Dick Hopkins Award
Dick Hopkins, who passed away suddenly in October 2002, exemplified the energy and enthusiasm of a great technology educator and inspired a generation of teachers and students through his work at Napanee and Sydenham high schools and Queen’s University Faculty of Education. The Dick Hopkins Award is presented annually by the Ontario Council for Technology Education (OCTE) and Skills Canada - Ontario to recognize an outstanding technological educator in his memory. This award is presented in recognition of Dick’s active participation and promotion of skills competitions and events and is chosen by a selection committee.
The 2018 Dick Hopkins Award Winner is Jacob Smith (DDSB).
About Jacob Smith
Jake Smith is an outstanding and visionary department head of technological studies, transportation technology teacher and guidance counselor at Port Perry High School in the Durham District School Board. His ability to inspire and support teachers as well as elementary and secondary students to explore and celebrate careers in skilled trades is exemplary. Jake has been actively involvement in Skills Competitions in Durham and at the provincial level over the past 15 years. Jake’s leadership is both evolutionary and innovative in developing SHSMs and Women in Trades program as well as pioneering the Electrical and Powerline technician program. Jake exemplifies the work of Dick Hopkins and is this year’s very worthy recipient of the Dick Hopkins Award. Jake was recognized at Provincial Skills on Tuesday and again this evening at OCTE. Congratulations, Jake!
Certificate of Recognition
The OCTE Certificate of Recognition recognizes an individual, group or organization that has shown outstanding support for and contributions to the continued development of Technological Education.
Two Certificates of Recognition were presented at the 2018 OCTE Conference. The recipients of these two awards have collectively donated over $50,000 to OCTE in this past year alone, helping to strengthen our organization and Technological Education in Ontario.
The 2018 OCTE Certificate of Recognition recipients are ArcelorMittal Dofasco and CWB Welding Foundation.
About ArcelorMittal Dofasco
ArcelorMittal Dofasco has been an incredible supporter and partner to Technological Education in Ontario. One of their main objectives is to develop a STEM strategy to create opportunities for students to become more engaged in Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics. ArcelorMittal Dofasco has committed a minimum 40 percent of its annual community investments to be targeted specifically at STEM programs and curriculum.
AMD directly supports a number of Tech Ed initiatives in Ontario through contributions of time and resources, including:
- Pathways Career/Education and Information Sessions
- Full day advanced manufacturing workshops for educators in elementary and high school
- Mini and three-day materials science bootcamps
- Providing K-12 resources to enhance core curriculum and bring STEM to life in classrooms through real challenges and toolkits
- Subject matter experts to help deliver subject curriculum Mentors
- ArcelorMittal Dofasco Bay Area Science Fair
- FIRST Lego/VEX Robotics
- Computer Coding Clubs
- "Ring the Bell" After School Homework Clubs
- ArcelorMittal Dofasco Advanced Manufacturing Program
- "STEM for Her" days
- ArcelorMittal Dofasco - Mohawk College Math contest
- FIRST Robotics
- Skilled Trades Competitions
- The Learning Factory Program
- STEM for Girls Camps
The award was presented to Tony Valeri, Vice President of Corporate Affairs, and Richard Do Couto, Corporate Affairs Team.
About the CWB Welding Foundation
The CWB Welding Foundation supports the Canadian welding industry by increasing public safety awareness in welding and addressing the welding skilled trade shortage in Canada. Their ongoing support of Technological Education in Ontario has been incredible, with contributions including:
- Covering all associated costs of providing Acorn, CWB Education's national welding curriculum, to high schools
- Supporting the launch of new welding programs at secondary schools which have no existing programs and the expansion of welding programs at secondary schools with existing programs
- Providing "Mind Over Metal Camps" to engage at-risk students
- National initiative to fund all secondary schools in Canada with personal protective equipment, including providing thousands of auto darkening helmets and welding jackets annually
- Providing professional development sessions to metalwork and welding teachers in secondary schools across Canada
- Hosting celebratory recognition luncheons for all welding competitors, their coaches and their parents at Provincial and National Skills Competitions annually
- Women in Welding: CWB Welding Foundation hosted a week of welding recently that included robotics and welding students from various schools
The award was presented to Deborah Mates, Executive Director, and Andrew Bartlett, Training, Technical and Program Lead.
