Achievement Award/Award of Excellence

Resources > Awards

About the Award

The Achievement Award and Award of Excellence are presented by OPSBA through local boards to volunteers for outstanding, exemplary and/or unique contributions to the overall well-being of the school or community through in-school, board-wide, extra-curricular and/or volunteer activity. This award provides an opportunity to raise awareness and promote the importance of celebrating excellence and the necessity of recognizing the work of all members of the education community.

Up to four Achievement Awards will be awarded to individuals nominated from each OPSBA member board.

One recipient will be selected to receive OPSBA’s Award of Excellence from those nominated for the Achievement Award.  Each member board submitting nominations is asked to identify one of their nominees to be considered for the Award of Excellence.

Nomination Information Checklist

Outstanding, exemplary and/or unique contributions to the overall well-being of the school(s) or community(s) through in-school, board-wide, extra-curricular and/or volunteer work or contributions.

The award and process is intended to support and enhance the present individual member boards’ awards programs and at the same time raise the profile of the OPSBA awards program in the local boards, schools and communities. Each member board will decide whether or not to participate. Each participating board will call for nominations from within their own district area according to the above award criteria. Determination of the recipient is accomplished in conjunction with the local board’s awards selection committee(s) and process. OPSBA supplies the certificates, on request from the local boards, to a maximum of four.

Recipients

  • Award of Excellence

    Mehrdad Safizadeh, Simcoe County DSB

  • Award of Excellence
    Moffat Mankuto, Executive Director of the Regional Multicultural Youth Council, Lakehead DSB

    Achievement Award

    • Michele Gordon, Durham DSB
    • Andrew Gibson, Derek Doucet, and Jennifer Robertson, Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB
    • Jason Pilot, Rebecca Cross, Moffat Mankuto, and Destiny Linklater, Lakehead DSB
    • Deb Katyal, Gloria Wen, Shehla Kerim, and Gillian Cooper, Ottawa-Carleton DSB
    • Daniel Park and Vickram Bachan, Toronto DSB
    • Krista Patterson and Jennifer Eason, Trillium Lakelands DSB
    • Laura Gonzalez, Zeinab Jradi, Andi McKillop, and Pierce Casey, Thames Valley DSB

  • Achievement Award

    • Susan Neal, Forest Valley Elementary School, Ottawa-Carleton DSB
    • Phillip Rennison, Lisgar C.I., Ottawa-Carleton DSB
    • Sandra Pedersen, Bells Corners P.S., Ottawa-Carleton DSB
    • Andrew Jarabek, Bells Corners P.S., Ottawa-Carleton DSB
    • Natasha Klages, Chesley District Community School, Bluewater DSB
    • Marianne Stewart & the School and Family Health Team, Lakehead DSB
    • Nolan Steen Tutoring Services, Hastings and Prince Edward DSB
    • Frank Lew, Greenbank Public School, Durham DSB
    • Phouvieng Sackda, Zion Heights Middle School, Toronto DSB
    • Laurie Vonk, Victoria Terrace P.S., Upper Grand DSB
    • Gary Adduono, Terrace Bay Public Elementary School, Superior Greenstone DSB
    • Romana Siddiqui, Parent Involvement Committee, Peel DSB
    • Ranil Mendis, Ontario Schools Cricket Association, Peel DSB

  • Award of Excellence
    Erin Kahkonen, President, Gorham and Ware Home and School Association, Lakehead DSB

    Achievement Award

    • Chris and Robin Cooper, Algoma DSB
    • Elizabeth Carlton, Bluewater DSB
    • Aline Saleem, Durham DSB
    • Stephen Crowther, Durham DSB
    • Carolynn McCarron, Durham DSB
    • Stephanie Vesey, Durham DSB
    • Rihanna Harris, Hastings and Prince Edward DSB
    • Carl Creatchman, Hamilton-Wentworth DSB
    • Pamela Spragg, Hamilton-Wentworth DSB
    • Brenda Gardiner, Hamilton-Wentworth DSB
    • Alison Lyver, Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB
    • Sheri Meiklejohn, Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB
    • Patti Freeburn, Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB
    • Constance Hodson, Principal, Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB
    • Dawn Magee, Keewatin-Patricia DSB
    • Fergus Penner, Keewatin-Patricia DSB
    • Cecile Marcino, Keewatin-Patricia DSB
    • Erin Kahkonen, Lakehead DSB
    • Dan Hendry, Limestone DSB
    • Louri Snider, Limestone DSB
    • Anne McCrank, Near North DSB
    • Angela Ayeni, Peel DSB
    • Tracy Alli, Peel DSB
    • Caroline Alli, Early Childhood Educator, Peel DSB
    • Yonnette Dey, Peel DSB
    • Patrika Daws, Peel DSB
    • Mr. Hutchins, Simcoe County DSB
    • Christopher Klassen, Simcoe County DSB
    • Mona Parsram, Simcoe County DSB
    • Jonathan Carr, York Region DSB

