Other Awards

Volunteer, Employee and Community Awards


Every year, our employee, volunteer and commun​ity awards celebrated organizations and individuals who were working to build a more inclusive society, as part of our "Festival of Recognition". These people make a difference in the lives of​ thousands of Canadians living with a disability. 

Awards



Award of Merit for Barrier-Free Design
This award was established in 1993 to promote public awareness of the importance of barrier-free design, and to recognize excellence in accessibility design. It is presented annually to the owner(s) of a building or facility that has been designed or renovated with special regard to accessibility for persons with a disability.

Eligibility Criteria
Structures that qualify for this award include:
  • New public or private buildings or facilities, the design of which incorporate barrier-free accessibility;
  • Existing buildings or facilities that have been re-designed or renovated to incorporate barrier-free accessibility.

Past Award Winners

2018 – Aga Khan Museum, Toronto, Ontario
2017 –Golden Windows, Kitchener, Ontario
2016 –City of Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario
2015 –Participation Lodge, Holland Centre, Ontario
2014 –Participation Lodge, Owen Sound, Ontario
2013 –Milton Centre for the Arts, Milton, Ontario and Luke Anderson, Toronto, Ontario
2012 –City of Burlington, Burlington, Ontario
2011 –City of Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario
2010 –Dominique Tonetti, Kazabazua, Quebec​
Created in 1997, this award recognizes the significance of partnerships that further the vision, goals and success of March of Dimes Canada. It is awarded annually to an organization or community group which has helped achieve the goals of March of Dimes Canada through outstanding collaboration in support of people with physical disabilities.

Eligibility Criteria
  • An organization or community group that has shown an outstanding commitment to collaboration, resulting in service or support of people with disabilities;
  • The contribution should include specific collaboration in program or policy activities with community-based impact.

Past Award Winners

2021 –Brigadoon Village, Aylesford, Nova Scotia
2018 – Brain Injury Assoc. Sudbury & District, Sudbury, ON

2017 – Grand River Hospital, Kitchener, ON
2016 – Motus O Dance Theatre, Stouffville, Ontario​
2015 – REENA, Vaughan, Ontario
2014 – Home Depot, Thunder Bay, Ontario
2013 – Camp Awakening, Toronto, Ontario
2012 – Willow Springs Creative Centre, Kaministiquia, Ontario
2011 – David Summers, Kinsmen Residence, Cornwall, Ontario
2010 – Salvation Army, Niagara Branch, St. Catharines, Ontario
2009 – Telus, Toronto, Ontario
2008 – Canwest Television Limited Partnership, Toronto, Ontario​
This award was created in 1981 and is named in honour of former March of Dimes President Judge George Ferguson. It is presented annually to a business, organization, or individual that contributes in an outstanding way by enabling equality and full community participation for people with physical disabilities throughout Canada.

Eligibility Criteria
  • The nominee's work with and on behalf of people with disabilities, must have influenced changes in policies or services on a large scale.
  • The nominee's contribution must have had a major impact on society and elevated the well being of people with disabilities.
  • The nominee's contribution should be unique.

Past Award Winners

2021 – Chris Munro, Veterans Transition to Education, The Chang School of Continuing Education, Ryerson University
2018 – Mark Ewer, Hamilton, Ontario
2017 – John Mackett, Thunder Bay, Ontario
2016 – Access T.O. , Toronto, Ontario
2015 – British Columbia Aboriginal Network on Disability Society, Victoria, British Columbia
2014 – Robin Easey Centre, Ottawa, Ontario
2013 – Doug G. Hauser, Calgary, Alberta
2012 – Izzy Camilleri, IZ Adaptive Clothing, Toronto, Ontario
2011 – Teena Tomlinson, Ottawa, Ontario
2010 – Art Elliott, Markham, Ontario​
This award was created in 1981 for the late Reverend Roy Essex, who volunteered with polio survivors from the 30s and 40s. Reverend Essex travelled extensively throughout Ontario and continued to volunteer into his late 80s.

