Nominations are open for the annual WCDSB “Distinguished Graduate Award”“Community Partner Award” and “Chair’s Award”. Information about the awards (including the Distinguished Graduate Award nomination form) is available HERE. There are no nomination forms for the Community Partner and Chair’s Awards.

If you wish to make a nomination in any of the categories, please submit your rationale in writing along with any supporting documentation you feel appropriate, to Alice Figueiredo by Friday, March 31, 2023. Hard copy or emailed nominations are equally acceptable. Alice can be reached via email at alice.figueiredo@wcdsb.ca.

Chair’s Award

The Chair’s Award is presented to a person (or group of people) in the school system who has contributed significantly to Catholic Education. It is given annually in recognition of outstanding contributions made in serving the students, staff and greater community of Waterloo Region and/or to the betterment of Catholic Education in Ontario in general.

If you submitted a nominee in prior years and wish to have the individual nominated again, please resubmit your application.

Recipients

  • 2022 – Jamie Metcalf
  • 2021 – John Dietrich
  • 2020 – Paul Cox
  • 2019 – Mary Jo O’Brien
  • 2018 – Tom Denomme
  • 2017 – Glenda Leusink
  • 2016 – Nancy Sabo
  • 2015 – Joni Grundy
  • 2014 – Marianna Worth
  • 2013 – Michelle Flood and Mary Stevens
  • 2012 – Bruce Cameron
  • 2011 – Gai Brown
  • 2010 – Theresa Horan
  • 2009 – Jeannie McCarroll
  • 2008 – Angela Davis
  • 2007 – Thomas Forestell, Mervyn J. Villemaire, Charles Van Alphen
  • 2006 – Deb Zettel-Schmitt
  • 2005 – Allan Hoch, Jennifer Rodrigues, Louise Ervin
  • 2004 – Gary Leduc
  • 2003 – Pat Brannigan, Michael Schmitt
  • 2002 – School Sisters of Notre Dame / Sisters of St. Joseph
  • 2001 – Dave Schnarr, Bill Brazeau, Pat Cannon, Warren Grafton, Horst Schweinbenz
  • 2000 – Fr. Fred Scinto, C.R.
  • 1999 – Ann O’Donnell-Beckwith
  • 1998 – Bob Anderson

Community Partner Award

The Community Partner Award is presented annually in recognition of outstanding contributions made to Waterloo Region’s Catholic Schools by a community partner or agency serving the students, staff and greater community of Waterloo Region.

If you submitted a nominee in prior years and wish to have the individual nominated again, please resubmit your application.

Recipients

  • 2022 – Mental Health and Addiction Nurse Program
  • 2021 – St. Mary Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows Roman Catholic Church
  • 2020 – Sister Servants of Mary Immaculate
  • 2019 – Langs Community Health and Wellness Centre
  • 2018 – St. Vincent de Paul Store (Cambridge)
  • 2017 – Settlement and Education Partnership of Waterloo Region2015 — Waterloo Region Suicide Prevention Council
  • 2016 – Conestoga College
  • 2014 – Strong Start Charitable Organization
  • 2013 – Barrday Inc.
  • 2012 – Junior Achievement of Waterloo Region
  • 2011 – Nutrition for Learning
  • 2010 – Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada
  • 2009 – Rex Barger
  • 2008 – Reid’s Heritage Homes
  • 2007 – Congregation of the Resurrection in Waterloo Region
  • 2006 – Region of Waterloo Public Health
  • 2005 – Waterloo Region Catholic Schools Foundation
  • 2004 – St. Jerome’s University
  • 2003 – Waterloo Regional Police Service
  • 2002 – Catholic Family Counselling
  • 2001 – Waterloo Region Catholic Community Foundation

Distinguished Graduate Award

The Distinguished Graduate Award was established in 2005 under the Board’s “Celebration of Excellence” policy. It is presented annually to a graduate of 10 or more years from Waterloo Region’s Catholic Schools who has provided an outstanding example of the Ontario Catholic School Graduate Expectations in action. The award is presented at the graduation exercises of the recipient’s Secondary School or another appropriate public venue.

If you submitted a nominee in prior years and wish to have the individual nominated again, please resubmit your application. Nominations will be retained for 3 years.  This does not preclude anyone from being re-nominated in any given year.

Nomination Form

Recipients

  • 2022 – Tom Galloway, former WCDSB Trustee and Region of Waterloo Councillor
  • 2021 – Dr. Laura Shoemaker, former Superintendent of Learning, WCDSB
  • 2020 – Michael Dopp, author and founder of Mission of the Redeemer Ministries
  • 2019 – Richard Hepditch, Chief, Waterloo Fire Rescue
  • 2018 – Paul Heinbecker, former Canadian Ambassador to the United Nations
  • 2017 – Most Reverend Bishop Daniel Meihm, Bishop of Peterborough
  • 2016 – Michael Schmitt, Former WCDSB teacher, Principal, Superintendent & Director of Education
  • 2015 – Douglas Letson, C.M., Former President & Vice-Chancellor, St. Jerome’s University
  • 2014 – Katherine Bergman, President & Vice-Chancellor, St. Jerome’s University
  • 2013 – Mary Jo Fedy, Managing Partner, KPMG — Waterloo
  • 2012 – Toby Collins, C.R., Vocation Director for the Congregation of the Resurrection
  • 2011 – Teacher / missionary Sister Barbara Paleczny, SSND
  • 2010 – David Eby, Executive Director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association – and current Premier of British Columbia
  • 2009 – Paul Voisin, C.R., Vicar General of the Diocese of Hamilton (Bermuda)
  • 2008 – Former Ontario cabinet minister – and current Wilfrid Laurier University Professor — Dr. John Milloy
  • 2007 – Lisa LaFlamme, Anchor – CTV National News with Lisa LaFlamme
  • 2006 – University of Waterloo professor Brian Orend
  • 2005 – Ontario Superior Court Justice Patrick J. Flynn