Awards of Excellence
Each year, we recognize outstanding educators for their commitment to critical thinking. The Certificate of Achievement in Critical Thinking Award (Class ACT), the Karen LaRone Hidden Hero Award, and the L.B. Daniels Award all underscore the efforts being made to promote critical thinking in schools across Canada and abroad.
Nominees must be submitted by May 1st of each year to be considered in time for The Critical Thinking Consortium’s Annual General Meeting in June when awards are announced. See below for details about each award and how to submit a nomination.
The Certificate of Achievement in Critical Thinking Award (Class ACT)
In recognition of educators who have embraced the TC² framework to nurture and enhance critical thinking in students and colleagues.
All educators (teachers, instructional coaches, consultants, school administrators, superintendents, and directors) are eligible based on the following criteria:
- Embedding into practice TC²’s approach to nurturing high quality thinking
- Supporting colleagues in adopting a thinking approach using the TC² framework and TC² resources
- Demonstrating notable success in nurturing high quality thinking with students and/or colleagues
To nominate a candidate for the Class ACT Award, please complete the online nomination form.
2024
- Bill Baum, Chinook High School, Lethbridge School Division, AB
- Carey Smith-Dewey, Darcey French, Michele McGrath, Michael Faught, and Ingrid Gross, Algonquin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, ON
- Ethan Bishop, Pickering College, ON
- Janine Fraser and Megan Sloik, Portage la Prairie School Division, MB
- Patricia Lawrence, Rachel Vukelich, and Stephanie Haak, Holy Trinity Catholic High School, Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, ON
2023
- Dan Thompson, Pickering College, ON
- Avani Patel, Bayview Hill Elementary School, York Region District School Board, ON
- Maureen McGrath, Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, ON
- Cayley Ermter, Laura Cox, Sarrah Johnstone, Dani Sorenson, Jenelee Jones, Marlene Vazquez & Dani Sever, Calgary Girls Charter School, AB
- Shelley Warkentin & Matt Henderson, Seven Oaks School Division, MB
- Phil Schroeder, St. Johnsbury Academy Jeju, Republic of Korea
- John Bock, Interlake School Division, MB
2022
- Christine Giesbrecht & Katharine Shipley, Vancouver School Board, BC
- Francine Glube-Schwartz, Denlow Public School, Toronto District School Board, ON
- Lori McCaw & Greg Farrell, Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board, ON
- Scott Sackett, Crowther Memorial Junior High School, Golden Hills School District, AB
- Tania Trottier, George O’Neill Public School, Superior-Greenstone District School Board, ON
2021
- Amanda Paakkunainen & Brandy Robbins, George O’Neill Public School, Superior-Greenstone District School Board, ON
- Kent Pearce, Natalie Tsui, Derek Goffe & Jacqueline Sandercock, Maple High School, York Region District School Board, ON
- Kate Charette, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, NB
- Craig Findlay, Winston Churchill High School, Lethbridge School Division, AB
2020
- Amy Yeung & Zorica Prekajski, George Harvey Secondary School, Toronto District School Board, ON
- Donita Duplisea, Erica Brocco & Michael Storey, Holy Trinity School, Richmond Hill, ON
- Chantal Van Santen, Katzie Elementary School, Surrey School District, BC
- Dana Jordan & Sean Giesbrecht, Pembina Trails School Division, MB
Head of the Class:
- Teresa Rogers, Linden Meadows School, Pembina Trails School Division, MB
- Pino Buffone, Renfrew County District School Board, Pembroke, ON
- Marni MacDonald, District School Board of Niagara, St. Catharines, ON
- France Goulard, Conseil des ecoles catholiques du Centre, Ottawa, ON
- Teresa Belisle, International School of Prague, Czech Republic
- Jocelynn Foxon, Pine Creek School Division, Gladstone, MB
- Monica Biggar, Seine River School Division, Lorette, MB
2019
- Sarah Demarco, Pickering College, Newmarket, ON
- Jessie Claudio, Vancouver Talmud Torah, BC
- Kellie Wrigley, George O’Neill Public School, Superior-Greenstone District School Board, ON
2018
- Cindy Sawyer, St. Mary’s College, HSCDSB, Sault Ste. Marie ON
- Jenny Mulligan, Synergy Academies, Los Angeles CA
- Jody Blum, The Leo Baeck Day School, Thornhill ON
- Halton District School Board Collaborative Inquiry Group (Katherine Compton-Morgan, Sunaina Sharma, Sydney Thatcher, Tanya Andersen, Wendy Cacilhas, Wendy Lang-Brouwers), Burlington, ON
2017
- Amanda Hamm, Pickering College, Newmarket, ON
2016
- Matthieu Gohie, Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, Ottawa, ON
- Elizabeth Scott, Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, Ottawa, ON
- Krista Ohmayer, Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, Ottawa, ON
- Angelica McDonald, Foothills School District, High River, AB
- Calli Robertson, Foothills School District, High River, AB
- Amy Whiteo, Golden Hills School Division No. 75, Strathmore, AB
- Deena Arvidson, Golden Hills School Division No. 75, Strathmore, AB
- Devon Kirby, Golden Hills School Division No. 75, Strathmore, AB
- Lesley Riep, Golden Hills School Division No. 75, Strathmore, AB
- Mike Smith, Golden Hills School Division No. 75, Strathmore, AB
2015
- Josée Beausoleil, Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, Ottawa, ON
- Ingrid Phare, Parkland School Division, Stony Plain, AB
2014
- Jean-Marc Dupont, Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, Ottawa, ON
- Alexis Furlan, Pickering College, Newmarket, ON
- Giovanna Longhi, St. Michael School, Calgary, AB
- Jennifer Middleton, Pickering College, Newmarket, ON
- Pierre Ouellet, Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est, Ottawa, ON
- Kelsey Styan, Carseland School, Carseland, AB
- Tracey Tinley, Berrigan Elementary School, Nepean, ON
2013
- Romy Cooper, General Gordon Elementary School, Vancouver, BC
- Yvonne Denomy, Ecole Victoria School, Saskatoon, SK
- Jessica Raslack, Brookfield High School, Ottawa, ON
- Andrea Williams, Elmdale Public School, Ottawa, ON
- Kristine Woodford, Hilltop High School, Whitecourt, AB
2005
- Jamie Sadler, New Westminster School District (SD#40)
- Christine Zucht, New Westminster School District (SD#40)
- Reetika, Vivek High School, India
- Rajbir Sandhu, Vivek High School, India
- Satinder Bath, Vivek High School, India
- Sharanjot Chahal, Vivek High School, India
- Preeti Sharma, Vivek High School, India
- Saneyaa Kumar, Vivek High School, India
- Jaswinder Gandhok, Vivek High School, India
- Kirandeep Kaur, Vivek High School, India
- Renu Puri, Vivek High School, India
- Janice Novakowski, Richmond School District (SD #38)
- Joan DeGrace, Science World, Vancouver, BC
Karen LaRone Hidden Hero Award
In recognition of all those who play a key role creating and nurturing quality thinking environments. Nominees may include students, educators, support staff, parents, and volunteers.
