Everyday Heroes Awards – Previous Years

There are many people throughout the Upper Grand District School Board who go out of their way, every day, to help provide a positive learning and working environment for our students and staff.

To recognize these unsung achievers the Trustees of the Board established an award of excellence — the Everyday Hero Award.

Congratulations to our 2020-2021 Everyday Heroes

• Amanda Dawson, Volunteer/Morning Greeter, Mitchell Woods PS
• CDDHS Black Chapter Student Group (Mya, Harshreet, Shania, Janine, Torya, Ashanti, Danielle-Nustrat, Jahmeil, Michael, Mercedez, Addison, Azaria, Deana, Jaden, Ranjit, Alexis, Myrissa, Tiara, Jeniah, Aminah, Doreen, Devaun, Janique, Divita, Shereka, Selena, Jahniya, Rayna, Ashana, Gabrielle, Asonya, Britney, Holly), Students, Centre Dufferin DHS
• Elementary Remote School Administration Team (Mike Anderson, Alan Gouk, Jen Apgar, Blayne Primeau, Emma Reay, Amy Cliff, Nia Pommier and Elise Benallick. Part time Vice Principals: Kristen Alie, Keith Coutu, Theresa Darroch, Shawn Henderson, Hayley Holm, Jackie Irwin and Deanne Prins), Staff team
• Garry Willfang, Bus Driver, Ponsonby
• Grace and Mark Evans, Volunteers/Breakfast Coordinators, Guelph CVI
• Katelyn Charbonneau, Child and Youth Counsellor, Centennial Hylands ES and Primrose ES
• Leigha Turner, Teacher, Orangeville District SS
• Ross Watson, Teacher, Erin DHS
• Tammy Grieco, Educational Assistant, College Heights SS
• The Den Life Skills class (Dave Griffiths, Greg Senyshyn, Karl Baber, Heather Reed, Christine Chambers, Dorothy Dunbar, Kim Uhrig, Joanne Parish, Brinley, Austin, Nicholas, Alex, Eric, Justin, Pierce and Landon), Staff and students, Wellington Heights SS
• Tim King, Teacher, Centre Wellington DHS
• UGDSB Health and Safety Team (Nancy Culham, Natalie Ford, Melissa Cranley, Alison Kay), Staff team
• UGDSB Payroll Department (Sherry Pirico, Lange Frosst, Krista McNaught, Amy Carter), Staff team

Everyday Hero Awards – Past Recipients

2019-2020

• 3D Printing Team (Rhys Bennett, Charles Benyair, Jason Boyce, Michelle Brady, Jack Cox, Leonard Guchardi, Scott Harris, Tim Neal, Frances Norlen, Justin Novikow, Chris Priester, Ruth Tanner, Monique Van Item and Breanne Williamson), UGDSB staff, multiple locations and one student
• Joël Georges, Teacher, King George PS
• Kerry Halliday, Skills Upgrading Program, Wellington Centre for Continuing Education
• Carissa Marquardt, Head Caretaker, Waverley Drive PS
• Miguel Martin, Volunteer, Erin DHS
• Ben McCabe, Teacher, Wellington Heights SS
• Beth McEwen, Teacher Librarian, John McCrae PS
• Barb McPhee, Community Partner
• Bonnie Sears, Teacher, Willow Road PS

2018-2019

• Arthur Second Look, Community Group, Arthur
• Lenora Banfield, Educational Assistant, Erin PS
• Ryan Buhrow, Enterprise Systems Engineer, UGDSB Guelph Board Office
• Paul Carbone, Head Caretaker, Westminster Woods PS
• Renee Cox, Nicole Leclair, Adam Lucko, Mark Wilson, Teachers, Westside SS
• Amanda Fergus-Moore, Office Coordinator, Centre Peel PS
• Karen Hayhurst, Teacher, Sir Isaac Brock PS
• Donna Henderson, Occasional Teacher, multiple schools in Dufferin County
• Paul Metzger, Head Caretaker, Norwell DSS
• Melissa Mulligan, Volunteer, John Black PS
• Linda Reaburn, Volunteer, Norwell DSS

2017-2018

• Lisa Benham, Head Custodian, Centre Dufferin District High School
• Brant Avenue PS Running & Reading Volunteer Team, staff and volunteers, Brant Avenue PS
• Al Brown, volunteer, Rockwood Centennial PS and Ottawa Crescent PS
• Colinda Clyne, Curriculum Lead for First Nations, Métis, Inuit Education, UGDSB
• Geff Emslie, Educational Assistant, Norwell District Secondary School
• Noah Irvine, student, Guelph CVI
• Dottie Petersen, volunteer & EA, Orangeville DSS
• Primrose ES EcoMoms (Nicole Hambleton, Kelly French, Megan Taylor, Jennifer Payne), volunteers, Primrose ES
• Julie Richer, Teacher-Librarian, Paisley Road PS
• Salem PS Kindergarten Team (Tessa Heffernan, Holly Diljee, Trudy Matusinec, Kindergarten A Class), staff and students, Salem PS
• Millar Weddig, student, Sir Isaac Brock PS

2016-2017

• Tara Armstrong, Volunteer, Victoria Terrace Public School
• Ron Berti, Audio Visual Support, Guelph Board Office / UGDSB
• Della Broderick, Office Coordinator, Kortright Hills Public School
• Lynn Clack, Volunteer, Rockwood Centennial Public School
• Jonathan Fischer, Michael Fischer, Dave Forestell, and Mike Martin, Staff and community members, John Galt Public School / UGDSB
• Dorothy Fleming and Barb McNaughton, Volunteers, Parkinson Centennial Public School
• Darryl Kirkland, Former Principal, Orangeville District Secondary School
• Julie McNevin, Education Programmer, Dufferin County Museum & Archives
• Melissa Norrish, Leslie Newman and the staff of John McCrae PS, Staff, John McCrae Public School
• Kim Sonnet, Child and Youth Counsellor, Centre Wellington District High School
• Steven Wing, Provincial Constable (OPP), Norwell District Secondary School

2015-2016

• Aaron Duncan and Heather Walker, Teachers, Rickson Ridge Public School
• Jen Edwards, Volunteer, Erin Public School
• Fred Hoffman, Volunteer, board-wide
• Michelle Kearley, John Rawson, Leta Vos, Kathleen Dropka, Pam Mundy, Erin Leslie, Starlene Steiner, UGDSB Special Olympics Committee, various locations
• Tina Meissner, Volunteer, Ponsonby Public School
• Nicole Patton, Volunteer, Primrose Elementary School
• Chad Reay, Elementary Curriculum Leader, Grant Evans Education Centre
• Patti Schopp, Educational Assistant, Waverley Drive Public School
• Nancy Turner, Volunteer, Credit Meadows Elementary School
• Mark Yanchus, Teacher, John F. Ross CVI

2014-2015

• ConnectHEAR, an initiative for students with hearing loss, coordinated by Trudy Counter, Coordinator of Communication, Language and Speech Services, Sonya White and Stacey Giffen, Itinerant Teachers of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Ashley Champ, Speech-Language Pathologist and Lesley Anne Jordan, Special Education Consultant – Orangeville Board Office
• Sheila Parker, Manager of Budget and Financial Reporting, Guelph Board Office
• Cheryl VanOoteghem, Principal of Program, Orangeville Board Office
• Alana Lefebvre, Coordinator of Nutrition Program, Rockwood Centennial PS
• Deb Kortleve, Teacher, Erin District High School, various locations
• Philip Hinton, Crossing Guard, École Harris Mill and Rockwood Centennial PS
• Andy Speers, Teacher, Drayton Heights PS
• Lois and Matthew Metzger, Volunteers, Drayton Heights PS
• Angie Tersigni, Volunteer, Gateway Drive PS
• Neil Blair, Volunteer, Guelph Collegiate and Vocational Institute

2013-2014

• Shawna Brailsford, ECE, Laurelwoods ES, Amaranth
• The Sullivan Family – Andrew, Catherine and sons Sam, Jack and Ben, school volunteers, Westwood PS, Guelph
• Renate Smith, OC, and Kathy Dalziel, Nicole Hammond-Breese, Rhonda Alaire and Kristy Shellhorn, parent volunteers, Brant Avenue PS, Guelph
• Jessica Rowden, teacher, Wellington Heights SS, Mount Forest
• Alison Moutrey and Trish Tworeck, EAs, East Garafraxa PS
• Martha MacNeil, Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) Co-chair and parent volunteer at Victory PS, Guelph
• Trevolyn Louttet, EA for English Language Learners, Mitchell Woods PS, Guelph
• Deb Drake, parent volunteer, Rockwood Centennial PS
• Kathy Cunningham, EA, Elora PS

2012-2013

• Jane Beaudoin, School Council Chair, Salem PS
• Tara Bernard-McCabe, Child and Youth Counsellor, Hyland Heights ES
• Tony Bier and John Jantunen, Volunteers, Central PS
• Bill Bradford, Rob Scott, Steve Stewart and Erik Zeidler, Teachers and Boys Hockey Coaches, Centre Dufferin DHS
• Beth Burrows and Tracey Caswell, Reading Buddy Coordinators, Westwood PS
• Nicole DeBeyer, Teacher, Centre Wellington DHS
• Cathy Dykstra, Teacher, Erin PS
• Kay Elford, Parent Head of Music Council, Guelph CVI
• Marg Finlayson, Special Education Consultant, Program Department, UGDSB
• Joan Greenwood, Crossing Guard, Montgomery Village ES
• Brenda Jongkind, Administrative Office Assistant, Wellington Heights SS
• Sharon Michael, Volunteer, Lunch Hour Supervisor, Reading Tutor, Breakfast and Lunch Coordinator, Ross R. MacKay PS
• Jane Ormond, Special Education Resource Teacher, Taylor Evans PS
• Brenda Sherry, Technology Coach, Program Department UGDSB
• Tyson Smith, Teacher and Coach of Girls’ Curling Team, Norwell DSS
• Brigitte von Neiderhausern, Custodian, Centre Wellington DHS

2011-2012

• Ann Charles, Principal, Eramosa Public School
• Connie Tipling, Custodian, Centre Dufferin DHS
• Tracy Muller, Teacher, Sir Isaac Brock Public School
• Mike Albano, Manager, Field Services, Internet Technology, Guelph Board Office
• Steve Sherry, Drama Teacher, Erin District High School
• Jeff Yanchus,Teacher/Coach, John F. Ross Collegiate and Vocational Institute
• Debbie Bird, Lunchroom Supervisor/Reading Tutor, Parkinson Centennial Public School
• Janet Ross, Volunteer, Headwaters, Centennial Collegiate and Vocational School
• Linda Ghent, Educational Assistant, J. D. Hogarth Public School
• Cheryl Baber, Brisbane Public School
• Erin Parent Connection, Rose Wyer-Keller, Bridget Ryan, Andrea Cuthbert, Monique Fisher-Anderson, Suzanne Allen, Jennifer Cuthbertson, Linda Campbell, Janice Burt

2010-2011

• Laura Bolton, Reading Tutor, Central Public School, Guelph
• Joan Borden and Ken Topping, Coordinators, Artists in the Schools, Dufferin County
• Dr. John and Mrs. Alice Russell, Volunteers, Princess Margaret Public School, Orangeville
• Wendy Carter, Coordinator, Dufferin Youth Festival of the Arts, Dufferin County
• Anne de Bruin, Volunteer, Montgomery Village Public School, Orangeville
• Mark Howlett, Caretaker and Volunteer, Centre Wellington District High School, Fergus
• Barbara Hug, Reading Tutor, Lunchroom Supervisor and Volunteer, Rickson Ridge Public School, Guelph
• Monica Muckinfuss, Teacher, Orangeville District Secondary School
• Kit Stewart, Reading Tutor, Lunchroom Supervisor, After School Numeracy and Volunteer, Hyland Heights Elementary School, Shelburne
• Johanna Weissenborn, Teacher and Science Department Head, Centennial Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Guelph

2009-2010

• Albert Boutin and David Duke, Teachers, College Heights SS and Willow Road PS, Guelph
• Elise Dandy, School Volunteer, J. D. Hogarth PS, Fergus
• Lynne Flewwelling, School Council Chair, Maryborough PS, Moorefield
• Sarah Garrett, Teacher, King George PS, Guelph
• April King and Mike Parsons, Teachers, Centennial CVI, Guelph
• Andrea Kretz, Teacher, John F. Ross CVI, Guelph
• Meghan Lowry-Freitag, Teacher, Centennial CVI, Guelph
• Jane Rocher, Teacher, Paisley Road PS, Guelph
• Ian Turner, Teacher, Wellington Heights SS, Mount Forest
• Kathryn Cooper, Parent Volunteer and the Parents of the “Hawk goes Green” Project, Ross. R. MacKay PS, Hillsburgh

2008-2009

• Jean Truex and Maggie Whittaker, 1-2-3 Go Program Teachers, Tytler Public School, Guelph
• Lorrie Hopf, Office Coordinator, James McQueen PS, Fergus
• James Ball and Mary Yanchus, Teachers, John F. Ross CVI, Guelph
• Jeannette French, Teacher, Centennial Hylands ES, Shelburne
• Catherine Nelson, Teacher, Centennial, CVI, Guelph
• Bonnie Henderson, Volunteer, Mono and Amaranth PS, Orangeville
• Gillian Stevens, Teacher, Centre Wellington DHS, Fergus
• Geoffrey Collins, Volunteer, Centennial CVI
• Dale Jones, Volunteer, Ross R. McKay PS, Hillsburgh
• Sherry Harris, Caretaker, Primrose PS, Shelburne
• Mary Lynne Simpson, Co-op Recall Teacher, UGDSB
• Mike Anderson, Curriculum Leader, UGDSB

2007-2008

• Liz McMillan, Child and Youth Counsellor, Erin Public School
• Larry Lacey, Principal, Ponsonby Public School
• Carla Warnholtz, Library and Music Teacher, Westwood Public School, Guelph
• Melissa McDowall, Student Success Teacher, Guelph Collegiate V.I.
• Nelson Keane, Principal, Paisley Road Public School, Guelph
• Liz LeBrun, Teacher (Aspergers Program), Kortright Hills Public School, Guelph
• Janice McPherson, Educational Assistant, Princess Margaret Public School, Orangeville
• The staff of Room #1 at Victoria Terrace Public School, Fergus: Lori Hintermeister, Teacher and Elaine Smith, Sue Benham, Donna Woods, Lisa Dietrich, Normajean Diefenbaker, Sandy Lies, Karen MacPherson-Clark, Stacy Claxton, Debbie McManus, Educational Assistants
• Debi Browning, Grant Browning and Mel Williamson, Community Education and Leadership (CELP) Teachers and Bus Driver, Norwell District S.S., Palmerson
• Valerie Jonker and Josee Prieto-Stellings, Parent Volunteers, Ross. R. McKay Public School, Hillsburgh S
• Susan Milson, Executive Assistant to Superintendent David Euale (Secondary Schools and Student Success), Guelph Board Office
• Leigh Suffern, Math Teacher, Centre Dufferin D.H.S., Shelburne