CIMVHR Forum Awards are an opportunity to recognize researchers’ intellectual rigour, thought leadership and presentation skills at the annual CIMVHR Forum. A variety of awards are distributed on various areas of research. The awards are adjudicated by a panel of judges and presented virtually in the weeks following on CIMVHR’s social media platforms.
The CIMVHR Forum Awards program dates back to 2011 with the inaugural presentation of The Major Sir Frederick Banting Award. Although the criteria differ for each award, all recipients share a commitment to world-class research resulting in evidence-informed practices, policies and programs that support the health and well-being of Canadian military personnel, Veterans, public safety personnel and families.
Thank you to our 2026 CIMVHR Forum Awards sponsors!
THE MAJOR SIR FREDERICK BANTING AWARD
Awarded annually for military health research and sponsored by the True Patriot Love Foundation. The Banting Award honours Major Sir Frederick Banting- a world renowned physician, Nobel Prize winner and researcher who discovered insulin. The award recognizes high quality Canadian research that addresses military health issues.
Eligibility:
All researchers presenting military health research at CIMVHR Forum 2026.
Adjudication Process:
The award is adjudicated by the Surgeon General of the Canadian Forces.
Award:
The winner is presented with the Major Sir Frederick Banting MC, RCAMC Medal by the Surgeon General, and invited to Forum 2027 as a keynote speaker on the awarded topic.
Sponsored By
MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH AWARD
An award for best presentation focusing on improving or innovating clinical mental health practice.
Eligibility:
Any presenter or team presenting on clinical mental health practice at CIMVHR Forum 2026.
Adjudication Process:
The award will be adjudicated by a panel of judges.
Award:
$ 1000
Sponsored By
COLONEL RUSSELL MANN MILITARY, VETERAN AND PUBLIC SAFETY FAMILIES RESEARCH AWARD
The Colonel Russell Mann Military, Veteran and Public Safety Families Research Award recognizes high-quality Canadian research that deepens our understanding of the health, resilience, and lived experiences of military, Veteran and public safety families. The award is named after Colonel Russell Mann, a nationally recognized leader for Canadian military and Veteran families, and a key supporter of efforts to raise awareness of the experiences and contributions of military, Veteran and public safety families.
Eligibility:
Any student or early career (within five years of obtaining their PhD) researcher presenting research in its early stages relevant to family health at CIMVHR Forum 2026. Preference will be given to researchers who show the most potential for knowledge mobilization and positive health outcomes of military, Veteran and public safety families.
Adjudication Process:
The award is adjudicated by a panel of researchers in the CIMVHR network.
Award:
$ 1000
Sponsored By
RELEASE POINT EDUCATION STUDENT AWARD
Release Point Education fosters the realization of academic excellence by supporting military-connected students through the provision of specialized, relevant, and credible programming. The Release Point Education Student Award was established to support military-connected student researchers who are passionate about military, Veteran, and family research. This award is presented to the best student researcher presentation or poster at CIMVHR Forum 2024.
Eligibility:
First-author military-connected student researcher presenting a podium or poster at CIMVHR Forum 2024.
Adjudication Process:
This award is adjudicated by a panel of Release Point Education and CIMVHR judges.
Award:
$ 2000
Sponsored By
CANADIAN INSTITUTE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY RESEARCH AND TREATMENT (CIPSRT) PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL (PSP) MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH AWARD
CIPSRT has developed an award dedicated to individuals or research teams that show outstanding progress in advancing PSP mental health research. This award was established to support student researchers presenting on PSP at CIMVHR Forum.
Eligibility:
First-author student researcher presenting on PSP mental health research at CIMVHR Forum 2024
Adjudication Process:
The award will be adjudicated by a panel of expert judges in the PSP field.
Award:
$ 1000
Sponsored By
FAMILY HEALTH RESEARCH AWARD
An award recognizing high quality Canadian research that increases our understanding of military and Veteran family health.
Eligibility:
Any researcher or research team presenting military/Veteran family health research at CIMVHR Forum 2024
Adjudication Process:
The award is adjudicated by a panel of CIMVHR judges.
Award:
$ 1000
Sponsored By
STUDENT RESEARCH AWARD
Presented to the best student researcher presentation or poster at CIMVHR Forum 2026.
Eligibility:
First-author student researchers presenting the project.
Adjudication Process:
This award is adjudicated by a panel of CIMVHR judges.
Award:
Registration fees for CIMVHR Forum 2027 and $500 towards travel to Forum 2027.
Sponsored By
JOURNAL OF MILITARY, VETERAN AND FAMILY HEALTH EDITORS’ CHOICE AWARD
Awarded to a researcher whose poster presentation at the CIMVHR Forum made an exceptional contribution to military, Veteran, public safety personnel and family health research.
Eligibility:
First-author researchers presenting a poster at the CIMVHR Forum 2026.
Adjudication Process:
This award is adjudicated by the Editors-in-Chief and Managing Editor of the Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health.
Award:
An infographic or article to be published in an upcoming edition of the journal. Registration fees for CIMVHR Forum 2027 and $500 towards travel to Forum 2027.
Sponsored By
SUNSHINE COAST HEALTH CENTRE MENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH AWARD
An award for best presentation or poster focusing on improving mental health care. Preference on abstracts with a focus on trauma, substance and alcohol dependencies and psychotherapeutic practices.
Eligibility:
Any student or early career individual presenting on improving mental health care at CIMVHR Forum 2026.
Adjudication Process:
The award will be adjudicated by a panel of judges.
Award:
$1000
Sponsored By
