OTTAWA, March 22, 2005 -- Prime Minister Paul Martin today announced the recipients of the Prime Minister's Awards program for excellence in teaching and early childhood education. "By helping Canada's young learners excel at school, these outstanding teachers and early childhood educators are giving them an important head start in life," said Prime Minister Martin. "They are providing young people with a strong foundation for life-long learning, which is vital to Canada's economic and social success." A total of 67 teachers and 25 early childhood educators (list attached) are receiving a Prime Minister's Award this year. Of these, 15 teachers and 10 early childhood educators are being honoured at the Certificate of Excellence (national) level. These national recipients were honoured by the Prime Minister at a ceremony today. Certificate of Achievement (local) recipients will be honoured at subsequent community events. "Children are the promise and wealth of Canada," said David L. Emerson, Minister of Industry, who also attended the event. "With these awards, the government and its partners recognize that teachers and early childhood educators play key roles in child development, laying the foundation for lifelong learning and, ultimately, a stronger Canada." "These awards acknowledge how childhood educators provide children with the kinds of critical experiences and learning that will affect them the rest of their lives," said Ken Dryden, Minister of Social Development, who also participated in the event. "It is right that we honour the talent, skill and dedication of those who play such a vital role in our society." K-12 recipients teach a range of subjects, using innovative teaching practices to connect with students. From creating an outdoor classroom to using the Internet to link schools from across Canada and Finland, the recipients inspire students to aim high and succeed. Early childhood educators play a significant role in the development and education of young children. They get children out into the community where they enjoy learning opportunities such as sharing and appreciating different cultures. The Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence recognize the efforts of outstanding teachers in all disciplines who provide students with the tools to become good citizens, to develop and grow as individuals, and to contribute to Canada's growth, prosperity and well-being. The Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education honour outstanding early childhood educators who, through their dedication and skill, have instilled in Canada's youngest citizens a love of learning and helped prepare them to take on life's challenges. For more information, please contact: Stéphanie Leblanc Office of the Honourable David L. Emerson Minister of Industry (613) 995-9001 Media Relations Industry Canada (613) 943-2502 Sarah Bain Press Secretary Office of the Honourable Ken Dryden Minister of Social Development (613) 941-0766 Prime Minister's Office Press Office (613) 957-5555 This document is also available online, at: http://pm.gc.ca. Backgrounder Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education It is widely recognized that talented and dedicated early childhood educators play a critical role in the developmental and learning outcomes for young children. The Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education are the only national awards that recognize the work of educators at this level. The awards honour outstanding and innovative early childhood educators who excel at fostering the early development and socialization of the children in their care. Ten Certificates of Excellence (national), which include a cash award of $5000, and 15 Certificates of Achievement (local), which include a cash award of $1000, are offered. To ensure representation from across the country, five national awards are given to the top-ranked candidate from each of the following regions: British Columbia and the Yukon; the Prairies, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut; Ontario; Quebec; and Atlantic Canada. As well, one national award is given to the top-ranked Aboriginal early childhood educator. The remaining four national awards are bestowed on the next top-ranked candidates. After that, the next 15 top-ranked candidates are awarded the Certificate of Achievement. At least one of these awards is designated for an Aboriginal early childhood educator. Award recipients are selected by evaluators drawn from early childhood education organizations across the country. Selection criteria include support of child development; innovation; involvement with parents, families