The Carol McGregor CLC Disability Rights Award

This year, on the eleventh anniversary of the award, the Canadian Labour Congress is pleased to announce the 2022 winner of the Carol McGregor CLC Disability Rights Award!

Every year on December 3, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Canadian Labour Congress will recognize a union member for their disability rights activism.

This award is named in honour of Carol McGregor, an outstanding disability rights activist, member of NUPGE and the CLC Disability Rights Working Group―and who was much loved by all those who worked with her. Carol passed away in 2006, and this award lives on in her name to recognize the incredible disability justice activism in our communities. 2022 marks the eleventh anniversary of the Carol McGregor CLC Disability Rights Award.

Click here to find out the 2022 winner of the Carol McGregor CLC Disability Rights Award.

In 2021, the award recognized the lifetime achievements of Sheryl Burns, a member of CUPE Local 1936 which represents social service workers throughout British Columbia’s Lower Mainland. Sheryl is a seasoned disability rights advocate with many years of experience negotiating against ableist barriers in favor of accessible working conditions for all workers.

Criteria for the 2022 award:

Award recipient will be a member with a disability who is:

1. Active in the labour movement and/or community.
2. Has made a significant and lasting impact in the union and/or community by promoting and defending the rights of persons with disabilities.
3. Has manifested their activism in one or more of the following ways:
   • Strategized and mobilized others around workplace issues and lobbying for the full participation of Canadians with disabilities in all aspects of society.
   • Developed and/or practiced organizing strategies to include tactics aimed specifically at advancing disability justice in the workplace.
   • Represented members to ensure all activities and events are accessible to members with disabilities and promoting employment equity for people with disabilities within the workplace.
   • Educated members about disability justice issues in the workplace and in society.

Any union member or organization may nominate a candidate.