KJIPUKTUK (Halifax) – In a brief on-line ceremony last Thursday Nova Scotia Advocate reporter Kendall Worth was awarded this year’s Lois Miller Tulip Award.
The annual award recognizes a person, group or organization that exemplifies the spirit of independent living and enables people living with disabilities to have control over their lives.
“Nominators described this year’s recipient as a strong voice for persons with disabilities and the issues that they face in their efforts to live independently. Our recipient has continually voiced these issues through his contribution as a journalist for Street Feat and the Nova Scotia Advocate. This gentleman fully embodies the spirit of independent living, and we thank him for all his hard work to make life better for all Nova Scotians,” said Carrie Ernst, Executive Director of Independent Living Nova Scotia (ILNS).
Lois Miller, the former Executive Director of ILNS and the person after whom the award is named, spoke about Kendall’s stubborn and fearless dedication to the cause of people who live in poverty and often have to deal with visible and invisible disabilities as well.
“You are pursuing your passion to give voice to people who often don’t have a voice, including people with disabilities, which of course also includes people with disabilities we don’t see. Sadly, disability and poverty often go hand in hand. You courageously shine a light on problems that society often wants to keep in the dark,” said Miller.
“I read your January 18 column in the Nova Scotia Advocate. It was a very good example as you wrote how the provincial government’s income assistance, transformation has likely come and gone. You showed that in fact, there has been very little change in that whole process. That kind of writing and action takes courage,” said Miller.
“I’ve been following this whole issue of poverty for a long time, Worth replied. “It is sad that persons with disabilities, who in some cases cannot hold down a full time or part time job, are within the mix of people who have no choice but to have to deal with employment support and income assistance issues.”
“Dealing with that system, it raises anxiety, it worsens depression,” he said.
2020 has been quite the year for Kendall Worth in terms of awards and recognition.
The Lois MIller Tulip Award comes on top of the prestigious James McGregor Stewart Award, which Kendall received in June of last year, a House of Commons Certificate of Achievement sent to him by Halifax MP Andy Fillmore, as well as a scroll issued by HRM. In the fall of 2020 Kendall Worth was also the subject of a short documentary produced for Accessible Media Inc.
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Kendall and very proud of you you came a long ways it’s nice seeing you keep up the good work looking good in everything hope to see you soon you miss Thank you so much for what your doing lot of people don’t have a voice
Kendall you are an inspiration to so many. Keep up the wonderful work. It’s so nice to see someone from a small community while growing up make such a difference to so many. Keep up the great work- Dave Walsh.