Does your research or initiative help advance a shift towards justice as a common good?
The Action Committee is pleased to introduce two awards:
Changemaker in People-Centred Justice Research; and
Changemaker in People-Centred Justice Initiatives.
People-centred means research and initiatives that centre lived experience and community engagement. It may include community-engaged, participatory, or human-centred approaches to research or initiative design and implementation.
Changemaker in People‑Centred Justice Research Award
Purpose: To recognize outstanding people-centred research that advances understanding, evidence, and learning in support of a paradigm shift towards justice as a common good.
Primary Focus:
Knowledge creation
Evidence building
Conceptual, empirical, or evaluative insight
Challenging assumptions or advancing new frameworks
What is being rewarded:
Quality and rigour of research
Contribution to the A2J evidence base
Influence on thinking, policy, or future practice
Knowledge mobilization (how findings are shared)
Changemaker in People‑Centred Justice Initiatives Award
Purpose: To recognize concrete people-centred initiatives that advance a paradigm shift toward justice as a common good through practice and implementation.
Primary Focus:
Implementation
Service delivery or systems change
Practical innovation
Collaboration and execution
What is being rewarded:
Demonstrated outcomes or improvements
Reach, effectiveness, or scalability
Responsiveness to community needs
Partnerships and practical leadership
SUBMIT A NOMINATION
Complete this form and submit it to info@actioncommitteea2j.ca by [deadline] to nominate someone for their exceptional contributions to person-centred justice in Canada.
Terms of Reference
There are many pathways to advancing justice as a common good. A common–good lens encourages institutions to focus on prevention, early support, and outcomes that help people stabilize their lives. It invites all stakeholders – including the public; governments; courts and tribunals; the legal profession; community organizations; educators and researchers; funders; and professionals across sectors – to think differently about responsibility, coordination, and the design of services, including how pathways, information, and professional practices can better support the public.
These awards recognize that both research and action are essential to advancing people-centred justice. They are not only to celebrate excellence, but also to foster learning and knowledge exchange. Together, the Research and Initiative Awards reflect a commitment to both learning and doing, recognizing that sustainable A2J reform depends on strong evidence as well as effective implementation.
Awards Evaluation and Scoring Criteria
Submissions will be evaluated based on how clearly and meaningfully they align with the below guiding principles.
Applications are not expected to address every principle equally; however, strong submissions will demonstrate clear alignment with one or more of the guiding principles (Table 1) and definition of justice as a common good (Table 2).
Nominations will be assessed based on the quality, relevance, and alignment of the work with the Action Committee’s vision of justice as a common good. Applications will be assessed relative to their stage of development and available resources.
Table 1: People-Centred Justice Guiding Principles
Table 2: Defining Justice as a Common Good
Awards Nomination Eligibility Criteria
The Action Committee encourages nominations from across sectors and disciplines, recognizing that advancing justice as a common good is a shared responsibility.
To be eligible for nomination, nominees must meet the following criteria.
Who May Be Nominated
Nominees can be individuals, teams, organizations, institutions, or collaborations whose work advances people-centred justice in Canada.
Members of the Action Committee Steering Committee or the Awards Subcommittee are not eligible to the award.
Who May Submit a Nomination
Nominations should be submitted by individuals or organizations with sufficient knowledge of the nominee’s work to assess its significance, quality, and alignment with the award criteria.
Nominations may be submitted by:
Individuals working in or connected to the justice ecosystem, including:
Researchers or academics
Students
Members of the bar or justice professionals
Community‑based practitioners or advocates
Policy professionals or public servants
Organizations or institutions, including:
Academic institutions
Community or non‑profit organizations
Professional associations
Public institutions or justice system partners
Geographic Connection
The nominee is based in Canada; and/or
The research or initiative has a clear and substantive connection to Canada, including relevance to Canadian justice ecosystems, communities, or policy contexts.
Nominators do not need to be based in Canada but must demonstrate familiarity with the nominee’s work and its relevance to Canada’s A2J context.
Conflict of Interest
Any actual or perceived conflicts of interest must be disclosed at the time of nomination.
Role of the Nominator
Nominators must be able to:
Describe the nominee’s work clearly and accurately; and
Explain how the work aligns with the vision of justice as a common good and the People‑Centred Justice Guiding Principles.
Multiple nominators may jointly submit a nomination, where appropriate.
Acceptable Stage of Research or Initiative
The awards are not limited to finalized outputs. Meaningful change is iterative, and the Action Committee values research and initiatives that demonstrate learning, reflection, and potential for impact, including work that is ongoing.
The awards are intended to recognize both learning and action. Accordingly, nominations may be submitted at different stages, subject to the following guidance:
Stage: Completed research / finished initiatives
What is expected:
Demonstrated contribution, learning, or impact aligned with the award criteria.
Stage: Research programs or initiatives underway
What is expected:
Clear articulation of purpose, approach, and anticipated contribution or impact.
Stage: Works in progress / early‑stage research
What is expected:
Strong conceptual grounding, alignment with people‑centred justice principles, and a clear explanation of why the work is promising and significant.
Not Eligible
Concept notes without substantive development
Proposals with no demonstrated research, action, or learning to date
Awards Subcommittee and Decision‑Making
An Awards Subcommittee supports the administration and adjudication of the awards. The subcommittee will be responsible for overseeing the nomination process, reviewing submissions against the established eligibility requirements and evaluation criteria, and making recommendations to the Steering Committee regarding award recipients.
Final decisions on award recipients will be made by the Action Committee Steering Committee, informed by the recommendations of the Awards Subcommittee. This approach ensures both rigorous review and alignment with the Action Committee’s overall vision, principles, and mandate.
The composition, mandate, and operating procedures of the Awards Subcommittee will be confirmed by the Steering Committee.
Awards Prize
Successful recipients will be welcomed into the Action Committee’ network with the aim of recognizing excellence and supporting an evidence-based, learning-oriented A2J culture.
Recipients will receive:
An official award letter or certificate
$2500 in monetary support dedicated to knowledge mobilization, learning, and dissemination
Public recognition in the Action Committee’s newsletter
An invitation to speak at the Action Committee Summit or another event
An opportunity to contribute a short written reflection or video