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FMPSD recognizes their Partners In Education

PHOTO. The award winners from the Fort McMurray Public School Division's Partners In Education event held at Shell Place on Nov. 28, 2019. Photo courtesy of Greg Halinda Photography.

Fort McMurray Public School Division (FMPSD) honoured their Partners in Education on Nov. 28, 2019, at Shell Place.

The fourth annual celebration recognized several business partners, volunteers, FMPSD council members, and community and social profit ambassadors.

The event also included from a special acknowledgement from FMPSD Board Chair Linda Mywaart to Superintendent Doug Nicholls.

Earlier this year, Nicholls announced he would retire in January 2020.

“Partners represent everything from family and individual donations of time and resources, to both large and small corporations and businesses,” Said Linda Mywaart. “You are here on behalf of profit as well as social profit groups. All of you are valued and appreciated for your role in growing and supporting our students.”

Notable honours

The Canadian Mental Health Association of Wood Buffalo (CMHA) received the Board of Trustees Commitment to Excellence award.

The CMHA not only provides grants and launches programs but is an active presence in daily life at the schools.

They started an anti-bullying program in elementary schools, developed a curriculum guide for high schools, and began Kids in the Know at the junior high level.

Public schools across the region also have access to resources like a Play Therapist and Heart Math.

Next, Bouchier Group collected the Large Business/Corporation Partner Award for their $10.000 donation toward Frank Spragins High School’s lunch program.

Sun Taxi received the Medium Size Business Partner Award for the free transport of Indigenous students from École McTavish for volunteer work.

The Small Size Business Partner of the Year Award went to Budget Blinds who helped create an outdoor garden at Christina Gordon Public School.

Finally, the FMPSD Promoter of the Year Award honoured Brad Karp, formerly of Country 93.3.

Karp regularly championed FMPSD schools through social media.

Mywaart said community partnerships open up numerous possibilities for students to learn, explore create and invent.

“When you partner with us through financial donations, grant funding, gifts in kind, sharing of expertise and services, and mentoring (to name a few ways), you are investing not only in FMPSD but in the community and the region we call home. Your support helps us to keep Doing What’s Best for Kids, and that, I believe, is what’s best for all of us.”

A full list of honorees is available on the FMPSD website.