About Celebration of People
Celebration of People is an annual awards program and dinner event first held in Ottawa in 2001. Presentation of the Celebration of People awards takes place each year in conjunction with December 3—designated by the United Nations as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
The awards recognize the achievements and contributions of individuals, businesses and organizations promoting accessibility, inclusion and full community participation by citizens with disabilities.
Award recipients include individuals with disabilities who are advocates for others with disabilities and/or whose personal example of excellence demonstrates the potential of all members of the community. They also include companies, agencies, government and other organizations which have created opportunities for people with disabilities to participate more fully in their workplaces, schools and volunteer organizations—for example, through projects to enhance physical accessibility or inclusive hiring practices and policies.
Vision
Through the Celebration of People, we will create a community that embodies the principles of inclusiveness and acceptance in all aspects of life for people with disabilities.
Mission
To establish a world class event that recognizes the outstanding achievements of members of our community.
The Partners
Celebration of People is a collaborative partnership of a group of community organizations providing services and programs for people with disabilities.
- Citizen Advocacy of Ottawa (lead partner)
- Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre
- Vista Centre and Brain Injury Association of the Ottawa Valley
- Canadian Hearing Society, Ottawa Branch
- Ottawa Independent Living Resource Centre
- CNIB, East Region, Ontario
2009 Celebration of People Steering Committee
The Celebration of People Steering Committee oversees, directs and implements the awards program and dinner event.
Lead Partner Representative:
Brian Tardif, Executive Director of Citizen Advocacy of Ottawa
Steering Committee Chair:
Timothy D. Andradé, Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre
Steering Committee Vice-Chair:
David Walls, Vista Centre and Brain Injury Association of the Ottawa Valley
Celebration of People Steering Committee Members:
Philippe Ramsay, Canadian Hearing Society
Katie Paialunga, Ottawa Independent Living Resource Centre
Valerie Brisbois, Scotiabank
Collinda Joseph
Celebration of People Honourary Co-Chairs
Celebration of People is pleased to have the support of two community leaders as Honourary Co-Chairs for 2009. They are Dennis Jackson and Bashir Surani.
Dennis Jackson
Dennis Jackson is a District Vice-President for the Ottawa & West Quebec division of Scotiabank. He is responsible for leading the Retail and Small Business Sales Teams, including Wealth Management.
Dennis is a Past Chair of the United Way/Centraide Campaign Cabinet, current Chair of the Board of Directors of United Way/Centraide and a member of the Board of Directors of the Ottawa Hospital Foundation. He has helped raise funds for the National Capital Marathon, the Motorcycle Ride for Dad (fundraising for prostate cancer), the Elvis Sighting Society, Hope and Heroes, the Canadian Museum of Nature and the National Arts Centre.
He also served as Honourary Co-Chair of Celebration of People in 2008.
Dennis has worked for Scotiabank in a number of locations across Ontario, Quebec and in the Maritimes. He is originally from northern Ontario.
Bashir Surani
Bashir Surani is a community pharmacist and owner of two Shoppers Drug Mart stores in Ottawa.
Bashir is a member of the Board of Governors of the Ottawa Hospital and a member of the Board of Directors of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute. He previously served as Chair of the Board of Directors of United Way/Centraide and was Vice-Chair of the H.H. Aga Khan District Council for Ottawa. An active fundraiser for a number of organizations, he was recognized with the Outstanding Fundraiser Award from Ottawa Immigrant Services in 2000, and in 2006, received an award for community service from the Ontario Pharmacists’ Association.
Born in Uganda, Bashir obtained his Bachelor of Science (Pharmacy) degree in England. He immigrated to Canada in 1976 and moved to Ottawa in 1979.