Manitoba Launches DARE Innovation Awards to Celebrate Innovators

Manitobans are invited to nominate local innovators for the inaugural DARE Innovation Awards, an initiative designed to celebrate creativity and progress within the province. Hosted by North Forge, a nonprofit incubator that supports startups, the awards ceremony will take place on February 24, 2026, at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada. This gala event is expected to attract around 400 attendees and aims to recognize organizations and individuals driving innovation across diverse sectors in Manitoba.

The DARE Innovation Awards will be held during Tech Manitoba’s Tech Week, highlighting the contributions of founders, researchers, Indigenous innovators, media creators, and social-impact leaders. The event is open to all Manitobans, ensuring participation from both urban and remote communities. “Our province has an incredible amount of talent, but Manitobans are often too humble to put themselves forward,” said Joelle Foster, CEO of North Forge. “The DARE Awards are designed to change that. We want people to nominate those who are pushing boundaries, and we want them to do it proudly.”

Nomination Process and Award Categories

Nominations for the DARE Innovation Awards are currently open and will close on December 1, 2025. This date also marks the beginning of general-admission ticket sales for the gala. The awards feature nine categories, including Indigenous Innovation, Tech for Good, Emerging Innovators, Research to Reality, Innovation in Industry, and the Ecosystem Builder in Innovation Award. These categories reflect the rich diversity of innovation occurring across Manitoba’s business, cultural, academic, and social-enterprise sectors.

To facilitate equitable participation, North Forge has partnered with Perimeter Aviation to provide travel assistance for shortlisted candidates from northern and remote communities. This initiative aims to eliminate cost barriers that often hinder entrepreneurs from attending significant provincial events. Foster emphasized the importance of these awards, stating, “Everyone knows someone who is solving a problem in a new way. This is the moment to acknowledge them.”

A Venue That Inspires Innovation

The choice of the Royal Aviation Museum as the venue for the awards underscores the spirit of innovation the event seeks to celebrate. The museum’s historic aircraft and engineering accomplishments provide a fitting backdrop for recognizing Manitoba’s forward-thinking individuals and organizations. Foster noted, “With the planes above and stories of invention all around, it’s the perfect setting to honour the people building Manitoba’s future.”

North Forge envisions the DARE Innovation Awards as an annual celebration that will strengthen connections among innovators in Manitoba, fostering collaboration within the province’s tech, business, and research communities. All types of innovators are encouraged to apply, including startups, established companies, nonprofits, academic teams, and social-impact organizations. Self-nominations are also welcomed, creating an inclusive environment for recognition.

Manitobans are urged to review the award categories and submit their nominations by the December 1 deadline at dareinnovationawards.com/awards. “We want people to really think about the individuals and teams who deserve to be recognized,” Foster said. “If there was ever a time to put Manitobans in the spotlight, this is it.”