Item - 2014.EX43.6

The Constance E. Hamilton Award was established in 1979 and is named after the first woman elected in 1920 to municipal council in Toronto.  The award recognizes person(s) who have made a significant contribution to improving the social, economic, cultural and political status of women in Toronto. 

The Selection Committee has reviewed the nominations submitted by the public and selected the following recipients for their contributions toward improving the status of women in Toronto:

Dr. Rosemary Moodie

Dr. Rosemary Moodie exemplifies many extraordinary leadership, mentorship and advocacy qualities on the advancement of women. As president and board chair of the Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) Toronto chapter for the past three years, Rosemary has expanded the organization's affordable and supportive housing options for young women living with mental health and addiction issues as well as low income single women and those feeling from domestic violence. She has nurtured young women's leadership on the Board of Directors and continues to empower young women by setting an example of a strong, inspiring female visionary. Her other contributions range from the medical community to childhood education both locally and internationally. She has contributed to and continues to be involved with many boards including: Food for the Poor Canada, Project for the Advancement of Childhood Education Canada, Scotiabank Foundation, St Joseph Health Centre Toronto, Goodwill Ontario, and many more. Her work touches the lives of single, low income Aboriginal women in Canada fleeing from violence and extends to children in Jamaica and Haiti who attend schools and programs her contributions have helped create.

Valerie Mah

The first Chinese woman principal in the Toronto Board of Education, Valerie Mah believes no child should go hungry in this city. Throughout her accomplished teaching career worked to establish food programs for kids and supports for moms and families, including establishing an annual Lunar New Year Banquet through TEOF (Toronto Education and Opportunity Fund) and a full-service kitchen in the Bruce School Board at the time, ensuring that all children from this working-class neighbourhood got a snack and a lunch. Also as the principal of Bruce School, she helped lead the school from closure to creating the model for Ontario's full-day kindergarten in partnership with WoodGreen and the Atkinson Foundation. This program gained international recognition for its seamless curriculum, childcare in the school classrooms and ECEs in the kindergarten class. Along with Dr. Joseph Wong, Valerie Mah was one of the founders of the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care to provide high quality and culturally appropriate services for Chinese seniors.

Anne Ford

Anne Rochon Ford has been a quiet, steady and forceful champion in the City of Toronto for women's health both locally and throughout the country. Anne is currently the Executive Director of the Canadian Women's Health Network, but has a long history of advocacy and activism in support of women's health in Toronto. As a founding member of Willow  Breast  Cancer  Support and Resources Services (1994), Women  and Health  Protection (1997), the Toronto Women's Health  Network (1981),  the Ontario  Women's Health  Network  (1997), Anne  has shown  an incredible commitment and vision for inclusive  women's health agenda. Ms. Rochon Ford has edited and authored a number of important publications including The Push to Prescribe: Women and Canadian Drug Policy (2009), and "Access to Midwifery: Reflections on the Ontario Equity Committee Experience" in Reconceiving Midwifery (2004).

Awards Presentation

The Constance E. Hamilton Award will be presented during the City’s Annual Human Rights Awards Ceremony in November when the following awards will also be presented:  Aboriginal Affairs Award, the Access Award on Disability Issues, the Pride Award for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual and Two Spirited Issues and the William P. Hubbard Race Relations Award.