Award Finalists

Accessibility by Design Award

Recipient

Delcan Corporation was the lead consultant for the planning, design and construction of the Corktown Footbridge, winner of several design awards. Linking Centretown and Sandy Hill across the Rideau Canal, the footbridge meets the highest standards of accessibility, and includes barrier-free integration with the recreational pathways and an innovative switchback ramp. The bridge has made the Rideau Canal even more accessible to all. 

Advocacy Award in Memory of Agnes Wee

Laurie Alphonse first began advocating for people with disabilities when she was just 10 years old, helping to profile a therapeutic horseback riding program.  In university, she campaigned for educational supports for students with disabilities and today is a social worker and disability rights advocate. Her causes include improving services for younger people with disabilities living in long-term care.  

Michel David has promoted community change to expand opportunities for people with hearing loss for over three decades.  His advocacy has brought technical aids to classrooms, and assistive listening devices to buildings and OC Transpo buses.  An active speaker and trainer, Michel has taught many organizations how to integrate people with hearing loss into the workplace and the broader community.

Recipient

John and Anne Toft built on their commitment to creating opportunities for their son to become community advocates for all people with developmental disabilities.    They helped found Ottawa`s Families Matter Co-operative Inc., and as Board members, undertook advocacy, membership and fundraising roles.  The Tofts` awareness-raising among federal politicians helped to bring about the Registered Disability Savings Plan. 

Artistic Excellence Award

Recipient

André Lanthier first came to the studios at H’Art of Ottawa in September 2007 with no experience but with a passion to learn how to paint. Saying he has discovered his “inner artist”, he now pours his passion into painting landscapes and wildlife, which have been showcased and sold at numerous art shows. 

Career Award

Recipient

Marco Casalese took a job opportunity supported by Y`s Owl Maclure and turned it into a career. Marco has been a dedicated and high-performing employee of Pizza Hut in Ottawa for 18 years and is the longest- serving employee at his restaurant`s location.  Both his employer and Y`s Owl commend his commitment and initiative in expanding his responsibilities. 

Somei Tam is a learning specialist and disability advisor with Carleton University’s Paul Menton Centre, who has focused her career on expanding accessible education.  Somei helps students with disabilities gain access to services, and delivers awareness training to faculty, staff and students.  Through work on committees and partnership development, she helps bring accessibility to all aspects of campus life. 

Citizenship Award in Memory of Cathy Kerr

Recipient

Gerda Mulder's passion and drive to include people with disabilities in sports and community activities has made her a dedicated volunteer for over 20 years.  Gerda`s long list of volunteer initiatives includes educating students on brain injury prevention; organizing recreational and sports activities for youth and adults with and without disabilities; and working with immigrant children on reading and conversational skills.

Education Award

Recipient

Freedom at Depth Canada teaches scuba diving to people with disabilities, which past students say brings a sense of freedom and accomplishment. In 18 years, founder Hubert Chrétien and his team have taught over 200 people. Hubert also invests personal time to take divers on excursions, and is the only person in Canada qualified to train scuba instructors in the instruction of people with disabilities. 

Employee Award

Betty-Ann Capogreco is a receptionist and job coach assistant at ComputerWise, a computer literacy day program.  Betty-Ann regularly goes above and beyond for clients—whether it’s helping them to make medical appointments or providing one-on-one support.  Colleagues say her sense of humour and friendly manner help create a welcoming environment for all.

Recipient

Scott Stokes first came to the Good Day Workshop as a participant. His skill and contributions soon led the program to hire him, and now he supervises participants as they learn to refinish and repair furniture.    Colleagues say Scott inspires others, creates a welcoming and upbeat work environment, and helps participants achieve success and a sense of community. 

Employer Award

Bridlewood Home Hardware, which opened October 1, 2009 in Kanata, participates in the Ontario March of Dimes employment program. Owner Chuck Hillock hired a program client to work in his new store. He and manager Peter Larivière ensure the man has all the necessary supports to be successful on the job and included him in the store’s grand opening.

