Frequently Asked Questions

About the 2026 Awards

What do the awards recognize?

The awards recognize exceptional residential design, industry leadership and the members who strengthen residential construction across the Lethbridge region.

The 2026 program includes three main sections:

  • Design Awards
  • Industry Leadership Awards
  • Apex Awards – our highest honours

The program also includes Members Choice Best Home and recognition for eligible single entries that do not receive a juried award.

What has changed for 2026?

The awards program has been significantly updated for 2026. Key changes include:

  • Fewer award categories
  • New square-footage ranges for New Home Design
  • A two-stage judging process
  • Expanded recognition for trades, suppliers and professional-service members
  • Peer-nominated awards
  • Reduced written-entry requirements
  • Written submissions and/or video options in applicable design categories
  • Clearer criteria definitions
  • New rules for single-entry categories
  • The addition of Members' Choice Best Home – live gala voting
  • Development of the Year becoming Neighbourhood of the Year
  • Combined categories to create a single Builder of the Year award
  • A new Safety Leadership award
  • No site visits

What is the qualifying period?

Eligible projects must have been completed during the qualifying period of October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026.

When do entries open and close?

Entries and nominations open October 4, 2026, and close November 15, 2026.

The awards gala will take place on January 22, 2027.

Where do I submit an entry or nomination?

All entries and nominations must be completed through the BILD Lethbridge Region Awardify platform at:

https://bildlr.awardify.io/

Who is eligible to enter?

Entrants and nominees must be BILD Lethbridge Region members in good standing throughout the competition and awards event.

Project eligibility varies by category. Review the applicable category requirements in the entry guide before beginning a submission.

Where must eligible projects be located?

Unless a category states otherwise, eligible housing projects must be located within 200 kilometres of Lethbridge.

Can a project that was entered in a previous year be entered again?

No. Projects submitted in previous years are not eligible.

Is there a limit on the number of entries?

No, however, a member may submit a maximum of two entries in each individual category.

Choosing a Category

Which categories can builders enter?

Depending on the project and eligibility requirements, builder members may enter:

  • New Home Design
  • New Home Design Multi-Family
  • Energy Efficient Housing
  • Best Kitchen
  • Best Ensuite
  • Special Feature
  • Community Involvement
  • Neighbourhood of the Year, where applicable

Eligible builders may also qualify for Builder of the Year and have their New Home Design entries automatically included in Members Choice Best Home.

Builder companies may also be nominated for Safety Leadership.

They are also eligible to:

  • Nominate a company for Safety Leadership
  • Nominate an individual for Emerging Leader or Industry Leader
  • Nominate a member for an Apex award

Which categories can renovators enter?

Depending on the project and eligibility requirements, renovator members may enter:

  • Renovated Kitchen
  • Renovation Overall
  • Special Feature
  • Community Involvement
  • Renovator of the Year

Renovators may also be nominated for Safety Leadership.

They are also eligible to:

  • Nominate a company for Safety Leadership
  • Nominate an individual for Emerging Leader or Industry Leader
  • Nominate a member for an Apex award

Which categories are available to trades?

Trades may enter:

  • Community Involvement

Trade members may be nominated for:

  • Safety Leadership
  • Apex Trade of the Year
  • Emerging Leader or Industry Leader

They are also eligible to:

  • Nominate a company for Safety Leadership
  • Nominate an individual for Emerging Leader or Industry Leader
  • Nominate a member for an Apex award

Which categories are available to suppliers?

Suppliers may enter:

  • Community Involvement

Suppliers may be nominated for:

  • Safety Leadership
  • Apex Supplier of the Year
  • Emerging Leader or Industry Leader

They are also eligible to:

  • Nominate a company for Safety Leadership
  • Nominate an individual for Emerging Leader or Industry Leader
  • Nominate a member for an Apex award

Which categories are available to professional-service members?

Professional-Services may enter:

  • Community Involvement

Professional Services may be nominated for:

  • Safety Leadership
  • Apex Professional-Services of the Year
  • Emerging Leader or Industry Leader

They are also eligible to:

  • Nominate a company for Safety Leadership
  • Nominate an individual for Emerging Leader or Industry Leader
  • Nominate a member for an Apex award

Which categories are available to developers?

Depending on eligibility, developer members may enter:

  • Neighbourhood of the Year
  • Community Involvement

Developers may be nominated for:

  • Emerging Leader or Industry Leader

They are also eligible to:

  • Nominate a company for Safety Leadership
  • Nominate an individual for Emerging Leader or Industry Leader
  • Nominate a member for an Apex award

Is Parade of Homes People's Choice still part of the awards?

