The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists will grant Life Membership in the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists in accordance with the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists By-Laws. Nominations for Life Membership will be considered annually but Life Membership will be awarded only when recognition is merited in accordance with stated criteria. 

Criteria for selection

Nominations must meet the following criteria:

  1. Nominees must have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists or to the profession of occupational therapy.

  2. Nominees must hold current individual membership and have been an individual member for not less than twenty (20) years whether consecutive or not.

  3. Nominees must have practised occupational therapy for at least twenty (20) years whether consecutive or not.

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

  5. 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. A group of five (5) individual or Life members of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists must sign the nomination form. 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 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. Additional information will not be considered.
  5. 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 Life membership and to highlight the outstanding contributions the candidate has made to the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists or to the profession over an extended period of time. The narrative must include explicit examples of the nominee’s 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_LIFE_nom.doc or .pdf). Additional information will not be considered. The narrative should include:

  1. Educational background
  2. Summarized work experience
  3. Contributions to the activities of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists or to the profession.
  4. Honours bestowed on the candidate for professional achievement (awards, peer recognition, honorary degrees).

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