Award Categories
CDA annually recognizes exceptional individuals from among the following award categories:
CDA Medal of Honour
The Medal of Honour is the highest award conferred by the Canadian Dental Association. It is given to a dentist in recognition of a lifetime of outstanding service and professional achievement to the benefit of the dental profession, the dental community and society at large, and to which can be attributed significant change. The breadth and scope of achievement are significant factors in receipt of this award, as is the contribution that the individual has made to the goals and objectives of the Canadian Dental Association.
Due to the distinctive and special nature of this award, the award may not be conferred in any one year.
Eligibility: Recipients must be licensed dentist members of a CDA corporate member, non licensed (retired) dentists or an affiliate member of CDA.
CDA Honoured Member Award
The Honoured Member Award is given to an individual (dentist or non dentist) who has made an outstanding contribution to the dental profession, the dental community or the oral health of Canadians over a sustained period of time at the academic, corporate, specialty society, council, commission or committee level. An outstanding contribution at the national level shall be a principal consideration. The breadth and scope of achievement is a significant factor in determining this award.
Eligibility: Recipients may be licensed dentist members of a CDA corporate member, non licensed, (retired) dentists or an affiliate member of CDA. Non-dentists are eligible for this award as are dentists not residing in Canada.
Distinguished Service Award
The Distinguished Service Award is given to recognize outstanding contributions to the dental profession, the dental community or the oral health of Canadians at large, in a given year or outstanding service over a number of years. It may also recognize outstanding contributions at the academic, corporate, specialty society, council, commission or committee level.
Eligibility: Recipients may be licensed dentist members of a CDA corporate member, non-licensed (retired) dentists or an affiliate member of CDA. Non-dentists are eligible for this award.
Award of Merit
The Award of Merit recognizes an individual who has served in an outstanding capacity in the governing or service of the Canadian Dental Association over a sustained period of time, or who has made similar outstanding contributions to the dental profession, the dental community or the oral health of Canadians and/or society at large. Service considerations include:
- no less than 2 full terms of exemplary service on the former CDA Executive Council and/or Board of Directors; and/or outstanding service on a CDA council/commission/task force/working group or project team, and/or
- outstanding service elsewhere in organized dentistry at the Corporate, regulatory, specialty or academic level.
Eligibility: Recipients will be licensed dentist members of a CDA corporate member, non-licensed (retired) dentists or an affiliate member of CDA. Non-dentists are eligible for this award.
Special Friend of Canadian Dentistry Award
The Special Friend of Canadian Dentistry Award is conferred on an individual or organization outside of the dental profession in appreciation for exemplary support or service to Canadian dentistry and/or to the profession as a whole.
Eligibility: Recipients of this award may be dentists or non-dentists who are engaged in serving or supporting the dental profession. Should the recipient be a licensed dentist, they must be a member of a CDA corporate member or an affiliate member of the Canadian Dental Association.
Oral Health Promotion Award
This award recognizes individuals or organizations who have improved the oral health of Canadians through oral health promotion. This may involve creating public health policy or supportive environments, strengthening community action, developing personal skills, and/or increasing the prevention of oral diseases and disorders.
Eligibility: Recipients who are licensed dentists must be members of a CDA corporate member or an affiliate member of CDA. Recipients may also be organizations or non-dentists involved in oral health care.
