# Sarah Hueniken Wins 2026 Summit of Excellence Award

> Sarah Hueniken receives 2026 Summit of Excellence Award at Banff Festival.
- Title: Sarah Hueniken Wins 2026 Summit of Excellence Award | Shortify
- Summary: Sarah Hueniken receives 2026 Summit of Excellence Award at Banff Festival. Sarah Hueniken will be honored with Canada’s 2026 Summit of Excellence Award for…
- Keywords: sarah hueniken, banff centre, summit of excellence award, mountain safety, mountain muskox, acmg, avalanche canada, queens elizabeth ii platinum jubilee med, Sarah, Hueniken, Wins, 2026
- Source: Gripped Magazine — https://gripped.com/news/sarah-hueniken-to-receive-2026-summit-of-excellence-award-at-banff-festival
- Author: gripped
- Published: 2026-10-01T16:34:27+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sarah hueniken, banff centre, summit of excellence award, mountain safety, mountain muskox, acmg, avalanche canada, queens elizabeth ii platinum jubilee med
## Award Recognition
Sarah Hueniken will receive the 2026 Summit of Excellence Award at Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival on Saturday, Nov. 7.
## Award Background
Presented annually since 1987, the Summit of Excellence Award honors individuals who have made significant contributions to mountain life across Canada.
## Hueniken's Achievements
Hueniken became the first North American woman to climb mixed rock-and-ice grades M11 through M14 and was a former North American Ice Climbing Champion.
## Community Impact
For over a decade, Hueniken has developed women-specific mountaineering programs to help women become self-sufficient mountain leaders.
## Mountain Muskox Program
Hueniken co-founded Mountain Muskox Mentorship Program, a Bow Valley non-profit providing peer-support circles for trauma and loss in the outdoor community.
## Avalanche Safety Contributions
Hueniken created the Rockies Ice Climbing Avalanche Atlas with Grant Statham to map avalanche exposure zones for ice climbers.
## Key takeaway

Sarah Hueniken will be honored with Canada’s 2026 Summit of Excellence Award for her contributions to mountain safety and community leadership.