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Excellence in education honoured South Slave school board presents annual awards
Paul Bickford
Northern News Services
Published Saturday, August 31, 2013
HAY RIVER
A Fort Smith teacher and Wood Buffalo National Park have been honoured for their outstanding efforts in education.
Wood Buffalo National Park received a partner in education award on Aug. 28 from the South Slave Divisional Education Council. Curtis Brown, right, the superintendent with the council, presented the award to the park's visitor experience manager Richard Zaidan, left, and superintendent Rob Kent. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo
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On Aug. 28, they were presented with the 2013 excellence in education awards by the South Slave Divisional Education Council (SSDEC) during a regional conference of educators in Hay River.
Marnie Villeneuve, a teacher at Paul William Kaeser High School, was named the winner of the program staff award.
"It's pretty overwhelming," said an honoured, surprised and emotional Villeneuve just after receiving the award. "It's huge to have other people see what you do."
She was born in northern B.C., but grew up in Fort Smith and received a teaching certificate at the Thebacha Campus of Aurora College. Villeneuve has been a teacher for 19 years.
"I do what I do because I'm passionate about my students," Villeneuve said. "I'm passionate about making the conditions for teachers better. I'm passionate about building relationships and partnerships."
In announcing the award, SSDEC superintendent Curtis Brown praised Villeneuve's many contributions to the field of education.
"This teacher has touched the hearts of many students throughout her career with the SSDEC," he said. "Her outgoing and kind ways, caring words and passion for helping others is a hallmark of her teaching and this has been recognized by others, friends and colleagues alike."
Villeneuve was also praised as a staunch supporter of northern and aboriginal education.
She was an influential member of the SSDEC's Homework and Study Skills Initiative and co-authored a handbook to help parents learn about the importance of homework.
Villeneuve also sits on the central executive of NWT Teachers' Association.
Wood Buffalo National Park received the partner in education award for its Sweetgrass Station Education and Outreach Program, which began in 2010.
"It's a unique partnering arrangement between Wood Buffalo National Park and the Fort Smith District Education Authority," said Brown in presenting the award. "During two consecutive four-day camps, a total of 50 to 60 students travel to Wood Buffalo National Park's Sweetgrass Station in the Peace-Athabasca Delta each year."
The journey involves travelling by bus and boat, followed by a 12-kilometre hike.
"This project offers students from communities around Wood Buffalo National Park a unique opportunity to have an authentic remote wilderness experience," Brown said. "Students unplug from the modern world for four days and learn two ways of knowing the world – the traditional knowledge way through the stories of local elders, and the ways of western science from their teachers and park staff. In the process, students learn about the natural richness of the park and the need for good stewardship for land and water."
Brown added the SSDEC is fortunate to have partners such as Parks Canada staff who are keen to work with dedicated teachers to provide the best possible learning experience for students.
Parks Canada is proud to receive the award, said Rob Kent, superintendent of Wood Buffalo National Park. "But we're also quite humbled with getting an award by the teaching fraternity because Sweetgrass started out with a connection with Fort Smith teachers that used to go down to Sweetgrass when they were young."
Kent said the program has had great success with students in grades 7 and 8 students from Fort Smith each September, and is now attracting interest from Fort Chipewyan and Fort McMurray in Alberta.
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