We Won Two Awards This Year … Here’s What We’re Still Working On

We’re so proud to share that ParriagGroup was recently recognized with two awards from Corporate Vision magazine: Best Social Policy Consultancy and the Social Research Innovation Award. Corporate Vision recognizes firms that demonstrate not only technical excellence but also meaningful impact.

Being seen that way by an external body with no stake in our work really does mean something to us.

As a small, independent firm, we don’t have a large profile or a well-oiled marketing engine. What we do have is a deep commitment to doing social research in a way that actually serves those it’s meant to reach – government partners, community organizations, or the individuals impacted by programs and policies.

These awards reflect that commitment to visibility beyond our immediate network, and we are so grateful for that recognition and for the colleagues, clients, and communities who make our work possible.

What this recognition means to us

We don’t tend to think of awards as endpoints. If anything, they mirror our ongoing efforts and the standards to which we hold ourselves accountable daily.

ParriagGroup was built on the belief that evaluation should be honest, not flattering. We don’t tell clients what they want to hear; we strive to surface the truth even when it’s more complex, uncomfortable, or demanding than expected.

This takes shape in many ways. It sometimes means challenging assumptions, surfacing unintended consequences, or having those difficult conversations with clients. It always means resisting the urge to oversimplify what is, inherently, a complicated system.

The Social Research Innovation Award, in particular, affirms our commitment to community-centred methods and participatory, trauma-informed approaches rooted in the belief that those closest to a program are its most important experts.

For us, innovation is more about growth than novelty. It comes down to creating more ethical, inclusive, and helpful processes. It’s a journey of continuous learning, and every step brings us closer to a better understanding.

We are people first

Our company ethos is: it’s about people. That lens applies not only to the humans we work with, but to us as well.

We are people doing this work, so missteps are inevitable. We humbly accept that we don’t have all the answers – we make mistakes, navigate constraints, and often wish we had seen things more clearly from the start.

The tension between moving quickly enough for clients and carefully enough for communities is present in everything we do. Ensuring that participation is sincerely participatory, not just procedural box-ticking, adds to this complexity.

And there are moments where, in hindsight, we would have done things differently. Where we wish we had pushed harder on methodological decisions, communicated limitations better, or made more space for underrepresented voices in the analysis.

We hold ourselves accountable, not because we fear judgment, but because we truly care about the people we work with and the communities impacted by our actions. It’s about giving our very best, even when it’s challenging.

Recognition is wonderful, but it doesn’t mean that the work is finished. If anything, it reinforces that the work must continue.

The work ahead

If these awards have ignited one thing in us, it is a renewed sense of shared responsibility for growing and improving in how we do this important work.

These are just a few of the key areas where we’re eager to continue deepening our efforts:

• Data sovereignty: We are strengthening our data governance approach to ensure that communities have greater control over how their data is collected, held, interpreted, and used.

• Knowledge mobilization: A report that sits on a shelf changes nothing. We are investing in better communication – more accessible formats, plain-language summaries, and engaging decision-makers so evidence can actually inform action.

• Closing the loop in a meaningful way: We are formalizing how we gather feedback at the end of a project and allowing it to shape our next steps, ensuring our practice aligns with the value of honest input.

All of this is ongoing. None of it is ever truly finished.

Looking forward

We are just as dedicated to what lies ahead. We are committed to doing the work with even more care, transparency, and collaboration, staying accountable to the people and communities who trust us with their stories.

That’s the most important part, and we remain wholeheartedly committed to it.