City of Grande Prairie's 2026 Women of Influence Awards celebrate women who lead, mentor, innovate, and lift others up
Shining a light on the women who help shape communities is important.
Gender-related awards run alongside International Women's Day (IWD) provide a useful opportunity to identify, celebrate, and inspire women.
Some truly fabulous IWD awards are the City of Grande Prairie's annual Women of Influence Awards in Alberta, Canada.
"The awards recognize the women who through championing gender equality, are breaking barriers in their field, achieving new heights and advocating for greater access for all. It is through their actions we continue Grande Prairie’s growth and foster a strong, vibrant, connected vision for our community," explained the City of Grande Prairie.
As such, the City of Grande Prairie has been inviting its residents to recognize and celebrate women shaping its community via the prestigious Women of Influence Awards, presented in partnership Peace Diagnostic Imaging Ltd.
The City of Grande Prairie is a progressive and forward-thinking local authority that is committed to progressive planning, innovation in service delivery, and building a vibrant, inclusive community for the future. It continuously shows ongoing commitment to elevating women’s voices, participation, and opportunities across the community.
Strength that comes from lifting one another up
The Women of Influence Awards provide a key opportunity to pause and really think about the women who move the world forward — the colleague who lifts others up, the neighbour who gives back without being asked, the leader who opens doors for others. Their influence matters, and this is the moment to recognize it.
Behind every strong community are women whose leadership leaves a lasting mark on the people around them. From business owners and educators to volunteers, mentors and advocates, these women shape Grande Prairie through the meaningful impact they make every day.
“The Women of Influence Awards are a powerful reminder of the strength that comes from lifting one another up,” said City of Grande Prairie Mayor, Jackie Clayton. "Every year, these awards remind us just how many incredible women are shaping Grande Prairie. Some lead in very visible ways, others behind the scenes, but all of them make our community stronger. We encourage residents to take a moment to think about the women who inspire them and help us celebrate the impact they are making every day."
Winners are announced at a special IWD event that brings the community together to celebrate the women whose leadership, generosity, and dedication help make Grande Prairie a stronger place to live.
Honoring the impact of women
The Women of Influence Awards were created in 2018 to commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD) in Grande Prairie and celebrate women’s achievements while promoting equal opportunity for all.
Winners are announced at a special IWD event that brings the community together to celebrate the women whose leadership, generosity, and dedication help make Grande Prairie a stronger place to live.
"Behind every strong community are women whose leadership leaves a lasting mark on the people around them. From business owners and educators to volunteers, mentors and advocates, these women shape Grande Prairie through the meaningful impact they make every day," said the City of Grande Prairie. The Women of Influence Awards provide a key opportunity to pause and really think about the women who move the world forward — the colleague who lifts others up, the neighbour who gives back without being asked, the leader who opens doors for others. Their influence matters, and this is the moment to recognize it."
Five exciting award categories
The awards are open to women of all backgrounds, experiences, and industries and see a number of exciting categories:
- Next Generation Award
Recognizing young women demonstrating exceptional promise, leadership, and impact in their community or field.
This award recognizes a young woman under the age of 25 who is emerging as a leader through her innovative ideas, dedication and commitment to creating positive change. This award honors those who actively challenge societal barriers, inspiring peers to rethink possibilities and embrace inclusivity. Although still early in her journey, the recipient demonstrates leadership through community service, school involvement, mentorship, coaching or advocacy, through uplifting others and fostering progress. Her contributions are laying the groundwork for a more equitable and inclusive future, driving change and empowering those around her to make a meaningful impact.
Criteria:
- Leadership: Evidence of leadership roles in her school, community or organizations.
- Innovation: Creative or forward-thinking solutions to challenges in her chosen area.
- Advocacy and Impact: Efforts to drive social, educational, environmental or cultural change.
- Academic or Professional Excellence: Significant achievements in academic, extracurricular or early professional endeavours.
- Community Engagement: Demonstrated commitment to uplifting others and serving her community
- Game Changer Award
Celebrating women disrupting norms, challenging the status quo, and paving the way in their field or community.
