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Nominations are Now Open for the CCAC Recognition Awards
The call for nominations for the 2026 Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) Recognition Awards is now open!
Every year, thousands of people contribute their knowledge and skills to the CCAC’s mission and the ethical care and use of animals in Canadian science. In recognition of this, there are now three awards to honour outstanding individuals and give thanks for their time and expertise.
Harry C. Rowsell Lifetime Achievement Award
This award recognizes outstanding individuals who have made a lifetime of exceptional contributions to the CCAC and who uphold the highest standards in the ethical care and use of animals in Canadian science.
Gilles Demers Award for Excellence in Animal Care
This award, named for the late Dr. Gilles Demers, a long-time Assessment Director at the CCAC, recognizes outstanding individuals who have made exceptional contributions to institutional animal care and use programs, who uphold high ethical standards and practices, and actively champion the CCAC program within their organization. Nominees can include animal health technicians, animal care committee coordinators, community representatives, facility coordinators, and veterinary assistants.
CCAC Emerging Leader Award
This award recognizes individuals with less than 10 years of experience in the field of ethical animal care and use, who have demonstrated exceptional growth in their levels of leadership, responsibility, sphere of impact, and contribution to both the ethical care and use of animals in science and to the CCAC.
Help us highlight some of the country’s best and brightest, who are working to further the ethical care and use of animals in science, by nominating deserving individuals for these awards. While a nominee can only win an award once, complete nomination packages from years past may be resubmitted if the nominee fits the criteria. Submit your nominations by March 1, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST.
Consult the award requirements and selection criteria.