Nominees for the Karen LaRone Hidden Award possess and consistently demonstrate the following qualities and traits:
- Inspiring others through their actions and character
- Exemplifying integrity and selfless dedication
- Being ordinary people who are extraordinary role models
Background: Karen LaRone was the first director of operations at TC² and was known for her kindness and generosity. The award was named after her because Karen inspired integrity, quality of thought, and enthusiasm in all she did and in everyone around her. She was deeply honoured to be the first recipient of the award in 2013 and spoke about how important her legacy was for her.
To nominate a candidate for the Karen LaRone Hidden Hero Award, please complete the online nomination form.
2024
- Philip Balcaen (posthumously), Retired TC² Consultant and Facilitator, and Associate Professor Emeritus at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, BC
2023
- Joseph Willis, Matawa Education and Care Centre, ON
2022
- Jordan Drouillard, Mission Secondary School, Mission Public School District, BC
- Joshua Armstrong, Pickering College, ON
- Matt VandenDungen, Dr. Robert Plaxton Elementary, Lethbridge School Division, AB
2021
Student Awards:
- Anggun Rabu, École Gabrielle-Roy, Conseil scolaire francophone de la C.-B., BC
- Joseph Carnovale, Holy Trinity School, ON
Educator Awards:
- Christine Traer, St. Martin Elementary School, Thunder Bay Catholic School Board, ON
- Pamela Mehl, Hilltop Junior/Senior High School, Northern Gateway Public Schools, AB
2020
Student Awards:
- Xiang Zhang, Holy Trinity School, Richmond Hill, ON
- Khoi Tran, DSBN Academy, St Catharines, ON
- Riley Waite, DSBN Academy, St Catharines, ON
- Kyle Jacobsen, DSBN Academy, St Catharines, ON
- Rahaf Nasr, DSBN Academy, St Catharines, ON
Educator Award:
- Valerio Sorgini, Jean Vanier Catholic High School, York Catholic District School Board, Richmond Hill, ON
Volunteer:
- Kunal & Chitra Shah, Stonebridge Public School, York Region District School Board, Richmond Hill, ON
TC² Staff:
- Kara Zutz, TC² IT Consultant
- Warren Woytuck, TC² Project Manager, Writer, and Facilitator
2019
- Maria Vamvalis, Facilitator and Lead Writer, The Critical Thinking Consortium
2018
- Cynthia Nicolson, Lead writer, The Critical Thinking Consortium
2017
Educator award:
- Laura Gini-Newman, Facilitator, The Critical Thinking Consortium
Student award:
- Yukina Kuo, East Alternative School of Toronto
2016
- Walter Diefenthaler, Facilitator, The Critical Thinking Consortium
2014
- Dan Nash, Professional Learning Program Coordinator, The Learning Network, AB
2013
- Karen LaRone, Director of Operations, The Critical Thinking Consortium
L.B. Daniels Award
In recognition of creating conditions for nurturing critical thinking
TC² will, on occasion, select a recipient for the prestigious LB. Daniels Award. The recipient will be recognized for:
- Expanding, growing, and deepening the thinking framework of TC²
- Advancing the thinking that underpins the TC²’s framework
- Using the framework in innovative and creative applications
- Supporting educators in improving students’ thinking skills
Background: LeRoi B. Daniels is a founding member of TC² and an author of the model of critical thinking that forms the conceptual foundation of the Consortium’s work. TC² created this award to honour Dr. Daniels’ contribution to the understanding and implementation of critical thinking throughout his career.
2022
- Matawa Education and Care Centre, Ontario
2019
- District School Board of Niagara, Ontario
2018
- Aaron Harris, Learning Coordinator, Thames Valley District School Board, ON
- Lindsay Gibson, Assistant Professor, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
2016
- Robbins Hebrew Academy, Toronto, ON
2015
- Sherry Taylor, Regional coordinator - Western Canada, The Critical Thinking Consortium
2013
- Mary Abbott, Editor, The Critical Thinking Consortium
- Diane Lander, Curriculum Facilitator, Parkland School Division, Stony Plain, AB
2009
- Garfield Gini-Newman, Ontario Institute of Studies in Education, University of Toronto, ON
2006
- Branksome Hall, Toronto, ON
- P.K. Singh, Principal, Vivek Secondary School, Chandigarh, India2003
- Roland Case, Professor, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC
2001
- Ecole Sperling School, Burnaby, BC