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Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada Awards

The Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada (SWAAC) (external link)  organization was founded in 1987 to provide a forum and a collective voice for women in senior administrative ranks in Canadian universities, colleges and technical institutes. The primary purpose of SWAAC is the promotion of female leadership in Canadian universities, colleges and technical institutes.

Graduate Student Award of Merit

At least three awards, each in the amount of $4,000, will be awarded annually to the women graduate students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the university or general community while maintaining exemplary academic records.

Women registered in master's or PhD programs at any Member Institution of Universities Canada within a designated region are eligible to be nominated. Regions and number of awards are defined as follows, and eligibility shall rotate among them:

  • Western Provinces (2024)
  • Quebec (2025) 
  • Atlantic Provinces (2026) 
  • Ontario (2027)

  1. Outstanding academic performance.
  2. Evidence of leadership, including but not limited to such things as:
  • executive positions in student organizations
  • participation in committees (student committees and university committees)
  • organization of special events, conferences, etc.
  • involvement in advocacy groups
  • involvement in volunteer organizations within the campus setting and/or the general community.

Each university in the designated region may nominate, through the Dean of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, one person for the award. The Dean shall also be responsible for appointing a nominating committee for the award and for providing the Selection Committee with all necessary documentation to support the nomination.

Applicants must provide the following:

  • Biographical data - includes information about former and current studies, areas of interest, research, publications, other awards, interests outside the university, and community or volunteer work. It's usually in a narrative form, about 1-2 pages in length, and is an opportunity for the nominee to tell the adjudication committee some things about herself and to explain at greater length her background/interests/passions/ambitions/volunteer work.
  • Curriculum vitae
  • All post-secondary transcripts
  • Three letters of reference

Nominations for the 2023 competition (Ontario) must be sent via electronic mail to:  

SWAAC President
Dr. Donna Kotsopoulos 
Western University
Email to: swaacadmin@utoronto.ca

Next academic deadline for Ontario, 2027

Student Award in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

An award, in the amount of $3,000, will be given annually to a woman university or college student who advances equity, diversity and inclusion within and/or outside their institution through outstanding dedication and excellence or community outreach and activism.

Students should demonstrate an exceptional commitment to and engagement with a particular social justice issue, community, and/or community organization. Such community activism can take place on or off campus. Regions are defined as follows, and eligibility shall rotate among them:

  • Western Provinces (2024)
  • Quebec (2025) 
  • Atlantic Provinces (2026) 
  • Ontario (2027)
  1. Strong academic performance.
  2. Evidence of leadership with respect to equity, diversity and inclusion through such activities as:
  • involvement in student organizations
  • participation in committees (student committees and university committees)
  • organization of special events, conferences, etc.
  • involvement in advocacy groups
  • involvement in volunteer organizations within the campus setting and/or the general community.

Each institution in the designated region may nominate one person for the award. The institution shall also be responsible for the appointment of a nominating committee for the award and for providing the Selection Committee with all necessary documentation in support of the nomination.

Applicants must provide the following:

  • Biographical data – includes information about former and current studies,  areas of interest, research, publications, other awards, interests outside the university, and community or volunteer work. It's usually in a narrative form, about 1-2 pages in length, and is an opportunity for the nominee to tell the adjudication committee some things about herself and to explain at greater length her background/ interests/ passions/ ambitions/volunteer work.
  • Curriculum vitae
  • All post-secondary transcripts
  • Three letters of reference or endorsement of the candidate 

Nominations must be sent via email to:  

Natasha Mills
Coordinator, Graduate Scholarships and Awards
Yeates School of Graduate Studies
Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

natasha.mills@torontomu.ca

Next academic deadline for Ontario, 2027