Recipients of Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence and Excellence in Early Childhood Education Announced, 2011–12 Edition of Awards Launched

Ottawa, October 5, 2011 — The Honourable Peter Van Loan, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, on behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, today announced the recipients of the 2010–11 Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence and Excellence in Early Childhood Education. Award recipients were honoured at a ceremony in Ottawa, fittingly held on World Teachers' Day. The event also marked the launch of the nomination process for the 2011–12 Prime Minister's Awards.

"Great teachers inspire great minds to be their best," said Minister Van Loan. "Today, we celebrate outstanding educators who are igniting the curiosity of their students and making Canada a better place, one child at a time."

This year, 84 Prime Minister's Awards were presented to teachers and early childhood educators, either individually or to teams, from across Canada. The Awards include 26 national Certificates of Excellence and 58 regional Certificates of Achievement for educational excellence at all levels, from preschool to secondary school. All award recipients were recognized as exceptionally innovative leaders who help students excel and young children get the best possible start in life.

All winners receive a certificate, a pin and a letter from the Prime Minister. Certificates of Excellence are each worth $5,000 and are shared equally between the winners and their schools or childcare institutions. Certificates of Achievement are each worth $1,000 and are given directly to recipients.

The Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence and Excellence in Early Childhood Education were created in 1993 and 2002, respectively. For the first time this year, a space educator award was presented to a teacher who demonstrated outstanding, innovative and creative teaching in the area of space sciences. The 2010–11 winner of the space educator award is Sean Clark of Sacred Heart High School in Stittsville, Ontario.

Industry Canada delivers this awards program in partnership with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Health Canada, and Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. Research In Motion Limited and the RBC Foundation are corporate partners of the program.

Information on all of the 2010–11 award recipients, along with guidelines and nomination forms for the 2011–12 Awards, can be found on the Prime Minister's Awards website.