Ottawa, Ontario
7 October 2014
The Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence have honoured exceptional elementary and secondary school teachers in all disciplines since 1993, with over 1,400 teachers honoured to date. Recipients instil in their students a love of learning and use information and communications technologies to better equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the digital economy.
Teachers are eligible for two awards: the Certificate of Excellence (a national-level award) and the Certificate of Achievement (a regional-level award). The Certificate of Excellence carries a cash prize of $5,000, whereas the Certificate of Achievement carries a cash prize of $1,000. National-level awards are shared equally between the recipients and their schools, while regional-level awards are given solely to the recipient. Funds may be used for professional development, equipment, resource materials, website development, teaching aids or other tools to improve teaching and student learning.
Those receiving national-level awards were invited to Ottawa to participate in best practice sessions, as well as attend a private event hosted by Prime Minister Stephen Harper who presented their certificates of excellence. Regional-level award winners are honoured at school or community events where local Members of Parliament present recipients with a certificate on behalf of the Prime Minister. The recipient’s school also receives a certificate recognizing its support of, and contribution to, the teacher’s achievement. All recipients are presented with a pin, a certificate signed by the Prime Minister and a financial award.
There were 35 Teaching Excellence Awards (ten national and 25 regional) being awarded this year. Of these, four teachers received designated awards for outstanding Aboriginal teachers in partnership with Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (one national and three regional-level awards).
The Prime Minister’s Awards are considered Canada’s top honour for K–12 teachers. Recipients are chosen through a rigorous selection process. Each nomination package is reviewed by the program’s selection committee, which is comprised of representatives of major education stakeholders from across the country, including teachers’ federations, parent-teacher associations, post-secondary institutions, provincial and territorial governments, business organizations and student groups.
Provided standards of excellence are met, awards are designated for each of the following regions: British Columbia, the Prairies, the North (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut), Ontario, Quebec, and Atlantic Canada.
The awards are administered by Industry Canada, on behalf of the Prime Minister, with financial support from the program’s corporate partner, the RBC Foundation.
For more information about the program, please visit the Prime Minister’s Awards website at: www.pma-ppm.gc.ca.
