Record buttons, footlights, dirt, microscopes... Students pushed to hit more
than their books to learn about our past by Canada's best history teachers.

WINNIPEG, June 22 /CNW/ - Canada's History Society in partnership with TD Bank Financial Group today announced the 25 finalists for the 2010 Governor General's Awards for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History - the nation's top teaching prize. Now in its 15th year, the award honours teachers who excel at bringing history to life for their students.

"These exceptional teachers have a way of "doing" history, rather than reading it. They inspire their students to take an interest in Canada's past, by immersing them in it and they help them develop a sense of place," said Deborah Morrison, CEO of Canada's National History Society. "Teachers are often the front line when it comes to protecting and promoting Canada's heritage, Canada's History is proud to honour them with this distinction."

Highlights from the shortlisted educators include:

    
    -  A Fathers of Confederation Wax Museum created by grade 7 and 8
       students in Amherstburg, ON
    -  West Vancouver high school students complete "job applications" to be
       tour guides at the National Battlefields Park as a way to demonstrate
       what they've learned about the Battle of the Plains of Abraham
    -  Gravesite visits as a starting point for Brookfield, NS students to
       discover the past lives of World War Two soldiers from their community
    -  21 teachers and 450 students across a whole school division worked
       together to uncover the stories of Alberta place names and create a
       website to share the information.
    -  Red Deer grade 6 students take a comparative look at Ancient Athens
       and the Iroquois Confederacy to understand the roots of democracy
    -  Secondary students in Radisson, QC analyze letters and song lyrics
       from the time to better understand 19th century society and cultural
       life
    -  Preston High School in Cambridge, ON turned their school into a nine-
       room museum with artifacts, period clothing, pennants and photographs
    -  Quilting, scavenger hunts, trench life reenactments, curated exhibits,
       aboriginal teaching... and more!
    

The 2010 Finalists are:

Chelsea Baxter and Kristi Bourelle - Rundle Elementary School,

Calgary, AB

Chad Howie and Sarah Beech - Valley Creek Middle School, Calgary, AB

Anne Beneteau - Malden Central Public School, Amherstburg, ON

Pam Calvert - Oakville Trafalgar High School, Oakville, ON

Daniel Conner - Rockridge Secondary School, West Vancouver, BC

Nancy Crousset - Assumption Jr./Sr. High School, Cold Lake, AB

Louisa Ellul - St. Joseph High School, Ottawa, ON

Trevor Elmslie - Preston High School, Cambridge, ON

Adrian Charles French - Mount Douglas Secondary, Victoria, BC

Flora Fung - Oshawa Central Collegiate, Oshawa, ON

Michel Hince - Jacques Rousseau, Radisson, QC

James Kostuchuk - Portage Collegiate Institute, Portage La Prairie, MB

Lucie Labbé, Paule Labbé, and Marcelle Thibodeau - Ecole Monseigneur

Fortier, St-Georges, QC

Susan Yip and Laura Shantz - Gilpin Elementary, Burnaby BC

Shannon Rak, Ingrid Benning, Yvonne Denomy, Marge Ketilson, and Kendra

Danielson - Lakeview School, Saskatoon, SK

Barb Martin and Team - Foothills School Division, High River, AB

Darcie McDonald - St. Patrick's Community School, Red Deer, AB

Amy Park - Heritage Heights School, DeWinton, AB

Jean Pelletier - École de l'Alizé, Lévis, QC

Janet Proseilo - Huntington Hills School, Calgary, AB

Gary Renouf - South Colchester Academy, Brookfield, NS

Jennifer Smoulders - Bishop Allen Academy, Etobicoke, ON

Andrew Stickings - Ecole Grosvenor Wentworth Park School, Halifax, NS

Diane Vautour - Loretto College, Toronto, ON

Loralea Wark - Ecole St. Patrick's High School, Yellowknife, NT

A national judging panel will next select six recipients out of the 25 finalists, based on a submission outlining the nominee's innovations and achievements in the field of teaching Canadian History or Social Studies. Those six recipients will receive $2,500, a gold medal and a trip this fall to the Awards ceremonies at Rideau Hall. Their respective schools will also be awarded a cash gift of $1,000. The program, including the Awards prizes are made possible through the generous support of TD Bank Financial Group.

About Canada's History

Canada's History Society is a Winnipeg-based charitable organization devoted to popularizing Canadian history. In addition to publishing Canada's History (formerly The Beaver) magazine, and Kayak: Canada's History Magazine for Kids, the Society also produces a number of awards and programs to encourage more discovery, celebration, and understanding about our rich history and culture. More details can be found at www.CanadasHistory.ca.

For further information: Deborah Morrison, President and CEO, Canada's History Society, 1-866-952-3444, ext. 222, [email protected]; Nicole Harris, Maverick Media, [phone], [email protected]