and the community; and commitment and leadership in the field. The awards are administered by Industry Canada, in partnership with Social Development Canada and Health Canada. For more information on the Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education, please call 1 800 575-9200, e-mail eceawards@ic.gc.ca or visit the Web site at http://www.pma-ppm.gc.ca. Backgrounder The Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence The Prime Minister's Awards honour elementary and secondary school teachers across Canada, who have best prepared students for the challenges of a changing society and a knowledge-based economy. The awards, offered at the Certificate of Excellence (national) and Certificate of Achievement (local) levels, carry cash prizes of $5000 and $1000, respectively, given to the recipient's school and to be spent under the teacher's direction. Recipients receive letters and certificates, signed by the Prime Minister. Certificate of Excellence recipients are honoured at a ceremony in Ottawa with the Prime Minister. They share ideas in a day-long best practices session, which is summarized in detail on the program's Web site. Certificate of Achievement winners receive their awards at local ceremonies, organized by their schools or school boards. Local members of Parliament and ministers participate in many of these ceremonies. Nominees must be practising classroom teachers with a minimum of three years experience. Nominators can be anyone with direct knowledge of the educator's contribution, including principals, parents, students and colleagues. Award recipients are selected in two stages by regional and national committees comprising representatives from teacher and parent-teacher associations, post-secondary faculties, business, labour, provincial/territorial ministry of education officials, and other groups with expertise in education and skills requirements. The Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence program is funded by four corporate partners: Bell Canada; Kraft Canada; Microsoft Canada; and RBC Financial Group. For more information on the Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence, please call 1 800 575-9200, e-mail pmawards@ic.gc.ca or visit the Web site at http://www.pma-ppm.ic.gc.ca. 2003-04 Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood EducationNational Recipients (Certificates of Excellence) Province/ TerritoryLocation of Education SettingEducator's ResidenceName of Education SettingEducatorType of Setting British Columbia BurnabyBurnabySt. Alban's DaycareMargaret KellyChild care centre for children ages 2 ½ -5 British Columbia DuncanDuncanLe'lum'uy'l DaycareAl LawrenceAboriginal head start program for children ages 0-5 British Columbia SurreyLangleyAwahsuk Aboriginal Head Start PreschoolTanis KohlsAboriginal head start program for children ages 3-5 British Columbia NanaimoNanaimoTender Beginnings Child Care CenterSharon LarkinsChild care centre for children ages 2 ½-5 Alberta Calgary CalgaryBoys and Girls Club Ready, Set, Go! PreschoolBeatrice BennettPreschool for children ages 3-6 Manitoba ScanterburyScanterburyBrokenhead Aboriginal Headstart ProgramPenny SpenceAboriginal head start for children ages 0-6 Ontario HamiltonHamiltonNorth End Children's Centre Gwynneth Hawes CookPre-school for children ages 2 ½ -5 Quebec LavalLavalCentre de la petite enfance La MontgolfiPreFrancine Ouellette Lavoie Child care centre for children ages 0-5 Nova Scotia DartmouthLake CharlotteDartmouth PreschoolPatricia HoganHead start program for children ages 4-5 Nova Scotia WolfvilleWolfvilleHome and Heart Child Development CentreLila Hope-SimpsonPreschool for children ages 2 ½ -5 2003-2004 Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education Regional Recipients (Certificates of Achievement) Province/ TerritoryLocation of Education SettingEducator's ResidenceName of Education SettingEducatorType of Setting Yukon WhitehorseWhitehorseMacklon Family Day HomeKaren MacklonFamily child care program for children ages 18 months -10 British Columbia VictoriaVictoriaCarrot Seed PreschoolDianne BentleyPreschool for children ages 3-6 British Columbia BurnabyBurnabyDeer Lake PreschoolBarbara FriesenPreschool for children ages 2 ½ - 5 British Columbia VancouverVancouverSt. Giles Preschool CentreJoan SchumannPreschool for children ages 3-4 British Columbia Victoria VictoriaCentennial Daycare CentreSukhvir SidhuChild care centre for children ages 2 ½ - 6 British Columbia DuncanDuncanCowichan PreschoolAnnette MacGregorCo-operative preschool for children ages 3-5 Saskatchewan KindersleyKindersleyLil' Day CareLiliana Sulikowska-KlebekFamily child