Each year at our annual Conference, we present our CACAP awards that recognize members who have provided exceptional and innovative contributions to youth mental health in Canada.
Awarded to: A distinguished member of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CACAP)
Purpose:
To honour a member who has demonstrated exceptional and sustained advocacy on behalf of children, adolescents, and their families. The recipient will have actively influenced systemic change, policy, or public awareness at multiple levels of society.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be a current member of CACAP.
- Has demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and impact in child and adolescent mental health advocacy at one or more of the following levels:
- Regional: Initiatives that have significantly impacted mental health policies, services, or awareness within a specific province or community.
- National: Contributions that have shaped or influenced mental health practices, laws, or policies across Canada.
- International: Global engagement through partnerships, policy influence, or advocacy efforts beyond Canada that have improved mental health services or awareness for young people.
Additional Considerations:
- Evidence of measurable outcomes from advocacy (e.g., legislative change, creation of programs, institutional reforms).
- Collaboration with families, communities, governments, or organizations.
- Demonstration of sustained efforts over time rather than a single contribution.
Nominations are made by completing the online form and emailing it to elizabeth.ridley@cacap-acpea.org with the word AWARDS in the subject line.
| Dr. Paul Steinhauer Award Recipients | |
|---|---|
| Sue Zinck | 2024 |
| Ellen Lipman | 2023 |
| Raj Rasasingham | 2022 |
| Kerry Boyd | 2021 |
| Selena Etches | 2020 |
| Harriet MacMillan | 2019 |
| Sabina Abidi | 2018 |
| Robin Friedlander | 2017 |
| Pippa Moss | 2015 |
| Wade June | 2013 |
| Cécile Rousseau | 2012 |
| Stanley Kutcher | 2008 |
Awarded to: A CACAP member (including Members-in-Training who are residents)
Purpose:
To recognize outstanding creative or innovative contributions to community-based mental health initiatives that emphasize intervention, consultation, or prevention in child and adolescent psychiatry.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be a CACAP member, including residents
- Demonstrated excellence and innovation in one or more of the following:
- Community Intervention: Development or implementation of novel strategies to support mental health directly within communities (e.g., school-based mental health, family outreach programs).
- Consultation: Contributions to improving systems of care through strategic consultation with schools, healthcare systems, or community organizations.
- Prevention: Work that addresses upstream mental health prevention through education, awareness, or early intervention strategies.
Additional Considerations:
- Projects that are seminal, replicable, or have potential for scaling or broader impact.
- Emphasis on collaborative and community-responsive approaches.
- May include academic work, clinical initiatives, or grassroots programs.
Nominations are made by completing the online form and emailing it to elizabeth.ridley@cacap-acpea.org with the word AWARDS in the subject line.
| Naomi Rae Grant Award Recipients | |
|---|---|
| Alexander Drossos | 2024 |
| No nominations | 2023 |
| Vincenzo Di Nicola | 2022 |
| Terry Bennett | 2021 |
| No nominations | 2020 |
| Stan Kutcher | 2018 |
| Jaswant Guzder | 2017 |
| Normand Carrey | 2016 |
| Sabina Abidi | 2015 |
| Tony Pignatiello | 2014 |
| Alexa Bagnell | 2013 |
Awarded to: A psychiatric educator who is a CACAP member
Purpose:
To honour an individual who has made a significant, sustained, and innovative contribution to education in child and adolescent mental health.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Open to any psychiatric educator with a focus on child and adolescent psychiatry or mental health.
- Demonstrated excellence in educational activities in one or more of the following areas:
- Undergraduate Education: Teaching or curriculum development for medical students or other undergraduates.
- Postgraduate Education: Training of residents, fellows, or postgraduate learners in psychiatry or related disciplines.
- Continuing Professional Development: Ongoing education for practicing professionals (e.g., workshops, seminars, CME programs).
- Public Education: Outreach to non-professional audiences (e.g., parents, educators, media) that improves public understanding of youth mental health.
Additional Considerations:
- Development of innovative curricula or teaching methodologies.
- Recognition by peers or learners for outstanding teaching.
- Evidence of positive educational impact (e.g., learner outcomes, program evaluations, published work).
- Should recognize sustained contributions over time unless the contributions involve exceptional innovation.
Nominations are made by completing the online form and emailing it to elizabeth.ridley@cacap-acpea.org with the word AWARDS in the subject line.
| Excellence in Education Award Recipients | |
|---|---|
| Celia Robichaud | 2024 |
| Sheila Harms | 2023 |
| Laura Rosato | 2022 |
| Leanna Isserlin | 2021 |
| Patricia Hall | 2020 |
| Khalid Bazaid | 2019 |
| Lukas Propper | 2018 |
| Claire De Souza | 2017 |
| Syed Rizvi | 2016 |
| Wendy Spettigue | 2015 |
| Stan Kutcher | 2014 |
| Herb Orlik | 2013 |
Awarded to: An individual or organization (CACAP membership not required)
Purpose:
To acknowledge outstanding leadership, innovation, or service in the field of child and adolescent mental health that may fall outside traditional clinical or academic pathways.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Open to any person or organization (e.g., non-profits, advocacy groups, educators, researchers, media figures).
