The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists will honour a member of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists who has made an outstanding contribution to the profession through research, education and the practice of occupational therapy by presenting the individual with the Muriel Driver Memorial Lectureship Award. Only one (1) award will 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 with the permission of the nominee.

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 be making, or have made an outstanding contribution to the body of knowledge of occupational therapy.
  3. Nominees shall have provided opportunity for members of the profession to benefit from these contributions through publication, presentations or both.
  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.

Aims of the lectureship

The aims of the lectureship are to stimulate interest in the development of improved methods and techniques in the practice of occupational therapy; to encourage interest in research, education, public relations, recruitment and administration; to provide opportunity for all members of the profession to benefit from new developments; and to give members of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists opportunity to make known the results of study, thus sharing knowledge and experience with others.

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 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. The nominator should include the nominee’s curriculum vitae which lists professional experience, affiliations and special interests.  
  7. Nominators whose nomination is unsuccessful in a particular year may allow the nomination to stand for a maximum of three successive years with the permission of the nominee.
  8. 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 and highest educational level attained. 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 candidate’s outstanding contribution to the profession through research, education and the practice of occupational therapy. 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_MD_nom.doc or .pdf). Additional information will not be considered. The narrative should include:

  1. Educational background
  2. Summarized work experience
  3. Outstanding contributions to the profession through research, education and the practice of occupational therapy.
  4. How the candidate’s contributions have benefited the profession/association and are therefore worthy of national recognition.
  5. Evidence that the candidate has contributed in each of the following categories:
    1. Written/oral communication activities
    2. Association activities especially at the national level
  6. 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.