As Dr. Ashleigh Molloy learned he would be appointed to the prestigious Order of Canada, the lifelong Catholic educator felt a quiet surge of gratitude, not for the spotlight, rather for the ability to amplify his mission born from a father’s love and faith-based conviction. 

“ I felt honoured, humbled and gratified that my work was being acknowledged by the country of my love and dedication. This was for my work and as an academic and as a person who has pursued inclusion within and outside the academic field and community. It has been a lifelong pursuit, and it will continue,” said Molloy, who received the award recognizing outstanding achievement and dedication to his community and service to the nation on June 30.

A professor at Niagara University's department of special education, Molloy has championed special education at the elementary, secondary and college levels for decades, with his work in international disability education having gained him recognition by governments across the globe. 

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Molloy’s personal experience with the cause of inclusive education has added a layer of passion to the mission.

“ My daughter, Lindsey, was gifted with Down Syndrome when she was born 35 years ago, and things were a lot different then. I witnessed firsthand experiences of her being shut out and treated differently, and I felt the system just simply had to be changed because I wanted to make life better for everyone,” he said.

For a decade, Molloy led the Toronto Catholic District School Board’s Special Education Advisory Committee, first as vice president and then president, where he continued to learn that true inclusion required branching out beyond the classroom. Inspired by his daughter’s vibrant sociability, he engaged communities and parishes alike in challenging exclusion. 

Upon beginning his work mentoring future teachers at Niagara University in 2018, he began sharing his expertise and personal faith to help shape the school’s understanding of students with disabilities. This platform and ongoing dialogue continue to lend credibility to his advocacy, fostering a more inclusive vision for education even during the back half of his career. 

Molloy's Catholic faith is inseparable from his work, a guiding force behind his advocacy for inclusion and overall respect for human life. Having worked with the Sisters of Life in dialoguing with parents facing a diagnosis of Down Syndrome or other disability who contemplate abortion, Molloy again drew on his own life experiences to choose inclusivity and sanctity of life over what some deems an easier choice. 

“My wife and I faced a similar feeling of worry because at that point, we didn’t know anything about Down Syndrome, and we were filled with anxiety and stress. My faith was there, spiritual advisors were there, and I knew that Lindsey would always be welcomed in our parish because that’s the Catholic belief,” said the parishioner at St. Isaac Jogues Parish in Pickering, Ont. 

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“It wasn’t a walk in the park, but as I grew with Lindsey, abortion was never, ever a thought. We were not interested in having that conversation. God was going to give us what is His gift, and that’s the end of the story. My faith has strengthened me along the way through some very difficult times, and for me, every day is an opportunity to serve my faith as a Catholic practitioner.” 

His faith allowed him to found Transformation Education International in 2005, an organization that aims to change the mindset and challenge perspectives on disability through research, skills training and heavy global outreach. Molloy has presented at countless conferences in 22 countries, including at the United Nations for the World Down Syndrome Association.

This unwavering commitment to bettering a system, inside and outside of the classroom, has gained the admiration of peers and colleagues.

“His influence extends beyond the classroom, profoundly impacting the community at large. His initiatives have not only transformed educational practices but have also fostered a more inclusive and supportive environment for all. The ripple effects of his work are felt throughout the community, as he has inspired countless educators, students and families to embrace and celebrate inclusion,” Dan Koenig, CEO for Ontario's Education Quality and Accountability Office, told The Catholic Register. 

Angela Gauthier, who has known  Molloy for over 15 years in her capacity as TCDSB associate director of education and director of education, and as a personal friend following her retirement in 2017, fully agrees. 

“His message is to promote respect for all through seeing the person first and focusing on their ability, not solely on their diagnosis. Dr. Molloy is the embodiment of a true Catholic educator,” she said. 

As Molloy himself reflects on the reality of being one of the latest Order of Canada appointees, he was sure to thank family and colleagues for their support of his work over the years. 

“As I reflect on the root of my work and motivation, one word comes to mind that stands out above them all: transformation. Transformation to take understanding where there is doubt, transformation to bring inclusion where there are still those who are not welcome at the community table, and transformation of an ever-polarized society into a kinder, gentler one,” he wrote in his words of gratitude address to be read at this fall’s investiture ceremony. 

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He ends the address with a solemn indebtedness for the recognition of his life’s work, quoting a fellow Order of Canada recipient and national trailblazer. 

“I am encouraged and motivated by these words from Terry Fox — I've got to keep going. There is just no room to stand still.”