Community Living BC (CLBC) has been celebrating people who make their communities more inclusive through the Widening Our World (WOW) Awards for 16 years.
This year CLBC turns 20, and we are marking our anniversary by asking you to help us recognize people and places in communities across B.C. who are making a difference.
Nominations are open until Monday, March 31 at 5:00pm.
Learn more about the 2025 CLBC WOW Awards below and find the online and printable nomination forms here.
Read about WOW Award recipients from past years by visiting the links in the menu on the left of this page.
Who can I nominate?
We invite you to nominate a person (or group of people) in your community:
- who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership in advancing inclusion and full citizenship of people with developmental disabilities in B.C.
- who advocates for and has made changes that have resulted in people with developmental disabilities having equal access to the same opportunities as everyone else in their community.
You can also nominate a place in your community:
- that is accessible, welcoming and inclusive for all people.
- where individuals with disabilities are seen in valued roles, like being an employee, volunteer, or other fully participating member of the community.
Here are some examples of people or places you might nominate:
- A community member who worked with their local recreation center to make sure programs and activities are universally designed to include all people.
- A support worker who supported someone to have a fully inclusive life by supporting meaningful employment, unpaid relationships and friendships, leadership opportunities, and other valued roles to contribute and participate in the same places and spaces as everyone else.
- An employer or business owner removing barriers to ensure people with developmental disabilities have equal access to employment and career advancement.
- A self-advocacy or family leader that has demonstrated extraordinary leadership to advance the rights of people with developmental disabilities in their community and in B.C.
- A coffee shop, grocery store, library, community center, or place of business that is accessible, welcoming, and hires people with disabilities, and creates a space where all people feed valued and included.
- A community organization that has changed the way it operates to help people feel more connected and included. For example, a recreation center that redesigned its program and services to make sure people with developmental disabilities can participate alongside everyone else.
How are WOW Award recipients chosen?
An evaluation committee of self-advocates, family members, community members and service providers will review all nominations and choose the 2025 WOW Award recipients in April 2025.
Award recognition and celebration events will take place in the Spring and early Summer around the province. Wherever possible, these events will be held in recipients’ home communities.
Award rules
All nominations must be completed on the official WOW nomination form.
Telephone and email information for both you (the nominator) and the nominee must be included on the form.
Award recipients and their nominators’ names will be published on the CLBC website, social media channels and in the Celebrate Diverse ABILITIES magazine.
Questions
If you have any questions, please send an email to: wowclbcawards@gov.bc.ca.