Awards

Submitting a Nomination

In order to nominate someone for one of the awards, please review the nomination criteria and procedures before completing and submitting the nomination form. The form, which should be used for all five awards, along with the criteria and procedures can be found below.

An AAO member in good standing must sign the nomination form. It must be accompanied by a narrative (maximum one thousand words) explaining the reasons for the nomination. Additional documentation—including résumé, clippings, publications, etc.—is strongly encouraged but not required. An electronic version of the nomination package must be received by the chair prior to the deadline, with original documentation mailed upon request.

Nominations should be submitted to the chair of the Awards Committee, Rodney Carter, via email at awards@aao-archivists.ca.

Nominations are due by 7 April 2025.

Awards Descriptions 

The Alexander Fraser Award is given to individuals who have contributed in a significant way to the advancement of the archival community in Ontario. Achievements may range from written and visual work to involvement in organizations or participation in projects. This award is designated to recognize cumulative contributions rather than any single activity. Generally speaking, contributions need to go beyond a specific archives or community.

The James J. Talman Award is given to individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding level of imagination and innovation in contributing to the profession, their institution, or the archival community, or who have challenged conventional thinking about archival work.

The AAO Emerging Leader Award celebrates early-career archivists whose work and service demonstrate consistent growth, leadership and promise to the archives profession in Ontario. Achievements may include involvement in professional organizations, and/or participation in relevant projects, and/or written and scholarly work. This award is intended to recognize cumulative contributions rather than any single activity.

The AAO Institutional Award is given to an archival institution that has contributed significantly to the advancement of the archival field or community, or has demonstrated a significant level of innovation and imagination in the establishment of outstanding or model programs or services. Recognition may be granted for an individual project of particular merit or for a program that integrates many facets of archival enterprise.

The AAO Corporate Award is given to organizations, corporations, or agencies of any kind that have been particularly supportive of archives and/or the archival community.

Awards Nomination Form

Awards Nomination Criteria

1. Nominations are open for individuals, institutions, and corporations that have made significant contributions to the archival community in Ontario.
2. Current board members, Awards Committee members, or employees of the AAO are not eligible.
3. A nomination will stand for three years of eligibility.
4. The nominee is not required to be an AAO member.
5. A nomination must be received prior to the application deadline unless agreed upon in advance by a unanimous decision of the Awards Committee. Extensions will be granted under extenuating circumstances only.
6. If the Awards Committee determines that an otherwise valid nomination has not been submitted under the appropriate category, the committee has the authority to reassign the nomination to another category. In such cases the chair shall inform the nominator of the change.