This award recognizes individuals that have been leaders in innovation throughout their life. Either through their work in advancing accessibility or leading by example, these individuals have been a positive influence for change and building accessible communities.

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DAVID ONLEY
 

David began his career on television and advanced accessible workplaces by being the first television host with a disability. He was also the first Lieutenant Governor with a disability to represent Her Majesty the Queen for the Province of Ontario.  In his role, he brought awareness to the need for creating more accessible work spaces and opportunities for people with a disability. 
 

His latest contribution to advancing accessibility is his work across the Province to spread awareness and improve upon the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act. 

 

He will be receiving the award for his dedication to creating accessible opportunities for people of all abilities to enjoy the benefits of inclusive healthy active living possibilities.

"We have come a long way in promoting accessibility over the years and it is ironic to me that my first fledgling awareness of accessibility was looking out my grand parents’ living room window on Pinegrove Avenue and asking my grand father what Variety Village was all about. The old Barker sign was quite visible then as the trees on the north side of Danforth Ave were saplings."

- David Onley

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ARRON BARBERIAN
& LINDA RODECK

Arron is known to many for his incredible steakhouse and fine wine collection. To others he is known for his generous support
of charitable causes. 
 

His wife Linda Rodeck has been advocating for accessibility for years and has been instrumental in helping Arron fundraise for causes such as Holland Bloorview and the Accessible Baseball diamond.

Arron and his wife Linda are receiving the Innovation for Accessibility in Sport Award for his tireless efforts to support accessible environments to play, learn and grow for kids of all abilities in general, and his advocacy for the City of Toronto’s first accessible baseball diamond in particular.

ZACK COPPLESTONE

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Zack is Canada’s first VOLT Hockey coach. VOLT Hockey is a new adaptive sport to Canada and it is growing in popularity. Zack is in his third season coaching kids with a disability on VOLT Hockey and has helped build awareness of the positive impact the new adaptive sport has for kids with limited upper and lower mobility.

 

He is receiving the Innovation in Adaptive Sport/Parasport award in appreciation of increasing sport and recreation initiatives for kids of all abilities to play hockey in Ontario.