The Frances Lankin Community Service Award was established in 2011 by Social Planning Toronto on the occasion of Frances Lankin’s retirement from United Way Toronto.
It is awarded annually to two individuals who have made a significant, transformative contribution to the non-profit community sector in the City of Toronto. The Award recognizes one recipient for a Lifetime Achievement Award, and one for an Inspiring Leadership Award.
2021 marks the 10th anniversary of the Award!
Previous recipients:
- 2011: Frances Lankin
- 2012: Liane Regendanz
- 2013: Rob Howarth, and (posthumously) Colin Hughes and Charlotte Maher
- 2014: Kay Blair
- 2015: Heather McGregor
- 2016: Debbie Douglas
- 2017: Debbie Field and Sunder Singh
- 2018: Deena Ladd (Lifetime Achievement Award) and — in a new category to spotlight an incredible young leader — Hamdi Jimale, Michael Prosserman, and Justin Wiebe (Inspiring Leader Award)
- 2019: Victor Willis and Doris Power (Lifetime Achievement Award) and Anjum Sultana (Inspiring Leadership Award)
- 2020: ceremony cancelled due to the pandemic
Thank you!
Nominations for the 2021 Frances Lankin Award are now closed.
Thank you to everyone who's submitted a nomination.
We'll make an announcement of this year's recipients soon!
About Frances Lankin
Photo by Tanja Tiziana
Frances Lankin was CEO of the United Way Toronto for over 10 years, guiding the organization through its transformation from a trusted fundraiser to an organization dedicated to addressing underlying root causes of social problems.
Under Frances’s leadership, United Way Toronto engaged in a number of strategic initiatives that aimed to improve the lives of individuals, families and neighbourhoods in Toronto.
Today, Frances is a Senator in Canada’s Parliament.
Selection Process
Nominations for the Frances Lankin Award can be made by any individual or organizational member of Social Planning Toronto. Nominations can be made by email, using the nomination form and criteria.
The selection committee will include one SPT Board member (the Chair or designate) and three community representatives.
Nominations Criteria
The 2021 Frances Lankin Community Service Award will be presented to two individuals who have made a significant, transformative contribution to the non-profit community service sector in Toronto. The Award will recognize one recipient for a Lifetime Achievement Award, and one for an Inspiring Leadership Award.
Significant, Transformative contribution
Individuals have demonstrated instrumental actions in bringing significant change to the non-profit sector — for example, innovative approaches to connecting and building networks, altering models of service delivery, and advocating sustained development to communities.
Contributions may include development in: research, education, professional development, service delivery, planning and administration, leadership, social recreation, arts, or any other area of significant sector activity. These results may be reflected in advocacy, social policy, and / or community building.
Award categories
The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an outstanding individual who has consistently provided a high level of contributions over a continued period (10–20 years). Individual has energy and drive, demonstrating resilience to overcome obstacles. Actions have produced a lasting legacy in developing the non-profit sector.
The Inspiring Leadership Award recognizes a rising innovator (18–40 years of age) whose actions have inspired change through outstanding leadership, collaboration, resource development, and knowledge growth.
