Statement of purpose

The CAA Awards Committee serves as a centralized committee tasked with evaluating all CAA awards and scholarship nominations/applications. The committee also reviews and suggests updates for awards descriptions, eligibility criteria, and evaluation processes to the Board as needed.

Contact: Solène Mallet Gauthier
e-mail: secretary@canadianarchaeology.ca

Current membership

Scope: National, with regional representatives.

Authority: Recommendations and Communications of the Awards Committee must be approved by the CAA Board of Directors.

Committee Composition: The Awards Committee is composed of one Chair and least four active members at all times (five including committee Chair), representing different regions of Canada. Members must possess a degree of experience and familiarity with Canadian archaeology broadly. An effort is made to ensure that a variety of personal and professional backgrounds are represented in the committee membership. Depending on the number of nominations or applications received, sub-groups may be formed within the committee to deal with specific awards. Specialists (non-committee members) may be asked upon to help evaluate applications or submissions as needed (e.g., Daniel Weetaluktuk Award). The CAA President is also part of the Smith-Wintemberg Award evaluation and adjudication process.

Term: The term of service is two years. Terms can be renewed once.

Committee Communications: Awards and scholarships nominations and applications are evaluated independently by each member. Documents are shared electronically with the members by the Chair (or Co-Chairs) and they are required to complete an evaluation rubric for each nomination/application, which are then compiled by the Chair. Decisions are announced during the AGM first, then the banquet each year. Meetings or other forms of communication are organized by the Committee Chair (or Co-Chairs) and meetings may be held virtually at any time of the year.

Reporting: The Awards Committee reports in writing, and directly to the CAA Board of Directors. The Chair (or Co-Chairs) submits a report on work in progress at each of the two executive meetings annually (spring and fall). A representative from the committee will also make a brief summarizing report to the membership at the AGM during the annual conference.

Review: The Terms of Reference of the Awards Committee will be reviewed periodically by the CAA Board of Directors.