Closed
Source verified August 1, 2026
Robbins-Ollivier Equity Excellence Award
Equity initiatives for Canadian research institutions
Offered by
Funding available
$ 100,000
Deadline
Closed
Location
Canada
Overview
The Robbins-Ollivier Equity Award supports eligible Canada Research Chairs Program institutions with $100,000 over one year, plus a possible one-time one-year extension, to advance bold equity initiatives in Canada’s research and academic ecosystem against persistent systemic barriers. Eligible uses include course or administrative release time, student and trainee salaries, and research costs.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new program or service
- Increase social or community impact
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Minimum amount : 100,000 $
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Public or Parapublic institution
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Language Minorities
- Other Racialized Persons
- Black Canadians
- Rural or Northern Residents
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
- Youth (<40)
- Women
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Bold, potentially transformative initiatives that challenge the status quo and drive change
- Initiatives implemented within the institution to address persistent systemic barriers
- Projects that better understand systemic barriers and define innovative measures to eliminate them
Documents Needed
- Nomination form
- Project description, including a title and a plain-language summary
- Detailed one-year budget
- Institutional nomination letter and justification
- Institutional process and support section
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Eligible institutions in the Canada Research Chairs Program
Who is not eligible
- Individuals cannot apply on their own or receive the funds directly
- Auxiliary faculty are not eligible
Eligible expenses
- Course or administrative release time
- Student and trainee stipends or salaries
- Research costs under the Guide to Administration of Chair Programs
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Indirect costs
- Faculty salaries
- Using the award to supplement or increase funding for pre-existing ongoing initiatives
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Project quality and transformative potential (60%)
- Leadership and commitment to equity (20%)
- Nomination process and institutional support (20%)
How to apply
- Submit the full nomination package on the Program’s SharePoint site.
Processing and Agreement
- A peer review committee selects the three laureates, and triage ranks the top three nominations recommended for funding.
- Selection follows the award criteria and best practices, including the conflict-of-interest and confidentiality policy.
- The institutions of selected laureates must provide a document proposing a promotion and recognition strategy for the people, impacts and results of their initiative.
- Laureates will be informed of reporting requirements when they receive the award.
- Laureates must take responsibility for the funds under the Guide to Administration of Chair Programs and sign the promotional consent allowing the use of their name, photo, and submitted documents.
Additional information
- Each institution may submit only one nomination per year.
- Selected laureates and their initiatives will be featured on the Program’s website and social media, and invited to present their initiative and its impacts in a public forum.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Robbins-Ollivier Equity Excellence Award Program
What is the Robbins-Ollivier Equity Excellence Award?
The Robbins-Ollivier Equity Award supports eligible Canada Research Chairs Program institutions with $100,000 over one year, plus a possible one-time one-year extension, to advance bold equity initiatives in Canada’s research and academic ecosystem against persistent systemic barriers. Eligible uses include course or administrative release time, student and trainee salaries, and research costs.
How much funding can be received?
Robbins-Ollivier Equity Excellence Award Funds up to $100,000 of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Robbins-Ollivier Equity Excellence Award program?
To be eligible for the Robbins-Ollivier Equity Excellence Award program, you must:
Eligible institutions in the Canada Research Chairs Program
Full-time faculty nominees must be eligible for agency grants and be in good standing
The initiative must be bold and potentially transformative
What expenses are eligible under Robbins-Ollivier Equity Excellence Award?
Bold, potentially transformative initiatives that challenge the status quo and drive change
Initiatives implemented within the institution to address persistent systemic barriers
Projects that better understand systemic barriers and define innovative measures to eliminate them
Who can I contact for more information about the Robbins-Ollivier Equity Excellence Award?
You can contact Government of Canada by email at tamara.pyke@chairs-chaires.gc.ca.
Where is the Robbins-Ollivier Equity Excellence Award available?
The Robbins-Ollivier Equity Excellence Award program is available across Canada.
Is the Robbins-Ollivier Equity Excellence Award a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Robbins-Ollivier Equity Excellence Award is a Grant and Funding