The Student Life Awards, aim to recognize clubs, recognized student governments, services, events, and individuals who have made a significant impact throughout the year through their dedication and engagement.
Get your tickets here to celebrate another year of student life excellence with us! Tickets are $15/person or $100 for a ten-person table, and include a three-course meal and an evening of shows and performances.
These three awards are subject to a public vote to determine the winner. Each person can only vote once for these awards. The nominees have been pre-selected by a committee, ensuring a fair evaluation based on specific criteria. All other awards will be entirely voted on by a committee.
Voting Deadline: March 23, 2025, at 11:59 PM
Creative Club of the Year
Celebrates a club that excels in artistic expression, innovation, and creative initiatives, whether in the fields of visual arts, music, writing, design, or performing arts.
Theatre Club The Theatre Club enhances student life with six+ annual productions, $4,000+ in student awards, and volunteer opportunities. It fosters connections, supports KindSpace, and provides industry exposure to all students. The club significantly enriches the student experience by offering theatre opportunities and benefits .Cyrano de Bergerac was a Francophone production at uOttawa, performed to sold-out audiences. It provided a valuable linguistic experience, fostering collaboration and reinforcing French theatre's presence on campus.
uO Poetry uOpoetry is uOttawa’s first poetry club, offering a community for readers and writers to explore, share, and discuss poetry through events, workshops, and activities promoting creativity and diversity. Beyond live performance events, uOPoetry has actively engaged uOttawa students in the creative writing process through multiple poetry workshops throughout the year.
uOttawa Dance Club The uOttawa Dance Club provides a non-competitive space for students to dance, offering weekly classes in various styles, culminating in a year-end recital, along with technique and drop-in sessions for all levels. This club offered 25 dance classes per week to students at uOttawa, ranging in both styles and levels. They have conducted various events inspiring artistic expression, such as their Wellness Workshop, Stratchona Stetch, Works in Progress, Convention, Alumni day,and an annual Recital.
Community Engagement and Advocacy Club of the Year
Honours a club that has demonstrated exceptional dedication to community service, social justice, or advocacy efforts. This award recognizes clubs that have made a meaningful impact through volunteer work, awareness campaigns, political and civic engament, policy initiatives, or other efforts that promote positive change within the university or the broader community.
Bangladeshi Students Association The UOBSA is a platform for Bangladeshi-descendant students to connect, preserve, and promote Bangladeshi culture. They partnered with Jaago Foundation to support women’s education and provide resources to survivors of domestic abuse in Bangladesh and managed to raise over $700. They also collaborate with the new Bangladesh High Commission in Canada to host an event that brought students, diplomats, and professionals together.
Ukrainian Students’ Club The uOttawa Ukrainian Students’ Club has proudly served the university for over 40 years. They are a group of students dedicated to preserving and promoting Ukrainian culture, raising awareness, and making a tangible difference through fundraising and activism. They were actively involved in UCC Advocacy Day, engaging directly with policymakers and decision-makers to advocate for stronger Canadian support for Ukraine.
uOttawa Young Liberals The uOttawa Young Liberals is focused on introducing students to politics and liberal ideas. Beyond electoral politics, UOYL has taken a leadership role in policy advocacy and social justice initiatives. The club has hosted policy development workshops where students propose solutions to pressing social issues, many of which have been submitted to the Liberal Party for consideration. UOYL has also worked to push for progressive stances on key issues affecting youth, such as affordable housing, climate action, student debt relief, and mental health services.
UONDP The University of Ottawa New Democratic Party, join to educate and organize students and young people into a community of progressives to promote the election of New Democratic governments across Canada. They run over 50 events last year, including raising funds for striking LCBO workers, fundraising for the Parkdale Food Centre, organizing workshops with MPs, speaking up at the Police Service Board meetings against police violence, hosting conversations on bilingual higher education with the leader of the NDP.
INSAF INSAF is a student led Palestinian solidarity group at the University of Ottawa. They focus on educating the community about Palestine, advocating for Palestinian human rights, and mobilizing students for action. Since September, they’ve organized frequent educational events, including film screenings, workshops, guest lectures, and fundraisers. Notable events featured Francesca Albanese (UN Special Rapporteur) and Al-Jazeera journalists, with large in-person and online audiences.
