The Durham Accessibility Awards have recognized eight individuals, businesses and organizations for their work to improve accessibility and inclusion across the region.
One recipient was selected from each of Durham Region’s eight municipalities for the 2026 awards, highlighting local efforts to remove barriers and create more welcoming communities for people with disabilities.
The annual awards are part of Durham Region’s broader accessibility efforts and are intended to recognize people and organizations that demonstrate leadership, innovation and commitment to inclusion.
Durham Region Chief Administrative Officer Elaine Baxter-Trehair said accessibility helps strengthen communities by making sure residents can connect with the services, spaces and opportunities they need.
Eight Recipients Recognized Across Durham Region
The 2026 Durham Accessibility Awards recipients represent every municipality in the region.
The winners are:
- Pickering: Snooze Room
- Ajax: Progressive Life Centre
- Whitby: Durham KidsKare
- Oshawa: Beyond 18
- Clarington: Autism Home Base
- Brock: Donna Schirle
- Scugog: The Port Cheese Co.
- Uxbridge: Lucy Maud Montgomery Society of Ontario
The regional awards highlight a wide variety of accessibility work, from community organizations and local businesses to individual advocates and service providers.
Each recipient was recognized for helping make their community more inclusive and accessible.
Awards Highlight Barrier Removal and Inclusion
The purpose of the awards goes beyond celebrating individual achievements.
Durham Region uses the program to raise awareness about the importance of accessibility and the role residents, businesses and organizations can play in removing barriers.
Accessibility can involve physical spaces, services, communication, employment opportunities, community participation and other areas that affect whether people with disabilities can participate fully in daily life.
By highlighting examples from across all eight municipalities, the Durham Accessibility Awards show how local initiatives can contribute to wider regional change.
Regional Leaders Praise 2026 Recipients
Durham Region Chair John Henry congratulated the recipients and said their work is making a lasting impact.
He said the winners are helping create communities where more people have the opportunity to participate and succeed through leadership, innovation and efforts to remove barriers.
The 2026 awards also reflect the range of organizations involved in accessibility work across Durham.
Some recipients are community-based organizations, while others are businesses, individuals or groups with a broader cultural or service focus.
That diversity shows accessibility can be advanced in many different ways and across many different sectors.
Program Supports Durham Region Accessibility Goals
The awards have been part of Durham Region’s accessibility efforts for several years.
Previous recipients have included community health organizations, small businesses, volunteers, agriculture-related groups and other local organizations.
The program supports the region’s larger accessibility plan by drawing attention to successful local initiatives and encouraging others to consider how they can improve accessibility in their own workplaces, services and community spaces.
This year’s honourees continue that tradition by representing a cross-section of communities and sectors throughout Durham Region.
Accessibility Work Continues Across All Eight Municipalities
Because all eight municipalities are represented, the awards provide a region-wide picture of accessibility leadership.
From Pickering and Ajax in the west to Brock, Scugog and Uxbridge in the north, each community has a recipient recognized for contributing to a more inclusive Durham Region.
The Durham Accessibility Awards also provide an opportunity to highlight practical examples of barrier removal and encourage broader participation in accessibility initiatives.
Residents interested in learning more about the recipients or Durham Region’s accessibility programs can visit the region’s accessibility information page.
The 2026 recipients demonstrate how local actions can make a meaningful difference in creating communities where more residents feel welcome, supported and able to participate.