care for children ages 0-13 Saskatchewan Moose JawMoose JawSouthwest Day Care and Early Learning CentreLucille GillilandChild care centre for children ages 18 months -12 Ontario BrantfordBrantfordA Child's ParadiseJudith FrielChild care centre for children ages 0-12 Ontario OttawaPlantagenetTungasuvvingat Inuit Head StartIna Zakal (Kulugutaq)Aboriginal head start program for children ages 18 months - 6 Quebec SherbrookeSherbrookeCentre de la petite enfance Le BilboquetSandra BretonChild care centre for children ages 2 ½ - 5 Quebec St. EustacheSt. EustacheCentre de la petite enfance La découverte de l'enfanceSylvie PaquetteChild care centre for children ages 18 months - 5 Quebec LongueuilLongueuilCentre de la petite enfance Pomme SoleilSandra DuchesneChild care centre for children ages 3-5 Quebec St. HyacintheSt. HyacintheCentre de la petite enfance Ma FamigardeJacinthe GuilmainChild care centre for children ages 0-5 Quebec MontrealMontrealCentre de la petite enfance La vofte enchantéeFrance DrouhinChild care centre for children ages 0-4 __________________________ 2003-2004 Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence National Recipients (Certificates of Excellence) Province/ TerritorySchool LocationTeacher's Residence SchoolTeacherGrades/Subjects Taught British Columbia West VancouverNorth VancouverRockridge Secondary SchoolDonna NeilsonGrades 9, 11-12, math and English British Columbia SurreySurreyNorth Surrey Secondary SchoolSusan ChowGrades 11-12, marketing and accounting Alberta St. AlbertEdmontonKeenooshayo Elementary SchoolSarah VargheseGrade 2, all subjects except music Alberta EdmontonEdmontonSt. Teresa Catholic SchoolLoretta Van BrabantGrade 3, all subjects except music Ontario TorontoOakvilleJoyce Public SchoolDavid deBelleGrades 1-5, math, information computer technology, library, gym, French and science Ontario Barrys BayBarrys BayMadawaska Valley District High SchoolMark RobbinsGrades 9-12, music Ontario OttawaManotickSt. Joseph High SchoolVirginia WinfieldGrade 12, writer's craft and English Literature Ontario StratfordStratfordSt. Michael Catholic Secondary SchoolCarolyn WilsonGrade 11-12, media studies, and Canadian and world issues Ontario BurlingtonHamiltonWoodview Children's CentreSteven HammelGrades 1-4 special education, literacy, numeracy, visual and creative arts Ontario WindsorWindsorVincent Massey Secondary SchoolBruce WhiteGrades 10 and 12, enriched math, calculus and algebra Ontario AllistonAllistonBanting Memorial High SchoolMary McBrideGrades 9-12, Latin, Ancient Greek and French Quebec MontrealMontrealTrafalgar School for GirlsRachel McCabeGrades 8 and 11, English, history and multimedia New Brunswick FrederictonFrederictonFredericton High SchoolMichael GangeGrades 10 and 12, journalism, media studies and English Newfoundland and Labrador St. John'sOuter CoveHoly Heart High SchoolAndrew HickeyGrades 11-12, earth systems, environmental and cooperative education Newfoundland and Labrador St. John'sSt. John'sHoly Heart High School Grant EtchegaryGrades 10-12, music and technology 2003-2004 Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence Regional Recipients (Certificates of Achievement) Province/ TerritorySchool LocationTeacher's Residence SchoolTeacherGrades/Subjects Taught British Columbia VancouverBurnabySir Charles Tupper SchoolHajime (Eddy) MatsumotoGrades 8-11, math British Columbia VictoriaVictoriaEsquimalt High SchoolMarvin DoddsGrades 11-12, social studies and history British Columbia RichmondRichmondHenry Anderson Elementary SchoolGlyn R. DaviesGrades 6-7, all subjects British Columbia KelownaKelownaÉcole Belgo Elementary SchoolMichelle HamiltonGrades 3-4, French immersion, all subjects British Columbia SaanichtonVictoriaStelly's Secondary SchoolCorinna StevensonGrade 11, Vancouver Island Experiential Wilderness (VIEW) Program British Columbia Qualicum BeachPort AlberniKwalikum Secondary SchoolTed GilbertGrades 9-12, metalwork and metal fabrication British Columbia ChilliwackChilliwack AgassizFraser Valley Distance Education SchoolGraeme Wilson Michael HaworthGrades 6-10, math, science, language arts, social studies, art and information technology British Columbia ElkfordElkfordRocky Mountain Elementary SchoolApril NelsonGrades 2-3, language arts, social studies, science, math, physical education, art, technology, personal planning and music British Columbia VictoriaVictoriaWestShore Centre for Learning and TrainingRuth Blasner Heather Ratcliffe HoodGrades 9-12, chemistry, physics, geography, career, personal planning, First Nations language arts and career development coordination British Columbia CoquitlamCoquitlamPinetree Way Elementary