SUBMIT AWARD NOMINATION
AWARD ELIGIBILITY & SELECTION CRITERIA

STORY SOIRÉE ANNUAL AWARDS

The Children’s Book Bank is proud to introduce three new awards—the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Educator of the Year Award, and the Community Leadership Award—honouring extraordinary individuals whose use of the power of literacy, storytelling, and equity has reshaped the landscape for Toronto’s youth.

These awards celebrate those who create "mirrors and windows" for the next generation and will be presented at the second annual Story Soirée on November 12, 2026.

Nominees for two of the three awards will be chosen directly by the public through an online nomination process (the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award will be awarded to Itah Sadu). Submit your nominations today!

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Honouring an individual who has demonstrated an unwavering, multi-decade commitment to transforming youth literacy in the Greater Toronto Area through the lens of equity and community-rooted storytelling.

The 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Itah Sadu.

EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Recognizing the contribution of an educator (teacher, elder, or community leader) who uses stories as “mirrors" to help Toronto youth see the value of their own voices and "windows" to understand their place in the world.

This award will recognize the contributions of educators during the previous calendar year (January-December 2025)

We will be accepting nominations for the 2026 Educator of the Year Award until September 30 (see form below).

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD

To honour the impact of community members who dedicate their lives to empowering Toronto’s youth. This award recognizes young individuals (25 and under) who serve as a “symbol of hope” by using literacy, mentorship, and storytelling to uplift their peers.

We will be accepting nominations for the 2026 Community Leadership Award until September 30 (see form below).

2026 AWARD NOMINATION FORM

Click here to view award eligibility and selection criteria. Email info@childrensbookbank.com with any additional questions or concerns.

AWARD ELIGIBILITY

In order for individuals to be considered for the Educator of the Year and Community Leadership Awards, they must meet the following criteria:

  • The nominee must have made contributions to their community in the areas of literacy, storytelling, or equity

  • The majority of the community service work done by this individual must have taken place in the Greater Toronto Area

  • The nominee must be alive at the time of nomination

  • The nominee cannot nominate themselves

EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

  • The individual is a teacher, community leader, or elder who has mentored youth

  • They have made a significant contribution in their community within the previous calendar year (January-December 2025)

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD

  • The individual is 25 years old or younger at the time of nomination

  • Has taken on formal or informal leadership roles in their community

JUDGING CRITERIA

Nominees will be judged based on the following weighted criteria:

EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

  • Impact on students/community within the past calendar year: Evidence that their students or community benefited from their contributions (50%)

  • Inclusive approach/ Books as mirrors & windows: Using books or literature that reflect diverse identities and experiences and helping youth to see the value of and share their own stories, voices, identities (40%)

  • Creativity: Creative and innovative teaching practices, community engagement, or literacy programming (10%)

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP AWARD

  • Leadership & community impact: Demonstrates leadership or initiative in a formal or informal capacity in their community and acts as a positive influence on their peers (30%)

  • Role model, peer support, or mentor: Encourages or supports children or other young people (30%)

  • Commitment to literacy and storytelling: Uses storytelling, reading, writing, etc., in their role to inspire or educate others (30%)

  • Served as “symbol of hope”: Demonstrated resilience, compassion, perseverance, or positive community leadership in their actions (10%)

AWARD SELECTION PROCESS

  • Public nominations will be open from September 1-30, 2026, and can be submitted through the form on https://childrensbookbank.com/annualawards

  • Nominees that do not meet basic eligibility requirements (outlined above) will be removed from consideration

  • A panel made up of Book Bank Board Members, community and literary leaders (TBD) will determine the award winner based on the highest average weighted score, based on independent voting using the Judging Criteria (listed above)