The 2009-2010 PHE Canada / Wintergreen PHYS-ED Physical Education Teaching Excellence (PETE) Award recipients are:

National award recipients

*Carol Peters - Manitoba

Media:National award winner

Five months after West Park School physical education teacher Carol Peters was named Manitoba's physical education teacher of the year, she was recognized nationally. More

BIO:Carol Peters is one of those teachers you hope would be your child’s physical / health educator.   Carol’s diversified instruction follows the outcome based Provincial Curriculum which focuses on Movement, Fitness Management, Safety, Personal and Social Management, and Healthy Lifestyle Practices.  Every student in her class has an opportunity to develop and apply basic movement skills in a variety of age appropriate activities.  Whether students at West Park School are interested in activities to stay active, improve or maintain fitness levels, or to participate on school teams, Carol will provide the leadership and guidance to help them develop active and healthy bodies.

Carol is constantly searching for new and innovative methods of instruction.  She is a regular participant of divisional and provincial wide Physical / Health Education professional development opportunities.  Ideas and strategies from these inservices are quickly applied into her lessons to vary her instruction to meet the needs of all her students.  Last year, Carol had students in her school participate in PHE Canada WeMüv National Challenge.   This is just one example of Carol implementing current programs into her lessons.

*Robyn MacDonald - Prince Edward Island

Media:Teacher known as Energizer Bunny earns national award

Robyn MacDonald is a physical educator always on the go. Affectionately called the Energizer Bunny by her colleagues at Vernon River Consolidated School, MacDonald is lauded for displaying a level of desire and capacity to tackle a dizzying array of activity that would leave many winded. More

BIO:Robyn MacDonald graduated from St. Francis Xavier University in 1997 with her Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and has been changing the lives of students ever since.
After leaving her mark at Hernewood Junior High, Ellerslie Elementary, Miscouche Consolidated and St. Jean Elementary, she can now be found teaching Physical Education at Vernon River Consolidated. In addition to teaching Physical Education, Robyn is also the Vice Principal at Vernon River. Robyn is noted for creating a positive physical education program for all the students from K-9. She runs morning (before school) programs for her students, quality Physical Education Instruction and intramural programs throughout the day, and runs sports clubs and coaches sports teams afterschool. In addition to motivating her students, Robyn has been instrumental in orchestrating a running club for staff which saw nine staff members complete a 5 -10km run. She serves as a positive role model for physical fitness for staff, students, and parents.

*Mike Butler - Newfoundland

Media:C.B.S. gym teacher recognized as one of the best

Mike Butler is being recognized as one of the best physical education teachers in Canada.
Butler teaches at Frank Roberts Junior High in C.B.S. More

BIO: Mr. Butler transferred into Frank Roberts Junior High School in September 2007 - since then a transformation has occurred. Prior to Mr. Butler's arrival, students routinely came unprepared for gym class, participation rates were low and it was not uncommon to have students sent to the office for uncooperative behaviour. Students routinely spent their gym classes sitting on the stage. The gymnasium was used only during class time and with the exception of team practices remained empty. I once heard a principal say that his gymnasium was the heart of his school and wondered how amazing that would be.

Now, I know that amazing feeling! Since Mr. Butler has been a part of our school community, he has had a profound impact upon my student body, the staff and the school community as a whole. Mike opens the gym for student use prior to the start of the school day, at recess time and during the lunch break. The effect is amazing. Students flock to the gym in abundance. Where once the gym was silent, it is now a vibrant environment - somewhere that students want to be.

Provincial award recipients

Patricia Bastarache - New Brunswick

Media Coverage

BIO:Over this 10 year span, Patricia has distinguished herself as a conscientious, hard working, dedicated Physical Education specialist. Patricia strives to teach and model for teachers and children, who develop skills to ensure their success in becoming Physically Educated Leaders and Individuals.  Patricia has an excellent understanding of her subject area and is very professional in all aspects of her position with School District #8.

