2024 High School / CEGEP Teaching Award Winners
The CAP and its award partners - Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics, TRIUMF, and the Institute of Particle Physics - are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 CAP High School/CEGEP Teaching Awards. Recipients will be presented with their awards at their school, the CAP Congress, or some other mutually-agreed upon event, as coordinated with the recipients.
HS-QC-NU
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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 .
"While our efforts to build innovative teaching practices are often met with skepticism and unexpected hurdles, we have remained driven by our passion to provide holistic learning environments. Receiving this award is incredibly energizing, and shines a deserved light on the brilliant projects our students are leading." view the press release
HS-QC-NU
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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.
"I humbly admit that I didn't believe it at first. When my colleague nominated me last year, I chuckled a bit and said I was too young to get such an honor. So my first reaction was to completely freeze. Then I laughed! But after the initial emotional shock, I was very moved to see the enthusiasm of the CPA committee for my nomination. I consider myself to be passionate about physics and I am honored that the CPA would recognize my love for the subject and its teaching. Many people think it is the most dry and technical science, but I think it is by far the most fun! This nomination has motivated me to go even further in my demonstrations and even to revisit some of my classics. As a future project, I would like to eventually build a bank of out of the ordinary experiments to share with young teachers who are starting out in the adventurous world of teaching high school physics." view the press release
HS-QC-NU
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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.
"It’s with honour and gratitude that I receive this Award of Excellence acknowledging my passion for physics that radiated both inside and outside the classroom. My sincerest thanks converge to the professionals and former students who supported my nomination as well as to the CAP for this recognition." view the press release
HS-QC-NU
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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.
"Winning the 2019 CAP Medal for Excellence in Teaching High School/CEGEP Physics Award is an unbelievable honour. Teaching is my calling and physics is my passion, so to be acknowledged for both is a proud moment that helps validate my efforts to share those passions with my students." view the press release
HS-QC-NU
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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.
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HS-QC-NU
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Luc Tremblay , Collège Mérici ,
in recognition of his innovative work on physics course materials that have influenced physics students and teachers worldwide.
"Receiving such a prize is a source of incredible motivation for me. I thank the CAP for giving me this honour and I hope to continue helping others discover this amazing science for a long time." view the press release
HS-QC-NU
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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.
"I am honoured to have been nominated by my colleagues and students, and I am thrilled that I was chosen for this award. This award is a reflection of all the amazing people that I am surrounded by and make coming to class each day so enjoyable." view the press release
HS-QC-NU
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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.
"I am happy, as well as surprised and honoured, to receive this award. I would like to thank the Canadian Association of Physicists and its partners for their generosity. This award is a great opportunity to go further in the popularization activities of physics conducted by the Centre de démonstration scientifique, and to promote them." view the press release
HS-QC-NU
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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.
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HS-QC-NU
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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.
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HS-QC-NU
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HS-QC-NU
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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.
"I am very grateful and honoured to receive this award of excellence from an institution as prestigious as the CAP. This recognition will certainly spur my motivation to design new teaching tools for my classroom." view the press release
HS-QC-NU
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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..
"It feels great! I strongly recommend it! It gives me courage to take on future endeavours which just keep on getting more interesting with time." view the press release
