Description
Recognizes a business/organization that has achieved outstanding results through original innovative strategies.
Requirements
Specific Eligibility:
To be eligible for the Business Innovation Award of Distinction, your business must:
- Have implemented an innovative initiative is original and has resulted in a significant and measurable increase in revenue or job creation; productivity or quality; reduction in costs; and/or improvement in service in either new products, technology, management, manufacturing processes or customer service
- Initiative submitted must be fully implemented/available in the market within the past 5 most recent fiscal years
- Initiatives submitted in previous years are not eligible unless significant unique and innovative enhancements have been made
- Initiatives can include but are not limited to projects, programs, processes, systems, technologies, developments, ventures, and undertakings
For example:
- streamlining processes
- commercializing technology
- developing new business models
- improving public services
General Eligibility:
Judging is complete anonymously, so your submission must also be completed anonymously to support the judging process. Companies must NOT use their company name when responding to short answer questions.
To be a valid entry in the Alberta Business Awards of Distinction, your business must(at the time of both nomination and awards presentation):
- Be operational in Alberta for a minimum of 3 fiscal years unless otherwise stated
- Be actively operating in Alberta
- Employ Albertans to produce goods and/or provide services
- Must be a member in good standing of a local chamber of commerce in Alberta (proof of membership required)
Contact your local chamber to become a member. - Not have won in the same category in the last three award cycles (e.g. a 2022 winner is eligible again in 2026)
- Not have anyone in your management, on your board, or in your employ serving on the Alberta Business Awards of Distinction judging committee for the category
- If you are a non-profit organization, no more than 30% of annual revenue can be directly funded by Government envelopes. This does not apply to regular procurement.
- Financial Statements submission
Sample Financial Summary Statement- Applicants must submit financial statements as part of the application process.
- Financial information is requested only to confirm that applicants represent actively operating businesses. Financial statements are not used as part of the judging criteria.
- To protect applicant confidentiality:
- Financial information is reviewed only during the eligibility verification stage
- Application materials are treated as strictly confidential
- Individuals involved in administering the awards process are required to sign confidentiality agreements
- There is no minimum profit threshold required.
- Applicants do not need to submit detailed financial statements with every line item. A high-level financial summary showing overall income and expenses is sufficient. If necessary, sensitive line-item details may be redacted, provided the financial summary clearly reflects overall business activity.
- Interim financial statements may be accepted if they reflect the most recent financial position of the business.
- If a company operates nationally or globally, financial statements may be submitted as they are normally filed. Where possible, applicants are encouraged to provide context related to Alberta operations.
