Distinguished Educator Award

About the Award

The Mensa Canada Distinguished Educator Award recognizes a teacher, professor, instructor, teaching assistant or other educator at any educational level who has had an especially positive influence on the education or life of a Mensa member. The educator can impact the Mensa member directly or as a result of their influence on the education of a dependent.

NOMINATIONS ACCEPTED UNTIL APRIL 1

Mensa members may submit a nomination themselves or on behalf of a dependent. A joint submission by the Member and the dependant is encouraged if a dependent’s educator is being recognized. Please download and complete the official nomination and agreement form (see below), then submit it to distinguished.educator.award@mensacanada.org or to the National Office.

Nominations will be accepted only from members in good standing of Mensa Canada. Each nominated educator must agree in writing to the nomination. Complete entries include the nomination form, the signed educator agreement form and an essay of not more than 500 words written by the Mensa member [or jointly with their dependant] describing the impact that the educator had on his or her life.

Entries must be submitted to Mensa Canada not later than April 1st.

Essays will be judged by a committee of three to five Mensa members. Nominations received that do not conform to the rules of the competition will be rejected.

The winning educator and their nominator are invited to the Mensa Canada President’s brunch at the Annual Gathering. If the educator does not attend, arrangements will be made to present the award at another time and place. Both the educator and the school or other educational institution receive a plaque.

Related links

Past Winners

2022
Ms. Gefei Zhang
(Read More)
Paramount Study
Montreal, QC
Nominated by Anya Figlarz-Grassino
(nominating essay)

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2021
Chuck Williams
Rocky Lake Junior High School
Bedford, Nova Scotia
Nominated by Ali Kafay
(nominating essay)

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2020
Dr. Simon Moore
(Photograph)
The Review Course in Family Medicine
Vancouver, British Columbia
Nominated by Dr. Paul Dhillon
(nominating essay)

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2019
Helen Griffin
(Photograph)
Louise Arbour French Immersion Public School
London, Ontario
Nominated by Alessandro and Ambreena De Menech
(nominating essay)

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2018
Colette Authier
(Read More)
Boucherville Elementary School
Boucherville, Quebec
Nominated by Audrey Thériault
(nominating essay)

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2017
Alison Smart
Janet Johnstone School
Calgary, Alberta
Nominated by Liam Ell
(nominating essay)

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2016
Stefan Gnys
(Read More)
Grimsby Central Public School
Grimsby, Ontario
Nominated by Randy Moore
(nominating essay)

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2015
Verna Ahner
Springbank Middle School
Calgary, Alberta
Nominated by Dan Hoch
(nominating essay)

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2014
David Hurat & Maureen Hyman
(Read More)
Cambridge Libraries and Galleries
Cambridge, Ontario
Nominated by Carole & Terry Moran
(nominating essay)

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2013
No Award
The award was not given out in 2013 as the panel didn’t feel it had any nominations that warranted an award.

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2012
Carole Foran-Swinkels
Leslie Thomas Junior High
Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia
Nominated by Barry & Ben Schmidl
(nominating essay)

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2011
Gayla Worden
R.J.Hawkey Elementary
Airdrie, Alberta
Nominated by Dan Hoch
(nominating essay)

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2010
Louise McCabe
Twentieth Street Junior School
Etobicoke, Ontario
Nominated by Lisa McNeil
(nominating essay)