YELLOWKNIFE (May 30, 2013) – Seven Northwest Territories residents were honoured this morning as inductees into the Education Hall of Fame, which recognizes the important and lasting contributions of those dedicated to education in the North.
“Healthy, educated people is a goal of this Assembly and the foundation of a happy and successful life,” said the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Jackson Lafferty. “Inductees to the Education Hall of Fame have all made positive and lasting impressions on the lives of countless NWT residents, and I want to recognize them for their commitment, diligence, creativity and passion that we want education to inspire in us all.”
The Education Hall of Fame identifies and celebrates outstanding commitment to education in the territory from educators, Elders, custodians, administrators, volunteers, coaches, students, advocates, sponsors and businesses. A selection committee chooses one inductee from each region of the NWT with a seventh inductee chosen to receive the Minister’s Choice Award.
The 2013 Education Hall of Fame inductees are:
- Janie Jones from Tuktoyaktuk;
- Beverly Masuzumi from Fort Good Hope;
- Mary Adele Flunkie from Whati;
- Bill Gilday from Yellowknife;
- Andy Norwegian from Fort Simpson;
- Jill Taylor from Hay River; and
- Anne-Mieke Cameron from Yellowknife as the Minister’s Choice Award.
Since the Education Hall of Fame was established in 2010, First Air has supported the event by providing flight vouchers for the inductees. More information on the 2013 inductees is available on the attached backgrounder.
For more information:
Ashley Green
Public Affairs Officer
Education, Culture and Employment
Phone: (867) 920-3059
Email: ashley_green@gov.nt.ca
Backgrounder
The Department of Education, Culture and Employment launched the Education Hall of Fame in 2010 to recognize that we all play an important role in supporting the education of our children. It reflects the valuable contributions that people make as educators, Elders, custodians, administrators, volunteers, coaches, students, advocates, sponsors and businesses.
Since the inception of the Education Hall of Fame, First Air has supported the event with flight vouchers for the inductees. First Air is a strong community supporter through grass-roots community reinvestment, meaningful employment opportunities and by providing beneficiaries with tangible benefits.
2013 Inductees
Janie Jones is a high school teacher at Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk. Since beginning work in the classroom more than 40 years ago, she has shown a genuine desire to make a difference to the people of the North through education and partnerships. Janie takes great pride in her work and is a positive influence on all the students.
She taught students in present-day Nunavut and Fort McPherson before making Tuktoyaktuk her home in 1993. She has held roles as a Program Support Teacher, Principal and Assistant Superintendent, and the Supervisor of Schools for the Beaufort Delta Education Council. Janie has high expectations of her students and believes in encouraging them to set and pursue goals. She has the respect and admiration of her colleagues, the students and the entire community.
Beverly Masuzumi of Fort Good Hope spent ten years working to improve education opportunities for students in the Sahtu by sitting on both the local Education Authority board and the Sahtu District Education Council (DEC). She was Chair of the DEC for six of those years. She has always believed in the power of education and instills that belief in her community. Beverly recently stepped down from her positions and is greatly missed by all staff.
Mary Adele Flunkie has spent 27 years teaching the Tłı̨chǫ language to students in Whatı̀. Mary Adele is the longest serving teacher the community has had and is well respected by staff, students and parents. She is a strong advocate for traditions and strives to teach every child to appreciate their cultural identity. Mary Adele believes in teaching every child to be the best that they can be.
Bill Gilday is known throughout the North as an inspiring musician with many achievements, including his 25 year span with The Gumboots. However, he is first and foremost a dedicated teacher. Over a career that spans 40 years, Bill taught music to students in Behchokǫ̀ before moving to Yellowknife and teaching at Mildred Hall School. His passion for music and boundless energy motivated him to create the city’s first youth choir, which performed for everyone from residents to the Queen and Royal Family.
Bill’s transition to École Sir John Franklin High School transformed the Yellowknife music community as he created a large music program that included a concert band, a choir and a jazz band. Hundreds of inspired students have gone on to pursue their dreams and contribute to the vibrant arts scene in the North because of his efforts.
Andy Norwegian of Fort Simpson has been a strong and passionate voice for his language and culture through his role as an Aboriginal Language Specialist with the Dehcho District Education Council. Andy has spent the last 24 years working to revitalize the South Slavey language, allowing people to express their beliefs, revive their cultural identity and discover the pride within them. He also played an important role in developing the Dene Kede curriculum that is used across the Northwest Territories. This curriculum allows students in Kindergarten to grade 12 to learn about the Dene relationship with the land, the spiritual world, other people and themselves. Andy is highly respected by his coworkers, community and region for the work that he does.
Jill Taylor of Hay River has spent many years as a teacher, Principal and student support consultant in both the Sahtu and South Slave regions. Throughout her career, Jill has worked diligently to ensure the needs of students, particularly those with special needs, are adequately met within the school system. Her capacity to help others and advocate for youth goes far beyond the mandate of her job description. She is the driving force behind the development of youth programs in the community, such as Lights On which provides youth with a place to go for recreational activities on Friday and Saturday evenings, the Not Us Campaign and the Leadership and Resiliency Program which provides an alternative, relationship-based education for high-risk youth. Jill is a strong advocate for students and believes that all children can learn and all children deserve our very best to help them maximize their potential.
Anne-Mieke Cameron has been a strong leader and advocate for positive, well-rounded education in Yellowknife. Mieke began as a classroom teacher for Grade 9 students at Sir John Franklin Territorial High School, gently easing their fears about moving to Akaitcho Hall while teaching them English. She passionately believes that anything that can positively impact the lives of students is worth pursuing. Knowing that students in the North need the same educational opportunities as those in the South, Mieke strongly advocated for the introduction of the Alberta Achievement Tests, Honours English, Advanced Placement courses, a French Immersion program and an alternative school program for students who struggle with daytime schooling. She also fostered the expansion of course offerings at the Akaitcho Trades and Technology Centre, the Fine Arts Department and the student Advisory program. Her “student first” attitude has not gone unnoticed. In 2005, MacLean’s Magazine honoured Mieke as one of the country’s Top Principals for the extraordinary school she helped build.
Mieke now spends her time teaching English to first and second year Social Work and Nursing students at Aurora College.
Throughout her 41 year career, she was inspired to continue in the field of Education by the thousands of students and hundreds of colleagues who walked the halls with her. Her efforts as teacher, Principal, Director of Education and college instructor have made her one of the North’s transformational leaders.