Terms & conditions.

Last updated: [insert date]. This page is a working draft prepared for the IWEC Awards programme and should be reviewed by your legal adviser before publication.

Entry

Entry is free and open to nominees who meet the eligibility conditions published on the Awards page. A nomination may be submitted by the nominee herself or by a third party. Every nominee is contacted to confirm participation before her entry is scored, and a nominee who declines is withdrawn without prejudice.

Nominations open on 10 September 2026 and close at 11:59 PM Eastern on 10 October 2026. Late entries are not accepted.

Accuracy

All information submitted must be accurate to the best of the nominator's knowledge. IWEC may ask a finalist to confirm a figure, supply a registration document, or connect us with a referee. Refusal to confirm a material claim withdraws the entry.

A materially false or misleading claim disqualifies the nomination, and where an award has already been made, entitles IWEC to rescind the award and to state publicly that it has done so.

Judging

Nominations are screened for eligibility, opened to a public vote, scored independently by a minimum of three judges per category against published weighted criteria, shortlisted to three finalists per category by averaged judge score, and decided by the same panel. The public vote informs the panel and does not replace judge scoring.

The panel's decisions on scoring and selection are final. Complaints about process, not outcome, may be submitted in writing within fourteen days of the evening and will be reviewed by the panel chair.

IWEC reserves the right to move a nomination to a different category, to merge duplicate nominations for the same nominee, to decline to make an award in a category where entries do not meet the standard, and to amend these terms where necessary, publishing any change on this page.

Conflicts of interest

Judges declare all conflicts before receiving entries and recuse from any category in which a conflict exists. Directors, staff and contractors of IWEC, and their immediate families, are not eligible for nomination. Sponsors have no role in scoring, shortlisting or winner selection and receive no advance notice of results.

Publicity

Where a nominee has consented, IWEC may use her name, business name, photograph, likeness and a summary of her nomination in awards publicity, in perpetuity, without further payment. Finalists and winners are provided with badges and assets for their own use, which may be used only to describe the recognition actually received.

Attendance

The awards evening is a registered and invitation only event. Places are allocated by IWEC and are not sold, transferable by the guest, or guaranteed by registration alone. IWEC reserves the right to refuse admission, and to change the programme, venue or date.

Registration closes on 13 November 2026. The venue is licensed, and guests under 19 are admitted accompanied by a responsible adult.

Liability

IWEC accepts no liability for loss or damage to personal property at the event, nor for any indirect loss arising from participation in the awards programme, except where liability cannot lawfully be excluded.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable in it.