- Must have made exceptional and recognized contributions to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.
- Demonstrates visionary leadership, sustained commitment, or groundbreaking contributions to the field.
Additional Considerations:
- May include advocacy, education, service delivery, research, or public policy.
- Contributions should be well-documented and broadly acknowledged as impactful.
- May acknowledge contributions that are of national significance but do not fit well into the categories of other awards (Paul D. Steinhauer, Naomi Rae Grant, or Excellence in Education Awards).
- The award may also be given posthumously or to recognize lifetime achievements.
Nominations are made by completing the online form and emailing it to elizabeth.ridley@cacap-acpea.org with the word AWARDS in the subject line.
| Certificate of Recognition | |
|---|---|
| Normand Carrey | 2024 |
| MacART (McMaster Autism Research Team) | 2024 |
| Fundy Peace Foundation | 2023 |
| Gerald Gray | 2022 |
| Roberto Sassi | 2021 |
| No nominations | 2020 |
| Alan Brown | 2019 |
| The Offord Centre for Child Studies | 2019 |
| Herb Orlik | 2018 |
| Gail McVey | 2017 |
| Rob Nicolson | 2017 |
| John Leverette | 2016 |
| Aidan Stokes | 2015 |
| Anne McGuire | 2014 |
| Nancy Mannix | 2013 |
Purpose
These bursaries are to encourage CACAP members-in-training to attend and present scholarly work at the Annual Meeting.
Description
Up to six bursaries of $500 each will be awarded each year by the Research and Scientific Program Committee and Awards Committee.
Eligibility
CACAP Members-in-training who meet the following criteria are automatically considered for the Members-in-Training Travel Bursaries:
- Have an oral session or poster accepted for presentation at the Annual Meeting;
- Are first author (poster), co-presenter (workshop), or speaker (symposium);
- Are not receiving any industry support.
Consideration will be given based on the quality of the presentation as well as residence of the trainee relative to the location of the Annual Meeting.
Recognition
The Awards Committee Chair will inform recipients of the travel award at the conclusion of the Meeting.
Purpose
To recognize and promote the highest quality of presentations at the Annual Meeting, the CACAP may present the following oral and poster awards:
Three Best Oral Presentation Awards presented in the following categories:
- Early Career Award (member certified less than five years)
- Affiliate Early Career Investigator Award (for non-MD researchers in child and adolescent psychiatry who are either members-in-training or have been certified for less than 5 years)
- Member-in-Training Award
Four Best Poster Presentation Awards presented in the following categories:
- Full Member Award (full member certified more than five years)
- Early Career Award (member certified less than five years)
- Affiliate Early Career Investigator Award (for non-MD researchers in child and adolescent psychiatry who are either members-in-training or have been certified for less than 5 years)
- Member-in-Training Award
One Early Career Community Intervention/Access to Care Award
- oral presentation or poster by member certified less than five years
Awards are intended to recognize outstanding work. Therefore, each award is not necessarily awarded every year.
Eligibility
General Requirements:
- Members must be in good standing with the CACAP.
- The presenter speaks clearly, is concise and delivers a high-quality presentation.
- Throughout the presentation and during the question period, the presenter appears knowledgeable about the work and its relationship to current literature on the topic.
- In order for an oral or poster presentation to be considered for an award, it must present original research relevant to child psychiatry, and conclusions must be based on an accurate interpretation of the presented data, including appropriate acknowledgement of methodological limitations.
Best Scientific Oral Presentation
In addition to the criteria mentioned above under general eligibility, the following criteria apply:
- Trainees must be in training or have recently completed their training at an accredited educational institution with their work being completed during their traineeship.
- Presenters must be the first authors of the work, which in large part will have been designed, conducted, and analyzed by them.
Best Scientific Poster Presentation
In addition to the criteria mentioned above under general eligibility and best oral presentation, the following criteria apply:
- The presenter must be present for the poster session.
- The presenter answers questions appropriately and demonstrates a high level of understanding of the research material and the relevant literature.
- There shall be a visual balance between text, figures, and tables.
Adjudication
Prior to the start of the meeting, the Chair of the Research and Scientific Program Committee (RSPC) shall identify eligible presentations from the abstracts and shall assign two assessors to each of the oral presentations and two assessors to each of the poster presentations. Assessors shall privately identify any potential conflict of interest to the RSPC Chair. They shall independently assess the presentations, shall complete the marking sheets as provided and submit them to the RSPC Chair.
The collated results will be discussed with the Chair of the Awards Committee, following which the decision on the Awards will be made. The Awards shall be presented at the Awards ceremony on day 3 of the Annual Meeting.
Recognition
The Chair of the Awards Committee will announce the winners of the Awards at the Annual General Meeting.
The winner of each award will be given a certificate or suitably inscribed plaque. The winner of each trainee award will also be given a cash prize of $500.00 provided they have not already received a travel bursary.
Submitting a Nomination
Nominations are made by completing the online form for the nomination category of your choice (in the awards description) and emailing it to elizabeth.ridley@cacap-acpea.org with the word AWARDS in the subject line.
Application deadline is January 15, 2026.