Civic Recognition

Awarded to a youth who started an initiative which made a positive impact within their community, showing growing leadership skills and outstanding potential as representatives of the community.

Awarded to an individual, who demonstrates advocacy and awareness for social change.

Awarded to a youth who exhibits care and discern for the environment and is actively trying to leave the planet a better place for future generations.

Awarded to a youth who acts out of the kindness of their heart and commits to selfless acts to better the lives of others.

Awarded to a youth demonstrating a long-term commitment to the arts, who has used their talents for the benefit of the community in one or more of these areas, multimedia, theatre, dance, music, visual arts.

Awarded to a youth who exemplifies good sportsmanship and who has made an exceptional contribution to the sporting community, on or off the field.

This award recognized individual youth who have achieved considerable progress in a particular part of their life exhibiting the ability and commitment for personal change and growth.

This award will recognize youth who are trained in HIGH FIVE and who help children in their programs to build friends, master skills, play with intention, participate in programs and show children what a caring leader looks like.

The EDI award is being presented to a youth, in recognition and celebration of their many contributions and efforts towards promoting and creating an inclusive and welcoming community.

Awarded to any group that collaborates to make a positive impact within the community; an after-school group, a community youth group, or a group of friends who are paving positive pathways.

National Youth Week is a week dedicated to celebrating youth and their active participation in the community. It's a time to recognize and honour youth involvement. This year we are moving to an entire month of events throughout to celebrate. 

Cambridge has many recreational opportunities for youth in the community. Awarded the Youth Friendly Community Recognition Award through Play Works, Cambridge supports youth (ages 13 to 19). The City provides opportunities for growth and development through many activities, such as sports, arts, volunteering and youth leadership.

The Bill Struck Memorial Scholarship honours the memory of Councilor Bill Struck for his service to the Cambridge community and his support of youth. Every year, the city awards two leadership scholarships to Cambridge youth planning to attend a post-secondary school in the next semester.

Do you know a youth who needs financial help to attend a post-secondary school and who shows great leadership in the community? This year the city will be awarding one recipient. Complete a Bill Struck Memorial Scholarship Application. 

The Bernice Adams Bursary Program provides assistance to deserving and qualified individuals to assist in their further development in the fields of:

• Visual Arts
• Performing Arts
• Music
• Communications
• Literary Arts

Meet our 2025 Bernice Adams Award Recipients!

Communication - Randy Moore
Literary Arts - June Anderson
Music - Karen Johannes,
Outstanding Youth - Elisa Yuan Charbonneau
Performing Arts - Jason Blair
Visual Arts - Heather Kocsis

And announcing our Heart of the Arts recipient, Dr. Narine Dat Sookram!
For over 20 years, Dr. Narine Dat Sookram has mentored emerging West Indian and Caribbean artists, coached performers for the Caribbean Dreams Concert, and founded the Caribbean Spice Radio Show, providing a platform for artists to share their music and stories.

His dedication has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Governor General Caring Canadian Award, the June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award, and the RBC Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award. In 2014, the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario presented him with their Award for Excellence for his contributions to the cultural landscape.

The Bernice Adams Legacy Awards recognizes outstanding contributors in the development of Arts and Culture in Cambridge. Individuals and Groups are honored in the following categories:

• Communications
• Literary Arts
• Music
• Outstanding Youth
• Performing Arts
• Visual Arts

The Heart of the Arts Award is presented to an individual or group deserving of recognition in more than one category.

The Cultural Awards Committee welcomes nominations from the community year-round. Annual deadline for nominations is February 28.

The Bernice Adams Awards were established to honor the efforts of former City Councilor Bernice Adams in advancing the creative community in Cambridge. Nominations are received from the community. Finalists and Award recipients are chosen by the Cambridge Cultural Awards Trustees - a volunteer committee who work to recognize Cambridge's outstanding contributors in the development of Arts and Culture.

If you are interested in being part of this Awards Committee, please reach out to the staff liaison at 519-623-1340 ext. 4565.

Eligible award winners must meet at least one of the following criteria, for a minimum of three years before receiving an award:

• A resident of Cambridge
• Employed in Cambridge
• An associate member or student of a relevant group or school in the City of Cambridge

Eligible recipients must also have made a significant contribution to the Cambridge community in at least two of the following areas:

• Educating others in one of the arts and cultural categories.
• Volunteering for the benefit of others in the community.
• Forming or leading group work that has received acclaim, locally, provincially, or nationally.
• Making major improvements or developments related to one of the arts and cultural categories.

Complete the Bernice Adams Legacy Award nomination form online. 

The Cultural Awards Committee manages the distribution of awards and expenses of the Bernice Adams Legacy Award. The Committee also sponsors the award to support and honour the achievements of individuals and groups in Cambridge related to arts and cultural categories. 

The Cambridge Hall of Fame honours outstanding community members who have made a difference in Cambridge. Learn more about members of the Cambridge Hall of Fame.