Moe Yassine Leadership Award

The Moe Yassine Leadership Award is the highest honour given by the Alberta 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce. It is presented each year to an individual whose leadership has made a real difference for Queer and Trans entrepreneurship and professionals in Alberta.

About the Award

The award is named for Moe Yassine, former Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, in recognition of his outstanding service to the organization and his lasting commitment to Alberta’s Queer professional and entrepreneurial community.

In that spirit, this award goes to leaders who bring others along as they advance in their own careers. Recipients reflect what the Chamber is here to do: build a strong, inclusive Alberta economy by connecting, educating, and supporting Queer and trans entrepreneurs and professionals.

What recipients receive: Recognition at the Annual General Meeting, on our website and on our social channels, and in our newsletter, plus a one year free membership, a t-shirt, and a celebratory lunch on the Chamber.

Nominations are Open!

Who lifted you up? Who opened a door, built a space, or fought for Alberta’s Queer and trans business community when it mattered?

The Alberta 2SLGBTQI+ Chamber of Commerce is proud to open nominations for the first ever Moe Yassine Leadership Award. Named for our former Board Chair, this is our highest honour, presented each year to a leader whose work has strengthened Queer and trans entrepreneurship and professional life in Alberta.

We want to hear about leaders who:

Have made a real impact on Queer and trans entrepreneurs and professionals in Alberta
Bring new people and communities into Queer professional and entrepreneurial life
Build things that last, whether that’s organizations, opportunities, or the next generation of leaders
Lead with integrity, generosity, and authenticity

Anyone can submit a nomination, and you don’t need to be a Chamber member to be nominated. Self-nominations are welcome.

Nominate someone (or yourself) by November 8th, 2026:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1I2s4HMu0axppj44TermAfZ8UVHueAvy4YezCpRNXao0/edit

Learn More About the Award

Eligibility

To be nominated, a person must:

Have shown sustained leadership in support of Alberta’s 2SLGBTQI+ entrepreneurial and professional community
Live in Alberta.
Not currently sit on the Chamber’s Board of Directors or staff (directors and staff become eligible one year after their term or employment ends)

Chamber membership is not required. The award recognizes impact on the community the Chamber serves, wherever that leadership comes from. Self-nominations are welcome. Someone can be nominated more than once over the years, and the award may be given posthumously.

Selection Criteria

Nominations are assessed against four criteria drawn from the Chamber’s mission and 2026 Strategic Plan. The nomination form asks nominators to speak to each one.

Community Impact (Strategic Pillar: Impact & Community). The nominee’s leadership has produced real results for Queer and trans entrepreneurs or professionals in Alberta. That might look like mentorship, programming, advocacy, research, investment, or creating spaces and opportunities that didn’t exist before.
Growing the Community (Strategic Pillar: Membership Growth & Sustainability). The nominee has brought new people into Queer professional and entrepreneurial life, extended opportunity beyond the major centres, or built bridges across the intersectional communities the Chamber serves, including Trans and gender-diverse, Indigenous, Black, racialized, disabled, and rural community members.
Leadership That Lasts (Strategic Pillar: Operational Excellence). The nominee builds things that keep going after they step away: strong organizations, sound governance, sustainable programs, or new leaders they helped develop. In the tradition of Moe Yassine’s board service, this criterion honours the quiet work of stewardship.
Character and Community Values. The nominee leads with integrity, generosity, and authenticity, and is known in the community as someone who helps others get ahead.

A nominee doesn’t need to be equally strong on all four. The board looks at the overall picture of leadership and impact.

Selection & Presentation Process

The award is presented annually. The recipient is chosen by a vote of the Board of Directors.

Call for nominations opens. Promoted through the Chamber newsletter, social channels, website, and partner organizations. The nomination window runs October 1st to November 8th.
Staff screening. The Executive Director reviews submissions for completeness and eligibility only, and prepares a nomination package for the board, anonymized where possible. ED does not rank or shortlist.
Board review. Directors receive the nomination package at the end of October, at least one week before the selection meeting, and assess nominees against the four criteria.
Board vote. The recipient is selected by majority vote. Conflict of interest: any director with a personal, family, or business relationship to a nominee declares it and steps back from discussion and voting on that nominee. A director who is nominated recuses entirely.
Notification and presentation. The recipient is notified privately, and the award is presented at the Annual General Meeting, ideally with Moe Yassine there to present it personally.

Reserve clause: the board may choose not to present the award in a year where no nomination sufficiently meets the criteria.

Records: unsuccessful nominations are kept confidential and, with the nominator’s consent, can be carried forward for consideration the following year.