Important Dates

The Projects Under $2.5 Million category has been updated and renamed to the Small Firm Projects category.

This new category celebrates outstanding engineering projects delivered by Small Firms. These are privately owned companies with fewer than 100 employees, as defined by the ACEC-BC Small Firms Council.

Projects may span any area of consulting engineering and highlight the creativity, technical excellence, and contributions that Small Firms bring to communities and clients across the province.

Eligibility Criteria:

• The submitted project scope must be led and substantially performed by the Small Firm
• The submitting firm must be:
• An ACEC-BC member
• Privately owned
• Employing fewer than 100 people (based on ACEC-BC N-number)
• Joint submissions are eligible if the Small Firm is the lead or primary consultant
• There is no construction cost limit
• At the entrant’s discretion, a project may be entered in this category or any other category

Why was this update made?

Following a review of participation trends and industry feedback, ACEC-BC has updated the category criteria to better reflect its original intent and align with the association’s definition of a small firm, which includes organizations with 100 or fewer employees.

This change was supported by the ACEC-BC Board of Directors, the Small Firms Council, and the Awards Review Committee. It reinforces our commitment to recognizing the contributions of small firms in consulting engineering. By aligning with the established definition, the update ensures the category continues to celebrate innovation, impact, and excellence among firms that help shape communities across British Columbia.

Submissions for 2026 are now closed.

The Awards for Engineering Excellence recognize technical excellence and innovation in consulting engineering. An Award of Excellence and Award of Merit is presented in each of the following categories: Bridges, Buildings, Energy & Industry, Municipal & Civil Infrastructure, Natural Resource & Habitat, Small Firm Projects, Soft Engineering, Transportation.

Eligibility Criteria

• Date: Projects are eligible if the design and construction elements were completed between January 2025 and January 2026.
• Location: Only projects managed and largely engineered in a BC office are eligible.
• Client Approval: Client confirmation of dates and approval to submit will be required during submission.
  See the client/owner permission letter template.
• Joint Submissions: Joint submissions involving non-ACEC-BC members are acceptable only if an ACEC-BC member performed more than 50% of the engineering work (for the submitted component).
• Number of Entries: Members may submit a maximum of two entries in any one category, and a maximum of one entry in each of the other categories.

Entry Fee: $1350 + GST per project entry

To support members to celebrate with their clients, each entry includes 4 tickets to the Gala. Following your official submission(s) a member from the ACEC-BC team will connect with you to issue an invoice. Note: The entry fee only applies to official submissions NOT the intent to submit entry.

Judging

Projects are evaluated by a jury consisting of engineering professionals and construction and design partners. The jury includes up to 20 members and collaborates to choose the category award recipients and the annual Lieutenant Governor’s Award winner.

Listed below are the key factors the jury will consider during the evaluation process. While not all elements are mandatory, we encourage participants to present their projects with a balanced approach, highlighting technical details and explaining how their project addressed some of the following aspects. In your submission, consider the overall story including the five W’s (Who, What, Why, When, Where) assisting the jury in evaluating these key factors.

Technical:

• Technical Excellence and Innovation: Quality of engineering and design, including creative and innovative solutions.
• Challenges Overcome: Solutions to significant obstacles encountered during the project.
• Future Trends: Forward-thinking approaches that enhance the project.
• Engagement in Design and Construction: Depth of collaboration with key stakeholders during the project’s design and construction phases.
• Collaboration: Innovative approaches to working with partners, clients, and communities that contributed to project success.

Environmental:

• Positive Lasting Environmental Impact: The project’s approach to sustainability, resource conservation, and long-term environmental benefits.
• Climate Change: Efforts to reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and adapt to climate-related challenges.

Social:

• Contribution to the Community: Positive social, cultural, and economic impact on the local community.
• Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Demonstration of practices that promote equity, diversity, and inclusion principles.
• Indigenous Relations: Engagement with Indigenous communities, respecting Indigenous knowledge, and promoting reconciliation.

Now accepting 2026 submissions! | Deadline: February 20, 2026

🔗 Submission Form

Eligibility
The award is intended for professional engineers who have worked for a substantial portion of their career in British Columbia within an ACEC-BC member firm. The award is also open to exceptional individuals who are not professional engineers.

Entry Materials Package

1. Letter of Nomination: please provide a two page (maximum) overview of the nominee, noting their contributions to:
   • The business and stature of consulting engineering in BC (50% weighting)
   • Engineering excellence and industry leadership (25% weighting)
   • Professional associations, engineering societies, educational institutes, community groups, political organizations and volunteer organizations (25% weighting)
2. Letters of Reference: the nomination package should include two letters of reference from outside of the nominee’s current or most recent firm.
3. Additional Materials: citations, media releases, media coverage and other materials supporting the nomination are encouraged. Electronic submissions (.pdf format) are preferred.
4. Contact Information: email and contact number for the nominee and someone who can provide their information (bio, photos, etc.)

Entry Fee
No entry fee. By nomination.

Now accepting 2026 submissions! | Deadline: February 20, 2026

🔗 Submission Form

The Client of the Year Award recognizes a client who encourages positive collaboration with consulting engineering companies through effective communication, fair and transparent processes, and respectful working conditions.

