Yes I Can Awards 2026
Dear: Superintendent and/or Student Services Administrator/Coordinator:
We are excited to inform you that we have opened up the nomination process for the 2026 Manitoba Council for Exceptional Children Yes I Can! Awards. Below, please find information about the awards program. This year, each type of award has its own specific application form which are hyperlinked below.
Your information package contains the following information regarding the 2026 awards:
- Fact Sheet on MCEC awards
- Guidelines for 2026 Yes I Can! and Certificate of Recognition Awards
- A checklist to assist in application completion
- Links to nomination forms for each of the award areas:
Please distribute this information to schools within your division.
The nomination form may also be accessed through the MCEC website at YES I CAN Awards | Council for Exceptional Children.
The guidelines request that all nomination forms be returned to you as the Student Services Administrator/Coordinator by October 31, 2025.
Once you have received all of the nomination forms please forward your package on or before Monday, November 3, 2025 to [email protected].
If you have any questions, please contact Teresa Yestrau at [email protected] or 204-408-0513.
Thank you for taking the time to support this celebration of achievement.
Sincerely,
Teresa Yestrau, 2026 MCEC Yes I Can! Awards Chair
Fact Sheet on the Manitoba Council for Exceptional Children Awards
Yes I Can! Awards (student) were established to:
- acknowledge the achievements of children and youth with disabilities;
- to overcome barriers caused by disabilities or public misconceptions;
- to encourage children and youth with disabilities to seek their highest potential;
- to increase awareness of the abilities, aspirations, and personal qualities of people with disabilities.
Nominees may be recognized for achievements in one of the following categories:
- academics,
- arts,
- athletics,
- technology,
- self-advocacy,
- school and community activities,
- transition.
*Descriptors of each category are included on the Yes I Can! Nomination form.
Yes I Can! Award winners may be selected as nominees for future International Yes I Can! Awards. Nominators of these candidates will be notified at the 2026 awards ceremony should one of their nominees be selected. Some additional information may be required from the nominees prior to forwarding the applications to the International Yes I Can! Awards committee.
Other awards given out at the awards ceremony include:
- Certificate of Recognition
Established to recognize students and/or adults for assisting and/or supporting children/youth with special needs.
- The MCEC Teacher of the Year Award
Established to recognize an outstanding teacher of children and/or youth with exceptionalities. Nominees are recognized for demonstrating exemplary performance over a period of time, as a teacher or provider of direct services, exhibiting such qualities as ‘innovative’, ‘imaginative’, ‘creative’, with the ability to inspire, as indicated by achievements clearly recognized by members of the profession and others knowledgeable of the candidate.
A Manitoba candidate may be nominated for the International Clarissa Hug CEC Teacher of the Year Award.
- The MCEC Educational Assistant of the Year Award
Established to recognize an outstanding Educational Assistant supporting children/youth with exceptionalities. Nominees are recognized for demonstrating exemplary performance over a period of time, as an Educational Assistant, exhibiting such qualities as ‘innovative’, ‘imaginative’, ‘creative’, with the ability to inspire, as indicated by achievements clearly recognized by members of the profession and others knowledgeable of the candidate.
- Outstanding Educator of the Year
Established to recognize a person who has demonstrated, through direct service, programming or program administration, a commitment to creating caring and inclusive learning and growing environments for children and young adults. Nominees may include Teachers and Program Directors/Consultants or Administrators.
- The MCEC Outstanding Achievement Award
These awards recognize an individual, group, or organization for an outstanding contribution to the well-being of children and youth with exceptionalities. The contribution should have provincial implications.
What you will need to complete the Yes I Can! award application
- Video and/or photographs of nominee
- One letter of support from professionals in education (Teachers, Principals, School Administrators, Counsellors)
- A letter of support from a parent, guardian, or party responsible for the nominee.
- Nominee T Shirt size (Yes I Can! Winners receive a tshirt recognizing them as a winner)
The application can be found at YES I CAN Awards | Council for Exceptional Children or click on the link to the appropriate form listed above. Please ensure all applicable areas are completed and documents uploaded before final submission to ensure your application will be considered for an award.
**Note: Partially completed forms will not save if the window is closed.