Awards and Recognition

About the Employee Award of Excellence

The Victoria University Employee Award of Excellence has been created to recognize the contributions and accomplishments of Victoria University staff whose dedicated service is vital to the success of the University.

This award recognizes individuals who demonstrate excellence in one or more of the following areas:

• Leadership with a significant impact on the University and its mission
• Collaboration and partnership initiatives across all units to improve efficiencies and services to the community
• Sustained a high level of service to a broad cross-section of the University community
• Innovation and quality improvement
• Program development
• Community engagement and enhancement of Victoria University’s reputation

Beginning in 2025, the award will recognize:

1. One employee for their contributions over the last year.
2. A team of two to eight employees from one department or members of a cross-functional and/or project team for their joint achievements over the last year.

Nominations may reflect ongoing contributions or a particular project/ initiative in which the nominee(s) played a critical role.

Eligibility

• Open to all appointed Victoria University employees, including USW, Professional/Managerial, Confidential and Librarians.
• Employees may receive the award only once every three years.
• Nominators must be staff, students, faculty, alumni or current members of the Board of Regents.
• Self-nominations are not permitted.

Award Prize

The recipient of the Individual Award will receive a framed certificate, presented by the President of Victoria University at the Annual Employee Award and Recognition event. Additionally, they will receive a one-time monetary award of $1,000 through direct deposit following the announcement.

The recipients of the Team Award will receive framed certificates, presented by the President of Victoria University at the Annual Employee Award and Recognition event. They are invited to participate in a team-based social activity, such as a meal or group activity. The group will jointly select and propose a group activity, subject to approval by Human Resources.

Nomination and Selection Process

Each year, a memo will be sent to all eligible staff announcing the nomination period. Complete the online nomination form or download and complete the paper form and submit it to HR before the deadline.

A selection committee, consisting of one USW representative, one PM/C representative and one Librarian representative, will review all nominations and select both individual and team award recipients.

Nomination Form

About the Margaret Ray and Florence Pratt Award

Margaret V. Ray, a retired Victoria University Librarian who died in 1982, bequested a financial award in the name of Margaret Ray and Florence Pratt to be awarded to an eligible Victoria University employee every year.

Margaret Ray was very aware that many people over the years have given devoted service to Victoria University and yet some of them, particularly the library staff, have not often been eligible for awards or grants. She was very conscious that many of these dedicated people, after ten or more years of service, were in serious need of time to recharge their energy and revive their spirit. She also knew that Victoria University was blessed with the loyal service of many individuals beyond the library staff. She therefore hoped that, from time to time, the award might be given to members of the administrative or other support staff.

This award recognizes an employee at Victoria University with at least 10 years of full-time service. On an annual basis, one staff member will be honoured in this category for their continued dedication and contributions to the University.

The recipient receives:

• Lump sum payment (2025 Award value: $7,800) ** – or
• Paid Leave of Absence **
• A letter of recognition and gratitude from the President at Victoria University

** Recipients are permitted to request a combination of lump sum payment and time off.

Eligibility:

1. Staff with at least 10 years of full-time service at Victoria University;
2. The award shall be made to one applicant per year from the eligible pool of employees;
   the two pools are:

• Library Staff
• Other staff (USW, Confidential, PM)

Eligibility for the award will follow the schedule below:

• 2025 – Other Staff
• 2026 – Library Staff
• 2027 – Other Staff
• 2028 – Library Staff
   

Instructions:

A memo will be circulated by HR confirming the eligible employee group and the application deadline each year. Staff are required to complete the online application form or download and complete the paper application form and submit it to HR prior to the application deadline.

Please note: Recipients are required to provide a brief summary or a verbal description to the committee of how the award was used. The summary will specify how this award helped the successful individual realize their own plan for “reviving their spirits.”

To learn more, please refer to the Terms of Reference.

Application Form

About the The David Prediger Award

David Prediger was an employee at Victoria University from 1990-2017, completing a very successful career as the Director of Physical Plant.  He is remembered as an exceptionally loyal, committed and kind-hearted member of the Victoria University community. This award, in David’s memory, was established by his wife, Angela Prediger, Associate Registrar at Victoria University, along with his family, colleagues and friends.

The David Prediger Award recognizes an exemplary administrative staff member at Victoria University who embodies the following character traits:

Loyalty

• Loyalty to the institution, its values and its mission;
• Loyalty to the team that one is a part of; and
• Loyalty to each member of the team to ensure success in performing one’s duties for the overall good of the University.

Commitment:

• Commitment to achieving personal goals throughout their entire career at the University;
• Commitment to achieving institutional goals and objectives;
• Commitment to ensuring the well-being of all members of the Victoria University community, particularly that of staff and their families;
• Commitment to achieving excellence in one’s responsibility;
• Commitment to achieving and maintaining respect for others; and
• Commitment to building a trustworthy environment in the workplace.

The award will be given to one deserving individual each year through a nomination process.

The Recipient receives

A monetary award of $1,000 and a certificate presented by the Bursar & CAO.

Eligibility

USW, P/M & C and other administrative staff, full-time and part-time, with at least two years of service. Past award recipients are eligible for consideration after five years of receiving the award.

Nomination and Selection Process

An announcement will be made each year, inviting members of the Victoria University community to submit nominations for the David Prediger Award.

Each nomination form will require a Nominee and a Supporting Referee. Nominations can be completed through the online nomination form or with the paper nomination form.  The Nominee will submit the nomination form, and a Supporting Referee will provide additional comments and a signature to support the nomination. The Nominee and Supporting Referee may be a peer, a colleague or a manager. Paper nomination forms must be e-mailed to vic.hr@utoronto.ca before the deadline each year for consideration.

An annual selection committee will meet after the deadline. The Director of Human Resources will chair the selection committee and will appoint three members to join the selection process: one USW Hourly Employee, one USW Salaried Employee and one P/M & C Employee.  Nominated individuals are not eligible to participate on the selection committee for that year.

The winner of the award will be announced to all staff.

The David Prediger Award Nomination Form

2024

• The Employee Award of Excellence: 
  • Ajay Sharma
  • Asha Bridgemohan
• The Margaret Ray and Florence Pratt Award: Abraham Lam
• The David Prediger Award: Jillian Yee-Chang

2023

• The Employee Award of Excellence: Ali Kehl
• The Margaret Ray and Florence Pratt Award: Jerry Nogas
• The David Prediger Award: Janet Bradley

2022

• The Employee Award of Excellence: Paul Robinson
• The Margaret Ray and Florence Pratt Award: Roma Kail
• The David Prediger Award: Wanda Chin