Everyone in Alberta deserves to live free of violence and abuse. The Inspiration Awards honour individuals and organizations as they take the lead across the province to help reduce and prevent family, sexual and gender-based violence and abuse.
The 2024 awards provide an opportunity to thank 10 remarkable individuals and organizations across Alberta that are wholeheartedly committed to inspiring positive change through promoting healthy relationships and safer communities.
“The Inspiration Awards celebrate Alberta’s unsung heroes dedicated to reducing and preventing violence and abuse. I am proud to celebrate these 10 outstanding award recipients whose advocacy, research, education programs, innovative technologies and other supports are making our communities safer and more welcoming for everyone.”
Recognizing the important work being done to prevent all forms of violence and abuse across the province aligns with Building on our Strengths, Alberta’s 10-year Strategy to End Gender-Based Violence. This strategy outlines how the province will work to prevent gender-based violence, support those who are impacted and ensure anyone committing these crimes is held accountable.
“At the heart of our 10-year strategy is the belief that change begins with people. The Inspiration Awards champion this by celebrating those who are standing up, speaking out and helping others. Together, we are driving real change in our communities and building a safer Alberta for everyone.”
“The 2024 award recipients are recognized in six categories – emerging excellence, collaborative partnerships, equity and community empowerment, Indigenous leadership and initiatives, research and innovation and lifetime journey. The categories have been broadened to specifically recognize Indigenous leadership and initiatives to celebrate those whose work has contributed to the healing and well-being of Indigenous families and communities.”
Help is available for anyone impacted by family violence or abuse. Anyone in immediate danger should call 911. Confidential help is available 24/7 through calling or texting the Family Violence Information Line at 310-1818. Calls to the line can be answered in more than 170 languages, including all Indigenous languages spoken in Canada. Support is also available online at alberta.ca/safetychat. A full list of resources is available at alberta.ca/familyviolence.
Alberta’s 10-year Strategy to End Gender-Based Violence builds on our province’s strengths – across government and with community partners – to achieve our vision of a province where every Albertan lives in safety, free from gender-based violence.
Quick facts
- The Inspiration Awards first began in 2012.
- The 2024 winners are:
- Emerging Excellence Award
- Pulkit Kumar
- Alyssa Hartwell
- Collaborative Partnerships Award
- ShelterLink, a collaboration between YW Calgary and FearIsNotLove
- Equity and Community Empowerment Award
- Multicultural Health Brokers Co-op
- Dragonfly Centre/Sexual Violence Counselling & Support Centre
- Indigenous Leadership and Initiatives Award
- Discovery House
- Christie Pace
- Kari Thomason
- Research and Innovation Award
- Christina Johnson
- Lifetime Journey Award
- Maggie MacKillop
- Emerging Excellence Award