Published date: July 29, 2026
Congratulations to the 2026 OPWA National Public Works Week Award Winners!
The Ontario Public Works Association (OPWA) is proud to recognize three municipalities whose outstanding National Public Works Week (NPWW) initiatives demonstrated exceptional creativity, community engagement, and dedication to promoting the value of public works.
Congratulations to our 2026 award recipients:
🥇 First Time Entry Award
District Municipality of Muskoka
Over the past three years, Muskoka has continued to expand and strengthen its National Public Works Week celebrations. This year’s event featured interactive, hands-on learning experiences for children, including operating a garbage truck, sorting waste, and repairing potholes. The event was a tremendous success thanks to the collaboration and participation of multiple departments across the District, creating an engaging experience that highlighted the many facets of public works.
🥇 Roger Brown Award (municipalities below 150,000 population)
Drawing more than 3,000 attendees, Newmarket delivered an exceptional National Public Works Week event around its highly popular Touch-a-Truck experience. Through partnerships with Central York Fire Services, York Region Paramedic Services, York Region, the Ontario Provincial Police, and numerous industry partners, the municipality created an exciting and educational event that showcased the many services and professionals working together to support the community.
🥇 Bruce Brunton Award (municipalities above 150,000 population)
Vaughan distinguished itself by bringing together elected officials and front-line staff while placing a strong emphasis on promoting public works as a rewarding career. The City’s successful Women in Public Works campaign highlighted the important contributions of women in the profession, while a strategic social media campaign extended the event’s reach and helped foster greater public awareness and appreciation for public works.
These award-winning programs showcased the essential role public works professionals play in building and maintaining safe, sustainable, and thriving communities across Ontario.
A sincere thank you to every municipality that submitted a nomination this year. Your commitment to educating and engaging your communities during National Public Works Week continues to inspire innovation and elevate the public works profession.
Congratulations once again to all of our winners!