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September 23, 2025

 2026 Colonel Russell Mann Family Research Award: Call for Nominations

The Vanier Institute of the Family is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Colonel Russell Mann Family Research Award.

Aligned with the Family Work lens of the Family Diversities and Wellbeing Framework, this award recognizes researchers whose work advances understanding of the contemporary and evolving nature of paid and unpaid work and the complex and shifting intersections with family wellbeing. It honours research that promotes recognition of the diversity of family experiences at the paid work–family interface.

The Colonel Russell Mann Family Research Award has a rich history and was originally focused on military, Veteran, and public safety personnel families in Canada—families whose wellbeing is shaped by work that is high risk, requires high mobility, and/or involves frequent separations from families and home communities. The award recognized research that highlighted both the distinct strengths and challenges faced by these families.

As understandings of the intersections between paid work and family have evolved, so too has the scope of this award. We continue to welcome nominations of research focused on military and Veteran families, in alignment with the original focus of the award. However, reflecting the changing nature of work, the award scope has been broadened to focus on the full diversity of family employment experiences in Canada. This includes civilian families whose employment shares similar characteristics to military and Veteran families, such as construction workers whose work is high risk, rotating seasonal workers who travel across borders for extended periods, transportation workers, and others. It also recognizes families navigating emerging and non-traditional forms of employment, such as gig work, self-employment, and remote work. The award celebrates research that illuminates how paid work shapes family wellbeing across diverse contexts, and it honours the enduring contributions of Colonel Russell Mann to the wellbeing of military, Veteran, and other families in Canada.

Eligibility criteria

• Nominees must have a master’s degree or PhD, or be completing their degree requirements in the next 6 months.
• Nominations must be submitted by a third party; self-nominations are not permitted.
• Previous recipients of the Colonel Russell Mann Award are not eligible.

Submission guidelines

Nominations are to be submitted via the Institute’s website and include the following:

• A completed nomination form.
• A CV or resume.
• A letter (maximum two pages) outlining the nominee’s contributions, including how they advance knowledge and understanding of the diversity of family experiences at the paid work–family interface and impacts on family well-being, and other research and/or policy, program, or practice implications.
• Up to two supporting documents (e.g., publications, presentations, or media features relevant to the submission).

Selection criteria

The jury will evaluate nominations based on:

• Scientific merit and research significance: demonstrated potential for excellence in research that advances knowledge of family diversity and the wellbeing of families in Canada.
• Policy and practice implications: show promise in contributing to policies, programs, or practices that support the wellbeing of families.
• Innovation and originality: exhibits creativity and novel approaches in research, program development, or knowledge mobilization that address challenges faced by families in Canada.

Deadline and announcement

Nominations must be submitted by November 25, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST.

The winner will be announced in January 2026. The announcement will be shared on our website, through email, and across our social media channels via a news release.

For more information or if you have any questions regarding the Colonel Russell Mann Award, please contact Laurel Sakaluk at [email protected].