SMALL BUSINESS HOMETOWN HEROES AWARD NOMINATION PACKAGE What is the Small Business Hometown Heroes Award? Earth Day Canada s Hometown Heroes Award Program recognizes small businesses that make significant environmental achievements with the Small Business Hometown Heroes Award. The winning small business is awarded a $5,000 cash prize that must be used by the business to make an operational change that results in the business lessening their environmental impact, and permission from Earth Day Canada to use the award and Earth Day Canada logo for one year to help market and promote the business and/or an approved product. Please note: The winning small business 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 small business nominations Earth Day Canada will consider small business candidates who: Are Canadian-owned and operated, and have operated as a registered business for at least two years Carry out their business locally and regionally Demonstrate outstanding environmental leadership, innovation and benefits in their products and/or services and beyond Prioritize long-term environmental planning and/or commitment as an integral part of their business model and/or operations that have resulted in positive sustainable impacts Are engaged in internal initiatives that incorporate environmental best practices, resource conservation and green living from supply chain management to employee engagement programs Serve as community ambassadors, engaging and empowering suppliers, customers and the general public to support a healthier environment Are not government or quasi-government entities Complete the Small Business Hometown Heroes nomination package by February 28, 2017 How to submit a nomination package To nominate (or self-nominate) a small business for the Small Business Hometown Heroes Award, submit the following to Earth Day Canada: 1. A typed Hometown Heroes Nomination Form. 2. 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. 3. 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 Upon receipt of your nomination package, an email confirmation will be sent to you. If you do not receive a confirmation, please email heroes@earthday.ca. 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
SMALL BUSINESS HOMETOWN HEROES AWARD NOMINATION PACKAGE Candidate s Information Name of Small Business Name of Primary Contact Confirm Nomination Category: Youth Individual Teacher Group Small Business Type of Ownership (e.g. sole proprietorship, co-operative) 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. Please include the following in your response: A brief description of the community in which the candidate works and its size, region and/or population. A description of the candidate, their products and/or services, environmental best practices, and work as a community ambassador. A description of how the candidate prioritizes long-term environmental planning and/or commitment as an integral part of their business model and/or operations. Numbers and results wherever possible that show positive environmental impact, and engagement of suppliers, customers and the general public. 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 candidate s most notable environmental initiative(s) and accomplishment(s). Please include the following in your response: A timeline of the initiative(s). A description of the initiative(s) positive environmental benefits and long-term sustainable impacts. How the initiative(s) engaged and empowered suppliers, customers and the general public to support a healthier environment. Numbers and results wherever possible that show positive environmental impact, and engagement of suppliers, customers and the general public. 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 candidate will use the $5,000 award to lessen their environmental impact, and how the Earth Day Canada logo will be used to market and promote the business and/or an approved product. Please include the following in your response: A specific operational change the candidate will make. Please be specific in your response e.g. what costs will the award cover. How the Earth Day Canada logo will help further the candidate s environmental efforts and message. 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/we declare that: 1. All information provided in this nomination is true, complete and accurate to the best of my/our knowledge. 2. I/we have read and understand the eligibility requirements of the Small Business Hometown Heroes Award and fulfilled each and every applicable requirement. 3. The business is small scale and carries out business locally and/or regionally. I/we understand and agree that: 1. Nomination information may be subject to verification. 2. Photographs and a summary of my/our 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 chosen as the winner of the Small Business Hometown Heroes Award, a representative from the business 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. If chosen as the winner, the business has permission to use the award and the Earth Day Canada logo for a period of one year to market and promote the business and/or an approved product. 5. If chosen as the winner, the business is required to submit a brief report to Earth Day Canada outlining the positive impact of the award on the business, and the environment and community by December 31, 2017. 6. Nomination materials will not be returned. 7. Earth Day Canada is not responsible for nominations lost during delivery. Candidate's / business representive'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