Patricia has volunteered in many professional areas and has been a co-chair of our provincial “Remember When” conference on behalf of the N.B. Physical Education Society.  Patricia Bastarache meets all of the PETE eligibility requirements and definitely conducts a Quality Physical Education program as reflected in PHE Canada’s definition.

Peter Govan - Quebec

Media:Selwyn’s Govan recognized with Phys. Ed. teaching award

A longtime Selwyn House School physical education teacher and Westmounter has been nationally recognized for excellence in teaching, however, after 38 years with the institution, he isn’t the type to gloat about the prize. More

BIO:He is an extraordinary man. He has seemingly inexhaustible optimism and enthusiasm for his profession and the students he teaches. He is very accepting of others and tolerant. He is open minded to the ideas of others and progressive in his support of the value physical education plays in the development of elementary, middle and high school students.

He loves to organize trips, prepare tournaments, visit new schools and take his school teams to see the sites offered in the cities that has CAIS events. The manner in which he
conducts himself, displays his passion and dedication he has to his students and the sports he teaches and coaches.

Donna Hozjan - Saskatchewan

Media Coverage

BIO:Donna Hozjan is an excellent teacher who upholds the standards of a quality
Physical Education program as prescribed by PHE Canada. She has been
instrumental in the impleme tation of QDPE at our school for the past 15 years.

Donna is a vibrant and enthusiastic teacher who leads by example and is an
excellent role model for the children entrusted in her care. Her enjoyment of
activity and athletes is evident to all who know her. Her promotion of athletics for
girls an young women in our community has been exemplary.

Ms. Hozjan is a life long active learner and she has been active in professional development opportunities both in physical education and other academic areas. She is a leader and mentor who is very well respected by her peers and fellow educators.

Marc Bertrand - Ontario

He is an individual who shines as an example of how to incorporate physical activity and nutrition into daily life and shares this with the students, not only in his teaching, but also by role modeling. He creates enthusiasm for physical activity in his students by emphasizing participation over competition. All students, no matter what their skill level are encouraged to participate to their full capacity. Those students with more athletic abilities are encouraged to shine, not only by their talent, but by their ability to mentor other students. Tolerance for students with all skill levels is modeled and opportunity
to develop skills is a priority.

Lola Montgomery - British Columbia

She has been PE department head and Athletic director for five years and has taught secondary PE for the past 30 years. Lola has continually strived to improve her physical education program and provide many new opportunities for students to appreciate and adopt a physically active lifestyle. Some of the life long activities she has organized for her senior physical education classes outside of the school have been: golf, hiking, wilderness camping, kayaking, avalanche training, and river rafting.

She has worked hard to provide interesting activities within the school to help keep the students motivated such as a Senior PE fitness challenge and charity fundraiser. She has organized first aid certification professional development for her colleagues in the school district. The success of her program speaks for itself as the numbers have increased to the point where the school has had to increase the number of senior Physical Education blocks. Lola's philosophy is one in which all students are included and encouraged to be active.

* Denotes national award recipient in addition to provincial award recipient.

The Physical Education Teaching Excellence Award honours exceptional teachers (one from each province) for their excellence in teaching physical education and their ability to motivate children and youth to participate in physical activity. This award is the only national award in Canada that recognizes physical education teachers for their hard work and dedication in helping to build strong, healthy and physically active children.

Recipients of this award will receive:

• PETE Award of Recognition plaque
• Write-up in the PHE Journal
• Write-up in the Conference Program and presentation during the PETE Award ceremony
• Free one-year enhanced PHE Canada membership.

National PETE Award recipients will also receive:

• Free travel, accommodation, and registration at the PHE Canada national conference
• A $500.00 gift certificate to purchase WINTERGREEN Phys-Ed products
• A recognition plaque that is presented during the scheduled awards ceremony at the national conference

PAST PETE AWARD RECIPIENTS

• 2008/09 Winners
• 2007/08 Winners
• 2006/07 Winners
• 2005/06 Winners
• 2004/05 Winners