Parade of Homes People's Choice will be awarded at the conclusion of the Parade of Homes rather than through the awards competition. The recipient will still be recognized during the Celebrating Excellence portion of the awards ceremony.

Preparing an Entry

What do I need to submit?

Submission requirements vary by category. Depending on the award, an entry may require:

  • Written responses
  • Photographs
  • A floor plan or site plan
  • Before-and-after photographs
  • Technical documentation
  • Supporting evidence
  • A video
  • A Homeowner Permission or Waiver Form
  • Survey or reference contacts

Follow the checklist in the applicable category section of the entry guide.

Does every category require a 750-word submission?

No. Written requirements vary by category.

Some design categories permit one optional integrated written submission of up to 750 words. Best Kitchen, Best Ensuite and Renovated Kitchen have a maximum of 500 words. Community Involvement and Neighbourhood of the Year use separate responses for each criterion.

Some nominated categories also use separate questions with individual word limits.

Can I submit a video instead of a written entry?

Only where the applicable category specifically permits it.

Certain design categories allow an entrant-produced video instead of, or in addition to, the written submission. Best Kitchen, Best Ensuite and Renovated Kitchen permit a video of up to two minutes. Other eligible design categories permit a video of up to five minutes.

Review the applicable category requirements before submitting.

Can a video be professionally produced?

Generally, no. Videos submitted in place of or in addition to a written design submission must be created by the entrant using a phone or comparable everyday device. Basic trimming and accessibility captions are permitted. Production quality is not scored.

Neighbourhood of the Year and Community Involvement are the exceptions. These categories may include an optional professionally produced promotional video of up to two minutes.

How many photographs are required?

Photo requirements vary by category. Most project-based categories require a minimum of 10 high-quality photographs.

Emerging Leader and Industry Leader require between one and five photographs, including at least one clear photograph of the nominee suitable for the awards presentation and promotional materials.

Can photographs be edited?

Major alterations to interior or exterior photographs are not permitted.

Colour correction and minor lighting adjustments are acceptable. Dirt may be covered with grass, but landscaping cannot be digitally added. Interior windows may be greyed out, but exterior views cannot be altered.

Can I use artificial intelligence to help prepare my entry?

Artificial intelligence may be used to organize, edit or refine a written submission, but its use must be disclosed in Awardify.

AI may also be used for permitted virtual staging of soft goods, provided it is disclosed and the original pre-staging photograph is submitted.

AI may not be used to generate or materially alter project photographs, floor plans, supporting evidence, voices, people or videos. The entrant remains responsible for the accuracy, originality and integrity of all submitted material.

Can artificial intelligence be used to create or alter photographs?

Artificial intelligence may not be used to generate photographs or materially alter the project shown.

AI-enabled virtual staging is permitted only for soft goods such as furniture, area rugs, plants and artwork. It cannot be used to add, remove or change hard goods or permanent features, including light fixtures, appliances, cabinetry, countertops, flooring, plumbing fixtures, window coverings or architectural elements.

The use of virtual staging must be disclosed, and the entrant must provide the original pre-staging photograph.

Is virtual staging allowed?

Yes. Virtual staging is permitted for soft goods such as:

  • Furniture
  • Area rugs
  • Plants
  • Artwork

Virtual staging cannot add, remove or change hard goods or permanent features, including:

  • Light fixtures
  • Appliances
  • Cabinetry or countertops
  • Plumbing fixtures
  • Flooring
  • Window coverings
  • Doors, windows or architectural elements

Entrants must disclose the use of virtual staging and provide the original pre-staging photograph for comparison.

Do I need to identify the BILD members who worked on the project?

No. It is not a requirement.

Entrants are encouraged to identify BILD member trades, suppliers, designers and professional-service firms that contributed to the project so their involvement can be recognized where appropriate.

Can company names or logos appear in the entry?

Company names and logos must not appear in material viewed by judges, including judged photographs, drawings, written submissions or videos.

An official project or neighbourhood name may be used where it cannot reasonably be removed, but the submitting member's identity should not be disclosed to judges.

When is a floor plan required?

A simple floor plan is required for New Home Design and New Home Design Multi-Family entries. The plan should show the layout and room relationships.

Artist renderings are not accepted.

When is homeowner permission required?

A signed Homeowner Permission Form is required for owner-occupied homes where indicated in the category requirements.

A signed Homeowner Waiver Form is required for renovation entries and a Special Feature located in a renovated space.

Nominations

Which awards are peer nominated?

The following awards are peer nominated:

  • Safety Leadership
  • Emerging Leader
  • Industry Leader
  • Apex Trade of the Year
  • Apex Supplier of the Year
  • Apex Professional Service of the Year

Self-nomination is not permitted for these categories.

