The Government of Alberta offers three Alberta Citizenship Awards to recognize students who have contributed to their communities through public service and voluntary endeavor.

Value

The award for each of the three Alberta Citizenship Awards varies, as follows:

  • Premier’s Citizenship Award: Letter of Commendation
  • Alberta Centennial Award: 25 awards of $2,005
  • Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Citizenship Medallion: 8 awards of $7,000 and a medallion

Eligibility Criteria

An applicant must:

  • be a Canadian Citizen, a Permanent Resident, or Protected Person under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, (Visa students are not eligible).
  • be an Alberta resident, for which one of the following conditions must apply:
    • one parent, or legal guardian has maintained permanent residence in Canada for at least twelve (12) consecutive months immediately prior to commencing post-secondary studies and be residing in Alberta, or
    • Alberta is the last place the student has lived for twelve (12) consecutive months immediately prior to commencing post-secondary studies, or
    • student’s spouse/partner has maintained permanent residence in Alberta for 12 consecutive months prior to student’s attending post-secondary, or
    • be graduating from high school in the current academic year.

The applicant must have displayed outstanding characteristics in:

  • citizenship,
  • leadership, and
  • community service and/or engagement in volunteer work, and must also have shown initiative
    and had a positive impact in the community/school.

For the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Citizenship Medallion and the Alberta Centennial Award only, the applicant must:

  • be enrolled full-time in a post-secondary program for the fall or winter term.

Note: Academic achievement is not a requirement for this award.

Application Process

Premier’s Citizenship Award

Each high school may select one recipient. 

The high school must submit to Alberta Culture and Tourism:

  • a completed and signed application form

Alberta Centennial Award and Queen's Platinum Jubilee Citizenship Medallion:

The high school must also submit the following:

  • Two letters of reference. (References should be no longer than two pages) as follows:
    • A reference from someone who has known the nominee for at least one year either
      through school or community or volunteer activities, and

    • A reference from someone who knows the nominee well enough to support and/or elaborate on the nominee's activities and initiatives as outlined in the Record of Accomplishments Chart.

  • Record of Accomplishments Chart
    Students should work with their school principal or school counsellor to complete and verify their Record of Accomplishments.

Students must contact their high school for application deadline dates.

The high school nomination deadline for submission to Alberta Arts Culture and Status of Women is June 1.

To learn more about these awards and access the application form/supporting documents, go to:

Selection Process

Premier’s Citizenship Award

To be considered for the Alberta Citizenship Awards, students must complete the application form and
submit it to their high school. The high school representatives choose a recipient for the Premier’s Citizenship Award. The school principal completes the School Principal Section and will submit the completed application form with all attachments to Alberta Arts Culture and Status of Women by the June 1 deadline.

Alberta Centennial Award and Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Citizenship Medallion

The selection members select recipients for both the Alberta Centennial Award and Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Citizenship Medallion. Recipients of these two awards are selected from the pool of recipients for the Premier’s Citizenship Award.

Alberta Foundation for the Arts

The following Arts Awards are offered by the Government of Alberta and administered by Alberta Foundation for the Arts:

  • Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award for Performing Arts: 1 award of $7,000 
  • Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award for Visual Arts: 1 award of $7,000 

For more on eligibility and how to apply for these awards along with information on various scholarships, fellowships and awards programs offered and managed by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, go to:

Many other scholarships and awards are offered by other organizations – we encourage you to visit Alberta’s public university and college websites to research the scholarships that they offer.

For more information, see Alberta post-secondary institutions.