OTTAWA, October 5, 2009 — Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the recipients of the 2009 Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence and Excellence in Early Childhood Education. The Awards were presented at a ceremony in Ottawa on the occasion of World Teachers’ Day.
“A good teacher inspires a thirst for learning that lasts a lifetime,” said Prime Minister Harper. “The outstanding teachers honoured today are an inspiration to us all. They play an invaluable role in our children’s development and in the future success of our country.”
This year 84 Prime Minister's Awards were presented to educators from across Canada. The awards include Certificates of Excellence and Certificates of Achievement for teaching excellence at all grade levels, from preschool through to secondary school. All have been recognized by parents and fellow educators as leaders who have been innovative in helping students excel.
“As a parent, I know the difference an outstanding teacher can make in a child’s life,” said Prime Minister Harper. “As Prime Minister, I am grateful for the contributions of all Canadian teachers, and especially this year’s Prime Minister’s Award recipients, whose dedication and skills are enriching the lives of young Canadians across the country.”
For the first time this year, awards were presented to give specific recognition for excellence among Aboriginal teachers working at schools on-reserve.
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Backgrounder
Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence
For many of us, at least one teacher stands out in our memories — someone who encouraged, enabled and inspired us to do our very best. Teachers play a tremendous role, not only in the academic achievement of students, but in forming the character that will shape the rest of their lives. The Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence honour outstanding and innovative elementary and secondary school teachers in all disciplines.
Award recipients are selected by parents and fellow educators from across Canada who participate in national and regional selection committees. These stakeholders select recipients based on their innovative use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) in the classroom, the excellence and innovation of their teaching practices and their ability to achieve outstanding results with students. The recipients have used these qualities to inspire students to learn, to continue learning and to equip them with the knowledge, attitudes and skills needed to succeed.
Nominees are recognized for their excellence in the following areas:
- integration of ICT in the classroom
- innovative and exemplary teaching practices
- student skills development
- student interest and participation
- student achievement and performance
- teacher commitment and leadership
Teachers are eligible for two awards: the Certificate of Excellence and the Certificate of Achievement. All recipients receive a certificate and pin, along with a letter from the Prime Minister. A cash award of $5,000, shared equally between the winning teacher and his or her school, is given with the Certificate of Excellence. A cash award of $1,000 is given to teachers receiving the Certificate of Achievement. These funds may be used for professional development, equipment, resource materials, website development, teaching aids, or other tools to improve teaching and student learning. The recipient’s school also receives a certificate recognizing its support of, and contribution to, the teacher’s achievement. Up to 15 Certificates of Excellence and up to 50 Certificates of Achievement are awarded per competition. At least one Certificate of Excellence and one Certificate of Achievement are designated for the top-ranked Aboriginal teachers who are teaching at an on-reserve school.
For more information about the program, please visit the Prime Minister’s Awards web site at www.pma.gc.ca.
Backgrounder
Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education
The early years of a child’s life are critically important. The educators who collaborate in a child’s education in those years have an impact that will last for the rest of that child’s life. For many children, at least one educator will stand out in their earliest memories as someone who encouraged, enabled and inspired them to be their very best.
The Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education honour outstanding and innovative early childhood educators who excel at fostering the early intellectual and social development of the children entrusted to their care — teachers who help build the foundation children need to meet life’s challenges.
Nominees are judged on their overall merits as educators, while the awards are selected by an external selection committee comprised of early childhood education experts from across Canada. The committee selects recipients based on their innovative approaches and outstanding ability to engage and support the development of children in their care, as well as on their overall commitment to the development of the early childhood education and care profession.
For early childhood educators, the committee looks for clear evidence that nominees have excelled in the following four areas:
- support of child development
- innovation
- involvement with parents, families and the community
- commitment and leadership in the field
Early childhood educators are eligible for two awards: the Certificate of Excellence and the Certificate of Achievement. All recipients receive a certificate and pin, along with a letter from the Prime Minister. A cash award of $5,000, shared equally between the winning educator and his or her childcare school or daycare, is given with the Certificate of Excellence. A cash award of $1,000 is given to recipients of the Certificate of Achievement. These funds may be used for professional development, equipment, resource materials or other tools to improve developmental programming and children’s experiences. Up to 10 Certificates of Excellence and up to 15 Certificates of Achievement are awarded per competition. At least one Certificate of Excellence and one Certificate of Achievement are designated for the top-ranked Aboriginal early childhood educators.
For more information about the program, please visit the Prime Minister’s Awards website at www.pma.gc.ca.
