The Sidney Hillman Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Canadian Hillman Prizes, honouring excellence in investigative journalism inservice of the common good.
The Hillman Prizes celebrate print, digital and broadcast reporting in the public interest that exposes injustice and leads to meaningful public policy change.
The judges will consider entries in the following three categories: print/digital, broadcast (TV, radio, podcast) and local/community news (any medium or format).
The Canadian Hillman Prize winners will be awarded a $2,500 honorarium and a certificate at our celebration in Toronto, to be held on April 9, as well as travel to New York City to be a guest at the U.S Hillman Prize ceremony on May 5.
Previous Canadian Hillman Prize winners include The Globe and Mail, CTV W5, The Narwhal, the Toronto Star, The Hamilton Spectator, The Montreal Gazette, The Walrus, the Calgary Herald, the Edmonton Journal, CBC/Radio-Canada, and TVO.
“As Canadians face unprecedented challenges, both within and from beyond, courageous journalism has never mattered more,” says Canadian board member Alex Dagg, “The Hillman Prizes celebrate those who dig for the truth and tell stories that hold the powerful to account, strengthen democracy and improve people’s lives.”
Since 1950, in the United States, and 2011 in Canada, the Sidney Hillman Foundation has honoured journalists, writers and public figures who pursue social justice and public policy for the common good. Over the course of nearly eight decades, the prizes have charted some of the best and most significant stories and writers of our time. They reflect the evolution of journalism, and the ongoing struggle for truth and justice.
Sidney Hillman was the founding president of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union ofAmerica, a predecessor union of Workers United, SEIU, and a founder of the CIO. An architect of the New Deal, Hillman fought to build a vibrant union movement, extending beyond the shop floor to all aspects of working people’s lives.
Eligibility:
Entries must have been published or broadcast in 2025 and made widely available to a Canadian audience. Nominated material, and a cover letter explaining how the entry meets the requirements, can be submitted here. There is no fee to enter.
Timeline:
January 15, 2026 – Deadline for entry
March 24, 2026 -Winners announced
April 9, 2026 – Winners honoured at Canadian HillmanPrize ceremony – Toronto
May 5, 2026 -Winners honoured at U.S. HillmanPrize ceremony – New York City
Judges:
Neil Docherty – internationally acclaimed documentary maker
Garvia Bailey – arts journalist, broadcaster and producer
Bonnie Brown – documentary and news producer, CBC Radio and Television
For entry or event questions, please contact:
Alexandra Lescaze
alex@hillmanfoundation.org or 917-696-2494
For more information about the Hillman Prize, please visit hillmanfoundation.org