News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PRIME MINISTER'S AWARDS CELEBRATE EDUCATORS ‘HELPING TO SHAPE THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW’

December 5, 2006
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today announced the recipients of the 14th annual Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence and Excellence in Early Childhood Education.

“Today we celebrate the men and women whose commitment to excellence in education is helping to shape the Canadian leaders of tomorrow,” said the Prime Minister.

A total of 90 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, 17 teachers will receive the Certificate of Excellence and 54 will receive the Certificate of Achievement. Early childhood educators will also be recognized: 10 will receive the Certificate of Excellence and 15 will receive the Certificate of Achievement. All recipients will be recognized by their peers and/or their Members of Parliament at community events.

“Teaching is a special vocation. By imparting their knowledge and experience to the next generation, teachers are helping chart the destiny of our great country. Every Canadian has a special memory of a teacher who helped or inspired them to realize their potential. These awards recognize the efforts of those teachers who are playing such an important role in the intellectual and social development of our children,” said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister also expressed thanks to RBC Financial Group, the corporate partner of the Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence, for its 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.

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* Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=5&id=1437)

* Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education (http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?category=5&id=1440)

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The Prime Minister’s Office - Communications
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