Can someone nominate a person from their own company?

Yes. Emerging Leader and Industry Leader nominations may be submitted by someone from the nominee's company or by another BILD member.

Nominators should have direct knowledge of the individual's work, conduct or contribution.

What happens after someone is nominated?

BILD will contact the nominee and invite them to accept the nomination.

The nomination will only proceed if it is accepted. Depending on the category, the nominee may then be asked to:

  • Complete an additional questionnaire
  • Submit photographs or supporting documents
  • Provide survey or client contacts
  • Complete a safety assessment
  • Pay the applicable entry fee

Is there a fee for nominated awards?

There is no entry fee for Emerging Leader or Industry Leader.

For Safety Leadership, Trade, Supplier and Professional Service, the nominee pays the applicable entry fee after accepting the nomination.

Can a nomination be anonymous?

Nominations can be anonymous. BILD may still require the nominator's information for administration and verification.

Can personal or sensitive information be included in a nomination?

Personal or sensitive information should only be included with the nominee's permission.

The nominee must confirm that permission has been provided before the nomination proceeds to judging.

Judging

How does the judging process work?

Judging takes place online after entries close and is completed in two stages.

Stage One is completed by industry judges from outside the Lethbridge region. Each judge must have at least three years of relevant experience in the category they are assigned.

Up to three of the highest-scoring eligible entries advance as finalists.

Stage Two is completed by a panel of three to five peer judges from another Alberta member association. The panel reviews and scores the finalists and determines the winner, including deciding the result in the event of a tie.

Will judges visit the project?

No. There are no site visits.

Judging is based on the photographs, plans, written material, videos, surveys and supporting evidence submitted through Awardify.

How are judges selected?

Judges are selected based on relevant industry experience. Stage One judges are from outside the Lethbridge region. Stage Two judges are peers from another Alberta member association.

Judges must disclose conflicts of interest and recuse themselves where their impartiality could reasonably be questioned.

Does BILD staff select the winners?

No. BILD staff administer eligibility and the judging process but do not score entries or select winners.

How do judges know what to look for?

Every category includes published judging criteria and definitions. Judges evaluate entries only against those criteria.

Entrants should use their written responses, photographs, videos and supporting documentation to clearly demonstrate how their entry meets the applicable criteria.

Will members receive an explanation of why a winner was selected?

The Stage Two panel will record a short explanation of why the winning entry stood out. This explanation will be published with the result.

What happens if there is a tie?

The Stage Two judging panel determines the winner in the event of a tie.

Members Choice Best Home follows a separate process. If the member vote is tied, a second ballot will be held among the tied homes. If the tie remains, the home with the higher Stage One judging score will receive the recognition.

Can compatible categories be combined?

Yes. Compatible categories may be combined before judging where there are not enough entries to create competition.

The combined entries will be evaluated using the published criteria for the category into which they are combined.

Single Entries

What happens if mine is the only entry in a category?

A competition requires at least two eligible entries from more than one member company. Two entries from the same member does not create a competition.

Where possible, compatible categories may be combined. If the category cannot be combined, the single entry will still be evaluated and recognized during the industry-recognition portion of the awards ceremony.

Can a single entry still receive an award?

In rare circumstances, yes.

A single entry that receives a Stage One score of at least 85% may be referred to the Stage Two judging panel. The panel may confer an award only if:

  • The work is demonstrably award-worthy
  • The panel's decision is unanimous
  • The panel records a public citation explaining its decision

Meeting the 85% benchmark does not guarantee an award.

Is the entry fee refunded if there is only one entry?

If a category has a single entry and an award is not conferred, the entry fee will be refunded.

Will a single entry still be recognized at the gala?

Yes. Eligible single entries that do not receive a conferred award will be recognized during the industry-recognition portion of the ceremony and may also be featured in program content.

Specific Awards

How are New Home Design categories determined?

New Home Design categories are based on finished living area above grade:

  • Under 1,600 square feet
  • 1,600 to 1,800 square feet
  • 1,801 to 2,000 square feet
  • 2,001 to 2,200 square feet
  • 2,201 to 2,400 square feet
  • 2,401 to 2,600 square feet
  • 2,601 to 2,800 square feet
  • 2,801 to 3,000 square feet
  • Over 3,000 square feet

Are custom and spec homes judged differently?

Custom, spec and showhome entries may compete in the same applicable category.

Judges assess the quality of the design response within the context of the project. Entrants should explain the intended homeowner or target market, design objectives and any relevant space, budget or construction constraints.

A larger home, higher project budget or more expensive finish will not automatically receive a higher score.

What is Members Choice Best Home?

Every eligible home entered in a New Home Design category is automatically included in Members Choice Best Home at no additional fee.

