Canadian Wildlife Impact Award

Recognizes exceptional achievement in advancing the recovery or long-term protection of a wildlife species at risk, demonstrated through measurable conservation progress.

The Canadian Wildlife Impact Award honours exceptional achievement in advancing the recovery or long-term conservation of a wildlife species at risk. This award recognizes individuals, teams, organizations, Indigenous communities, or cross-sector partnerships whose work has resulted in measurable conservation progress — from documented population increases and habitat restoration to strengthened policy, stewardship agreements, or threat mitigation.

Celebrating science-driven action and collaborative leadership, the award highlights initiatives that move beyond intent to impact. Nominees will have demonstrated clear, evidence-based outcomes that contribute meaningfully to the survival and resilience of a species listed under Canada’s Species at Risk Act framework or assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada. The award was established in  honour of CWF’s founding President Stan Hodgkiss and has been presented annually since 1975 to an outstanding individual in the field of conservation. The Canadian Wildlife Impact Award will continue to award exceptional achievement in conservation. 

Projects, individuals, organizations, or partnerships demonstrating clear impact in species recovery or protection.

Each year since 1975, the Outdoorsperson of the Year Award has been presented to an outstanding individual in the field of conservation in Canada. The award has since been renamed in honour of the CWF founding president Stan Hodgkiss.

Adam Bienenstock

Heather Fraser

Mark S. Boyce

Sonya Richmond

Marcie Jacklin

Shawn Bath

Brian Keating

Neil Fletcher

David Dagley

Cliff Bennett

Bernard Forsythe

Diana Ackroyd

Helene Van Doninck (PDF)

Bob Gruszecki