An Awards Program for IBANS Member Brokers and Insurance Company Representatives.
With almost two successful decades under our belts the Aspire Awards program has become a hallmark of professional achievement, designed to highlight the innovation, commitment and excellence of those working throughout the Nova Scotia insurance community.
This year nominations will open early beginning January 7, 2026 and will wrap up on February 27, 2026.
Please be sure to get your submissions in so that we can acknowledge those deserving individuals who make this such a wonderful profession.
All award winners will be revealed during our annual Awards & Graduation Dinner April 23, 2026 at the Westin Hotel.
Award Categories
There are FIVE Aspire Award categories, all with their own specific criteria. For those wishing to nominate a candidate for an Aspire Award we recommend that you review the requirements carefully, as well as the Tips on Nominating. These submissions will be the only factor determining the selection of an individual, so please provide as much detail and facts as possible when telling us about your candidate.
 Lifetime Achievement Award posted on November 5, 2021 |
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Nominees - IBANS Member Brokers or Insurance Company Employees *** - P&C
Nominators - IBANS Member Brokers or Insurance Company Employees *** - P&C
- Possess a minimum of 20 years employment within the industry;
- Demonstrated perseverance and strong work ethic throughout their entire insurance career;
- Demonstrated strong leadership throughout career.
- Made a significant impact or contribution to the industry that redefined or improved overall operations;
- Demonstrated consistently high standards and a willingness to embrace change to support innovation within the industry;
- Set quality standards in the provision of information, reliability and speed of service to build the broker/insurer relationship;
- Demonstrated an understanding of their role as corporate citizens through social responsibility. Encompassing behaviours such as but not limited to charitable initiatives, mentoring, and sustainable development to the insurance community and beyond.
*** Insurance company representatives - this means those individuals who are either located in NS or who work as underwriters/BDM's for an insurance company directly servicing NS member brokerages.
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Emerging Professional of the Year Award posted on November 5, 2021 |
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Nominees - IBANS Member Brokers
Nominators - IBANS Member Brokers or Insurance Company Employees ***
- Have a good working knowledge and understanding of the NS insurance industry and involvement in industry activities.
- Exhibit enthusiasm for innovation when it comes to addressing the developing needs of the ever changing insurance marketplace;
- Possess leadership skills and the ability to motivate others within their brokerage as well as being a team player ;
- Exhibit a commitment to promoting the broker channel and benefits of a career within the industry;
- Demonstrate use of strong judgement and utilization of communication skills.
- Must be new to the industry/broker channel in the last 5 years
*** Insurance company representatives - this means those individuals who are either located in NS or who work as underwriters/BDM's for an insurance company directly servicing NS member brokerages. |
Insurance Company Representative of the Year Award posted on November 5, 2021 |
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Nominees - Insurance Company Employees - P&C
Nominators - IBANS Member Brokers or Insurance Company Employees
- Be employed by an insurance company within the province of Nova Scotia (P&C) (Underwriter; Claims Department; Account Manager; Business Development)
- Be accessible and responsive to broker needs; and approachable for discussion to enhance overall consumer satisfaction;
- Possess superior product knowledge and the ability to communicate subject matter accurately and clearly;
- Demonstrate innovation through problem solving as it supports client/broker interactions.
*** Insurance company representatives - this means those individuals who are either located in NS or who work as underwriters/BDM's for an insurance company directly servicing NS member brokerages.
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Broker Leadership Award posted on November 5, 2021 |
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Nominees - IBANS Member Brokers
Nominators - IBANS Member Brokers or Insurance Company Employee
- Demonstrates a strong commitment to career growth through ongoing professional learning.
- Inspires a culture of continuous improvement and motivates peers within their brokerage to take on new challenges.
- Embraces innovation and change to enhance workflows within brokerage.
- Has completed or is actively pursuing an accredited insurance designation program.
- Positively influences colleagues and industry professionals to exceed expectations in meeting identified work targets.
- Promotes knowledge sharing and fosters meaningful relationships within the industry.
*** Insurance company representatives - this means those individuals who are either located in NS or who work as underwriters/BDM's for an insurance company directly servicing NS member brokerages. |
Above & Beyond Award posted on November 5, 2021 |
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Nominees - IBANS Member Brokers
Nominators - IBANS Member Principals, and Member Brokers
IBANS wants to hear about that exceptional individual…the one that impacted a client’s life so profoundly that they should be celebrated.
Therefore, we have adjusted the traditional criteria and format for this award category and are relying on the person nominating to identify how the individual they are acknowledging has exceeded their basic job description; how they have elevated the profession through their work or by example; and to be that individual who has gone above and beyond to serve their clients or support the industry - has truly given of themselves!
Please tell us about your brokerage champion and how they have demonstrated a level of commitment to their team, clients and community, so we can share their story with others.
We want to highlight those individuals and all that they bring to their communities and profession. |
Nomination Process
Nominations are open from January 7, 2026 - February 27, 2026.
Only submissions from IBANS members and NS insurance company representatives *** will be accepted as per the specific award criteria.
*** Insurance company representatives - this means those individuals who are either located in NS or who work as underwriters/BDM's for an insurance company directly servicing NS member brokerages.
The nomination period for consideration is for the 2025 calendar year.
Anyone eligible to submit a nomination must do so utilizing the official online form found on this site. No other formats will be accepted.
- Self nomination is accepted by IBANS members only.
- Nominations can include previous category winners.
- All submissions are reviewed by a panel of independent judges.
- Those submissions not meeting the specified criteria, including who can nominate or receive a nomination will be eliminated from their categories.
- If a submission is eliminated the nominator will be contacted advising them of the panel’s decision to exclude the submission.
- Those nominations remaining are announced as finalists and the recipient will be presented with the awards dinner held each April.
Tips on How to Make a Winning Submission
To give your candidate the best chance for success here are some TIPS to help them get to the winners circle!
- Be sure the candidate meets the award criteria. With a few awards to choose from find the one or even two that best fit the individual your nominating.
- Don't just list everything the candidate has done - tell us about them. Give examples not just one or two words - tell us a story.
- Include supporting documents when possible - copies of newspaper clippings; photo's of awards they have won; testimonials related to the category criteria; give the judges some context.
- Don't wait until the last minute to collect information and submit! We all have good intentions but this step could make the difference for them becoming a finalist - put in your best effort!
Judges
Submissions will be judged by an independent panel of five industry professionals.
The panel will consist of a combination of representatives from one or more of the following organizations: the Insurance Brokers Association of Canada (IBAC), Insurance Institute, other provincial Insurance Associations and retired industry peers from the broker channel as well as insurance company executives.
Judges will review all submissions utilizing online software.
Judges will work independently and not have access to view rankings made by any other judges.
