TEACHER HOMETOWN HEROES AWARD NOMINATION PACKAGE What is the Teacher Hometown Heroes Award? Earth Day Canada s Hometown Heroes Award Program recognizes teachers who demonstrate outstanding environmental leadership, commitment and achievements in their school communities with a focused effort on connecting the school community with nature with the Teacher Hometown Heroes Award. The winning teacher is awarded a $5,000 cash prize to support the teacher s work at school. Please note: The winning teacher will be celebrated by Earth Day Canada and its supporters at an awards ceremony in June, 2017, in Toronto (any necessary accommodation and travel provided). Eligibility requirements for teacher nominations Earth Day Canada will consider teacher candidates who: How to submit a nomination package To nominate (or self-nominate) someone for the Teacher Hometown Heroes Award, submit the following to Earth Day Canada: 1. 2. 3. Are a teacher at an elementary or secondary school located in Canada that is either publicly funded or independent with charitable status Demonstrate outstanding environmental leadership, commitment and achievements in their school communities with a focused effort on connecting the school community (students, staff and parents/guardians) with nature Engage, educate and empower the school community (students, staff and parents/guardians) to support a healthier environment through direct connection with nature Are Canadian citizens or permanent residents (landed immigrants) of Canada Are not an elected official (applicable to all levels of government) Complete the Teacher Hometown Heroes nomination package by February 28, 2017 A typed Hometown Heroes Nomination Form. Two items of supporting documentation (with a limit of five one-sided pages or five minutes for each item) substantiating the candidate s environmental achievements (e.g. two of the following items: newspaper articles, brochures, videos, photographs with captions, testimonials, etc.). All documents exceeding these requirements will not be considered in the judging process. Two reference letters on letterhead (please limit each to a single page). References cannot come from relatives or employees of the candidate. Submit by email by February 28, 2017 to heroes@earthday.ca. Or submit hard copies by February 28, 2017 to: Earth Day Canada: Hometown Heroes 276 Roncesvalles Avenue Toronto, ON M6R 2M2 Please note: Emailed nomination packages over 10MB in size must be sent via a file-sharing system such as Dropbox or WeTransfer Earth Day Canada is not responsible for nominations lost during delivery Handwritten nominations will not be accepted Nomination materials will not be returned All supporting documentation and references must be reproducible on 8.5 x 11 white paper Supporting documentation that cannot be duplicated will not be sent to judges for consideration Hometown Heroes Award Program 2017 Page 1 of 7
Nomination review process heroes@earthday.ca. Upon receipt of your nomination package, an email confirmation will be sent to you. If you do not receive a confirmation, please email A judging panel of community, business and environmental leaders will select the Hometown Heroes Award Program 2017 winners. Notifications to all candidates will be made by email by end of May, 2017. Please note: Earth Day Canada, Mill Street Brewery, the RBC Foundation and UFile Tax Software are not involved in, nor have any influence over, the decisions of the judging panels. For general inquiries, please visit the Hometown Heroes website at earthday.ca/hometown. For all other questions regarding the Hometown Heroes Award Program, please email heroes@earthday.ca. The Hometown Heroes Award Program is made possible through the support of Mill Street Brewery, the RBC Foundation and Software. UFile Tax Earth Day Canada thanks all Hometown Heroes Award candidates for their outstanding commitment to the environment. Good Luck, Heroes! Hometown Heroes Award Program 2017 Page 2 of 7
TEACHER HOMETOWN HEROES AWARD NOMINATION PACKAGE Candidate s Information Surname Given Name School Name Confirm Nomination Category: Youth Individual Teacher Group Small Business Status in Canada Canadian Citizen Permanent Resident (Landed Immigrant) Street Address City/Town Province/Territory Postal Code Email Address (to confirm receipt of nomination) Telephone Number Nominator's Information (if applicable) Surname Given Name Relationship to Candidate Name of Organization (if applicable) Street Address City/Town Province/Territory Postal Code Email Address (to confirm receipt of nomination) Telephone Number How did you find out about the Hometown Heroes Award Program? Earth Day Canada Website Earth Day Canada Mailing List Environmental/ Community Organization Local Mayor s Office Radio Announcement Newspaper Magazine Internet Search Teacher Friend Other Hometown Heroes Award Program 2017 Page 3 of 7
SECTION A: The Candidate Please note: Use only the space provided. Additional text will not appear on the nomination form. Tell us about the candidate, the work they undertake to connect the school community with nature and how it relates to positive environmental outcomes in the school and/or local community. Please include the following in your response: A brief description of the candidate s school community and its population. How the candidate engages, educates and empowers the school community to support a healthier environment through direct connection with nature. Numbers and results wherever possible that show positive environmental impact, and school community involvement e.g. number of trees planted; number of students engaged. Hometown Heroes Award Program 2017 Page 4 of 7
SECTION B: Major Accomplishment Please note: Use only the space provided. Additional text will not appear on the nomination form. Tell us about the most notable project or initiative undertaken by the candidate to connect the school community with nature, and how the project or initiative helped to support a healthier environment. Please include the following in your response: A timeline of the project or initiative. How the candidate engaged, educated and empowered the school community to support a healthier environment through direct connection with nature. Numbers and results wherever possible that show positive environmental impact, and school community involvement e.g. number of trees planted; number of students engaged. Hometown Heroes Award Program 2017 Page 5 of 7
SECTION C: Use of Award Please note: Use only the space provided. Additional text will not appear on the nomination form. Section C is for program administrative purposes and is not evaluated by the judging panel. Tell us how the $5,000 award will support the candidate s work at school. Please include the following in your response: A project or initiative the funds will go towards. Please be specific in your response e.g. what costs will the award cover. How the project or initiative will engage, educate and empower the school community to support a healthier environment through direct connection with nature. Hometown Heroes Award Program 2017 Page 6 of 7
Candidate Declaration Form Submit this form to Earth Day Canada along with a completed nomination package by February 28, 2017. Nominators may not sign this form on behalf of the candidate (unless self-nominating). Electronic signatures are acceptable. I declare that: 1. All information provided in this nomination is true, complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. 2. I have read and understand the eligibility requirements of the Teacher Hometown Heroes Award and fulfilled each and every applicable requirement. I understand and agree that: 1. Nomination information may be subject to verification. 2. Photographs and a summary of my nomination may be released and used for publicity or promotional purposes associated with Earth Day Canada and/or the Hometown Heroes Award Program. 3. If I am chosen as the winner of the Teacher Hometown Heroes Award, I or a personal representative will be available to participate in the awards ceremony in June, 2017, in Toronto (any necessary accommodation and travel provided by Earth Day Canada). 4. Nomination materials will not be returned. 5. Earth Day Canada is not responsible for nominations lost during delivery. 6. If successful, Earth Day Canada will release the $5,000 award to my school directly. 7. If I am chosen as the winner, I am required to submit a brief report to Earth Day Canada outlining the positive impact of the award on my school, and the environment by December 31, 2017. Candidate's signature Date (D/M/Y) Checklist Please ensure that you have completed and submitted the following with your nomination package: A typed Hometown Heroes Nomination Form. Two items of supporting documentation (with a limit of five one-sided pages or five minutes for each item) substantiating the candidate s environmental achievements (e.g. two of the following items: newspaper articles, brochures, videos, photographs with captions, testimonials, etc.). Two reference letters on letterhead. Hometown Heroes Award Program 2017 Page 7 of 7