Ken Haycock Award For Promoting Librarianship
In 2007, Dr. Ken Haycock generously donated to the former Canadian Library Association (CLA) to establish an award for promoting librarianship. With the dissolution of CLA in 2016, OLA accepted a transfer of the funds to continue presenting the award. The Canadian Urban Libraries Council/Conseil des Bibliothèques Urbaines du Canada (CULC/CBUC) will be leading the Nominations process on behalf of the Award and OLA.
Nomination Process
Using the online form, submit a letter explaining how the nominee meets the criteria below. Please provide specific examples.
Nominations are due November 15th, 2026 by 12:00 pm Eastern Time.
Criteria
The Ken Haycock Award for Promoting Librarianship is awarded to a candidate who has demonstrated exceptional success in enhancing the public recognition and appreciation of librarianship. This may have been accomplished through:
- Exceptional practice as a librarian;
- Teaching the profession in formal and informal settings: or
- Writing
Selection will also be based on the nominee’s demonstrated actions as an Ambassador and role model for librarianship.
Other Considerations
- The award recognizes exceptional achievement outside of the usual awareness activity a professional is expected to do.
- Nominees may be from any Canadian province or territory.
Selection
A Nominations Committee representing different types of libraries will be formed each year. The committee will make a recommendation to the CULC Board of Directors for ratification. Where nominated candidates do not achieve the level of success deemed necessary by the Nominations Committee, the Award will not be presented.
Presentation
The award will be presented in conjunction with the appropriate Conference or Library Event of the recipient’s type of library.
Award
The Award includes a cash prize of $1,000, in addition to a plaque recognizing the recipient’s achievement.
Past Recipients
- 2026 Vickery Bowles, Toronto Public Library
- 2025 Susan Haigh, CARL
- 2024 Rebecca Jones, LLEAD
- 2023 Victoria Owen, University of Toronto iSchool
- 2022 Rebecca Raven, Brampton Library
- 2019 Donna Bourne-Tyson, Dalhousie University Libraries
- 2018 Sandra Singh, Vancouver Public Library
- 2017 Jeff Barber, Regina Public Library
- 2016 Not awarded
- 2015 Leslie Weir, University of Ottawa
- 2014 Not awarded
- 2013 Ernie Ingles, University of Alberta
- 2012 Pilar Martinez, Edmonton Public Library
- 2011 Wendy Newman, University of Toronto
- 2010 Allan Wilson, Prince George Public Library
- 2009 Karen Lindsay, Reynolds Secondary School, Victoria BC
- 2008 The Alberta Library