Annual Weston Awards recognize Quebec schools for academic performance and improvement

Release Date: April 23, 2009

MONTREAL, QC—Eighteen schools from across Quebec were recognized as the top performers in three categories of academic achievement at the second annual Garfield Weston Awards for Excellence in Education dinner in Montreal Wednesday.

Schools in Barraute, Chandler, Dégelis, Forestville, Grenville-sur-la-Rouge, Montreal, Notre-Dame-du-Nord, Paspébiac, Richmond, Rimouski, Rivière-du-Loup, Rosemere, Saint-Marc-des-Carrières, Sainte-Adèle, Shawinigan, Terrebonne, and Westmount were recognized for excellence. A complete list of all winning schools is included at the bottom of this release.

Awards were presented in three categories, each reflecting different aspects of academic success. Improvement in Academics recognizes schools that have experienced the fastest, most consistent improvement in their academic performance over the past five years. Determination in Academic Achievement recognizes schools that ensure that their students succeed regardless of the hurdles they may face. This award challenges the notion that only schools in rich neighbourhoods perform well academically. The award for Overall Academic Achievement recognizes schools whose students have achieved remarkable, ongoing academic success over the past five years.

École Rivière-des-Quinze of Notre-Dame-du-Nord won the award for Determination in Academic Achievement along with a $3,000 prize. Runners-up were École secondaire Saint-Marc of Saint-Marc-des-Carrières, which was a finalist in this category as well as School of Distinction for Overall Academic Achievement last year, and École secondaire de Dégelis, which was named a School of Distinction in this category in 2008. Both schools received a $1,000 prize.

École secondaire Natagan of Barraute won the award for Improvement in Academics along with a $3,000 prize. Runners-up were Richmond Regional High School of Richmond and École secondaire Augustin-Norbert-Morin of Sainte-Adèle. Both schools received a $1,000 prize.

Collège Saint-Sacrement of Terrebonne won the award for Overall Academic Achievement along with a $3,000 prize after being named First Runner-up in this category last year. This year’s runners-up were Selwyn House School of Westmount and Collège Notre-Dame de Rivière-du-Loup, which won the award for Determination in Academic Achievement last year. Both runners-up received a $1,000 prize.

The remaining schools received School of Distinction recognition.

The awards are based on an analysis of the Ministry of Education’s student results data for each school included in the Fraser Institute’s annual Report Card on Quebec’s Secondary Schools. Out of 474 English and French, public and private secondary schools from across Quebec, only the top performers in each category were invited to participate in the awards. About 85 educators from across the province attended the awards dinner.

“The teachers, support staff, and administrators from these schools are pathfinders who continually find new ways to help their students achieve more in school. We are delighted to honour their hard work and achievement,” said Peter Cowley, director of school performance studies at the Fraser Institute.

Click here for a complete list of award-winning schools.

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