Independent Living (IL) Awards 2025 – Nominations Open!

October 14, 2025

With NEW award categories!

This year, EmpowerNL’s Board has been working hard to review and refresh our annual award categories to ensure they better reflect our community, recognize a wider range of achievements, and celebrate the many ways people and organizations contribute to inclusion and accessibility.

The annual IL Awards are presented at our International Day of Persons with Disabilities Celebration, Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025.

The award categories are:

Members Award for Independent Living
For a member of EmpowerNL who is active in Centre activities and community events and leads by example for other Members of EmpowerNL.

Independent Living Young Leader Award
For a young person with a disability, under 30 years of age, who has raised awareness and shown outstanding leadership in promoting full inclusion of people with disabilities in NL. Minimum of 5 years.

Business Award for Independent Living
For a business who has displayed an innovative approach and achieved substantial outcomes in supporting the full inclusion of people with disabilities in areas such as employment, transportation, housing, communication and technology.

Seniors Award for Independent Living
For a member of EmpowerNL who is above the age of 55 and is actively engaged in Centre activities and community events. This recipient leads by example and mentors other members in community engagement.

Community and Social Inclusion Award for Independent Living
For a person, team, community organization, or group of individuals who has worked towards a more inclusive environment by creating opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in areas such as sports, the arts, education, recreation, and involvement in the wider community.

🎉We want to celebrate people and organizations making our community more inclusive — send in your nomination today!💙

Nomination Form – 2025 IL Awards

NOMINATION DEADLINE: Friday, November 14, 2025