Official Guidelines Updated: March 2026

The Alberta Citizenship Awards are a group of three awards recognizing graduating high school students who have made meaningful contributions to their communities through public service, voluntary work, and leadership. Academic achievement is not a requirement — these awards are for students who have demonstrated outstanding citizenship and commitment to others.

The three awards are:

• Premier’s Citizenship Award — a letter of commendation from the Premier, awarded to one student from every eligible Alberta high school
• Alberta Centennial Award — a $2,005 scholarship, 25 awarded annually
• Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Citizenship Award — a medallion and $7,000 scholarship, 8 awarded annually

Receiving the Premier’s Citizenship Award is a prerequisite for both the Alberta Centennial Award and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Citizenship Award — recipients of the two higher awards are selected from the pool of Premier’s Citizenship Award recipients.

Eligibility Criteria

The following requirements apply to all three awards:

• Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
• Be an Alberta resident — either you have maintained permanent residence in Alberta for at least 12 consecutive months before starting post-secondary studies, or one of your parents or guardians is a resident of Alberta.
• Be a graduating Grade 12 student from an Alberta high school in the year of application.
• Demonstrate outstanding citizenship, leadership, and community service. Contributions can be at any level — school, local community, or broader. Academic achievement is not a requirement.

For the Alberta Centennial Award and Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Citizenship Award only, the applicant must also be enrolled full-time in a post-secondary program for the fall or winter term to receive the award.

The Three Awards

Premier’s Citizenship Award

Each Alberta high school selects one graduating Grade 12 student to receive this award. Recipients receive a Letter of Commendation from the Premier. While not a monetary award, it is a recognized distinction — and it is the gateway to the two higher-value awards below. Every Premier’s Citizenship Award recipient is automatically considered for the Alberta Centennial and Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Citizenship Awards.

Alberta Centennial Award

Each year, 25 young Albertans are selected from Premier’s Citizenship Award recipients to receive a $2,005 scholarship. This award honours students who have demonstrated notable characteristics in citizenship and social responsibility, leadership, and community service. Applicants must also be enrolled full-time in a post-secondary program for the fall or winter term.

Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Citizenship Award

Each year, 8 young Albertans are selected from Premier’s Citizenship Award recipients to receive a medallion and a $7,000 scholarship. This award honours students who have contributed to their communities through exceptional citizenship, leadership, public service, and voluntary work. Applicants must also be enrolled full-time in a post-secondary program for the fall or winter term.

Selection Process

Each high school nominates one student for the Premier’s Citizenship Award. Only nominated students can apply. The application goes through the GATE Front Office online system. From the pool of Premier’s Citizenship Award recipients, a selection panel then identifies recipients for the Alberta Centennial Award and the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Citizenship Award based on the overall strength of each application.

How to Apply

Applications open in March each year and must be received by the June 1 deadline. All applications are submitted through the GATE (Grant Administration Tracking and Evaluation) Front Office online system — paper applications are not accepted.

To apply, your school must first nominate you for the Premier’s Citizenship Award. Once nominated, you will need to register for a GATE account by emailing the GATE Registration address at least five business days before applying, providing your legal name, the award you are applying for, and your email address. Your login credentials will be sent to you by email.

Your application package for the Premier’s Citizenship Award must include a completed online application and a School Information and Applicant Declaration Form signed by your principal.

If you are also applying for the Alberta Centennial Award and Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Citizenship Award, select “Yes” when prompted within the GATE application. You will also need to provide:

• A completed Record of Accomplishments Chart outlining your community activities, leadership, and voluntary contributions
• Two letters of reference (maximum two pages each):
  • One from someone who has known you for at least one year through school, community, or volunteer activities
  • One from someone who can elaborate on your specific accomplishments as outlined in your Record of Accomplishments Chart

Other Alberta Student Aid Options

If this award is not the right fit, explore other programs available through Alberta Student Aid:

• Alexander Rutherford Scholarship — merit-based scholarship of up to $2,500 for strong academic achievement in Grades 10, 11, and 12
• Alberta Student Grant for Full-Time Students — up to $425/month in non-repayable provincial funding based on financial need
• Alberta Student Loans — provincial loans to help cover tuition, books, and living costs
• Canada Student Grants — federal non-repayable grants assessed through your Alberta Student Aid application

Ready to find a program? Explore eligible schools today.