Nominate someone today!

This annual award was created in 2002 by the Calgary Board of Education Trustees to honour leading CBE alumni who have achieved exemplary success in their life and professional career. Success is achieved and measured in many ways. It can be personal, academic or professional achievement, engaging in meaningful community service, a career or vocation, making a significant positive contribution to society, and helping others achieve and meet success by giving back to city, province, country, and the world.

This award was established to celebrate highly successful alumni of the Calgary Board of Education. The Distinguished Alumni Award is not only a celebration of the achievements of the recipient but also an acknowledgement of the remarkable achievements of public education in Calgary and those involved in public education who contributed to that individual’s success. These include all public education employees and proponents - from teachers and principals to support staff, caretakers, system support personnel as well as parents, trustees, the community, provincial partners and taxpayers. This award is a formal acknowledgement of the value of public education in a democratic and civil society.

In 2006 EducationMatters, Calgary’s Public Education Trust, began managing the Awards, including overseeing the selection process and hosting an annual dinner to honour Award Recipients and support the Distinguished Alumni of the future through contributions to the Future Leaders Fund. The Fund provides program grants for leadership initiatives and scholarships to student leaders. The first dinner was held in November 2006 with great success.

Previous Award Recipients

2002- The Honourable Peter Lougheed

2003 - Mrs. Marg Southern

2004 - Mr. Jim Dinning

2005 - The Honourable Norman L. Kwong, CM, AOE, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta

2006 - Dr. Martha Cohen, CM

2007 - Dr. Margaret (Marmie) Hess                                  
           Mr. Allan Markin

2008 - Ms. Joanne Cuthberton
           Mr. Charlie Fischer

2009 - Mr. Steve Allan

Award Recipient Criteria:

In past years, one individual was selected annually to receive the award. Since 2007, EducationMatters has often recognized more than one recipient annually. These individuals are chosen to reflect the CBE ENDS statements for achievement in:

• Academics - possesses the knowledge, skills and attitude required for academic success, and is effectively prepared for life, work and further learning
• Citizenship - has been a responsible citizen who is an informed and involved member of his/her community – locally, nationally, globally
• Character - possesses the character to do what is right, act morally with wisdom, and balance individual concerns with the rights and needs of others
• Personal Development – has acquired the skills, attitude and knowledge to achieve his/her highest personal potential

How to nominate someone 

Fill in the Nomination Form completely and include the information requested below - the examples and brief biography need not be more than one page.  While a nominee does NOT have to have high name recognition in the community, they must have achieved a certain level of notoriety, accomplishment, admiration and respect in their profession, vocation, philanthropy, community service and/or personal achievements.

• Your nominee must be an alumni of a CBE school and must have demonstrated support for and be a champion of public education or students. Please provide examples of this.
• They must exemplify at least one or more of the CBE ENDS (see above). Please indicate which ones and provide examples of how they’ve made a significant, positive contribution to our citizens, community, city, province, country, and/or world.
  Please provide a brief biography of the nominated individual including their professional, academic and community service work.
• Please include one personal letter of support for this nomination.

Nominations are accepted all year long, but in order for your nominee to be eligible for Selection Committee review for the next Award, we suggest you submit their name NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY of the same year of the award.  All nominations will be carried forward into the following year unless EducationMatters is informed otherwise. 

The successful Award Recipient(s) will be notified by EducationMatters as will their nominators.

Recipient(s) are honoured at EducationMatters’ annual Distinguished Alumni Awards dinner event. This years event honouring Mr. Steve Allan is being held on October 22, 2009 at the Hotel Arts.

Click here for the nomination form