May 20, 2010
Algonquin College
Background
The Capital Educators’ Awards were created in the fall of 2001 by a group of business and education leaders who wanted to raise the profile of public education and recognize and celebrate the dedication and achievements of our local educators. These awards are unique. To our knowledge, Ottawa is the only community in Canada that celebrates the contributions of its educators across the whole spectrum of education from kindergarten to PhD. Award recipients are announced at a gala dinner and ceremony each spring, aptly called EduGala. This year, the 9th annual EduGala will be held on May 20th at Algonquin College.
The Capital Educators’ Awards are managed by OCRI (the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation) on behalf of our ten education partners – Algonquin College, La Cité collégiale, Carleton University, University of Ottawa; Saint Paul University, Dominican University College, Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario, Ottawa Catholic School Board, and Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. These institutions work together with OCRI on all aspects of the awards process.
OCRI is a not-for-profit organization whose primary role is as the economic development agency for the City of Ottawa. It works with partners in education, business and government to advance Ottawa’s globally competitive knowledge-based economy, and enhance quality of life in Ottawa. For more information on OCRI, please visit www.ocri.ca.
Who is eligible for a Capital Educators’ Award?
Any educator who has classroom teaching responsibilities and is currently employed by one of the ten partner institutions in Ottawa is eligible for a Capital Educators’ Award.
How does the nomination process work? How are the winners selected and announced?
Anyone can nominate an educator for a Capital Educators’ Award. We will be accepting nominations between January 6, 2010 and March 1, 2010. We receive submissions from parents, students, educators, and members of the general public.
Award recipients are chosen based on two criteria: 1) demonstrated excellence in teaching and 2) acting as a positive role model and/or making a difference in someone’s life. Sixty-six finalists are selected by the participating institutions. A community panel of judges then selects the award recipients from among the finalists. All 66 finalists are invited to attend EduGala, and the Award recipients are announced that evening.
An incredible range of educators are honored by these awards, from kindergarten teachers to high school math teachers to medical school professors to Police Foundation instructors. Some award recipients are relatively new to teaching; some are 40 year veterans. Some educators are recognized for outstanding impact on students through coaching activities, others for their ability to motivate troubled teens to achieve success, or to help profoundly disabled students. Common themes are an ability to connect with students, as well as a willingness to invest extra effort to customize approaches for students’ individual needs. Many educators are also being recognized for using communication and information technologies to enhance the learning experience and facilitate students’ access to course material at their own pace.
The Capital Educators’ Awards is a unique community event with lots of heart. Every year at the EduGala, we are moved by the educators’ stories, their accomplishments, sense of mission, and their desire to make a difference. We look forward to working with our community partners once again to celebrate teaching excellence in the Ottawa region.
