Canada's top educators honoured at national awards ceremony

Sixty-four educators from every region including the North receive Prime Minister's Awards

OTTAWA, May 2, 2018 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada recognizes the important role that educators in all regions play in preparing young Canadians to become the leaders, innovators and middle-class workers of tomorrow.

Teachers and early childhood educators from across the country today received Canada's highest honours for Teaching Excellence, Teaching Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and Excellence in Early Childhood Education at the Prime Minister's Awards ceremony in Ottawa.

The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, joined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the ceremony. The Prime Minister presented 18 educators with Certificates of Excellence and recognized 46 educators who will receive Certificates of Achievement at local events. 

The Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence recognize outstanding elementary and secondary school teachers in all disciplines. Award winners have demonstrated exceptional teaching practices that have inspired their students and equipped them with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.

This year, the Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence have been expanded to include 17 new STEM-themed awards as part of the Government of Canada's Innovation and Skills Plan, a multi-year strategy to create well-paying jobs for the middle class. This new category recognizes that tomorrow's breakthroughs and discoveries depend on the ability of today's teachers to nurture young Canadians' curiosity and passion for STEM.

The Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education recognize Canada's most talented early childhood educators who give their students the best possible start in life. Each award winner brings a unique approach to education and play that sets the stage for young Canadians to reach their full potential.

Quotes

"Inspiring, motivating and igniting curiosity—that's the power of our hard-working Canadian teachers! The educators we honour today are preparing our youth for the jobs of tomorrow. They are not only equipping young Canadians with knowledge and skills they will need but also nurturing a lifelong curiosity and passion for learning. They're making dreams come true!"
– The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development

"I want to offer my profound thanks not only to today's exemplary award winners but also to all those who mentor Canada's next generation of leaders. Education is among the highest of callings. Teachers inspire young minds to work hard so they may achieve their goals. Allow me to offer special congratulations to those receiving awards under this year's newest category, Teaching Excellence in STEM. I firmly believe that students who are passionate about science, technology, engineering and math will become tomorrow's researchers, innovators and groundbreakers."
– The Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities

Quick facts

• Since its creation in 1993, the Prime Minister's Awards program has honoured more than 1,700 outstanding Canadian educators.
• Award recipients are determined based on a rigorous selection process undertaken by a committee of their peers. The committee is composed of 120 volunteers from the education community across Canada.
• Award recipients were chosen from among 182 nominations across the country. They were eligible for two awards in the respective streams for which they were nominated: the Certificate of Excellence, a national award, or the Certificate of Achievement, a regional award.
• The awards are administered by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada.
• Other partners that support the program include the RBC Foundation, Employment and Social Development Canada, Health Canada, Indigenous Services Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. 
• The 2019 Prime Minister's Awards will mark the 25th year of recognizing outstanding educators who are nurturing Canada's leaders, innovators, talent and minds of the future.

Associated links

• Prime Minister's Awards website
• Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence—2018 recipients
• Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence in STEM—2018 recipients
• Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education—2018 recipients

Follow the department on Twitter: @ISED_CA

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada