Friday, September 16, 2016 – Black Gold Regional Division No. 18 (BGRD) hosted its annual Welcome Back & Long Service Awards Ceremony at Leduc Composite High School. The morning event brought together teachers and support staff to officially kick off “back to school” and celebrate service achievements and recognize special award recipients.
Grade 9 students, Reegan Broadbent and Isabella Hjertaas, from École Leduc Junior High School emceed the morning event which included acknowledgement of ancestral and traditional territory of Indigenous peoples and recognized the hard work of all Black Gold Regional Division staff. In her introduction, student emcee Broadbent stated, “We want all the staff at Black Gold to know that your work does matters. Rita F. Pierson said, ‘Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possible be’”. Student emcee Hjertaas continued, “so many of our Black Gold staff are those champions”.
Board Chair Johnette Lemke and Superintendent Norman Yanitski also provided opening comments. Lemke stated in her speech to staff that, “This year, the Board will once again depend on each of you to step up to our new challenges, help us meet our strategic goals and continue our excellence in teaching and student success”. She also stressed that all staff make a difference in the Division by saying, “Each of you plays a very important role in making success a reality. We look forward to working with you all this year and having another successful year”.
Representatives Dennis Johnston, ATA Local No. 8; Jamie Onslow, CUPE Local #1674; Natasha Warnock , CUPE Local #3484; Betty St. Louis, TEAMSTERS Local Union 987; and Lynn Ohlmann and Elaine Sitarz from the Bus Contractors’ Association also brought greetings from their unions and or associations.
Later in the event, support staff retirees and employees who provided 25, 30 and 35 years of service were officially recognized as part of the Long Service Award Presentations. To conclude the event, video presentations recognized the Inspiring Success Award of Distinction recipient – James Toomey, as well as this year’s newest award, the Superintendent’s Service Award of Excellence recipient – Gordon Engberg.
On behalf of BGRD, thank you to all those that organized and supported this year’s event, as well as Jo-Anne Hendriks, Teacher, École Beau Meadow School for leading the nation anthem and the Black Gold House Band for their “Twist and Shout” musical performance.
The Welcome Back & Long Service Awards Ceremony is followed up annually by a Professional Development Day for teachers and support staff in the afternoon.