This award has been established to recognize and honour the exceptional contributions of an individual occupational therapist who has shown innovation and leadership in clinical practice. A maximum of three (3) awards may be granted each year. Nominations for this Award will be considered annually but the Award will be made only when recognition is merited in accordance with stated criteria. Nominators whose nomination is unsuccessful in a particular year may allow the nomination to stand for a maximum of three successive years.

Criteria for selection

Nominations must meet the following criteria:
  1. Nominees shall be individual or life members of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists.

  2. Nominees shall have demonstrated exceptional leadership and innovation in the application of evidence-based principles of occupational therapy to clinical practice.

  3. The contributions of the nominees will relate to, but not be limited to, one or more of the following clinical areas:
    • client service
    • consumer advocacy
    • policy development
    • community development
    • education and/or fieldwork

  4. The contributions of the nominees shall have had a positive impact on clients, the community and/or the advancement of occupational therapy clinical practice.

  5. Nominees must not be a current Board member or employee of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists.

  6. Nominees need not be a resident in Canada if the achievements for which they are nominated have relevance to Canadian occupational therapy and they meet the other criteria for the award.

Nomination procedures

  1. Individual Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists members or a group of members are eligible to submit nominations. Self-nominations will not be considered.
  2. Nomination forms must be submitted through the link below.
  3. An electronic version of the signature form must be downloaded below and submitted with the nomination.
  4. The narrative must include explicit examples of the nominee’s innovative contribution to the profession of occupational therapy, as contributing evidence of, and reasons for, the nomination of the candidate.
  5. The narrative is not to exceed three (3) typewritten pages, single spaced, one inch margins, 12 point, Arial font. Additional information will not be considered.
  6. Nominators whose nomination is unsuccessful in a particular year may allow the nomination to stand for a maximum of three successive years.
  7. Nominations are to be received by December 1st. All those received after December 1st will be considered for the following nomination year.

Required to complete the online nomination form

About the nominee: name, address, number of years of sustained activity in occupational therapy. Optional: CAOT Member #.

Nominee narrative: The purpose of the narrative is to describe why the candidate was nominated for this award and to highlight the exceptional contributions of this occupational therapist who has shown innovation and leadership in clinical practice. The narrative must include explicit examples of the nominee’s innovative contribution to the profession of occupational therapy, as contributing evidence of, and reasons for, the nomination of the candidate. The narrative is not to exceed three (3) typewritten pages, single-spaced, one inch margins, 12 point, Arial font in word or PDF format (name of file: First name_Last name_IP_nom.doc or .pdf). Additional information will not be considered. The narrative should include:
  1. Educational background
  2. Summarized work experience
  3. Outline of the exceptional leadership and innovation in the application of evidence-based principles of occupational therapy to clinical practice. The contributions will relate to, but not be limited to, one or more of the following clinical areas:
    • client service
    • consumer advocacy
    • policy development
    • community development
    • education and/or fieldwork
  4. How the candidate’s contributions have had a positive impact on clients, the community and/or the advancement of occupational therapy clinical practice.
About the nominator: name, address, CAOT Member # and signature form. Download and complete this signature form. Scan or take a picture of it as you will be required to upload it. 

Complete your online nomination

Read the selection criteria and form of the award