2022 High School / CEGEP Teaching Award Winners

The 2022 CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics (Quebec and Nunavut) is awarded to

Hélène Nadeau, Dawson College, in recognition of her dedication to teaching physics and the development of students’ experimental and research skills. Hélène has developed unique cégep courses combining neuroscience and the physics of brain imaging techniques. In addition to supervising and encouraging students in a variety of research projects, she also supports them in extra-curricular competitions, such as “Science, on tourne!”, PontPop, and Concours Génie Civilisé. Teaching interdisciplinary content with a collaborative, problem-solving approach, Hélène sets students up for success in pursuing careers in the sciences.

The 2021 CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics (Quebec and Nunavut) is awarded to

Nadia Renzo, Collège Saint-Louis, in recognition of to recognize her passion and dedication to teaching physics and her commitment to real-world physics demonstrations and extra-curricular activities.

The 2020 CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics (Quebec and Nunavut) is awarded to

Patrick Mayard, English Montreal School Board, in recognition of for his innovative and pragmatic methods of teaching physics, for founding a learning center to increase the success rate in science and for his extensive educational works for teachers and students across the province.

The 2019 CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics (Quebec and Nunavut) is awarded to

Andrea Venditti, Rosemere High School, in recognition of for her innovative efforts in bringing physics to the very young, her ability to build bridges between students young and old, and her outstanding efforts in getting students to perform in physics competitions and activities outside of class.

The 2018 CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics (Quebec and Nunavut) is awarded to

Jason Leblanc, Centre matapédien d'études collégiales, in recognition of for his work in bringing real-life physics into the classroom, from measuring the speed of hockey pucks to developing clean energy projects.

The 2017 CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics (Quebec and Nunavut) is awarded to

Luc Tremblay, Collège Mérici, in recognition of his innovative work on physics course materials that have influenced physics students and teachers worldwide.

The 2016 CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics (Quebec and Nunavut) is awarded to

Rhys Adams, Vanier College, in recognition of for his superb pedagogy of physics at Vanier College and for his leadership in developing an international program to train physics teachers in India and China in active learning pedagogies.

The 2015 CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics (Quebec and Nunavut) is awarded to

Raynald Richer, Cégep de Chicoutimi, in recognition of for his excellent working at popularizing physics for students. A founder of the Science demonstration Centre in Saguenay Lac- St-Jean, M. Richer has led the fight against students dropping out of science at a regional level. His innovative use of demonstrations communicating physical phenomena of sound, air, light, electricity, and more, have pushed many students to pursue science at higher levels of education.

The 2014 CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics (Quebec and Nunavut) is awarded to

Stéphan Gaumont-Guay, Cégep Limoilou, in recognition of for his pioneering role in pedagogical development that has resulted in a significantly improved rate of success for students taking physics.

The 2013 CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics (Quebec and Nunavut) is awarded to

Chris Whittaker, Dawson College, in recognition of for his promotion of active learning pedagogies for teaching physics in Québec. Besides writing and producing episodes for CBC’s Ideas, Chris’ background includes a Masters degree in Engineering Physics and another Masters in Social Work. This unusual background makes Chris a unique teacher who continues to show exceptional interest in his students and genuine care for their conceptual learning. As chair of the physics department and later as Science program coordinator at Dawson, Chris spearheaded the design of next generation Active Learning Classrooms (enviously referred to by non-Dawson faculty as ‘the holodeck’). It is with great pleasure that the Canadian Association of Physicists names Mr. Chris Whittaker as the Québec recipient of this award.

The 2022 CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics (Quebec and Nunavut) was not awarded this year.

The 2011 CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics (Quebec and Nunavut) is awarded to

Simon Langlois, Cégep Marie-Victorin (Montréal, QC), in recognition of his initiatives in scientific outreach at the high school level within Canada and beyond. In addition to being receiving the highest level of student evaluations possible in CEGEP Marie-Victorin, Simon is one of Canada's leading innovators in the student of scientific pedagogy and popularization. He has developed new programs in science education and popularization, and has made important contributions in understanding the relationship between student autonomy and development of laboratory skills. He has founded a scientific outreach centre in Burkina-Faso that will involve students teaching physics concepts in remote areas of Africa. The CAP is pleased to honour Simon for his contributions to scientific outreach and pedagogy.

The 2010 CAP Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics (Quebec and Nunavut) is awarded to

Nathaniel Lasry, John Abbott College (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC), in recognition of who for many years has been actively using and promoting innovative pedagogical tools in teaching physics in Québec and even beyond. Few professors can boast about being compared favourably to Richard Feynman for the ease and ability to present difficult concepts clearly. That is nevertheless the case with Nathaniel Lasry who obviously loves his profession and who communicates his passion through his presentations, his teaching and his interactions with teachers and students. Being exceptionally competent both in physics and in education, his accomplishments are remarkably varied, ranging from the creation of banks of problem situations to demonstrations of magic, in addition to research and the promotion of learning through peers. It is with pleasure that the Canadian Association of Physicists makes Mr. Nathaniel Lasry the first Québec recipient of the Award for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics..