December 29, 2023 – In a call to celebrate the unsung heroes of education, the Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence is now accepting nominations for exceptional teachers who’ve gone above and beyond in shaping the minds of the next generation.

In a heartfelt nod to the educators who light up classrooms and shape young minds, the Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence is rolling out the red carpet for nominations in its landmark 25th year. This is your chance to shine a spotlight on the outstanding teachers who go the extra mile, making a lasting impact on students and communities.

Two Categories

The awards come in two flavors – The Prime Minister’s Awards for Teaching Excellence and Teaching Excellence in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and The Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education. Both categories seek to honor those educators who’ve left an indelible mark on the lives of their students.

25 Years of Inspirational Educators

Since 1994, the Prime Minister’s Awards have been celebrating over 1,800 exceptional educators. This year marks the 25th anniversary, and the program continues to recognize those who bring passion, innovation, and commitment to the world of teaching.

The ‘Excellence in Early Childhood Education’ category have recognized outstanding early childhood educators since 2002, with over 300 educators honoured to date.

What’s Up for Grabs

In the Teaching Excellence category, up to 10 Certificates of Excellence and up to 25 Certificates of Achievement are on the line. Meanwhile, in the STEM category, up to 2 Certificates of Excellence and up to 15 Certificates of Achievement will be bestowed upon deserving recipients.

Recipients of the award receive the following a certificate from the Prime Minister, promotion of their best teaching practices, and national recognition for their contribution to teaching excellence and helping to prepare their students for success.

A Peek into the Classroom

Ever wonder how these awards impact educators? Take it from past recipients in a recently released video celebrating 25 years of excellence. According to Cheri Smith, a 1994 recipient, it was “affirmation that what I was doing already was right, looking at teaching as my identity and not my job.” Nicole Anthony, a 2018 recipient, found the award to be a great honor and a motivating force to keep working hard for her students.

Lionel Sandner, one of the first recipient of the awards in 1994 said, “The interesting thing with the Prime Minister’s teaching award is it gives everyone in your community a chance to celebrate. Everyone is happy.” And that can be true from the comments of their students.

“It’s the best thing that’s happened to the best teacher” one student said upon learning of their teacher’s win. “I love Mr. Gauvreau because he encourages us to succeed and give our best,” another female student said. “If I were to describe Mr. Martin in three words, it would be great, cool and pretty funny … well, very funny.”

Sadner, reflected on the awards: “I think if I had someone ask me what it meant to win the Prime Minister’s Teaching award 25 years later, I would say to them it’s a great experience and it just opens up so many doors and gives you opportunities that you don’t even know exist out there at this particular moment.”

How to Get Involved

Know an outstanding teacher? Nominate them! The process is simple – visit the official Prime Minister’s Awards website for forms and guidelines. It’s your chance to honor the educators who make a difference every day.

Save the Date

The deadline for nominations is January 11, 2024. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate those who make a significant impact on education and the future of our nation.

Jean Chrétien, the 20th prime minister of Canada from 1993 to 2003.

In the words of former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, “For all the winners, I want to tell you that you’ve made a great contribution to your country.” Join in celebrating the incredible educators who shape the future leaders of tomorrow.