Our Heroes & SHeroes
INSPIREmonument commemorates the LIfetime Achievement Award recipients honoured by the INSPIRE Awards. Their commitment and lifetime support of the LGBTQ+ communities are the beating heart of this unique and important project.
Russell Alldread a.k.a. Michelle Dubarry (2012)
Michelle DuBarry is a drag legend in the LGBTQ community and…
Boyd Kodak (2012)
Boyd is a transsexual activist and is integral in the history…
Jack Layton (2012 Honorary)
We honour Jack Layton for his long time support of LGBTQ people…
Salah Bachir (2013)
Best known as a philanthropist, Salah has served—and still…
Anna Willats (2013)
Pride Toronto‘s 2008 Honoured Dyke and has been out and proud…
Jane Farrow (2014)
Jane has been an out, proud and prominent lesbian for many years,…
Brent Hawkes (2014)
Rev Brent Hawkes has been an activist for LGBTQ rights and assisting…
Charles Roy (2014 Honorary)
Charles Roy was the Executive Director of the AIDS Committee…
Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo (2015)
Rev. Dr. Cheri DiNovo, MPP Parkdale-High Park, was the first…
George Pratt (2015)
George Pratt was one of the first gay men to invest in Queer…
Barbara Hall (2015 Honorary)
Barbara Hall is a Canadian lawyer, public servant and former…
James Dubro (2016)
James Dubro, a well known crime writer and documentarian of organized…
Deb Parent (2016)
Since coming out in 1969 at age 12, Deb has been proudly herself.…
Leonard Kelly a.k.a. Candice Kelly (2016 Honorary)
Candice reigned as Empress of The Imperial Court of Toronto an…
Debbie Douglas (2017)
Debbie Douglas is the Executive Director of the Ontario Council…
James Andrew Baker (2017)
J. Andrew Baker is an educator, administrator, artist, counsellor,…
Chris Edwards (2017 Honorary)
Chris Edwards (Criss Edwards) was born in Fort Worth, Texas on…
Glen Brown (2017 Honorary)
Glen Wesley Brown grew up on the Prairies, raised in Gravelbourg,…
Savoy Howe (2018)
Savoy “Kapow!” Howe is the head coach and owner of Toronto…
Mykel Hall a.k.a. Dj Black Cat (2018)
A leader an activist in Toronto’s black LGBTQ community. DJ…
David Hingsburger (2018)
For over 30 years Dave has advocated for people with intellectual…
For more information about these celebrated persons and the INSPIRE Awards, please visit INSPIREawards.ca
A project of