Eligibility Criteria
  • Any long-term volunteer with March of Dimes Canada who has:
  • Volunteered in the area of direct service, board, or advisory committee work, research, fund raising, public relations, or any other endeavor directly furthering the work and goals of March of Dimes Canada;
  • Demonstrated a strong degree of commitment to the agency and made contributions which have had a marked impact on the organization's goals;
  • Advanced and promoted awareness of Post-Polio Survivors and Post-Polio Survivor issues to health and allied professionals, caregivers, or the public.

Past Award Winners

2018 – Audrey McGregor, Montreal, Ontario
2017 – Sandy Brack, Omemee, Ontario
2016 – Jim McCullough, Peterborough, Ontario
2015 – Colin Hardman, Oakville, Ontario
2014 – Diana Bullock, Newmarket, Ontario
2013 – Doug Harvey-Smith
2012 – Rick Berry, Richmond Hill, Ontario
2011 – Marc Belliveau, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2011 – David Graves, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2011 – Bruce Marchand, Halifax, Nova Scotia
2010 – Elizabeth Lounsbury, Markstay, Ontario​
Rick Hansen completed his inspiring "Man in Motion" world tour in 1987, and March of Dimes was pleased to honour his remarkable achievement with the creation of the Rick Hansen Award of Excellence.

This award is presented periodically to an individual who has made outstanding contributions or who has accomplished an outstanding achievement, benefiting the cause of people with physical disabilities internationally.

Eligibility Criteria
  • Nominee must be a Canadian citizen or Canadian resident;
  • Nominee will have demonstrated by action and deed, the dedication and commitment exemplified by Rick Hansen, and be credited with an internationally recognized accomplishment in aid of adults with physically disabilities.

Past Award Winners

2015 – Tracy Schmitt, Toronto, Ontario
2014 – Rick Mercer, Toronto, Ontario
2013 – Chantal Petitclerc, Montreal, Quebec
2012 – Adrian Anantwan, Mississauga, Ontario
2011 – David Shannon, OOnt, OC, Thunder Bay, Ontario
2010 – Paul Rosen, Thornhill, Ontario​
The Richard Kall Memorial Fund and the Richard Kall Employee Award of Excellence were established in 2000 in recognition of former March of Dimes Canada's Chief Operating Officer, Richard Kall.

Kall’s caring and compassion for others directly influenced many lives. He set high standards for himself and others, always striving for excellence. It is in this spirit that we established this award.

The award is intended to:
  • Foster and encourage selflessness and a strong spirit of giving of oneself.
  • Encourage employee excellence through self-improvement.
  • Recognize outstanding customer service and those who make a significant difference in the lives of those we serve.
  • Create a mature organization where employees have the courage to challenge the status quo in a caring and compassionate manner.
  • The recipient is given a commemorative award and a $500 education grant to be applied to any program that furthers his or her professional or educational goals.

Eligibility Criteria
  • Any full or part time employee of March of Dimes Canada meeting the following criteria may be nominated. He or she:
  • Makes a significant difference in the lives of others on a regular basis;
  • Contributes selflessly without personal gain;
  • Seeks to improve his or her own education and creates opportunities or mentors others;
  • Strives for excellence through continuous improvement;
  • Challenges current practices in a caring and compassionate way;
  • Delivers outstanding customer service.

Past Award Winners

2018 – Ewllen Cotton, Richmond Hill, Ontario
2017 – Mary Ann Cecile, Sarnia, Ontario
2016 – Carolyn Kennedy, Richmond Hill, Ontario
2015 – Ruth Patterson, Richmond Hill, Ontario
2014 – Nikki Baxter-Mackay, Niagara Falls, Ontario
2013 – Cathy Barber, St. Catharines, Ontario
2012 – Anna-Maria Tiveron, Toronto, Ontario
2011 – Marilyn Daley, Mississauga, Ontario
2010 – Janine Roy, Sudbury, Ontario​
This award was created in 1988 in honour of former Honorary Campaign Chair of March of Dimes, the late Paul Martin Sr., who waged a personal battle against polio.

