The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists acknowledges significant contributions to the profession by occupational therapists and non-occupational therapists through its prestigious service award called the Award of Merit. Nominations for this Award will be considered annually but the Award will be made only when recognition is merited in accordance with stated criteria.  

Criteria for selection

Nominations must meet the following criteria:

1.Nominees' achievements shall be in one or more of the following:
  • Significant accomplishment or contribution to occupational therapy in one or more of the following areas:
    • clinical activities
    • education
    • publications
    • research
    • administration
  • Significant accomplishment or contribution in:
    • promotion/representation of occupational therapy
    • service to international/national/provincial occupational therapy organizations
  • Significant accomplishment or contribution to the development of the profession of occupational therapy within areas such as:
    • post secondary education
    • government policy
    • health promotion
    • community service
    • prevention
    • delivery of health and social services 
2. Nominees must not be a current Board member or employee of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

3. Nominees need not be a resident in Canada if the achievements for which they are nominated have relevance to Canadian occupational therapy and they meet the other criteria for the award

Nomination procedures
  1. Individual Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists members or a group of members are eligible to submit nominations. Self-nominations will not be considered.
  2. Nomination forms must be submitted through the link below. 
  3. An electronic version of the signature form must be downloaded below and submitted with the nomination.
  4. The narrative must include explicit examples of the nominee’s innovative contribution to the profession of occupational therapy, as contributing evidence of, and reasons for, the nomination of the candidate.
  5. The narrative is not to exceed three (3) typewritten pages, single spaced, one inch margins, 12 point, Arial font. Additional information will not be considered.
  6. Nominations are to be received by December 1st. All those received after December 1st will be considered for the following nomination year.

Required to complete the online nomination form

About the nominee: name, address, number of years of sustained activity in occupational therapy. Optional: CAOT Member #.

Nominee narrative: The purpose of the narrative is to describe why the candidate was nominated for this award and to highlight the significant contributions to the profession by this candidate. The narrative must include explicit examples of the nominee’s innovative contribution to the profession of occupational therapy, as contributing evidence of, and reasons for, the nomination of the candidate. The narrative is not to exceed three (3) typewritten pages, single-spaced, one inch margins, 12 point, Arial font in word or PDF format (name of file: First name_Last name_Mer_nom.doc or .pdf). Additional information will not be considered. The narrative should include:
  1. Educational background.
  2. Summarized work experience.
  3. Outline of the significant accomplishment or contribution made by the candidate in one or more of the following areas:
  • Significant accomplishment or contribution to occupational therapy in one or more of the following areas:
    • clinical activities
    • education
    • publications
    • research
    • administration
  • Significant accomplishment or contribution in:
    • promotion/representation of occupational therapy
    • service to international/national/provincial occupational therapy organizations
  • Significant accomplishment or contribution to the development of the profession of occupational therapy within areas such as:
    • post secondary education
    • government policy
    • health promotion
    • community service
    • prevention
    • delivery of health and social services 
About the nominator: name, address, CAOT Member # and signature form. Download and complete this signature form. Scan or take a picture of it as you will be required to upload it. 

Complete your online nomination

Read the selection criteria and form of the award.