This award recognizes a woman who is an established leader and trailblazer in her field, disrupting norms, challenging the status quo and paving the way for transformative change. This award celebrates those who have introduced innovative ideas, methods or technologies that have had a measurable impact, demonstrating resilience in overcoming systemic challenges. Through inspirational leadership, she motivates others to embrace change and innovation, fostering a culture of progress and inclusivity. Her contributions have achieved tangible improvements or transformations in her area of work, with a sustained commitment to driving long-term change. Her trailblazing efforts continue to create pathways for future generations, leaving a lasting legacy in her field or community.
Criteria:
- Trailblazing Efforts: Initiated innovative ideas, methods or technologies with measurable impacts.
- Overcoming Barriers: Demonstrated resilience in addressing systemic challenges.
- Inspirational Leadership: Motivates others to embrace change and innovation.
- Impact: Achieved tangible improvements or transformations in her area of work.
- Sustainability: Commitment to long-term change or innovation.
- Workplace Leadership Award
Honoring women who excel in leadership roles, fostering growth and inclusion within the workplace.
This award honors a woman business owner or manager who has demonstrated exceptional leadership within her organization by fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment. She is a catalyst for change, dismantling barriers that hinder professional growth and ensuring that all employees can succeed. Through her dedication and guidance, she serves as a mentor and role model, creating a culture that empowers individuals and promotes inclusivity within her company or industry.
Criteria:
- Leadership Excellence: Evidence of outstanding leadership and mentorship in the workplace.
- Workplace Culture: Proven positive impact on workplace culture, particularly in fostering advancement and inclusivity in workplace practices.
- Team Development: Creates an environment that supports professional growth and collaboration.
- Results and Recognition: Demonstrated success in achieving organizational goals or advancing workplace innovation.
- Advocacy: Committed to supporting women and underrepresented groups in professional settings
- Community Leadership Award
Recognizing women making significant contributions to the betterment of their community.
his award recognizes a woman whose leadership and advocacy are rooted in addressing pressing social issues and making a meaningful impact in her community. Through service, activism and collaboration, she spearheads initiatives that tackle challenges her community currently faces. Her efforts emphasize inclusivity, building connections within diverse communities and fostering sustainable, lasting improvements. Beyond her tangible contributions, she serves as a powerful role model, inspiring young women and girls to envision themselves as leaders and change-makers. Her work demonstrates the impact of resilience, dedication and inclusivity, encouraging future generations to step forward and create meaningful change in their own communities.
Criteria:
- Service Excellence: Dedicated to impactful community service or volunteering efforts.
- Advocacy: Started initiatives that address local, community-specific challenges (e.g., healthcare, education, environment).
- Inclusivity: Builds bridges and contributes to inclusivity within diverse communities.
- Sustainability and Impact: Demonstrated impact on social issues and lasting improvements to community life.
- Collaboration: Mobilizes teams, resources and her community effectively to achieve shared goals.
- Lifetime Impact Award
Honoring women whose enduring contributions have left a lasting legacy in their field or community.
This award honors a woman whose lifelong contributions have created a profound legacy of leadership and service. Over the course of her career or volunteer work, she has demonstrated inspiring leadership and mentorship, consistently addressing critical societal challenges and fostering meaningful change. Her sustained impact is evident through measurable outcomes and decades-long influence in her field or community. She has earned recognition from peers, organizations or the public for her significant contributions. A dedicated mentor, she has uplifted and empowered the next generation of women, leaving a legacy that will continue to inspire and drive progress.
Criteria:
- Legacy of Leadership: Demonstrated lifetime of inspiring leadership and mentorship.
- Sustained Impact: Decades-long influence with measurable outcomes in her area of work, or community service.
- Advocacy and Change: Long-term efforts to address critical community issues or societal challenges.
- Recognition: Acknowledgement by her peers, organizations or the public for her significant contributions.
- Mentorship: Embraced support and encouragement for the next generation of leaders or professionals.
"International Women’s Day (IWD) is an event recognized world-wide to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and to advocate for the continued advancements of equal rights. The IWD 2026 theme is Give to Gain which emphasizes the power of reciprocity and support. When people, organizations and communities give generously, opportunities and support for women increase and the whole community rises," commented City of Grande Prairie.
Grande Prairie is a welcoming city with many opportunities to get and stay connected. Drawing people from all over the world, the city has grown into a place with something to offer everyone. It’s easy to find a sense of belonging in Grande Prairie’s unique and diverse community.
More details here.