
Advance Diversity & Inclusion: Help bridge the gender gap and strengthen representation across Ontario’s energy sector.
Celebrate Excellence: Honor the dedication, innovation, and leadership of women who are making a meaningful difference.
What does the Winner Receive?
The winner of the 2026 Woman of Distinction Award will be presented with the following:
A prestigious engraved trophy featuring the WiRE, APPrO, and OEA logos
A featured interview published by WiRE
A dedicated WiRE Spotlight profile
Sector‑wide promotion through WiRE, APPrO, and OEA communications channels
Recognition during the Ontario Energy Conference Gala
This award amplifies the voices and achievements of women who are shaping Ontario’s energy future and celebrates their leadership on a provincial and national stage.
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Don't miss this opportunity to recognize a deserving woman who is making waves in the Canadian waterpower sector! Submit your nominations and help us celebrate their outstanding contributions.
Interested in being a judge? Email us at:info@womeninrenewableenergy.ca
Learn more about APPrO and OEA at https://www.appro.org/ &https://energyontario.ca/