Eligibility

Members may nominate any of their Clients regardless of project size or type, including both private and public sector clients. The nomination may be based on one specific project or the corporate approach by the client over a period of time.

For Clients with multiple offices, regional offices are eligible for consideration, individually as well as the overall organization.

Consulting engineering firms are not eligible. Previous award recipients are eligible after three years.

Entry Materials Package

1. Contact information
2. Letter of Nomination: A two page (maximum) overview of the nominee, noting the reasons for nomination.
3. Additional Supporting Materials: Additional materials such citations, media releases, and media coverage are encouraged.

Judging Criteria

• Appropriate procurement and delivery methodology that leads to clear scope
• Excellent change management
• Use of fair and balanced contracts
• Appropriate risk assessment management and allocation
• Encouragement of a culture of collaboration and team ethic
• Communication and relationship management
• Engagement of consulting engineering community

Entry Fee
No entry fee. By nomination.

Now accepting 2026 submissions! | Deadline: February 20, 2026

🔗 Submission Form

The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award recognizes an organization/team and/or individual(s) who demonstrate a commitment to advancing the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Eligibility

Award nominees may be any of the following:

• An individual, team, or group from an ACEC-BC corporate member organization
• An internal project, program, or initiative developed by an ACEC-BC corporate member

Nominees must be recognized for advancing the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion through (for example):

• Implementation of training & development initiatives,
• Fostering a work environment that promotes the inclusion of diverse experiences, perspectives and backgrounds through programs and policies,
• Recruitment and retention practices which advance the principles of EDI through the hiring and engagement of underrepresented groups,
• Employment practices that remove barriers to advancement of underrepresented groups,
• Community outreach and engagement that demonstrates commitment to EDI principles,
• An initiative that increases the sense of belonging, inclusivity, equity or accessibility within the workplace,
• EDI Policies/programs/initiatives within the organization that have significant and sustainable impact.

Projects submitted should not be a revenue generating technical engineering project, but rather an EDI focused initiative which may apply to an engineering project or internally within the organization.

Applications should focus on people or initiatives specific to BC. Nominees must be able to demonstrate EDI impacts in BC.

Nominees must be available in March to support ACEC-BC to prepare for the awards celebration (i.e. requests for additional information) and participate in the award presentation in May.

Entry Materials Package

Nominations for the EDI Award are accepted from ACEC-BC members (individuals or organizations) only. A nominator may be from the same or a different member firm.

Entry materials are collected via the submission portal and include:

1. Complete Nomination Form: completed through the entry portal
2. Letter of Nomination: please attach a letter (maximum 2-pages, 10-pt font or larger) of nomination providing information on the nominee or initiative and why they are deserving of the EDI Award.
3. Letter of Reference (optional): for nominees whose recognition includes community engagement, an additional letter from the community impacted by the nominee’s actions may be attached to the nomination.
4. Additional Materials: additional materials that support the impact of the nominee’s actions may also be attached to the nomination.

Entry Fee
No entry fee. By nomination.

Now accepting 2026 submissions! | Deadline: February 20, 2026

🔗 Submission Form

The Future Leader Award recognizes an early career professional who has demonstrated excellence in consulting business practices, outstanding achievements in their applicable fields, and leadership in the community.

Eligibility

The award is intended for early career professionals with up to 10 years of experience in consulting engineering and working in an ACEC-BC member firm.

Entry Materials Package (max 15 pages)

1. Contact information
2. Letter of Nomination: A letter of nomination (maximum 2 pages) from the candidate’s firm. The letter should describe the person being nominated and how they meet each of the three criteria described below. Use examples whenever possible
3. Industry & Professional Information: Details of the candidate’s activities and contributions to industry and professional associations. Include organization names and approximate level of commitment.
4. Volunteer Activities: Details of the candidate’s volunteer activities within the community at large. Include organization names and approximate level of commitment.
5. Two Letters of Support:
   • One letter supporting the nomination from a client agency or company.
   • One additional letter supporting the nomination from outside the candidate’s firm.
6. Additional Supporting Materials: Additional materials such as resume, citations or recognitions by clients are encouraged.

Judging Criteria

Consulting Engineering Community Contributions (40% weighting):

• The candidate has contributed to the advancement of the consulting engineering industry through involvement with industry and professional associations.
• The candidate understands the role of consultants in the engineering industry.

Professional Accomplishments (40% weighting):

• The candidate consistently produces high quality work in their field of practice.
• The candidate has made outstanding contributions to their own company, successfully worked with other companies, and met client needs.
• The candidate understands company business practices and work towards company goals at or above the level of expectation for their experience level and position.
• The candidate shows leadership internally at the company.
• If applicable, the candidate possesses good project management skills and completes work under approved scope, budget and schedule. This can apply to work completed as a Project Manager, Assistant Project Manager, Deputy Project Manager, or managing a technical team within a larger project.
• The candidate has established good relationships with clients and their work is recognized by clients.

Community Contributions (20% weighting):

• The candidate contributes to their community by volunteering

Entry Fee
No entry fee. By nomination.