Each member organization attending the awards receives one vote, regardless of how many people from that organization attend.

The vote takes place live during the awards ceremony.

What is Neighbourhood of the Year?

Neighbourhood of the Year recognizes an outstanding residential neighbourhood that demonstrates thoughtful planning, quality implementation and a positive contribution to the people and community it serves.

The neighbourhood does not have to be fully built out. New, established and multi-phase neighbourhoods may be entered where meaningful development activity or progress occurred during the qualifying period.

How does the Resident Experience component work?

Resident Experience represents 5% of the Neighbourhood of the Year score.

BILD will administer a short public survey for each participating neighbourhood. Residents will be asked about neighbourhood identity, sense of community, amenities, connectivity and overall satisfaction.

A minimum of five eligible responses from unique residential addresses is required. Only one response per address will be counted.

What happens if a new neighbourhood does not have enough residents?

If fewer than five eligible responses are received, Resident Experience will be marked not applicable.

The entry will not lose points. Its score from the remaining criteria will be proportionately converted to a final score out of 100%.

How does BILD prevent duplicate resident survey responses?

Respondents must provide their name, email address and complete residential address and confirm that they are at least 18 years old and currently live in the neighbourhood.

Only the first eligible response from each address will be counted. Duplicate, automated, unverifiable or otherwise ineligible responses may be removed.

Identifying information will only be used to verify eligibility and will not be shared with the entrant or published.

How does Safety Leadership work?

Safety Leadership is a peer-nominated award recognizing a member company's safety leadership, workplace practices and commitment to workers' physical and psychological well-being.

Scoring is based on:

  • The nomination
  • The nominee's standardized safety assessment
  • A confidential survey of working partners
  • Autoscored WCB and COR or SECOR information

Is COR or SECOR required for Safety Leadership?

No. COR or SECOR is not an eligibility requirement.

A current COR or SECOR provides a small portion of the autoscored safety-performance result, but organizations without certification remain fully eligible to compete.

Does a company need a Safety Leadership nomination to qualify for an Apex Award?

No.

Builder of the Year, Trade and Supplier participants complete the common safety assessment where required. Their resulting safety score feeds into the applicable Apex Award calculation even if they were not nominated for Safety Leadership.

How is Builder of the Year determined?

Builder of the Year combines the following components:

  • Customer survey
  • Highest eligible New Home Design score
  • Trade and supplier relationship survey
  • Safety assessment

An eligible builder must submit at least one New Home Design entry and complete all required assessment and survey components.

There is no separate entry fee for Builder of the Year.

How are Trade Supplier and Professional Service awards determined?

These Apex Awards are peer nominated.

Following acceptance, the nominee completes the required questionnaire and provides recent BILD member clients who are invited to complete a confidential survey.

The final score combines verified client feedback with category-specific evidence. Trade and Supplier also include a safety component.

Fees Payment and Provincial Awards

How do I pay for an entry?

BILD Lethbridge Region will invoice members directly for paid entries.

Where an award is nomination based, any applicable fee is invoiced after the nominee accepts the nomination.

Are Parade of Homes entries charged an additional entry fee?

There is no additional charge for eligible Parade of Homes entries in New Home Design, Multi-Family Unit or Energy Efficient Housing because the award entry fee is included in the Parade of Homes registration fee for the award year.

What happens after winning a local category?

Where a corresponding provincial category exists, BILD Lethbridge Region will cover one standard BILD Alberta entry fee for the local category winner.

If a category has one eligible local entry and no local award is conferred, BILD will also cover one provincial entry fee for that entry where a corresponding BILD Alberta category exists.

The entrant remains responsible for meeting the provincial eligibility requirements and submission deadline.

Awardify and Technical Support

Do I need special software to enter?

No. Awardify is web-based and can be accessed using a computer, tablet or compatible mobile device.

A computer is recommended when uploading multiple photographs, plans, videos or supporting documents.

Do I have to complete my entry in one sitting?

No. You can save an entry in progress and return to it before the submission deadline.

Do not leave uploads or final submission until the last minute. Large photographs, videos or supporting files may take time to upload.

Can I change an entry after submitting it?

Entries can generally be edited until the submission deadline. Once entries close, changes will not be accepted unless BILD contacts the entrant to resolve an administrative or eligibility issue.

What happens if information is missing?

Missing or inaccurate information may reduce the entry's score or make it ineligible.

Review the submission checklist for the applicable category before finalizing the entry.

What should I do if I have difficulty using Awardify?

Contact the BILD Lethbridge Region office before the submission deadline. Staff can assist with platform or process questions but cannot write an entry, select evidence or advise a member on how judges should score the submission.