Recipient

A social enterprise operating under the umbrella of the Causeway Work Centre, Cycle Salvation employs people of all abilities to work part-time as trained bike mechanics, restoring bicycles that would otherwise be discarded. As part of the curriculum, Cycle Salvation develops employees to work in a field relating to bike mechanics, with the goal to “cycle out” one person a year into a full-time occupation in the community.

Olga’s Deli and Catering has reached out to give a young man with a disability an opportunity to work in a community setting. The young man has become an employee of the Glebe deli, washing dishes, bussing tables and doing other tasks. Owner Ezio Constanza and his team have embraced inclusion and are providing the employee with the support to succeed. 

Hospitality and Tourism Award

Recipient

The Canada Science and Technology Museum, in collaboration with the CNIB, created an exhibition and guided tour to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille. ``Braille: Knowledge at your Fingertips`` introduces people with vision loss to the entire Museum, and shows all visitors how technical innovation, much of it Canadian, has helped people with vision loss to live independently. 

Sports Award

Rob Christy is a three-time Paralympian in the sport of Goalball.  He represented Canada in Beijing in 2008 and will play in the 2010 World Championships in England, which will mark the end of his competitive playing career but the beginning of his career as head coach of the women’s provincial team.  A 16-year veteran of the Ontario All Blacks provincial Goalball team, Rob is also a frequent speaker and advocate for Canadian athletes with a visual impairment. 

Recipient

Mike Roy is an avid sports enthusiast who participates in both recreational and competitive events in swimming, curling, cross-country and downhill skiing, floor hockey, basketball, soccer and more.  Mike has competed in the Special Olympics National Games for several of his sports.  Balancing his busy sporting life with a job at the University of Ottawa, Mike is also a volunteer, helping others with swimming.

Volunteer Award

Megan Ellwood has devoted hundreds of hours to several organizations needing volunteers and has a particular passion for helping people with disabilities. She has volunteered with the City of Ottawa, the Crystal Bay Centre for Special Education and the Special Olympics. She is also a peer helper for students with disabilities at the University of Guelph.

Monica Hoffman volunteers every week at the Walden Village Retirement Residence, visiting residents and encouraging them to talk and connect. Monica developed a creative idea for having the seniors become volunteers for each other, helping with everything from learning to play the piano to practising a new language. She also volunteers as a Sunday School teacher at her church.

Recipient

Darcy Quartermaine has contributed over 200 volunteer hours to the Ottawa Children’s Treatment Centre in just 2 years.  Much of her work has been in the school—where she supports delivery of special education and therapies for the young students, especially in literacy activities.  Darcy has also been a volunteer for the past 7 years with Heartwood House.  

Volunteer Opportunities Award

Recipient

Heartwood House, a community of 16 non-profit organizations, provides workplace training and volunteer opportunities for clients of all members.  Heartwood House manages the OC Transpo Lost & Found program, staffing it with volunteers with disabilities who are given training supports and opportunities to develop leadership skills. The program proved so successful that OC Transpo established a long term partnership with Heartwood House to manage the Lost and Found Program.

Rogers TV reaches out to the community to encourage people with disabilities to volunteer and learn about television production.  Trudi Dyer and her team provide an accessible location, and provide specialized training to help volunteers acquire production skills.  Volunteers with disabilities are engaged in a number of production positions in the Rogers TV Studio environment. 

Youth Award in Memory of Susan Meyer

Tereza Cerqueira is an Ontario Scholar, an athlete, a singer and a dancer with Propeller Dance. She received a Yes I Can! Youth Achievement Award for her artistic work with glass. At age 22, Teresa is now studying early childhood education at Algonquin College and looking forward to a career working with young children.

Recipient

Christina Judd-Campbell joined a rhythmic gymnastics program in high school and discovered her natural talent. Now 21, Christina is an elite athlete in the sport, winning 5 medals for Team Canada at the 2007 Special Olympics Summer World Games.  With a busy life of work, classes and caring for 2 horses, she is also a public speaker and Special Olympics advocate.