Recognizes a STEM-focused club that has demonstrated outstanding contributions in Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics. This award honours clubs that promote innovation, research, skill development, and student engagement in STEM fields through events, projects, and outreach in 2024
Connecting Young Minds Connecting Young Minds (CYM) organize a conference at the University of Ottawa specifically designed to promote and showcase the research of undergraduate students in the faculties of science, health sciences, medicine, social sciences and engineering. They provide a platform for students to develop critical thinking, problem-solving and scientific communication skills, preparing them for success in research and beyond.
Premed Society The UO Premed Society is dedicated to supporting aspiring healthcare professionals on their journey to medical school. They organized events like White Coat Wisdom to connected students with medical professionals for valuable career insights, while the Med Interview Workshop prepared them for competitive admissions processes. Their strong social media presence offered essential resources, and partnerships like the International Medical School Fair expanded opportunities for students.
The Dendrite The Dendrite uOttawa makes research accessible and inclusive for undergraduate students, fostering curiosity and confidence. Through The Dendrite Podcast, they feature inspiring stories from renowned researchers like Dr. Steffanie Strathdee and Dr. Emilio Alarcon, making research relatable. Their Introduction to Research event provided over 100 students with practical guidance on securing research opportunities. By combining mentorship, storytelling, and actionable resources.
Celebrates a business or entrepreneurship-focused club that has excelled in fostering leadership, professional development, and business-related initiatives. This award highlights clubs that provided networking opportunities, hands-on experience, or innovative projects in areas such as finance, marketing, management, and entrepreneurship.
Telfer International The club strives to add value to all international students, programs, and endeavors by adding value to the student’s academic experience. TI has helped more than 60+ students each year to build their confidence, establish connections, and gain insights that contribute to their long-term success. Providing more stress-free environments helps make networking less intimidating and successful for students.
Enactus uOttawa Enactus is a global non-profit with chapters in countries across the globe that aims to empower students to use entrepreneurial action to create a better world. This year, the club further demonstrated its commitment to growth and innovation by creating 2 new social enterprises, adding to its already impressive portfolio.
The Club Administration Service (CAS) Award is presented by the Club Administration Service Office team to recognize a student club that has demonstrated exceptional organization, leadership, and engagement in managing their club’s operations. This award highlights a club that has gone above and beyond in administrative excellence, ensuring smooth operations, effective communication, and strong collaboration within the student community.
International Student Association The UO-ISA is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious association run by students for students with the aim to promote the well-being of international students and increase intercultural exchanges on campus. From the start of the year, they made sure to maintain fluid and transparent communication with the Club Administration Services (CAS) team, including regular submission of budgets and receipts.
Theatre Club The club significantly enriches the student experience by offering theatre opportunities and benefits. Every dollar of profit goes straight back to students through awards shows that celebrate their achievements and over $5,000 in performing arts scholarships so far. This club truly cares about supporting and uplifting students. It also recognizes the deep connection between queer culture and theatre, making it a priority to produce shows that highlight and celebrate that history.
Esports uOttawa Esports is a student club for gamers of all levels, offering a welcoming space to connect and enjoy video games. Through its exceptional leadership, strategic organization, and unwavering commitment to student engagement, uOttawa Esports has made a profound and lasting impact on the University of Ottawa community. The club has successfully bridged the gap between gaming, education, and career development, demonstrating that esports is not just entertainment but a valuable platform for innovation, skill-building, and professional growth
Best RSG Communications/Marketing
Honors an RSG that has excelled in clear, creative, and effective communication strategies, using marketing, social media, and outreach to engage students and promote initiatives.
Computer science Students' Association (CSSA) The CSSA has excelled in marketing this year, with an impressive Instagram presence. Their website was revamped for greater accessibility on mobile and web devices, enhancing user experience. Additionally, they fostered collaboration through Discord, uniting various areas of Computer Science and Software Development. With a comprehensive marketing approach, CSSA has set a new standard for excellence in student communications.
Students’ Association of the Faculty of Arts (SAFA) SAFA's communications team transformed a lighthearted TikTok video into a dynamic social media presence, engaging students through creativity, authenticity, and boldness. From a viral TikTok to daily event posts during 101 Week, their content was fun, informative, and accessible. SAFA’s social media platforms became key to student engagement. SAFA’s marketing isn’t just about polished content, it’s about creating a community where creativity thrives and students feel connected.
Economics Students Association (ESA) The Economics Students Association (ESA) has stood out this year for its communications and marketing. Their effective use of social media and reels not only increased their audience but also influenced the strategies of other RSGs. Through continuous promotion, events like Beer Olympics and 101 Week saw great success. Their ability to engage the student community and inspire other associations makes the ESA a deserving nominee for this award.
