Prime Minister Honours 'Heroes' in Education

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced the 1998 national level winners of the Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence (PMA).

"The teachers we honour today are true heroes," said the Prime Minister. "Because they have inspired a love of learning in their students, a gift that will stay with them the rest of their lives. They have helped open doors of opportunity that might have been closed and helped set young Canadians on the path to a successful future."

Nineteen teachers from across Canada received Certificates of Excellence from the Prime Minister for their outstanding work with Canadian students. This year's PMA recipients have helped turn around "at risk" kids, bridged gaps to learning and used information technology and other tools to connect with students.

The Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence are enriched through partnerships between Industry Canada, Bell Canada, GE Canada, Kraft Canada and the Royal Bank Financial Group. Industry Minister John Manley, Secretary of State (Science, Research and Development and Western Economic Diversification) Ron Duhamel and senior corporate partner representatives joined the Prime Minister to celebrate the achievements of these outstanding Canadian teachers.

"Whether music or mathematics, science or creative writing, I am very impressed with the innovative ways in which these teachers have used information technology to improve student learning," said Minister Manley. "Industry Canada is committed to helping make Canada the most connected country in the world. This process starts in the classroom with educators like the ones we honour today."

A total of 67 awards were announced (15 Excellence and 52 Achievement), some of which went to teaching teams, for a total of 79 individual award recipients. Awards are worth $5,000 for the Certificate of Excellence and $1,000 for the Certificate of Achievement. Funds are given to teachers' schools to be spent under the direction of the award recipient.

For more details, please contact the PMA Program Office at: 1-800-575-9200 or visit the PMA Web site at www.schoolnet.ca.

PMO Press Office: (613) 957-5555

Industry Canada: (613) 998-7168