This award recognizes a young individual (student, postdoctoral fellow, researcher, entrepreneur, etc.) under the age of 35 who proposes an innovative and compelling evidence-based policy that will make a positive difference to Canadians. This award is designed not only to highlight innovative, evidence-driven policy ideas by policy students and young professionals, but also to encourage young people not currently studying, or working on, public policy to share their policy ideas.
Eligible recipients include all young Canadian residents under 35, regardless of their field of study or work.
2023 – Winner: Taylor Reid Sutherland
Master of Marine Management Candidate at Dalhousie University
Topic: Integrating Depth Distribution Data into Canadian Shark Conservation Policy
Taylor Reid Sutherland’s proposal, titled “Integrating Depth Distribution Data into Canadian Shark Conservation Policy,” aimed to address the critical issue of declining shark populations in Canada and worldwide. Her work recognizes the severe threats faced by sharks due to high exploitation rates, climate change, and by catch, resulting in their decline and endangerment.
The proposal’s novelty lies in its innovative approach to address the limitations of SSFM and its integration of previously understudied vertical distribution data. It aims to balance creativity with logic and rationale to adapt to the current climate crisis and growing human population’s impact on marine ecosystems.
Featured Applicants:
2021 – Winner: Shaarika Sarasija
Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Ottawa
Topic: Step up: Finding respite care for persons living with dementia among students of Canadian health professions
Runners up:
- Taylor Reidlinger – A Call to Modernize Canadian Fisheries Policy: for Better Community Well-being, Food Security, Climate Resilience, and Economic Prosperity
- Hannah Rahim – The need for community-driven phenomenological research to address the suicide crisis among Indigenous peoples in Canada
Runners up:
- Taylor Reidlinger – A Call to Modernize Canadian Fisheries Policy: for Better Community Well-being, Food Security, Climate Resilience, and Economic Prosperity
- Hannah Rahim – The need for community-driven phenomenological research to address the suicide crisis among Indigenous peoples in Canada
2020 – Winner: Hannah Harrison
Postdoctoral Scholar, Department of Geography, Environment & Geomatics, University of Guelph
Topic: Improving seafood direct-marketing for Canadian economic resilience and food security
Impact of the Youth Excellence Award
The Youth Excellence Award positively impacts the lives of all winners and runners up. Watch past winners discuss the impact this award or read their comments.
