Nomination Form - Self-Advocate Leadership of the Year Award

BC People First is proud to present the annual Self-Advocate Leadership of the Year Award. In celebration of self-advocacy and the power of self-advocates.

This award goes to someone in BC who has shown leadership and knowledge throughout the past year in the field of advocating for the rights of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Nominations are due November 10, 2025. A winner will be selected by a judging panel based on the answers given in the nomination forms. The winner will be announced after the selection process ends – announcement should be made by early December in our BCPF newsletter, website, and social media. The winner receives a $250 bursary award, to host a learning or advocacy event in their area of the province, that can be used in 2026.

People can be nominated by a friend, colleague, family member, support worker, or other community member. You cannot nominate yourself for the award – but don't be afraid to ask someone you know to nominate you if you have been hard at work doing advocacy for disability rights in BC!

Nominee Eligibility Criteria:

The person being nominated must have completed self-advocacy and disability rights related work throughout the past year.
The person being nominated must identify as having an intellectual, developmental, learning, or cognitive disability.
They must also be a resident of British Columbia.
And have not won the award in the past.

Nomination Guidelines:

Nominations must be in by 11pm, Saturday, November 10, 2025 to be considered.
The Nominator must complete the nomination form and answer the nomination questions about the person they are nominating.
Please fill out the below nomination form in full, including adding a headshot style photo of the Nominee. Ask them for a photo if you don't have one.
Email us at hello@bcpeoplefirst.com if you have any questions.
The nominator or nominee may be contacted to verify information that has been given.
The nominee should know about their nomination – the nominator should get permission to nominate them, just in case they don't want to be nominated.
People can be nominated by a friend, colleague, family member, support worker, or other community member.
You cannot nominate yourself for the award – but don't be afraid to ask someone you know to nominate you! Especially if you have been hard at work doing advocacy for disability rights and helping others learn advocacy skills.
The nominator and nominee can work together to make sure information in the nomination form is right.

Name of Nominator (the person nominating someone else for the award)*

First NameLast Name

Nominator Email*

example@example.com

Nominator Phone Number*

Please enter a valid phone number.

Nominator organization or relation to Award Nominee*

How do you know the person you are nominating for this award? (colleague, peer, support worker, community member, etc. or organization you are part of)

Name of Nominee (the person you are nominating for this award).*

First NameLast Name

Nominee email*

example@example.com

Phone Number of the person being nominated.

Please enter a valid phone number.

Is the Nominee a resident of BC?*

Yes, the person I am nominating lives in British Columbia

Nominee Consent by Nominator*

Yes, the Nominee is aware their name is being put forward by me for this award. And they understand that their photo and information submitted in the nomination questions may be used online and at event for the Award Presentation. I have let the nominee know I am nominating them for the award and have their permission.

Answer questions 1-7 to the best of your knowledge about the person you are nominating for this award.

Examples of achievement could be (these are just ideas):

Inspiring mentorship and guidance for people new to self-advocacy
Development of new or unique approaches or new programs for self-advocacy
Board work, committee/task force involvement in the field of self-advocacy
Teaching, writing, or giving presentations to raise awareness or advocate for policy change
Participation in public advocacy campaigns or projects with local organizations
Applying learnings from workshops or courses to their own lives and the lives of other self-advocates

Please provide as many details as possible in your answers. This helps the Award Judging Panel make the bast decision with the information available.

Question 1: How does the nominee advocate for their own needs or wants in their life? What self-advocacy work have they done this past year? Why is self-advocacy important to them?*

Question 2: Does the nominee volunteer at any local organizations that do advocacy for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities? If so, how do they volunteer?*

Question 3: Please describe how the nominee supports the efforts of other self-advocates in their community?*

Question 4: Has the nominee completed any workshops or training about self-advocacy skills? If so, what did they learn in the course that they have used for self-advocacy work in their own life?*

Does this person keep learning more about advocacy skills so they know more all the time and can help others learn more?

Question 5: Describe how the Nominee has raised awareness about self-advocacy to others in their community. For example, do they have a newsletter, blog, or website of their own, or use social media to raise awareness of the self-advocacy movement in general? Or do they lead any of their own public advocacy campaigns?*

Examples: Do they promote self-advocacy and human rights with service providers, government officials, or even family members who don't understand "Nothing About Us Without Us"? Do they raise awareness on social media or in other ways? Do they promote the self-advocacy movement in general?

Question 6: What makes this nominee exceptional at self-advocacy and advocacy work?*

What are the main reasons you think this person should win the award for 2024?

Question 7: Is the nominee a Member of a self-advocate connection group? A provincial group or local group in their area or both.*

Examples: BC People First Society, Self-Advocates of the Rockies, Mission Self-Advocacy Group, Self-Advocate Leadership Network, Self-Advocates of Semiahmoo, Self-Advocates of Nanaimo, Self-Advocates In Langley, Self-Advocates for a Brighter Future, and more!

Photo of award Nominee (headshot style of the person being nominated for the award)*

Please include a photo of the person you are nominating for this award. You can ask them to send you a photo for their nomination if you don't have one. The photo may be used in award winner and award finalist promotions.

Nominator Declaration*

I declare that all the information provided on this nomination form is true and accurate to my knowledge. I also understand that BC People First Society might need to contact me to verify the answers I have provided in this nomination form.

Nominator Signature*