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Mohsin Ali Wattoo has won two of the City of Brampton\u2019s Citizen Awards. Photo: OMNI News<\/p>\nLike many immigrants, Mohsin Ali Wattoo had been busy living a work-focused life in Canada when a car accident changed everything.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn 2010, I met with an accident, and a wheelchair became a part of me forever. Until then, I didn\u2019t know there was a heart attached to a wheelchair mark that we see chalked in the parking lots,\u201d Wattoo said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNature had many other tasks reserved for me,\u201d he reflected.<\/p>\n
What followed was an athletic career that has brought honour to both Brampton and Canada, with 23 medals earned at national and international competitions.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy friends suggested that I get out and do something recreational. That is how I started table tennis. I didn\u2019t even know about this sport, you know, we are Cricket people.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Wattoo\u2019s impact extends beyond personal achievement\u2014he founded Spirit Table Tennis Club, a non-profit organization dedicated to connecting people of all abilities with sports.<\/p>\n
Wattoo\u2019s contributions to community have been recognized by the City of Brampton\u2019s Citizen Awards. He has become a rare dual honouree in the awards\u2019 history, receiving both the Inspirational Award and Sports Achievement Award\u2014a recognition that reflects not only his athletic prowess but his dedication to changing societal attitudes toward disability.<\/p>\n
Mohsin Ali Wattoo has won two of the City of Brampton\u2019s Citizen Awards. Photo: OMNI News<\/p>\n
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Mohsin Ali Wattoo has won two of the City of Brampton\u2019s Citizen Awards. Photo: OMNI News<\/p>\n
Five decades of celebrating community champions<\/p>\n
Since 1974, the Brampton Citizen Awards have recognized over 3,500 residents whose contributions have shaped the city\u2019s identity. This year\u2019s ceremony continued that tradition, honouring outstanding individuals and groups across seven categories spanning sports, arts and community service.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese awards are a testament to all the great work our volunteers do, and it also keeps us accountable to recognize their efforts in making the city a better place to live,\u201d said Coun. Rod Power from wards 7 and 8.<\/p>\n
The 2025 recipients represent the diversity and vibrancy that define modern Brampton. Notable honorees include:<\/p>\n
Muhammad Mudassar, winning the Ken Giles Amateur Athlete of the Year Award<\/p>\n
Norie Blohm, who received the Long-Term Service Award for dedicated volunteer contributions to recreation, arts and community services<\/p>\n
Hyacinth Singh, named the official Inspirational Award recipient<\/p>\n
Jaspreet Pandher, OMNI News reporter, recognized in the \u201cInspirational Award\u201d category<\/p>\n
\u201cI am grateful to my team for all the support, my parents and the people of my village who have believed in me,\u201d said Pandher.<\/p>\n
A mission beyond medals<\/p>\n
For Wattoo, the dual recognition validates a mission that extends far beyond athletic competition. Through Spirit Table Tennis Club, he\u2019s working to build a legacy of new players while challenging deeply rooted cultural attitudes about disability.<\/p>\n
\u201cSouth Asian society needs to change its thinking,\u201d Wattoo states candidly, drawing from personal experiences with accessibility and inclusivity that have shaped his understanding of societal barriers.<\/p>\n
His work addresses a critical gap: ensuring that people with disabilities, particularly within South Asian communities where stigma remains significant, have opportunities to participate fully in sports and community life.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere should be more of these initiatives because these events connect the city\u2019s vibrancy,\u201d Wattoo said at the awards ceremony, emphasizing how recognition programs like the Citizen Awards create visibility for important community work.<\/p>\n
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Mohsin Ali Wattoo has won two of the City of Brampton\u2019s Citizen Awards. Photo: OMNI News<\/p>\n
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