As Canadian Minister of National Health and Welfare in the 1950s, Paul Martin Sr. took the courageous step of delivering the country's universal vaccination program despite an atmosphere of great uncertainty. The vaccine eventually ended the threat of polio in Canada.

The award is presented annually for service to March of Dimes Canada in the areas of fundraising, service or policy  for over 12 years.

Eligibility Criteria
  • Volunteers who have completed 12 years or more of continuous service with the organization and who have made significant contributions in the area of fundraising, policy or service.

Past Award Winners

2017 – Paul Simpson, Burlington, Ontario
2016 – Roger Holland, Vancouver, British Columbia
2015 – Peter, Jan & Laura Bingeman, Petersburg, Ontario
2014 – Dr. Luis Barreto, Toronto, Ontario​
2013 – Doug Dineley, Niagara on the Lake, Ontario
2012 – Princess of Wales Own Regiment, Kingston, Ontario
2011 – Joan Hobbs, Aylmer, Ontario
Since 1987 this award has been presented annually to a business, organization, or agency making an outstanding contribution to the vocational rehabilitation and employment of adults with physical disabilities.

Eligibility Criteria
  • The nominee's contribution of vocational rehabilitation or employment must have had an impact on the community.
  • The nominee's contribution must have had a sustained benefit.

Past Award Winners

2018 – Darleen Daly, Daily's Independence, Timmins, Ontario
2017 – Mark Wafer, Toronto, Ontario
2016 – Heritage Household Services of Ancaster, Ancaster, Ontario
2015 – Tony LaForet, Thunder Bay, Ontario
2014 – Northern Cleaning Contractors, Sudbury, Ontario
2013 – Louise Rodgers (Unicco), Sudbury, Ontario
2012 – Liberty Tax, Hamilton, Ontario
2011 – McDonald's, St. Catharines, Ontario
2010 – George's Market & Celebrations, Thunder Bay, Ontario​​
No one embodied the spirit and vision of March of Dimes Canada more than WWII flying veteran Wade Hampton. At age 31, on the same day the polio vaccine was announced, Hampton was diagnosed with the disease and taken to hospital. A born fighter, he refused to be held back by the effects of polio and recovered to create an extraordinary career and a rich personal life.

Hampton became Chief Executive Officer of Operation Reliance Inc., a program that helped people with disabilities secure regular employment. He also served on the March of Dimes Board of Directors from 1983 to 1985, guiding the organization as a volunteer and as president. In later years, he was made a Lifetime Member of the Board and the Executive Committee.

In the spirit of his commitment, and in cooperation with the Hampton family, March of Dimes established the Wade Hampton Memorial Fund. The income earned is used to provide bursaries to people with a disability.

Tax deductible contributions to the Wade Hampton Memorial Fund are welcomed.

Eligibility Criteria
  • The bursary is available to any Canadian with a physical disability whose plan for professional development incorporates at least one formal training course, and who requires financial assistance to achieve that goal.
  • The recipient gets $1,500 to be applied to any training or development program that furthers his or her employment opportunities or career goals.

Past Award Winners

2021 – Heidi Redl – Kamloops, British Columbia
          – Shaelyn Gauthier – Winnipeg, Manitoba
          – Veronica Chase – Surrey, British Columbia
          – Amanda Lamb – Courtice, Ontario
          – Carlynn Byrne – Quesnel, British Columbia
2018 – Kathleen Kras, Hamilton, Ontario
2017 – Tyrell Jaden Harrison, Maple, Ontario
2016 – Marlene Shay, Brockville, Ontario
2015 – Amanda Warren, Calgary, Alberta
2014 – Basil Boolis, Toronto, Ontario
2013 – William Checkley, Cobourg, Ontario
2012 – Emma Nuttall, Mississauga, Ontario
2011 – Rachele Dove, Fenwick, Ontario
2011 – Anthony Ramuscak, Hamilton, Ontario​​
2010 – Kristina Wiech, Bowmanville, Ontario​​