SchoolGregory MiyanagaGrades 4-5, all subjects British Columbia LangleyWhite RockD.W. Poppy Secondary SchoolCarolyn MarcotteGrade 12, geography, psychology, law, and human services British Columbia VancouverVancouverUniversity Hill Secondary SchoolSally StubbsGrades 8-12, performing arts, drama, theatre company and drama leadership Alberta EdmontonEdmontonVictoria School of Performing and Visual ArtsBill HoweGrades 10-12, English, philosophy and political philosophy Alberta EdmontonEdmontonVictoria School of Performing and Visual ArtsCraig BrenanGrades 8-12, music and social studies Alberta CalgaryCalgaryErnest Morrow Junior High SchoolJacqueline VincentGrades 7-9, teacher-librarian, language arts and reading literacy Alberta Red DeerRed DeerHunting Hills High SchoolEllen HiltonGrades 11-12, math Alberta BanffBanffBanff Elementary SchoolSusan MoleskiGrade 6, math, science, social studies, language arts, computers, physical education, health and music Alberta EdmontonEdmontonMcNally High SchoolAnnie FosterGrades 10-12, French, German and Spanish Alberta EdmontonEdmontonOld Scona Academic High SchoolFrances BurkeGrades 10-12, music, drama and theatre arts Alberta CalgaryCalgaryFoundations for the Future Charter AcademyJustin KoolGrade 6, science and math Alberta DunmoreDunmoreEagle Butte High SchoolMark HeinricksGrades 11-12, math Manitoba St. Pierre-JolysWinnipegÉcole Héritage Immersion SchoolNicole LabossiPre-ClarkKindergarten and Grade 1, all subjects Manitoba WinnipegWinnipegDonwood Elementary SchoolLanda SweetGrade 1, language arts, math, social studies, science, health and art Manitoba Snow LakeSnow LakeJoseph H. Kerr SchoolClarence FisherGrade 8, math, science, social studies, French, and language arts Manitoba RossburnBirtleRossburn Collegiate InstituteGerald NegraveGrades 11-12, biology, physics, chemistry, applied math, economics and science Manitoba BrandonBrandonCrocus Plains Regional Secondary SchoolMiro GawinskiGrades 11-12, design drafting Ontario CollingwoodCollingwoodCollingwood Collegiate InstituteMartin WilkinsonGrades 10-12, history, civics and political science Ontario WindsorWindsorJ.L. Forster Secondary SchoolChristopher SmithGrades 10-12, science and chemistry Ontario TorontoTorontoMonarch Park CollegiateMary CardGrades 10-12, math Ontario GuelphGuelphThe Guelph Collegiate-Vocational InstituteLois McMillanGrades 9-12 , French Ontario WindsorWindsorW.F. Herman Secondary SchoolBernadette BerthelotteGrades 9-12, instrumental music Ontario MississaugaMississaugaSt. Therese of the Child Jesus SchoolCeliza RibeiroGrades 1, 4-5 and 8, special education Ontario JordanSt. CatharinesSt. Edward SchoolPaul LukacsGrade 6, all subjects Ontario TorontoTorontoUniversity of Toronto SchoolsMeg O'MahonyGrades 7, 11-12, science and biology Ontario Don MillsAjaxMarc Garneau Collegiate InstituteKernan JohnGrades 11-12, biology Ontario TorontoVaughanHillcrest Community SchoolChristopher GorczynskiGrade 6, language, math, social studies, science, drama, visual arts, information technology Ontario BramptonThornhillMayfield Secondary SchoolStanley Jay DankevyGrades 9-12, communication technology, English, integrated technology and construction technology Quebec Dollard-des-OrmeauxDollard-des-OrmeauxSaint Bernard Elementary SchoolDaphne AmsterKindergarten, all subjects except physical education and English Quebec LachineLachineCollPge Saint-LouisSylvie BlanchetGrades 1 and 4, dance and dramatic art Quebec RoxboroPierrefondsÉcole primaire LalandeStéphane CôtéGrade 6, all subjects Quebec Côte St. LucGreenfield ParkBialik High SchoolPeggy HoffmanGrades 9-11, English New Brunswick ShédiacCocagneÉcole Louis-J.-RobichaudMonique BastaracheGrades 11-12, law and history Nova Scotia Mahone BayMahone BayBayview Community SchoolGale LohnesGrades 7-9, music and band, social studies and math Nova Scotia TruroTruroCobequid Educational CentreTerry ThorsenGrades 10 and 12, math Newfoundland and Labrador Harbour GraceColey's PointSt. Francis SchoolNorman LittlejohnKindergarten-9, technology education Newfoundland and Labrador St. John'sSt. John'sPrince of Wales CollegiateKeith SamuelsonGrades 10-12, English Newfoundland and Labrador Conception Bay SouthConception Bay SouthHoly Spirit High SchoolAnthony HillierGrades 10-12, design technology Newfoundland and Labrador St. John'sHolyroodMary Queen of Peace SchoolBruce LaneGrades K-6, learning resources/technology Newfoundland and Labrador RushoonParkers GroveChrist the King SchoolElizabeth MurphyGrades 7-12, technology, math and ethics Newfoundland and Labrador Upper Island CoveBay RobertsSt. Peter's SchoolHoward (Howie) LundriganGrades 7-9, science, math, and adolescence
