Inaugural Kidder-Pascal Awards recognize visionaries delivering on the promise of public education
Press Release
May 20, 2026
TORONTO – People for Education is proud to announce the inaugural recipients of the Kidder-Pascal Awards for Systems Change and Innovation in Education. These awards celebrate visionary leadership, bold ideas, and transformative action that advance the promise of public education in Canada.
This year’s honorees represent a profound commitment to systemic equity, civic engagement, and community building.
2026 Award Recipients
The Systems Change Award: Dr. Cindy Blackstock
Selected by the Kidder-Pascal Nominating Committee, Dr. Cindy Blackstock is recognized for her tireless advocacy for the rights of First Nations children. Her work has fundamentally shifted national policy and legal frameworks, ensuring that systemic change is rooted in justice, equity, and the inherent dignity of every child.
The Promise in Practice Award: CIVIX – Student Vote
Chosen through a competitive open nomination process from a field of exceptional provincial and national programs and leaders, Student Vote by CIVIX is honoured for its excellence in experiential learning. By bringing the democratic process into the classroom, Student Vote empowers the next generation of informed and engaged citizens.
Special Citation for Lifetime Impact: Medhat Mahdy
The Kidder-Pascal Awards honours the late Medhat Mahdy, former President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Toronto, with a special posthumous citation. His lifelong dedication to youth development, early years and child care, and his vision of the YMCA as a cornerstone of community wellbeing left an indelible mark on the lives of countless Canadians.
Join the Celebration: Inaugural Awards Breakfast
The public is invited to celebrate these remarkable honorees at the inaugural Kidder-Pascal Awards Breakfast.
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 7am-9:30am
Location: Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor St., Toronto, ON
Featured Programming: In addition to recognition of our awardees. the morning will feature a fireside chat on why public education matters now more than ever with Canada’s former UN Ambassador Bob Rae in dialogue with 2026 Obama Foundation Scholar Victoria Kuketz.
The Class of 2026: Promise in Practice Nominees
The Promise in Practice winner, Student Vote by CIVIX, was chosen from an extraordinary class of organizations and leaders whose programs and contributions we are proud to recognize for their role in advancing The Education Promise.
- Green Career Initiative, The Alberta Council for Environmental Education
- Anne Chirikal, Principal, for work with I-Think’s Student Leadership Group at Central Technical School, Toronto District School Board
- Bee Me Kidz Inc.
- Sarah Rankin, Lead of the Centre of Excellence for Digital Innovation, New Brunswick Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
- Connected North, TakingITGlobal
- The Howl Experience
- Jump-Starting Digital Careers (JDC) & Knowledge Exchange Hub, ICTC
- Jeffrey Clarke, Principal for work to support The Dais’ Heads Up Youth Champions program at J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate, Durham District School Board
- Doane Music School
- Meredith Tutching, Director of Forest of Reading, Ontario Library Association
- Healthy Schools Recognition Program (HSRP)
- Pathways to Education
- Richard Christie, co-founder of TDSB EcoSchools Program
- summerlunch+
About Cindy Blackstock
Cindy is Gitxsan and is honoured to serve as the Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society and as a professor at McGill University’s School of Social Work. She has over 40 years of experience working in child and family services and First Nations children’s rights.
Cindy led a landmark human rights challenge to Canada’s inequitable provision of child and family services, resulting in hundreds of thousands of services being delivered to First Nations children, youth, and families which is known as Jordan’s Principle.
Cindy is a recipient of the 2023 World Children’s Prize, voted on by millions of children worldwide. Cindy is frequently sighted in the company of the Caring Society’s reconciliation Ambearrister, Spirit Bear, engaging children in meaningful actions to implement the TRC Calls to Action.
Due to her busy travel schedule, Cindy will not be able to attend the Awards Breakfast in person.
About CIVIX’s Student Vote program
CIVIX is a non-partisan, Canadian charity dedicated to strengthening democracy through civic education.
Student Vote is a national experiential civic education program delivered by CIVIX in partnership with schools and electoral agencies across Canada. Coinciding with general elections, the program brings the democratic process into classrooms through a parallel vote, where students research parties and candidates, discuss political issues, and cast ballots for the official candidates running in their electoral district or municipality. Since 2003, more than 10 million ballots have been cast, with participation from approximately 70% of eligible schools nationwide. Participation has grown from 263,000 students in the 2004 Canadian election to approximately one million in recent federal elections, demonstrating sustained engagement over more than two decades.
Student Vote advances The Education Promise by addressing declining participation and low voter turnout among youth. It is designed as an early intervention, targeting the knowledge, motivation, and access barriers that prevent young people from voting. By giving students an authentic opportunity to practice voting before they are eligible, the program helps build the habits and confidence associated with lifelong participation. Designed for repeated engagement, students can take part in multiple elections throughout their K–12 education.
A representative from Student Vote will be present at the Awards Breakfast to accept their recognition.
About Medhat Mahdy
Community builder Medhat Mahdy devoted five decades to serving the YMCA and various charitable and health-focused sectors. As president and CEO of YMCA of Greater Toronto, he transformed the organization into a hub for social infrastructure and health equity, offering programs that benefited newcomers, children and marginalized communities like 2SLGBTQI+ youth, Indigenous groups and individuals with mental illness. His impact resonates across Canadian and global YMCA initiatives, shaping their approach and success.
Medhat passed away in April 2026. His son, Sharif Mahdy, will accept the Special Citation for Lifetime Impact at the Awards Breakfast.
About the Nominating Committee
The Kidder-Pascal Awards were established and named in honour of Annie Kidder and Charles Pascal— two of Canada’s most influential champions for public education. The awards recognize people and organizations who are reshaping education so that it can deliver on the promise of public education. Chaired by Annie Kidder, the Nominating Committee for the Kidder-Pascal Awards includes:
- Annie Kidder (chair)
- Arlene Perly Rae
- Tassie Notar
- Pedro Barata
- Florence Bergeron
- Andrew Bieronski
- Patrick Case
- Joseph Flessa
- Candy Ho
Support the Vision:
The Kidder-Pascal Awards are made possible through the generosity of our community. Your contribution helps to fuel People for Education’s continued work as an independent, charitable organization working to support and advance public education through research, policy, and public engagement.
About People for Education
People for Education is a national independent, non-partisan, charitable organization working to support and transform public education through evidence-based research and policy, advocacy, and public engagement. Founded in 1997, PFE champions the role of public education in advancing a healthier, more sustainable, economically resilient and democratic Canada.
Media Contact:
Paris Semansky
Co-Executive Director, People for Education
paris@peopleforeducation.ca
416-476-9534
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