The Ophea Award of Distinction is presented to one individual who is a leader in the meaningful advancement of inclusive healthy, active living opportunities for children and youth in Ontario school communities. The Ophea Award of Distinction is in honour of Bing Caswell, a dedicated professional whose thought leadership and commitment led to the advancement of knowledge and understanding in the field of health and physical education.
Ophea is proud to announce Dr. Lee Airton as the recipient of the 2024/2025 Ophea Award of Distinction. This award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and long-term contributions in promoting healthy, active living and inclusive practices for children and youth in Ontario.
A tireless advocate, educator, and changemaker, Dr. Lee Airton has spent over 15 years transforming educational spaces into more inclusive, welcoming environments for all students, especially gender-diverse youth.
As an Associate Professor of Gender and Sexuality Studies in Education at Queen’s University, Dr. Airton has left an indelible mark on the educational landscape not only in Ontario, but across Canada.
Their contributions span a wide range of initiatives focused on equity and inclusion. Dr. Airton co-founded Gegi.ca, Canada’s first bilingual self-advocacy resource for K-12 students experiencing gender-based discrimination. This tool has empowered thousands of youth to find their voice and advocate for safer, more inclusive school environments.
In partnership with Ophea, Dr. Airton recently co-facilitated a ground-breaking series of policy implementation sessions titled Preventing Gender Identity and Gender Expression Discrimination in Health and Physical Education. These sessions provided Ontario school board leaders with practical tools to strengthen inclusion across Health and Physical Education programs, ultimately reaching 17 school boards and inspiring similar initiatives in Alberta through Ever Active Schools.
Dr. Airton’s body of work demonstrates a remarkable commitment to equipping educators and school leaders with the tools they need to foster inclusivity.
From authoring the widely acclaimed book Gender: Your Guide to launching the No Big Deal campaign promoting respectful pronoun use, Dr. Airton has used every platform available, that is academic, digital, and grassroots to champion the rights of gender-diverse students.
A visionary thinker and lifelong learner, Dr. Airton also co-edited Teaching About Gender Diversity: Teacher-Tested Lesson Plans for K–12 Classrooms, a practical guide that continues to shape classroom practices across the province.
Dr. Airton’s courage and leadership has remained unwavering, helping to create a future where all students can thrive in safe, supportive environments.
Ophea is honoured to recognize Dr. Lee Airton with the 2024/2025 Award of Distinction. Their legacy of inclusive education and dedication to student well-being represents the very spirit of this award. Through public scholarship, media appearances, and workshops, Dr. Airton has reached thousands of educators, students, parents/caregivers, and policymakers. We thank Dr. Airton for their invaluable contributions and tireless commitment to helping all children and youth live healthy, active lives, free to be themselves.
