Five-Star Community Award Program

By Yhetta Gold

What’s it all about? – The Five Star Community Award Program is an initiative of the National Access Awareness Week Committee, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM), and the Department of the Secretary of State. These prestigious awards are presented to municipalities in recognition of achievements in and ongoing commitment to accessibility and integration of persons with disabilities into their communities. National recognition is given to municipalities for their accomplishments in municipal access and the five-star areas of transportation, housing, employment recreation and education.

How to apply? – Applications are made by municipalities on behalf of the entire community and include facilities, programs and initiatives going beyond the scope of municipal government (e.g., school boards, private corporations, community associations, et.). All of these groups are actively involved in the application process.

Multiple benefits – In addition to recognizing current achievements, the Five Star Community Award Program is an opportunity to highlight models of programs, services and ideas which other communities can adopt. Widespread promotion of the Award Programm can inspire and motivate communities to work towards the full social and economic integration of persons with disabilities into community life. Mayor Robert J. Base, Ph.D., of Surrey, B.C. in responding to the Star Award his community received in 1989 said National Access Awareness Week has brought the focus on integration of persons with disabilities into all aspects of our society. Surrey has made an effort to establish programs and services for the disabled and to improve accessibility to ensure that all individuals can fully participate.”

The judging process – Applications are divided into six pre-determined population categories. For 1990, the deadline for submission of applications was April 20th. A letter of support from a local organization of persons with disabilities must be included in eac h application. A selection committee has been formed to review the applications and make the final award decisions. The Chairperson is a member of the National Access Awareness Week. The nine members are selected from the community at large. Three members are elected officials at the municipal level nominated by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities; Three members are persons with a disability that were chosen by the Executive Committee from nominations by the National Partners and the Provincial and Territorial Organizing Committees for National Access Awareness Week. The remaining three members are knowledgeable experts in the issue areas who have experience with organizations or initiatives of national significance.

The award – A Five-Star award is the highest form of recognition a community can receive for all-round accomplishments and specific achievements in at least three of the five issue areas. There are six population categories based upon size and a maximum of six of the awards can be presented each year (one award for each population category). A Star Award recognizes a community’s demonstrated commitment to integration and its achievements in one issue area. Up to thirty star awards (five awards per population category) can be presented each year. Last year, sixteen (16) Star Awards were earned by fourteen (14) communities from across the country.

!990 – This year’s awards will be presented at a luncheon on June 6th, in Quebec City during the Annual Conference of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The Honourable Gerry Weiner, Secretary of State, will be on hand to present awards along with the President of the FCM, Mayor Ferguson of Abbotsford, B.C. and Ms. Francine Arsenault, Chairperson of the National Executive Committee for National Access Awareness Week. Over 900 municipal elected officials from across Canada will attend this event which will surely add positive momentum to the attitudes of all the participants during the progress of the coming months and years.

(-- Yhetta Gold currently serves as Chairperson of the Selection Committee of Five Star Award Communities.)