  • Award of Excellence
    Tanya Moses                                                                                     Alternative Secondary School Support Worker, Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre, Lakehead DSB
    Achievement Award
    Tanya Moses                                                                                     Alternative Secondary School Support Worker, Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre, Lakehead DSB
    Steve Shonosky                                                                                 Volleyball Coach, Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Lakehead DSB
    Wilma Kleynendorst                                                                        Member, Dilico Anishinabek Family Care Representative, Special Education Advisory Committee, Lakehead DSB

  • Award of Excellence
    Sandra Binns Parent Representative, Canadian Home and School Federation, Parent Involvement Committee, Hamilton-Wentworth DSB
    Achievement Award
    Colleen Kappel Superintendent of Education, Lakehead DSB
    Liz Tod Chair, SEAC, Lakehead DSB
    Christopher Gamble Special Education Teacher, Hamilton-Wentworth DSB
    Sandra Binns Volunteer, Hamilton-Wentworth DSB
    Rita Goverde Child and Youth Worker, York Region DSB

  • Award of Excellence
    Jennifer Davis Parent Representative, Crestview PS, Lakehead DSB
    Achievement Award
    Jennifer Davis
    Mike Otway Committee Member, Special Education Advisory Committee, Lakehead DSB
    Gerry Martin Aboriginal Education Advisory Committee, Lakehead DSB
    Karen Untinen Student Support Professional, C.D. Howe Public School, Lakehead DSB
    Patricia Cameron Educational Assistant, Cadarackque Public School, Durham DSB
    Katherine Leverette Chair, Limestone Learning Foundation, Limestone DSB
    Smeera Mash-Hadi Educational Assistant, ADH, Richmond Hill High School, York Region DSB

  • Award of Excellence
    Eileen Haven Executive Secretary, Lakehead DSB
    Achievement Award
    Martha McLelland Parent volunteer, Agnew H. Johnston Public School, Lakehead DSB
    Sheila Marcinyshyn Volunteer and SEAC Member, Lakehead DSB
    Kelly Matyasovszky Volunteer and SEAC Co-Chair, Valley Central Public School, Lakehead DSB
    Eileen Haven

  • Felicia Waboose Elder, Lakehead DSB
    Laura Shannon Breakfast Club Supervisor, Algonquin Avenue PS, Lakehead DSB
    Lyndy Stajkowski Chair, School Community Association, Valley Central School, Lakehead DSB

  • Paul Amano Volunteer, Lakehead DSB
    Elizabeth Andros Lakehead DSB

  • Robert McKay Resource Member of the Aboriginal Education Advisory Committee, Lakehead DSB
    Sue Peever Volunteer, Lakehead DSB
    Suzanne Tardif Parent Representative on the Aboriginal Education Advisory Committee, Lakehead DSB

  • Catherine Soplet Parent Volunteer and Champion, Peel DSB
    Laura Sylvestre Chair of the Special Education Advisory Committee, Lakehead DSB
    Carlos Santander Maturana Educational Assistant, Westgate Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Lakehead DSB

  • Serena Essex Aboriginal Family Support Worker – Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre, Parent/Guardian Member of Aboriginal Advisory Committee, Lakehead DSB
    Sylvia Coral O’Meara Parent/Guardian Member of the Aboriginal EducationAdvisory Committee, Lakehead DSB

  • Wayne Evans Custodian II, Hammarskjold High School – Lakehead DSB
    Gail I Wanonkiw
    Terry Olmstead

  • Dolores Wawia Teaching Professor – Lakehead University, Co-Chair of Aboriginal Education Advisory Committee – Lakehead DSB
    Sheila Poulin Cafeteria Manager – Sir Winston Churchill C. &. V. I.
    – Lakehead DSB

  • Barbara Hepburn Child & Youth Worker – C.R. Gummow Public School
    – Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB
    Barb Sully Volunteer – Dr. Emily Stowe Public School
    – Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB
    Kate Tinkler Educational Assistant – Crestview Public School – Lakehead DSB
    Michael Young Donator & Alumni – Sir Winston Churchill C. & V. I. – Lakehead DSB

  • Ron Kanutski Social Worker – Cultural Coordinator for New Experiences Program – Children’s Centre, Thunder Bay – Lakehead DSB

  • Margaret How Volunteer – Kingfisher Lake Outdoor Education Centre
    – Lakehead DSB

  • Joyce Beauchamp Volunteer – Wanup Public School – Rainbow DSB

  • Mirka Orde Volunteer – Greensville School Council
    – Hamilton-Wentworth DSB

  • Karen Warner Volunteer – Youth Outreach, United Way, Toronto
    – Toronto DSB

  • Elizabeth Ann Smith Volunteer – Carleton Place H.S. – Upper Canada DSB