Backgrounder
Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Early Childhood Education — 2009 Recipients
British Columbia
Certificates of Excellence
- Melanie Castro Shibaoko and Rachel Rosen, Brentwood Nursery School, Burnaby
- Linda Foster, J. Puddleduck Preschool/Daycare, Courtenay
- Patt Uren, Seymour Heights Parent Participation Preschool, North Vancouver
Certificates of Achievement
- Marla Bisanz, Mama Loves Me Daycare and Mouse Mountain StrongStart, Fraser Lake
- Shirley Jowsey, Little Acorn Preschool, Cranbrook
- Fiona Lee, Oakridge Montessori Children’s Learning Centre, Vancouver
- Iona Meger, Mount Seymour United Child Development, North Vancouver
- Cari Morris, Huckleberry Family Child Care, Vancouver
Manitoba
Certificate of Excellence
- Jacqueline Sturton, Pinawa Cooperative Nursery School, Pinawa
New Brunswick
Certificate of Excellence
- Suzanne Belanger, Madawaska Maliseet First Nation Head Start Program, Madawaska Maliseet First Nation
Ontario
Certificates of Excellence
- Sherry Lalonde, YWCA of St. Thomas-Elgin, St. Thomas
- Susan Watson, Erindale Nursery School, Mississauga
Certificates of Achievement
- Sally Da Silva, Future Scholars Daycare Centre, Georgetown
- Ava Gomes, Blue Wave Child Care Centre, Don Mills
- Maureen Harris, The Children’s House Montessori, Windsor
Prince Edward Island
Certificate of Achievement
- Lynn Hogan, Campus Kids Child Care Centre, Inc., Charlottetown
Quebec
Certificates of Excellence
- Gisèle Faucher, Centre de la petite enfance La Cachette, Laval
- Gitanne Pigeon, Centre de la petite enfance Idée fixe, Montréal
Certificates of Achievement
- Marilyn Gagné, Centre de la petite enfance Tout Doux, Brossard
- Kathleen Gauthier, Centre de la petite enfance le Cerf-volant, Trois-Rivières
- Annik Grégoire, Centre de la petite enfance Bille de Verre, Anjou
- Brenda McCormick, CPE du Campus, Ste Anne de Bellevue
Saskatchewan
Certificate of Achievement
- Tania McKay and Fran Oksasikewiyin, Kahkewistahaw Headstart, Broadview
Yukon
Certificate of Excellence
- Linda Bonnefoy and Susan Herbrick, Yukon Best Practice Mentorship Program, Whitehorse
Certificates of Achievement
- Johanne Moreau, La garderie du petit cheval blanc, Whitehorse
Backgrounder
Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence — 2009 Recipients
Alberta
Certificates of Excellence
- Casey Brown, Fort McKay School, Fort McKay
- Daniel Buchanan, Harold W. Riley Elementary School, Calgary
- Rob Dougherty, Tom Baines School, Calgary
- Wayne Phillips, Poplar Ridge Elementary School, Red Deer
Certificates of Achievement
- Crystal Clark, O’Chiese First Nation School, Rocky Mountain House
- Kym Francis, Scott Markine and Kristi Specht, Hardisty School, Edmonton
- James Kelso and Marilyn McKnight, Argyll Centre, Edmonton
- Neil Stephenson, Calgary Science School, Calgary
- Kathryn Walmsley, Elizabeth School, Cold Lake
- Donald Winchester, West View School, Calgary
British Columbia
Certificates of Excellence
- Marc Pelech, Sullivan Heights Secondary School, Surrey
- Shirley Turner, Vancouver Technical Secondary School, Vancouver
Certificates of Achievement
- Robert Arkiletian, Eric Hamber Secondary School, Vancouver
- Anissa Kermode, Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School, Surrey
- Rainer Mehl, Kitsilano Secondary School, Vancouver
- Wes Mueller, Arthur Hatton Elementary School, Kamloops
- Richard Ryant, Burnaby Mountain Secondary School, Burnaby
Manitoba
Certificate of Excellence
- Christopher Koop, Steinbach Regional Secondary School, Steinbach
- James Kostuchuk, Portage Collegiate Institute, Portage La Prairie
Certificates of Achievement
- Michelle Lee, Angus McKay School, Winnipeg
- Joan MacKenzie, Parc La Salle School, St. Norbert
- Peter Slobodzian, Ste. Anne Collegiate, Ste. Anne
New Brunswick
Certificate of Achievement
- Susan Galbraith, Carleton North High School, Bristol
Newfoundland and Labrador
Certificate of Excellence
- Ronald Blair, Eric G. Lambert School, Churchill Falls
Certificates of Achievement
- Bonnie Campbell, Bishops College, St. John’s
- Byron Hiscock, Exploits Valley High School, Grand Falls-Windsor
Northwest Territories
Certificate of Excellence
- Eileen Erasmus, K’àlemi Dene School, The Community School of Ndilo, Yellowknife
Nova Scotia
Certificate of Excellence
- Steven Van Zoost, Avon View High School, Windsor
Certificates of Achievement
- Kent Brewer, Memorial Composite High School, Sydney Mines
- Michael Diabo, Prince Arthur Junior High School, Dartmouth
- Jason Fuller, Horton High School, Wolfville
- Shelley MacDonald and Carla MacEachern, Thorburn Consolidated School, Thorburn
Ontario
Certificates of Excellence
- Muriel Sawyer, Nbisiing Secondary School, North Bay
- Ron Vandecasteele, W.D. Sutton School (Raoul Wallenberg Centre), London
Certificates of Achievement
- Jennifer Alexander, Essex District High School, Essex
- Natalie Campbell Rudner, Thornhill Secondary School, Thornhill
- Adrienne Chong, Rob Cotey and Mark Melnyk, Markville Secondary School, Markham
- Katie Kemp, W.H. Day Elementary School, Bradford
- Nicolas Lacelle, École secondaire catholique de Plantagenet, Plantagenet
- Judy Spadafora, J.S. Stellar Leadership Academy, Windsor
Prince Edward Island
Certificates of Achievement
- Susan England, Three Oaks Senior High School, Summerside
- Patricia Shields, Charlottetown Rural High School, Charlottetown
Quebec
Certificates of Excellence
- Jean-Pierre Frigon, École secondaire Paul-le-Jeune, Saint-Tite
- Michael Sweet, Lester B. Pearson High School, Montréal
Certificates of Achievement
- Patrick Charland, Coronation Elementary School, Montréal
- Daniel Coulombe, Collège Mont Notre-Dame, Sherbrooke
- Evelyne Lussier, Collège Letendre, Laval
- Élizabeth Veilleux, Externat Saint Jean-Etudes, Québec
- Gisèle Viau, École Le Tournesol, Béloeil
Saskatchewan
Certificate of Achievement
- Monique Martin, Georges Vanier Catholic School, Saskatoon
