Project of the Year Award
The program's highest honour - for organizations delivering exceptional outcomes across every dimension of project excellence.
About the Project of the Year Award
Delivery excellence, measured against five dimensions.
The Project of the Year Award recognizes a project that achieved exceptional outcomes against all five dimensions of the POTY Excellence Framework – scope, schedule, budget, quality, and stakeholder satisfaction. It is the most prestigious of the three categories and is open to enterprises, SMEs, and non-profits alike.
Project management excellence drives organizational competitiveness and community resilience, yet the teams behind exceptional results often lack a regional platform for recognition. This award fills that gap with a credible standard anchored in PMI methodologies – elevating Western Canadian organizations and preserving their stories for the profession.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Projects completed between Jan 1, 2020 and May 31, 2026
- Minimum project budget of CAD $50,000
- Lead organization based in or operating in BC
- Documented, measurable outcomes against defined KPIs
- At least three stakeholder references available
- A PMI-aligned methodology applied (any framework)
Ineligible submissions
- Projects still in active delivery at the deadline
- Projects without verifiable financial documentation
- Applicants with unresolved PMI-CWCC membership violations
- Projects previously recognized in another PMI POTY program
- Submissions from committee members or their direct reports
Participation & conflict of interest
- All judges and committee members complete a COI declaration
- Any connection to an applicant triggers automatic recusal and reassignment
- Submissions are treated as confidential; judges sign NDAs
- Scoring data is anonymized in aggregate reporting
Criteria, Rules, & Guidelines
Criterion | Weight | Max | Min | Key Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Total | 100% | 100 | 58 | Minimum threshold to advance to shortlist |
Project performance & delivery | 25% | 25 | 15 | Schedule & cost variance, scope change log, QA audits, post-delivery report |
Innovation & problem-solving | 20% | 20 | 12 | Innovation described, alternatives considered, adoption evidence, novelty |
Stakeholder impact & benefits | 20% | 20 | 12 | Benefits realization report, stakeholder surveys, executive sign-off, NPS |
Leadership & team excellence | 15% | 15 | 9 | Methodology, team composition, conflict resolution, leadership development |
Sustainability & social responsibility | 10% | 10 | 5 | Environmental impact data, CSR, community engagement, SDG alignment |
Lessons learned & knowledge transfer | 10% | 10 | 5 | Lessons register, knowledge artifacts, training materials |
Key Dates
-
June 12, 2026
Applications open -
September 30, 2026
Applications close -
October 15, 2026
Finalists announced -
November 5, 2026
Awards ceremony
Could your project be among the first?
2026 is the inaugural program year. Applications open June 12 and close September 30 - winners are celebrated at the PMWest Conference in November.