Honouring the recipients of the 2025 Celebrating Accessibility Awards
On Dec. 1, 2025, the City of Kingston and the Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee (MAAC) will celebrate this year's winners of the Celebrating Accessibility Awards.
Community members are invited to join the City, MAAC and the award winners at a ceremony on Monday, Dec. 1, from 1-3 p.m. at the Donald Gordon Hotel and Conference Centre at 421 Union St, Kingston.
The event is free, and all are welcome to attend. There will be an ASL interpreter available. Please register using this link – any accommodation requests can be noted during registration.
“Each of this year’s recipients has made a meaningful impact in building a more inclusive Kingston,” says Mayor Bryan Paterson. “Their dedication to accessibility, whether through advocacy, innovation or community leadership, helps ensure that everyone can participate fully in our city. I’m proud to celebrate their achievements and grateful for the example they set.”
Celebrating Accessibility Awards recipients
Business
V2 Innovations
V2 Innovations provides custom-made and ready-to-use orthoses (such as braces for medical or sports purposes) and prostheses, all aimed at improving quality of life.
Both locations are highly accessible and welcoming, ensuring both physical and communication accessibility. Their creative, client-focused approach helps people get necessary equipment and treatments. The V2 Innovations team is multi-disciplinary, sharing knowledge, collaborating with the community, and promoting awareness through proven, evidence-based methods.
Community organization
Science Rendezvous Kingston
Science Rendezvous Kingston is the only event of its kind in Canada to feature a Sensory-Friendly Science Zone, offering a calm and inclusive space for children with exceptionalities. Following best practices, volunteers design tailored exhibits that make STEM engaging and accessible for all.
To further reduce barriers, multilingual outreach and nametags have helped newcomer and non-English-speaking families feel welcome. These innovations have been adopted nationwide, making SRK a model for inclusive, community-driven science education.
St. Martha's Catholic School
St. Martha’s Catholic School has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to accessibility and inclusion by creating an inclusive playground. After successfully fundraising, the school consulted with KidsInclusive staff and community members to ensure the design would meet the needs of their students and neighbourhood families.
Beyond their own playground, St. Martha’s has supported the Inclusive Play Project through multiple fundraisers, inspiring meaningful conversations within local school boards about making recess accessible for all.
Community member
Sydney Gillam
Sydney is a passionate advocate for accessibility and inclusion. As a power wheelchair user, she has experienced many barriers firsthand but uses those experiences to educate others. Her involvement with the Inclusive Play Project and guest lectures at SLC and Queen’s reflects her commitment to changing attitudes around disability.
Sydney’s gentle poise and eloquent storytelling captivate audiences. Her leadership and dedication make her a true changemaker in Kingston, and she inspires those around her to advocate for change, too.
Shannon Thompson
Seeing a gap in opportunities for children with disabilities to participate in team sports, Shannon and her dedicated team launched an inclusive hockey program that has transformed lives in the community.
Fueled by a deeply rooted belief that every child deserves a chance to play, they created a space where ability is never a barrier and joy is always the goal. Through adaptive equipment, personalized coaching and a culture of encouragement, they've made hockey accessible, empowering kids to build confidence, friendships and a love for the game.
About the awards
The City, in collaboration with MAAC, initiated the Celebrating Accessibility Awards in 2011 to recognize individuals, groups, and organizations that make significant contributions to improving access for everyone in Kingston.
The awards ceremony takes place each year, celebrating recipients alongside the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Dec. 3. This day, observed since 1992, raises awareness about disability issues and promotes the well-being of people with disabilities.
Contact Us
City of Kingston
City Hall
216 Ontario Street
Kingston, ON K7L 2Z3
Canada
contactus@cityofkingston.ca
Phone: 613-546-0000
The City of Kingston acknowledges that we are on the traditional homeland of the Anishinabek, Haudenosaunee, and the Huron-Wendat, and thanks these nations for their care and stewardship over this shared land.
Today, the City is committed to working with Indigenous peoples and all residents to pursue a united path of reconciliation.
Learn more about the City's reconciliation initiatives.
