The City of Toronto, together with community, business and private sector partners marked the sixth annual observance of International Day of People with Disabilities at Variety Village.
Back row (left to right): Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday and Councillor Gary Crawford with the Unsung Heroes Peter Owusu-Ansah, Lynda Spinney. Front row (left to right): Lisa Jai, Sandor Kezes, Marjorie Francoz and Nicole Flynn
A focal point of the event celebrated Unsung Heroes. Deputy Mayor Doug Holyday (Ward 3 Etobicoke Centre) and Councillor Gary Crawford (Ward 36 - Scarborough-Southwest) presented awards to the six Unsung Heroes who were recognized for their achievements. This year's heroes are athletes, performers, advocates, mentors and community builders. The recipients are Nicole Flynn, Marjorie Francoz, Lisa Jai, Sandor Kezes, Peter Owusu-Ansah and Lynda Spinney.
The program also included an Invitation to Poetry in which selected poems about various aspects of living with a disability were read by the poets. Invitation to Art, gave artists with disabilities an opportunity to showcase their work during the event. There were displays providing information on community and City services and programs that support accessibility.
Musical entertainment included hula dancing by Shabana Bashir and performances by the CHIRY Balladeers and members of Symphony of Nine.
The Master of Ceremonies was Jeff Tiesson, a three-time Paralympian, world record holder and a recent inductee into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame. Mr. Tiesson is the founder and president of Disability Today Publishing Group.
The 2010 International Day of People with Disabilities received the generous support of, BMO Financial Group, The Accessible Channel (TACtv), Variety Village and Starbucks Coffe and Party Packagers for their generous support.
Organizational supporters included Anne Johnston Health Station, Birchmount Bluffs Neighbourhood Centre, CNIB, Centre for Independent Living Toronto (CILT), Epilepsy Toronto and Anti-Ableism Committee of Toronto Community Housing Corporation.
Play the described and captioned video to find out what International Day of People with Disabilities means to participants, recipients of the Unsung Heroes award, poets and artists.
Each year, the Mayor of Toronto proclaims the day in accordance with the United Nations' International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The United Nations' annual observance is based on the goal of full and equal enjoyment of human rights and participation in society by persons with disabilities.
The UN theme for 2010 was "Keeping the promise: Mainstreaming disability in the Millennium Development Goals towards 2015 and beyond".
Master of Ceremonies Jeff Tiesson Jeff Tiessen is a three-time Paralympian and world record holder. Recently, he was inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame. He is the founder and president of Disability Today Publishing Group. Jeff's most recent venture as a book and magazine publisher is the Play to Podium magazine. It focuses on providing parents of kids with special needs the tools and ideas for healthy, active living for the whole family.
Jeff is an award-winning journalist, and an honoured professional in the National Register's Who's Who of Executives & Professionals. He is a respected advocate and leadership trainer and a highly sought-after public speaker.
Musical entertainment
Shabana Bashir
Shabana Bashir is a dancer who has won many awards in dance competitions. She dances Bollywood style, and "Khathak", one of the major classical dances of North Indian. She also performs the Hawaiian Hula dance.
CHIRY Balladeers The CHIRY Balladeers come out of a music program at the Community Head Injury Resource Services (CHIRS). Lead by a talented musician, the program provides the opportunity to express creativity and love for music in a variety of ways. Singing, song writing, and playing instruments CHIRS has to do with celebrating life ... a big part of which is music, because music plays such an important part in our everyday lives and our memories of the past
Symphony of Nine Since 2005, Symphony of Nine has been steadily gigging the Toronto indy scene. They released their first CD in 2006 to a packed house at Reilly's. Later, they won the York University battle of the bands, which earned them an opening spot for Bedouin Soundclash at Yorkfest 2007.
In January 2009, they released their second studio album Radio. They kicked off the release with a massive party at the Opera House in Toronto. They're currently promoting their new single, "Next Day", to rock radio and top 40 nationally.
Symphony of Nine created the soundtrack for the International Day of People with Disabilities video.
Jeff Tiessen is a three-time Paralympian and world record holder. Recently, he was inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame. He is the founder and president of Disability Today Publishing Group. Jeff's most recent venture as a book and magazine publisher is the 
The CHIRY Balladeers come out of a music program at the 
Since 2005, 