Launched in 2018, EDANL’s Economic Development Awards of Excellence have been made possible by the generous support of North Atlantic.
Nominations are now open for the 2025 Economic Development Awards of Excellence.
Access the online nomination form by clicking here. Nominations are due by Friday March 20, 2026.
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Please find information on each award category and previous award winners below:
This award recognizes a project that has had a major economic development impact in a community. It rewards proficiency in areas such as strategic planning, business retention and expansion, placemaking, tourism, social enterprise, etc. within a municipality or community. The assessment of nominations focuses on achievements in the context of the approach, challenges faced and overcome, lessons learned, and economic or community impact.
Previous Winners:
| 2024 | St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. (SABRI) |
| 2023 | Tourism Bell Island Inc. |
| 2022 | City of Mount Pearl (Impact Over 3,000) |
| 2022 | Town of Glovertown (Impact under 3,000) |
| 2021 | Choices for Youth (Impact Over 3,000) |
| 2021 | SmartIce (Impact under 3,000) |
| 2020 | CBS Community Garden (Impact Over 3,000) |
| 2020 | Deer Lake (Impact under 3,000) |
| 2019 | Town of Paradise (Impact Over 3,000) |
| 2019 | St. Anthony Basin Resources Inc. (Impact under 3,000) |
| 2018 | Town of Placentia (Impact Over 3,000) |
| 2018 | Project SucSeed (Impact under 3,000) |
This award recognizes a marketing initiative aimed at attracting, retaining, and/or fostering economic development in Newfoundland and Labrador. It will reward communities or organizations for using marketing and communications to make a positive social or economic contribution at the local, regional, or provincial level. The assessment of nominations focuses on achievements in the context of the approach and economic or community impact.
Previous Winners:
| 2024 | City of Mount Pearl |
| 2023 | St. Anthony and Area Chamber of Commerce |
| 2022 | City of St. John’s (Impact Over 3,000) |
| 2021 | Chamber of Commerce Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s (Impact Over 3,000) |
| 2021 | Town of Pouch Cove (Impact Under 3,000) |
| 2020 | City of Mount Pearl (Impact Over 3,000) |
| 2020 | Guide to the Good (Impact Under 3,000) |
| 2019 | Town of Paradise (Impact Over 3,000) |
| 2019 | Conception Bay Area Chamber of Commerce (Impact Under 3,000) |
| 2018 | Port of Argentia (Impact Over 3,000) |
| 2018 | Town of Holyrood (Impact Under 3,000) |
This award recognizes an Economic Development practitioner in Newfoundland and Labrador. Individuals who are engaged as a professional, technical, management, or volunteer position in the field of economic development in Newfoundland and Labrador may be nominated. The assessment of nominations focuses on the impact that the individual has had through a specific project or the culmination of achievements over time.
Previous Winners:
| 2024 | Wanda Chislett |
| 2023 | Pat Curran |
| 2022 | Margo Soucy |
| 2021 | Derek Butler |
| 2020 | Paul Preston |
| 2019 | Carla May |
| 2018 | Michelle Simms |
This award recognizes a sector-based project that has had a major economic development within Newfoundland and Labrador. Sectors can be primary, secondary, tertiary, or quaternary (i.e., industrial, commercial, community services, social, etc.). The assessment of nominations focuses on achievements in the context of the approach, challenges faced and overcome, lessons learned, and economic or impact.
Previous Winners:
| 2024 | Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Co-Operatives |
| 2023 | Port of Argentia |
This award recognizes a project that has had a major economic development impact in a region. It rewards projects that included multiple partners and demonstrate the power and effectiveness of cooperation, coordination, and collaboration between stakeholders beyond the confines of a single municipality or community. The assessment of nominations focuses on achievements in the context of the approach, challenges faced and overcome, lessons learned, and economic or community impact.
Previous Winners:
| 2024 | Advantage St. John’s |
| 2023 | SaltWater Community Association Inc. |
This prestigious award, decided upon by EDANL’s President, recognizes the excellence, dedication, and impact of an economic development professional’s contribution to the community and the practice over the course of their career.
Previous Winners:
| 2024 | Gordon Slade |
| 2023 | Charlene Johnson |
| 2022 | Dr. Robert Greenwood |
| 2021 | Jeff Lawlor |
| 2020 | Ron Delaney |
| 2019 | Gary Hennessey |
| 2018 | Kai Bath |
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