Prime Minister Mark Carney, Premier Doug Ford and Minister Michael Parsa Send Greetings to NorthStar NAAW 2026 Opening Ceremony

The Opening Ceremony of National AccessAbility Week (NAAW) 2026, hosted by NorthStar Special Needs Society, received heartfelt greetings and messages of encouragement from distinguished government leaders across Canada.

Among the leaders extending their support was The Right Honourable Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, who shared a meaningful message recognizing the significance of National AccessAbility Week and the contributions Canadians with disabilities make across all sectors of society. The Prime Minister also expressed appreciation for the work of NorthStar Special Needs Society.

In addition to the Prime Minister’s message, congratulatory greetings were also received from:

• Doug Ford — Premier of Ontario

• Vincent Ho — Member of Parliament (MP), Richmond Hill South

• Michael Parsa — Ontario Minister of Children, Community and Social Services; Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) for Aurora–Oak Ridges–Richmond Hill

• Billy Pang — Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), Markham—Unionville; Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Education

• Logan Kanapathi — Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), Markham—Thornhill

• Daisy Wai — Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP), Richmond Hill

• David West — Mayor of Richmond Hill

• Alan Ho — Regional Councillor, City of Markham; Chair of the Culture & Economic Development Committee

• Scott Thompson — Ward 2 Councillor, City of Richmond Hill

• Castro Liu — Ward 3 Councillor, City of Richmond Hill

• Simon Cui — Ward 4 Councillor, City of Richmond Hill

• Karen Cilevitz — Ward 5 Councillor, City of Richmond Hill

• Michael Shiu — Ward 6 Councillor, City of Richmond Hill

• Ritch Lau — Ward 2 Councillor, City of Markham

• Amanda Yeung Collucci — Ward 6 Councillor, City of Markham

• Isa Lee — Ward 8 Councillor, City of Markham

• Godwin Chan — Regional and Local Councillor, City of Richmond Hill

• Ron Lynn — Board Chair, York Region District School Board (Markham Wards 2 and 6)

The support from federal, provincial, and municipal leaders reflects the growing recognition of the importance of accessibility, inclusion, and equal opportunity for all Canadians.

National AccessAbility Week serves as an important reminder that creating a truly accessible society requires collective action, compassion, and strong community leadership. Through initiatives like this opening ceremony, NorthStar Special Needs Society continues to empower individuals and families while fostering greater awareness, understanding, and inclusion throughout the community.

NorthStar extends its sincere appreciation to all government representatives, community partners, volunteers, families, and participants whose support helped make this event meaningful and memorable.

Together, we continue moving toward a more accessible, inclusive, and welcoming Canada for everyone.