Dernières Nouvelles
Excellence in Teaching Award - Secondary
The Excellence in Teaching Award - Secondary recognizes a Secondary Teacher who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to developing Technological Education programs in their school. This award includes a bursary of $500 to be awarded to a deserving student from the recipient's program.
This year there were three worthy recipients of this award: Doug Doey (Greater Essex County DSB), Wade Richardson (Halton DSB), and Serge Remillard (Sudbury CDSB).
About Doug Doey
Doug Doey is the technology department head at Kingsville District High School in Ontario’s most southern town, and a manufacturing technology teacher of 36 years. Doug is involved with SHSM and OYAP programs within Kingsville DHS and has been a lead teacher of the KDHS First Robotics team. His biggest commitment to promoting technological education is his outstanding ability to work with students, staff and community members. Doug works with the town administration and community members to bring real-life problem solving into the classroom and advances the skills of his students through a community-focus lens. Congratulations, Doug!
About Wade Richardson
Wade Richardson has built an outstanding transportation technology program at Aldershot School and most recently has applied to run a SHSM program in Truck and Coach. For many years, Wade has volunteered his time with OCTE as the lead for vendor registration and quietly does an amazing job of building business, industry and education partnerships to support the conference and technological education across the province. We have all witnessed Wade’s great work at this year’s conference in the vendor display area. He is a highly valued member of the OCTE executive conference committee. Wade has just accepted a position at the board level to be a regional lead for OYAP, pathways and technological education. Congratulations, Wade!
About Serge Remillard
Serge Remillard spearheaded the development of the Specialist High Skills Major program in Manufacturing at Bishop Alexander Carter Secondary School in Hanmer.
Serge was nominated by his principal, who wrote in her nomination:
Serge has developed partnerships with many local business who help support the program by donating items and by taking our students on coop placements. The majority of our students in this program are registered as OYAP students. Feedback from employers as well as teachers at our local college indicates that our students’ knowledge and skills are extremely high. The tasks and challenges he gives the students is very creative and challenges their ability to fabricate as well as to design and understand mechanics. Everything from work stations to storage racks, to bicycles and other community based projects are fabricated by the students. Mr. Remillard also acts as a mentor to new teachers at our school. Our program would not be successful without a teacher like Serge Remillard.
Congratulations, Serge!
Technological Education Leadership Award
The Technological Education Leadership Award recognizes an individual who demonstrates an outstanding commitment to the promotion and furtherance of Technological Education at a school, board and provincial level. This award comes with a bursary of $1000 to be awarded to a deserving student from the recipient's program.
This year we have two deserving recipients of this award: Chris Arnold (Halton DSB) and Paula Walker (Ottawa Carlton DSB).
About Chris Arnold
Chris has a reputation as an innovator and pioneer in the Halton District School Board. His contribution to his school, community, Board and to education in Ontario has been simply amazing. Chris has been the developer, leader, Staff Advisor and Coach for the BCHS Robotics Team. He has been a lead mentor for First Robotics Teams in Halton for over 21 years. Some of Chris' other accomplishments and contributions include:
- SHSM Mentor
- Lead for Manufacturing and Robotics
- Halton Skills-Coordinator and Judge
- Mohawk College Dual Credit Program lead
- Ford Academy of Manufacturing Science Program lead
- Chair of many committees at all levels (School, Board and Provincial)
Chris is a tireless educator whose real strength has always been what he accomplishes in the classroom with his students. He is truly adored and respected in the school and across the Board. Through his wealth of knowledge and expertise, Chris Arnold is easily one of the most motivating and hard working educators in the Halton District School Board. Congratulations, Chris!
About Paula Walker
Paula Walker is the first elementary teacher to ever receive the OCTE Technological Education Leadership Award. Paula has led the OCDSB in developing teacher's skills in the elementary panel. She has held numerous workshops to share her experience and support new and established teachers in accessing the technology piece of the Science and Technology curriculum. A by no means exhaustive list of Paula’s accomplishments includes:
- 25 years participating and promoting Skills Ontario events and opportunities for students
- Writing curriculum
- Skills runoff competition for elementary students
- Developing workshops to prepare science teachers to teach a curriculum which includes technology
- Teaching ABQ in Science and Technology
- Involvement and participation in OCTE conferences
Paula's years of outstanding commitment and leadership in trades and technology have contributed to immeasurably to furthering tech ed at the elementary level. Congratulations, Paula!