Recognizing the people, teams and technology providers raising the standard of financial crime compliance across Canada. Nominate a colleague, an early or mid career professional, or a provider whose work under the PCMLTFA, in AML/ATF, sanctions and crypto compliance, deserves to be seen. Nominations are open to professionals in every province and territory.
Winners announced at the Toronto Compliance & AML Conference
Award categories
North Star, One to Watch, Innovator
All three awards recognize work done in Canada or for Canadian reporting entities. Every nomination is scored out of 100 against the weighted criteria below, so address each one with specific, verifiable examples.
CAT01
North Star Award
Our highest honour, for a CAMLO, CCO or Head of Financial Crime at a Canadian reporting entity whose leadership measurably strengthened their compliance program.
Eligibility
7+ years in compliance, AML/ATF or financial crime
In a senior compliance role in Canada for at least 12 months
Achievements from the last 12 to 18 months
Selection criteriaWeight
Leadership & program impact40%
How they built, strengthened or transformed their PCMLTFA compliance program, and the results it delivered.
Regulatory & ethical excellence30%
Strong engagement with FINTRAC and other Canadian regulators, sound judgment and a clear tone from the top.
People & industry contribution30%
Developing their team and giving back to Canada's compliance community through mentoring, speaking or industry work.
CAT02
One to Watch
For an early to mid career analyst, investigator or officer in Canada who is already making a visible difference in AML/ATF, fraud or crypto compliance.
Eligibility
Early to mid career: up to 10 years of experience in compliance or financial crime
Currently working in a compliance, investigations or risk role in Canada
Cooperative education and internship placements at Canadian organizations are eligible
One winner is selected
Selection criteriaWeight
Achievements so far40%
Concrete contributions: investigations that led to quality STRs to FINTRAC, process improvements, typologies identified, projects delivered.
Training & learning30%
TCAE certifications (e.g. CCFC, CRC, CEIC, Crypto Compliance Specialist) or other credentials such as CAMS, and how that learning was applied at work.
Initiative & future potential30%
Going beyond the role, supporting colleagues, and readiness for greater responsibility.
CAT03
Innovator of the Year
For a technology provider, a vendor, platform or in house technology team, whose product or tool delivered a new way to detect or prevent financial crime in Canada, including in virtual assets.
Eligibility
Open to technology providers: vendors, platforms and in house technology teams
The solution must be live in production at a Canadian reporting entity within the last 24 months
Self nominations require a named Canadian client reference who can speak to the results
Selection criteriaWeight
Measurable impact40%
Results with numbers at Canadian client sites: better detection, fewer false positives, faster investigations or stronger reporting to FINTRAC.
Originality30%
What is new about this product or approach compared with standard practice in Canada, e.g. on chain analytics or AI assisted monitoring.
Responsible & scalable30%
Aligned with the PCMLTFA and Canadian privacy law, well governed, and able to be adopted more widely across Canadian reporting entities.
How judging works
An independent panel of senior Canadian compliance practitioners scores each eligible nomination against the weighted criteria. Finalists may be asked for a short interview or references. Nominations are accepted in English or French.
Conflicts of interest
Judges recuse themselves from any nomination involving their own organization or direct reports. TCAE staff and faculty are not eligible.
Confidentiality & privacy
Do not include client names, case details, or anything that would disclose an STR or its contents, which the PCMLTFA prohibits. Personal information is used only to run the awards, in line with PIPEDA and, for Quebec, Law 25.
Nomination form
Submit a nomination
Self nominations are welcome. Keep each criterion response to 150 words or fewer; the panel favours evidence over adjectives.
