Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute teacher Dan Tremblay and Principal Ewen McIntosh were recognized by the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) as part of an award ceremony celebrating the board’s outstanding employees.
On Monday, June 10, the UCDSB handed out awards across four different categories at its annual Board Celebration Evening at North Grenville District High Schoo. Thirty-six different UCDSB employees were recognized over the course of the night with either a Service Excellence Award, Ontario Principal’s Award of Character, the Trustee Innovation Award or the Director’s Red Apple Award
Of those awarded, two came from Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute.
Physical Education teacher Dan Tremblay was given a Trustee Innovation Award for his efforts in promoting physical and mental health among both the staff and students. Tremblay was lauded for his efforts to improved student participation in lifelong fitness by implementing new and unconventional extracurricular activities like Ultimate Frisbee, Arm Wrestling, and CrossFit, appealing to those who don’t usually join traditional sports teams.
Tremblay spearheaded the first eastern regional CrossFit « Throwdown » Competition at VCI, which brought together 100 students from nine regional schools. The bilingual event emphasized individual goal setting and inclusivity.
VCI Principal Ewen McIntosh was also awarded a Trustee Innovation Award as part of a group of teachers and administrators involved in the Reading and Writing Strategies pilot course. McIntosh and eight others from across the UCDSB worked collaboratively and ran the program aimed at Grade 9 students who needed to boost their reading skills. The team implemented high-impact instructional practices and met monthly to create a UCDSB-wide learning community.
Ultimately, the program led to significant improvements in students’ reading abilities and confidence, with both students and parents “reporting positive outcomes.
