Every day, Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) members and other individuals make outstanding contributions to curriculum development, the arts, science and technology, children’s literature, 2SLGBTQ+ realities, humanitarian causes, and other areas. To recognize this, ETFO offers an annual Awards Program.
“The ETFO Awards Program honours members and other individuals for their outstanding academic successes, service, and significant contributions to public education, their communities, and their union,” says ETFO President Karen Brown. “The award recipients play a crucial role in advancing the cause of public education in Ontario and beyond. Their dedication is commendable.”
Honorary life memberships, the Federation’s highest form of recognition, are given to members from the education profession who have given outstanding service to the Federation at the provincial level or as a member of the provincial ETFO staff.
This year, the following recipients received Honorary Life Membership Awards:
Doris Duni, Elementary Teachers of Toronto
Monica Rusnak, Past ETFO Vice-President, Ontario North East Teacher Local
David Wildman, Ottawa-Carleton Teacher and Occasional Teacher Locals
The following ETFO Awards were presented this year:
Anti-Bias Award
Ryan Richards, Elementary Teachers of Toronto Local
Anti-Poverty Award
Sezgin Nalsok, Halton Teacher Local
Anti-Racist and Equity Activism Award
Megan Watson, Kawartha Pine Ridge Teacher Local
Anti-Racist and Equity Activism Award – Women’s Program
Nkiru Azza, Elementary Teachers of Toronto Local, and Kathryn Lagerquist, Peel Teacher Local
Arts and Culture Award
Mark Ouellette, Elementary Teachers of Toronto Local
Children’s Literature Award
Brenda Lee (Gladman), Elementary Teachers of Toronto Local
Environmental Education Award
Haley Higdon, Toronto Occasional Teacher Local
Health and Safety Activist Award
Lynn Buckley, Waterloo Region Teacher Local
Member Service and Engagement Award
Simcoe County Teacher Local
New Member Award
Kevin Watson, Elementary Teachers of Toronto Local
Outstanding Role Model for Women Award – Women’s Program
Pamela Downward, Durham Teacher Local
Political Activist Award
Jeff Pelich, Waterloo Region Teacher Local
Professional Learning and Curriculum Development Award
Jonathan Pitt, Near North Teacher Local
Professional Learning and Curriculum Development Award – Women’s Program
Asha Nagpal, Peel Teacher Local
Women Working in Social Activism on Behalf of Women and Children – Women’s Program
Chantel Butterfield, Non ETFO-member
Writer’s Award
Chey Cheney and Pawan Wander, Elementary Teachers of Toronto Local
Writer’s Award – Women’s Program
Sylv Chiang, Elementary Teachers of Toronto Local
Author: Pete Fisher
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