Nominations open for Hamilton’s 3rd annual Accessibility Awards

HAMILTON, ON – More Hamilton residents will benefit from a more accessible and inclusive city as the City of Hamilton opens nominations for its third annual Accessibility Awards, recognizing individuals, groups and organizations, businesses and youth that are helping remove barriers and improve supports for persons with disabilities.

Nominations are open from June 1 to July 3, 2026 and can be submitted at hamilton.ca/AccessibilityAwards.

With 39 per cent of Hamiltonians reporting having an activity limitation due to physical or mental conditions or health problems, according to the 2021 census, improving accessibility remains an important priority across the community.

“The Accessibility Awards celebrate the people and organizations whose compassion, leadership and commitment are creating a more accessible and inclusive Hamilton for everyone,” said Mayor Andrea Horwath. “These awards recognize meaningful efforts that remove barriers, create opportunities and improve everyday experiences for Hamiltonians of all abilities. The individuals, businesses, community groups and young leaders being recognized are building a stronger, more connected community where everyone feels welcomed, valued and supported.”

Led by the Accessibility Committee for Persons with Disabilities (ACPD), the awards were established to honour, celebrate and recognize achievements in advancing accessibility within Hamilton. The ACPD plays a crucial role in the selection and adjudication of award recipients. Raising awareness about accessibility and universal design remains a key focus.

The four award categories include: 

• Individual Award
• Group or Community Organization Award
• Business Award
• Youth Award (ages 14-29)

“Accessibility must be a central part of how we design, deliver and improve City services,” said Marnie Cluckie, City Manager. “The Accessibility Awards recognize residents, businesses and organizations that are helping remove barriers and create more inclusive spaces, programs and services across Hamilton.”

Key dates

• The nomination period will be open from June 1 to July 3, 2026. Nomination forms are available on hamilton.ca/AccessibilityAwards.
• The awards ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. as a part of the ACPD’s fifth annual Accessibility Fair at Hamilton City Hall east walkway between Jackson and Main Street West on September 4, 2026 from 11 am to 3 pm. 

Quick facts

• The Accessibility Awards were created through a proposal by the ACPD in 2022 and officially launched in 2023. The program celebrates efforts that break down barriers and promote accessibility in a meaningful way.
• According to the 2021 Census, Hamilton has a significantly large community of persons who report having activity limitations related to either physical or mental conditions, or health problems, representing 39 per cent of the population compared to the Ontario average of 35 per cent (Source: Statistics Canada).
• Hamilton’s disability rate trends higher than the provincial average, notably for those persons who reported “always” having an activity limitation, representing 15 per cent of Hamiltonians, versus 13 per cent of Ontarians (Source: SPRC Hamilton – Disability and Demographics: Profile of Persons with Activity Limitations in Hamilton, April 2026).
• The ACPD is a sub-committee of Council and makes recommendations to the City of Hamilton with respect to policy, procedure and standards that address the needs and concerns of all disabilities. Their task is to identify barriers in municipal programs and try to prevent new barriers from being created in accordance with the ODA (Ontarians with Disabilities Act) and the AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) in matters of Customer Service, Employment, Housing, Transportation, Design of Public Spaces and Information and Communication.