RULES AND REGULATIONS

2026 AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN BRAIN INJURY REHABILITATION

The Ontario Brain Injury Association (OBIA), in collaboration with the Personal Injury Alliance (PIA Law), is proud to present the 2026 Awards of Excellence in Brain Injury Rehabilitation. These awards recognize individuals and organizations that demonstrate outstanding commitment, innovation, and service to the brain injury community.

AWARD CATEGORIES

The five award categories are:

  1. Hospital Social Worker of the Year
  2. Case Manager of the Year
  3. Health Care Provider of the Year
  4. Community Brain Injury Association of the Year
  5. Rehabilitation Company of the Year

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

1. Hospital Social Worker of the Year

Awarded to a hospital-based social worker who demonstrates sustained excellence in supporting brain injury survivors and their families.

  • Must be employed at a trauma or rehabilitation hospital
  • Must have been actively practicing in this role since at least June 3, 2025

2. Case Manager of the Year

Awarded to a private practice case manager who demonstrates exceptional commitment to supporting catastrophically impaired brain injury survivors and their families.

  • Must be actively practicing in a private case management role
  • Must have been practicing since at least June 3, 2025

3. Health Care Provider of the Year

Awarded to a health care professional who consistently delivers exceptional, client-centered care to the brain injury community.

  • Open to professionals in any relevant discipline (e.g., physician, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, psychologist, physiotherapist, rehabilitation support worker, personal support worker, etc.)
  • May be employed in either the public or private sector

4. Community Brain Injury Association of the Year

Awarded to a non-profit brain injury association that demonstrates innovation, leadership, and exemplary service in supporting survivors and their families.

5. Rehabilitation Company of the Year

Awarded to a private rehabilitation company that consistently provides exceptional service and demonstrates meaningful contributions to the brain injury community, including volunteerism.

NOMINATION PROCESS

  • Nominations will be accepted online from June 3 to July 13, 2026
  • Nominations may be submitted by members of the public, including anonymously, provided:
    • The nominee is clearly identified
    • Valid contact information is provided
    • A rationale for the nomination is included
  • Individuals may submit nominations in multiple categories and nominate more than one candidate

Ineligible Nominees:

  • Previous award recipients from 2024 and 2025
  • Current OBIA Board Members and their employees

On or about July 24, 2026, the nomination panel will review submissions and select up to seven nominees per category.

Selected nominees will be contacted on or about July 30, 2026, and must confirm acceptance of their nomination.

NOMINATION PANEL

The nomination panel is comprised of:

  • Two representatives from OBIA
  • One representative from PIA Law

NOMINEE PROFILES & TESTIMONIALS

Selected nominees will be invited to submit:

  • A professional photo
  • A short biography

These materials will be published online for the purpose of public voting.

Members of the public may submit testimonials in support of nominees. All testimonials will be reviewed and approved by a designated member of the nomination panel prior to publication.

VOTING PROCESS

  • Public voting will take place online from August 24 to September 25, 2026
  • Voting is open to all members of the public
  • A valid email address is required to vote
  • Voting is limited to one vote per unique email address per category

    • OBIA and PIA Law reserve the right to review and validate voting activity to ensure fairness and integrity.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Award recipients will be determined based on the following criteria:

  1. Demonstrated advocacy for clients
  2. Positive impact and outcomes
  3. Years of service
  4. Professional credentials
  5. Public voting results
  6. Testimonials

Public voting is an important component of the selection process; however, it is not determinative. Final decisions rest with the nomination panel.

AWARDS PRESENTATION

Selected nominees will be notified of the outcome on or about September 30, 2026, and will be required to maintain confidentiality until the official announcement.

Award recipients will be announced on October 29, 2026, at the ABI Network Conference.

PRIZES

While not all awards include a monetary prize:

  • The recipient of the Community Brain Injury Association of the Year award will receive $2,000 to support ongoing services for brain injury survivors and their families.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

  • By accepting a nomination, nominees consent to the use of their name, image, and submitted materials for promotional and award-related purposes
  • OBIA and PIA Law reserve the right to modify, suspend, or cancel the awards program at their discretion
  • All decisions of the nomination panel are final