The Canadian Council of the Blind has awarded Delta MP Carla Qualtrough with its CCB Person of the Year.
Qualtrough, the federal minister of public services and procurement and accessibility, received the award at a special presentation Feb. 6 in Ottawa.
“I feel truly honoured to receive this award,” said Qualtrough. “The unwavering engagement of organization such at the Canadian Council of the Blindhas been one of the building blocks of my determination to create a Canada where everyone is included and can contribute to society.”
For the past year, Qualtrough has been working at introducing the first-ever federal accessibility legislation that will establish a model to eliminate accessibility barriers.
“The Accessible Canada Act provides an opportunity, a truly great standard, for meaningful dialogue and action,” said CCB president Louise Gillis. “Carla Qualtrough recognizes this and knows that real change, enduring change, comes one step at a time, and that we can all strive to ensure people with disabilities have the ability to obtain individually-required accessibility and ultimately live barrier free.
“For people with disabilities, Carla Qualtrough is an incredible champion. She is the right person, in the right place, at the right time, which exemplifies CCB’s theme Our Year of Accessibility.”
The CCB was founded 75 years ago by returning blind veterans and schools of the blind in the waning months of the Second World War. The CCB is the largest membership-based organization of the blind with 85 chapters across Canada.
The CCB is dedicated to working towards improved accessibility and a barrier free Canada while at the same time continuing its efforts to enhance the quality of life of Canadians who are blind and have low vision.
