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REACH Awards

The REACH Awards recognize outstanding achievement at the University of Victoria. We honour the extraordinary teachers and researchers who lead the way in dynamic learning and make a vital impact at UVic, in the classroom and beyond.

Research awards

The details of the REACH Awards for research, including the nomination process, are handled by the Office of the VP Research & Innovation.

David H. Turpin Gold Medal for Career Achievement in Research

The recipient of the David H. Turpin Gold Medal for Career Achievement in Research demonstrates a distinguished record of research or creative activity that has significantly advanced their field of discipline. This award honours lifetime achievement, and recognizes the exceptional impact of their work in pushing the boundaries of knowledge and inspiring future generations of researchers and artists.

Gold Medal details

Silver Medal for Excellence in Research

The University of Victoria's Silver Medal for Excellence in Research Award celebrates a researcher who has made significant contributions to advancing research and innovation in their field. The Silver Medal highlights the recipient’s commitment to their research field within a relatively short timeframe since completing their academic journey.

Silver Medal details

Research Impact Award

The University of Victoria's Research Impact Award (formerly the Excellence in Knowledge Mobilization Award) recognizes and celebrates scholars who maximize the impact of their academic research for the public good. This award recognizes a significant project, product, event, service or body of work beyond academia that demonstrates excellence in impact within a community. The University of Victoria defines research impact as the purposeful communication, exchange and application of knowledge developed through an ongoing process of research and/or creative and artistic endeavour for the benefit of society.

Research Impact Award details

Excellence in Creativity and Artistic Expression Award

This award recognizes a significant project or body of work that furthers knowledge and awareness through creative or artistic expression. Nominations are encouraged from the creative, visual and performing arts, scholarship on the arts, and research on all aspects of arts and culture.

Excellence in Creativity and Artistic Expression details

Excellence in Research Partnerships Award

The REACH Partnership award recognizes the achievements of a UVic researcher and their external research partner(s) in jointly achieving research and knowledge exchange. Through collaborative efforts, the recipient advances scholarly contributions but also facilitates dissemination and application of knowledge beyond academia. This award celebrates outstanding partnership with far-reaching societal impact.

Excellence in Research Partnerships details

ʔəy̓ nəwəl ʔist | ÍY,NEUELIST | Moving forward together for the good of all | Indigenous Scholar Award for Excellence in Research (new)

The University of Victoria's Indigenous Scholar Award for Excellence in Research recognizes an Indigenous scholar that advances knowledge in the field of their study. Nominations that promote Indigenous-specific research and/or decolonization within their research field are encouraged but not required. UVic aims to redress barriers to higher education, while respecting Indigenous ways of knowing and being in education, research and governance. This award aims to embrace, celebrate and encourage Indigenous knowledge in research.

This award nomination period has been extended to December 12, 2023

ʔəy̓ nəwəl ʔist | ÍY,NEUELIST Indigenous Scholar Award details

Early Career Award for Excellence in Research (new)

The early career award for excellence in research recognizes the importance of developing the next generation of scholars. UVic aims to build the capacity and expertise of early career researchers, ensuring a strong pipeline of highly skilled individuals who will contribute significantly to their respective fields. The award will be given to an early career researcher who has demonstrated strong potential to be a leader in their field. 

Early Career Research Award details

Teaching awards

The details of the REACH Awards for teaching, including the nomination process, are handled by the Division of Learning and Teaching Support and Innovation (LTSI).

Harry Hickman Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching and Educational Leadership

This award bears the name of a distinguished scholar, teacher and principal of Victoria College. He was acting president of UVic and head of the Modern Languages and French departments. This award recognizes faculty members who have demonstrated excellence in teaching and educational leadership.

Excellence in Teaching and Educational Leadership details

Gilian Sherwin Alumni Award for Excellence in Teaching

This award bears the name of a former senior lab instructor in the Geography department and is a tribute to Sherwin's commitment to the art of teaching and the influence she had on many students and colleagues. Sessional instructors, lab instructors and senior lab Instructors are eligible for this award.

Excellence in Teaching details

Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Supervision and Mentorship

This award recognizes graduate-level supervision and mentorship that fosters intellectual, professional and personal development of graduate students at UVic.

Graduate Student Supervision and Mentorship details

Nəc̓əmaat kʷəns čeʔi ʔay̓ šqʷeləqʷən | ĆȺNEUEL OL ÍY, ŚḰÁLEȻEN | Work together with a good heart and mind

This Award for Decolonization and Anti-Indigenous Racism supports work being done across campus to review and update curricula and pedagogical practice using decolonization and/or anti-Indigenous racism approaches.

Nəc̓əmaat kʷəns čeʔi ʔay̓ šqʷeləqʷən | ĆȺNEUEL OL ÍY, ŚḰÁLEȻEN details

Award for Inclusive and Innovative Course Design

This award recognizes and celebrates innovative approaches to teaching that promote inclusion through the use of technology, digital pedagogies and principles of Universal Design for Learning.

Inclusive and Innovative Course Design details

Andy Farquharson Teaching Excellence Award for Graduate Students

Named after a past Director of the Learning and Teaching Centre, this award is open to graduate students who have demonstrated excellence as teaching assistants, lab instructors or senior lab instructors.

Teaching Excellence for Graduate Students details

Provost’s advocacy & activism awards

The Provost’s Advocacy and Activism Awards in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion awards recognize the achievements of individuals or groups in the university community (current students, faculty, staff and alumni) who demonstrate dedication to the advancement of social equity through advocacy and/or activism. These awards also celebrate individuals or groups who go beyond the expectations of one’s job, position or responsibility to advance the rights of others.

Past recipients

See the list of past recipients of teaching awards for faculty.

2022 award presentations