2011 Calgary Region Community Leadership Awards

On June 23, 2011 Jeff Nish, Chair was joined by Jean Fraser, Vice-Chair congratulating the 2011 Community Leadership Award Nominees and Recipients.

The purpose of the celebration was to honor and recognize individuals, families, and organizations for their actions to promote community inclusion and improve the lives of individuals with developmental disabilities.

The Community Leadership Awards represent the significant contribution that all Nominees and Award Recipients have made to make communities a better place for persons with developmental disabilities.

The Community Leadership Award proceedings recognized Nominees and Award Recipients in 5 Categories:

Norm McLeod Self-Advocacy Award: recognizes an adult with a developmental disability whose actions have made communities a more welcoming place for people with developmental disabilities.

The following is the nominee for the Norm McLeod Self-Advocacy Award:

• Brad Robertson (award recipient) demonstrates the true characteristics of an Individual whose actions make communities a more welcoming place for people with developmental disabilities. He is an advocate, a volunteer, a mentor and a leader, he has lobbied for low income bus passes as a member of the Fare is Fair Committee; has campaigned for increases to AISH and helped to organize the Annual Speak Out Rally; Brad is also on the Premier's Council on the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
  
  
  

• Individual Leadership Award: recognizes an adult with a developmental disability who, through their achievements, has inspired others with developmental disabilities to become community leaders.

The following are the nominees for the Individual Leadership Award:

• Karen Aldridge (nominee) is a person who does not take herself or what she views as her responsibilities lightly. As an advocate, Karen has fulfilled the role as a Client Representative within Prospect's PDD Services and has always been a voice for those who may not be as comfortable using their own. Karen is seen as someone to go to who will help others to advocate for themselves.
  
  
  

• Sheena Small (award recipient) has been consistent and determined to make a difference. Sheena's dream of operating her own candy store business - "Sheena's Sweets and Such" - came true almost 6 years ago! Sheena's Sweets and Such has operated in High River for almost 6 years now. Sheena's ability and determination to open a business against many odds has been an inspiration to her family, her community and across Canada as a whole.
  
  
  

• Community Citizenship Award: recognizes a community member, business or organization that has shown leadership in supporting adults with developmental disabilities to be involved in the community.

• The following are the nominees for the Community Citizenship Award:

• Bonny Johannson (nominee) supports Adults with Developmental Disabilities to speak and advocate for themselves and looks for new and innovative ways to engage Individuals with developmental disabilities and ways that she can strengthen the community. Bonny was instrumental in opening a chapter of Toastmasters International.
  
  
  

• Prospect's Volunteer Program (nominee) (Pamela Tritthardt, Community Access Supervisor, Prospect Volunteer Program, accepting) supports Adults with Developmental Disabilities in experiencing an enhanced quality of life through increased community participation. Prospect's Mission is about embracing diversity. It is also about building the community's capacity to include all individuals.
  
  
  

• Hope Bridges Society (award recipient) (Marvin Hilton, Chairperson, and Sheila Konschuh, Vice Chair, accepting) engages the community through continued creative experiences in an inclusive environment so that every person feels valued. Hope Bridges Society focuses on the universal language of the Arts as a vehicle for inclusion. Individuals are provided opportunities for meaningful connection alongside artists from local and neighboring theatre and performing arts. Community members with special needs are welcomed to share their gifts and talents as valued citizens and their performances provide inspiration and confirmation of the value of inclusion in building strong community. These messages are changing community perceptions.
  
  
  

• Wing Kei Care Centre (nominee) (Jane Tse, Director of Care, and Olive Mah, Volunteer Coordinator accepting) provides volunteer placements for Adults with Developmental Disabilities through a partnership with PDD funded agency Chrysalis. Wing Kei Care Centre has demonstrated that they value all people and are a shining example to everyone of how Individuals with developmental disabilities should be treated - as people first
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• The Community Disability Service Sector Leadership Award: recognizes a community service provider or individual that has demonstrated innovative practices that improve services for adults with developmental disabilities.

The following are the nominees for The Community Disability Service Sector Leadership Award:

• Universal Rehabilitation Service Agency - Camp URSA (nominee) (Pam McGladderey, Executive Director and Teisha Kaiser, Community Relations Coordinator, accepting) is designed to provide a relaxing, barrier free and safe 'get-away' for Individuals with disabilities and their families. Camp URSA is an affordable recreation and respite service, combining the charm of a relaxing country setting with the comfort of modern conveniences. Visiting Camp URSA creates opportunities for Individuals to try new activities, experience a new environment, make new friends and create memories that will last a lifetime.
  
  
  

• Sue Thomas (nominee) has worked in the Community Disability Service Sector for 23 years and identified the need for better and unique supports for Individuals with developmental disabilities who suffer from addiction issues. Sue made a decision to make a difference and provide the same opportunities that exist for the non disabled population and therefore developed a plain language version of Alcoholics Anonymous. Various organizations and psychological professionals are applauding the service that Sue developed and individuals who use this resource report they have experienced positive outcomes as a result.
  
  
  

• Elaine Yost (award recipient) brought the "Employer of Choice Initiative" to her organization "OPTIONS" and to the Community Disability Service Sector. Elaine recognized that the Community Disability Service Sector would benefit from this initiative by giving the sector an opportunity to further the professional standing of the field as a whole and, equally important, empower all employees to be the best they can be and promote the rights of Individuals. The implementation of this initiative has influenced the delivery of services by other community service providers and staff who work in the sector. It has built pride and inspiration, provided leadership development, build teamwork and problem solving skills.
  
  
  

• Supported Lifestyles (Doug Luft, Supported Lifestyles, accepting) primary focus is to provide innovative support to Adults with a Developmental Disability. They specialize in delivering services to Individuals with complex needs and provide an array of residential and vocational supports to these individuals. Supported Lifestyles is viewed as innovative and looks beyond tradition ways of addressing an Individual's support needs.
  
  
  

• Family Leadership Award: recognizes a family that has demonstrated leadership in the development of communities that welcome adults with developmental disabilities.

• The Hatton Family, Brian, Debbie and Alyssa (award recipients) have been advocates and ambassadors, showcasing to others what Adults with Developmental Disabilities contribute and how they are role models. The Hatton family has made a difference through their fundraising, advocating for the right to life long learning, giving messages related to an "abilities focus" rather than a "disabilities focus" and, engaging the public on the importance of supporting Individuals with Developmental Disabilities. The number of individuals touched by the sincerity and genuine actions of the Hatton Family cannot be counted. They go out of their way to remain engaged with the communities that have supported them, and intentionally give back where they can.
  
  
  

On behalf of Calgary Region Community Board, we extend our sincere congratulations to the nominees and recipients of the 2011 PDD Calgary Region Community Leadership Awards!