[Skip to Content]

Young Leaders Award
Overview | Submission Guidelines | Submission Fees | Criteria | Selection | Enter Now

OVERVIEW

The National Credit Union Young Leaders Award recognizes young leaders in Canada’s credit union system. The Award helps identify the best and brightest young employees, motivate them, and publicize their accomplishments to inspire others. In creating this award, CCUA’s Board of Directors aims to recognize young leadership.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK

Think about the young people — 35 years of age or less — working in your organization. Do you have any rising stars? Do they have well-defined accomplishments? Have they tackled any substantial responsibilities in your credit union/caisse populaire or regional Central? Each year, up to five winners may be chosen for the National Credit Union Young Leaders Award, and one of these winners will be selected as the scholarship recipient and receive tuition plus travel costs (economy class) to attend a leadership development program at a recognized university in Canada ($10,000 maximum). Award winners may be asked to join the National Young Leaders Committee. The Young Leader’s nominator must submit a signed letter describing why their candidate deserves to be an award winner. This letter is an important component of the nomination package and is evaluated by the Award Selection Panel. Entries must be received on or before 11:59 pm EST, March 14, 2025.

Please read the submission guidelines carefully.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

ELIGIBILITY:

  • Only one nominee per credit union/caisse populaire and/or regional Central is permitted.
  • Nominations must be made by a CEO of a regional Central, a credit union/caisse populaire’s CEO/GM, or a credit union/caisse populaire’s Board Chair may nominate a credit union/caisse populaire CEO/GM.
  • Once nominations open on January 13, 2025, complete the online entry form and include:
  1. The nominee’s résumé
  2. A signed letter by the CEO/GM describing why the candidate deserves to be an Award winner (maximum length 500 words. An optional reference letter from someone who works closely with the nominee may also be submitted.)
  3. The candidate must submit an essay on one of the following topics (maximum length 2,000 words):
  • How did your leadership foster Innovation in your credit union/caisse populaire or Central?
  • How did your leadership foster Growth in your credit union/caisse populaire or Central?
  • How did your leadership foster Community Involvement in your credit union/caisse populaire or Central?
  • How did your leadership foster Collaboration Among Cooperatives?
  • How did your leadership foster Equity, Diversity and, Inclusion in your credit union/caisse populaire or Central?

The essay must demonstrate:

  • Commitment to credit union values;
  • Application of leadership skills outside the credit union setting;
  • Proactive approaches to leading and accomplishing goals;
  • Exhibit leadership traits; passion, integrity, knowledge, direction/foresight, and empowerment of others.

ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BY MARCH 14, 2025

SUBMISSION FEES

There is a flat fee of $100 to submit a nomination for the Young Leaders Award. This fee is put towards the administrative costs of running the awards program.

CRITERIA

  • 35 years of age or less as of December 31, 2024
  • Minimum three years of employment in the Canadian credit union system
  • Leadership of a key initiative and/or management role of a credit union/caisse populaire and/or regional Central affiliated with CCUA
  • Demonstrated leadership competencies, including management of a major initiative and/or participation in community initiatives
    • Note: no more than three award winners from any one credit union may serve on the committee simultaneously with no more than one holding a chair or vice chair position.

SELECTION

Award recipients will be selected by a panel of five judges comprised of three past winners of the National Young Leaders Award and two members of CCUA’s Board of Directors. The judging process will be supported by a representative serving as scrutineer. A maximum of five winners will be sponsored to attend the 2025 CCUA National Conference from May 11-14, 2025, in Halifax, NS*. Each winner will have a personal interview with the panel of judges. The winners will jointly develop and deliver a workshop at the conference. All winners will be recognized at an Awards Ceremony, and one winner will be chosen as the 2025 National Credit Union Young Leaders Award scholarship recipient†. The five award winners may be invited to join the National Young Leaders Committee for a three-year term.

Winners will be notified in April 2025.

*The 2025 National Conference will take place in Halifax, NS, May 11-14, 2025. For the winners, CCUA will reimburse travel expenses (economy class), provide full accommodation for four nights at a designated hotel, and give a complimentary registration to attend the conference.

†Tuition plus travel costs (economy class) to attend a leadership development program at a recognized university in Canada ($10,000 maximum).

Share