Prime Minister's Awards Celebrate Educators "Helping to Shape the Leaders of Tomorrow"

OTTAWA, May 15, 2008 — Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the recipients of the 2007/2008 Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence and Excellence in Early Childhood Education.

"Today we celebrate the teachers who have gone above and beyond to make a difference in the lives of young Canadians," said the Prime Minister.

A total of 95 Prime Minister's Awards will be given to educators from across Canada. The recipients represent Canadian teaching excellence in a wide range of subjects at all grade levels, from preschool through secondary school. All are recognized as having developed innovative ways to teach — including groundbreaking uses of information and communication technologies — to enhance their teaching practices.

This year, 16 teachers will receive the Certificate of Excellence and 51 will receive the Certificate of Achievement. Early childhood educators will also be recognized: 10 will receive the Certificate of Excellence and 18 will receive the Certificate of Achievement.

The recipients also received special recognition from the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, at a national awards ceremony in Ottawa.

"Every Canadian has a special memory of a teacher who helped or inspired them to realize their potential," said the Prime Minister. "This award honours the talented and caring teachers in this country whose contribution to the lives of individual Canadians, and to Canada as a whole, is truly priceless."

The Prime Minister also expressed thanks to Microsoft Canada, Petro-Canada, RBC Foundation and Research In Motion Limited, the corporate partners of the Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence, for their continued generous support.

The Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education are funded through a partnership between Industry Canada, Human Resources and Social Development Canada, and Health Canada.

PMO Press Office: 613-957-5555
This document is also available at http://pm.gc.ca