Background
Building Inclusive Communities Together
The Peter Dawe Award first started in 2022 to commemorate the retirement of CISS Board Member, Peter Dawe. This award is given to an individual who strives to do their best, going above and beyond for themselves and the community.
Who Is Peter Dawe?
Peter Dawe, a long-time Board Member of CISS, dedicated over twenty-three years to uplifting everyone around him while quietly going above and beyond. A tireless advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, Peter was present for every significant milestone in our organization’s history—from the opening of Melissa Park to navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. His genuine kindness and steady presence has left an impactful mark on CISS and the broader community. Peter teaches us that we are all better when we take that extra step to create positive change, and his legacy will continue to inspire us for years to come.
Peter Dawe Award
Who Is Eligible?
Nominees can be people using CISS services, volunteers, employees, or members of the community, etc. People that were not selected for the award in previous years can be re-nominated in the following year.
Anyone is eligible to submit a nomination. If you would like to nominate someone please download and fill out the nomination form available here and email it to humanresources@gociss.org.
The Peter Dawe Award honors those who…
- Go above and beyond to uplift and support those around them
- Take the extra steps to better themselves and others
- Do their best to create positive change
- Meaningfully impact their community
Consideration Process
During the November Board meeting, the Board of Directors will decide through the grading rubric who will receive the Peter Dawe Award. All applications will be anonymous. The board will evaluate each nominee and reach a unanimous decision on the person who will be awarded.
Awarding Ceremony
The Peter Dawe Award will be presented annually at the CISS Holiday party held each December. The nominee, their family, and the nominator will all be invited to the party to receive the award.
Celebrating Impact
Honoring Those Who Make A Difference
Lee Weisgarber - 2025
In recognition of her continuous work of advocating with purpose, leading with integrity, and strengthening community through service, we extend our congratulations to Peter Dawe Award recipient, Lee Weisgarber. Beginning as a casual staff member to serving as Director of Community Inclusion Services, Lee has been part of nearly every major chapter of CISS in the past twenty-plus years. Her commitment has shaped the agency’s culture, strengthened its foundation, and set an example of what it means to “go above and beyond” in service to the community. Congratulations Lee!
Sarah Davis - 2024
In recognition of her personal growth and embracing new beginnings, CISS would like to congratulate Sarah Davis! Sarah has been attending CISS services since 2004. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck Sarah, like many others, struggled with the new adjustments. Throughout this time, Sarah worked hard to meet her goals of fully re-entering services through working on coping skills, developing plans with her mental health team, and keeping at her daily and long term goals. The impact of Sarah’s achievements is felt not only by her but also by her family and the CISS community who are grateful to be a part of her journey.
Ryan Jamieson - 2023
In recognition of his dedication and passion towards advancing the rights of people with disabilities, we would like to congratulate Ryan Jamieson! Since working at the Coquitlam Public LIbrary, Ryan has developed inclusive hiring practices and does his best to ensure a safe and inviting community space. In addition, Ryan has passionately and diligently worked to develop the coffee kiosk project in collaboration with CISS in order to provide a workplace that offers inclusive employment experience and skill development. Congratulations Ryan!
Adam Holmes - 2022
In recognition of his continued hard work and dedication, we would like to acknowledge Adam Holmes, the first recipient of the Peter Dawe Award. Adam has been a part of CISS’ support services since 2013. Adam arrived at CISS with a well-defined talent and passion for working with computers. Since then, he has successfully pursued his dream of working in the technology sector alongside CISS’s IT professional, Angel Guzman. We are forever grateful for Adam's determination, commitment, and enthusiasm. To this day, Adam and Angel continue to work together and consult about the best systems for CISS.