EveryBODY has a story and a purpose – and on October 6, the 4th annual Body Confidence Canada Awards (BCCAs) brought together a diverse and inclusive community to recognize 11 outstanding champions of body positivity, equity and diversity!
This year’s recipients truly embodied what body confidence is all about. From body activism to human rights, education, arts and entertainment, health and wellness to fashion with a social conscience, recipients are role models who are leading the way toward a world where body-shaming does not win.
The BCCAs is the only initiative of its kind in Canada and puts our bodies first! Body confidence isn’t only about body size, weight and shape – it is about our race, culture, sex, gender, gender expression. It’s our sexuality, it’s religion, age, disability. It’s our mental health, ability to fight for rights, policies and shifts in societal behaviour in order to create greater access to economic wellness, human rights and safety. Body confidence is our ability to thrive (not only survive) in the skin we are in without fear of discrimination or exclusion. It is the intention of the BCCAs and other Body Confidence Canada (BCC) programming to be a leading voice in this conversation.
But the BCCAs couldn’t happen without the support of many other community members! TD’s sponsorship was key to the success of this year’s awards, which was bigger and better than ever. Likewise, The 519 Space for Change, a space committed to the health, happiness and full participation of the LGBTQ community in Toronto, was an amazing host. The BCCAs are also extremely thankful for our community partnership with the Canadian Women’s Foundation – an organization at the forefront of creating community, networks, and accessible resources for women and girls across Canada.
Body confidence has a direct impact on all aspects of our lives and the BCCAs are helping to build a body positive community – a community that recognizes the many ‘communities’ we belong to. If you haven’t already, join us in 2017!
To learn more about the Body Confidence Canada Awards visit www.BodyConfidenceCanadaAwards.com, Twitter @BCCAwards and Instagram at Body Confidence Canada. Help us end appearance-based discrimination by signing our Change.org petition today www.Change.org/SizeismSUCKS.
BCCAS 2016 Winners included: Abby Green, Meghan Swaby, Candy Palmater, Annika Reid, Louise Green, Kaley Roosen, Akio Maroon, Deborah McPhail, Catherine MacKinnon, Cheryl – Ann Webster and the Women's Health Clinic. See the winners' full profiles here.
BCCA 2016 performers included: Award-winning artists Lucas Silveira, Founding Member & Frontman of the Award-winning band, The Cliks. The Cliks (spelled Cliks – not ClicksJ) made history as the first band with an openly trans male leader signed by a major record label, Tommy Boy Entertainment’s imprint Silver Label in the US and with Warner Music in Canada. Troy Jackson, co-owner of Glad Day Bookshop, the world’s oldest LGBTQ bookstore and co-founder of El-Tawhid Juma Circle mosque. Multi-Juno award-winner Simone Denny who sang her international hit “Superstar.” Guest speakers included Frank Colisimo from EGALE Canada M.Bodiment project. Frank, through his own personal body narrative, spoke on the issue of (gay and trans) men’s body image. And last but certainly not least the BCCAs 2016 were hosted by the one and only media personality Daniel Pillai. Daniel is the host of Date with Daniel and F’D with Daniel.
By Jill Andrew and Aisha Fairclough, Founders & Producers of the BCCAs.
Learn More
- Got Body Confidence?
- Finding Body Confidence and Living Life Out Loud
- Creating A New Culture of Body Love, One Page at a Time
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