BFY Host Employer – Ambassador Award

Awarded: October 23, 2026 | Submission Deadline: August 14, 2026

The BFY Host Employer – Ambassador Award recognizes a Host Employer who has gone above and beyond to welcome, mentor and support BFY students, demonstrating leadership and commitment to workforce development in the skilled trades and construction sector.

Eligibility Criteria
  • The nominee must have hosted BFY students for a minimum of three years
  • The nominee must be a CANS member company in good standing
  • The nominee must conduct work in Nova Scotia
  • Nominees may be involved in any sector of the construction industry
  • Self-nominations and third-party nominations are welcome

Submission Requirements

All nominations must include a written submission of no more than 1,200 words total that clearly addresses each of the five criteria. We recommend drafting your submission in Word to help track your word count. Submissions exceeding the limit will not be reviewed by the selection committee.

Supporting materials are welcome and encouraged and are not included in the word count. 

  1. Mentorship and Supervision (maximum 10 points)

Describe how this employer demonstrates a strong commitment to mentoring and supporting BFY students. Examples may include:

  • Providing structured onboarding or orientation for BFY students
  • Offering regular check-ins, feedback, or skills coaching
  • Creating safe, supportive learning environments
  • Responding positively to individual student needs or challenges

  1. Program Engagement (maximum 10 points)

Explain how the employer has gone above and beyond standard placement expectations (e.g., repeat participation, hosting multiple students, additional learning opportunities). This may also include:

  • Hosting site visits, job site tours, or career exploration activities
  • Participating in guest speaking, classroom visits, or industry events
  • Providing additional learning opportunities beyond core job duties

  1. Impact & Leadership (maximum 10 points)

Share examples of how the employer has impacted student confidence, skill development or interest in careers in the skilled trades. This could include:

    • Students returning for additional summers or pursuing trades-related education or employment
    • Encouragement and support for students interested in continuing in the industry after high school
    • Acting as a role model for other Host Employers through leadership or advocacy

  2. Student Onboarding (maximum 5 points)

Submit a statement or excerpt from your internal policies on onboarding, mentorship or training activities. Demonstrate how your organization manages their occupational health and safety performance and risk reduction during onboarding.

Supporting Materials

Nominees are encouraged to include up to three supporting documents, such as:

  • Brief testimonials or quotes from former BFY students, industry partners, teachers or school staff
  • Photos from BFY placements or related activities (with appropriate permissions)
  • A short summary of additional supports provided to students
    (e.g., flexible scheduling, transportation solutions, extended employment)

All supporting materials must be clearly labelled and referenced in your submission. Supporting materials are not included in the overall word count; however, they should be limited to the most relevant and impactful items only and must not exceed six pages total. Materials submitted beyond this limit will not be reviewed by the selection committee.


Award Process and Conditions


Designated Company Representative

All award recipients will be announced at the CANS Awards Gala. Each nomination must include a designated company representative who will act as liaison with CANS if the nominee is selected. This individual must:

  • Maintain confidentiality until the public announcement at the Gala
  • Confirm attendance at the CANS Awards Gala or assign a representative

Selected recipients will participate in a brief interview process following judging. Portions of the interview may be recorded for presentation at the Gala.

How to Submit
  • Submit your nomination by August 14, 2026, at 4 p.m. A.T.
  • This nomination will be completed in a form format, with each criterion addressed in its own response field. You may distribute your total word count of up to 1,200 words across the sections as you see fit.
  • Individual deadline extensions will not be granted. Late or incomplete submissions will not be considered.
Selection Process

A committee of industry and BFY representatives will review all nominations. The award recipient will be selected based on total score. Each submission will be scored out of 100 points based on the criteria outlined above, demonstrated impact, clarity of the nomination, and the nominee’s meaningful contribution to the BFY Program.