The Lincoln M. Alexander Award honours youth who have worked to eliminate racial discrimination in Ontario. This award was first given in 1993. There are three awards – two student awards and one community award.

The Honourable Lincoln M. Alexander PC, OC, BA, LLD. was born in 1922. His parents were West Indian immigrants. He was in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. He went to McMaster University and Osgoode Hall. In 1965 he was appointed Queen’s Counsel. Then he was a partner in a Hamilton law firm from 1963-79. From 1968 to 1985, he served in the House of Commons. He was Federal Minister of Labour, was later appointed Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and became the first member of a minority group to be Lieutenant Governor of Canada. Youth and education were the hallmarks of this mandate.

Since 1993, The Lincoln M. Alexander Award has recognized young people who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in eliminating racial discrimination. Each year, three young people, between the ages of 16 and 25, receive an award of $5,000 each and a framed scroll.

Student Award:

Full-time students who attend senior high school or who will be going to into a post-secondary education program can be nominated by their schools.

Community Award:

Anyone who lives in Ontario and is between 16 and 25 years old can be nominated by a community organization or agency that works in the field of race relations.

Community organizations working in the field of race relations can submit nominations. A selection committee, representing the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration and community organizations, review the nominations and select each year’s recipients.

A special ceremony is held at Queen’s Park to recognize the recipients each year. Recipients receive a personalized certificate as well as a $5,000 cash award.

Nomination forms may be submitted at any time. The deadline is May 31 of each year. All nominations received after this date will be considered for the following year.

When nominations are being accepted for this year, you will find a nomination form on this website in both PDF and HTML formats.

Do you have questions about Ontario’s recognition programs? Contact us at the Ontario Honours and Awards Secretariat.