The Saint Paul University Eugene de Mazenod Medal

Origins of the award
The medal bearing the name of the founder of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, the religious order that founded the institution that is now Saint Paul University, is designed to acknowledge Eugene de Mazenod’s primary concern – relating to people’s real situations – by honouring those who demonstrate daring and zeal in dealing with urgent societal issues.

Aim
The Saint Paul University Eugene de Mazenod medal aims to recognize deserving humanitarian service, ideas or projects that benefit society. The medal honours a person who has made a significant contribution to developing human capital in his or her own context or in the broader society.

Eligibility
Anyone who has made an ongoing and important contribution by serving society in an innovative way, through projects, services or works.

Selection
This medal will be awarded to the candidate who meets the following criteria:

• shows a commitment to the growth, greater welfare or actualization of people;
• has an impact on his or her own environment or on society;
• is always ready to offer help, to get involved, to listen or to take part in discussions in society by offering wise insights on major issues;
• uses innovative methods, practices or ideas to serve society;
• exhibits personal integrity;
• displays a passion and an enthusiasm (charisma) for humanist or social thought, in the general sense.

Frequency
A single medal will be awarded each year (it may be given at various times, depending on the circumstances, but it cannot be awarded more than once a year).

Conditions for awarding the medal

1. The medal is awarded for projects, deserving ideas or service to society.
2. The application will be submitted to the Executive Committee of Saint Paul University, which will make its recommendation to the Council of Administration.
3. No member of the Executive Committee or the Council of Administration may sign the nomination of a candidate.
4. It is desirable that the candidate accepts the award in person at the Solemn Closing of the Academic Year or at the Mass on the feast of Saint Paul.
5. All accepted nominations will be kept for a period of three years, unless they are officially withdrawn by a majority of the signatories who presented a nomination.
6. The candidates who are nominated must be Canadian citizens and must not be involved in a controversy.

Nominations
Nominations may be proposed by a member of Saint Paul University who represents the management, the professors or the staff.
Each nomination must:

• include a letter of nomination describing the candidate’s qualities and achievements. The letter must clearly name the reasons for which the signatories chose this person (maximum of 5 pages);
• be submitted by one of the signatories and be supported by two other representatives of Saint Paul University;
• be submitted at the first meeting of the Executive Committee in September for the current academic year;
• include a photograph of the candidate (if a photograph is available).