CBE New Home of National Award Winner
In 2004, six teachers from across Canada received the Canadian Council for Geography Education's (CCGE) 10th Anniversary Award, for contributions to geographic education and to the council. The teachers honoured with the award included Gail Smith, who moved to Calgary from Regina last year. The other recipients were Dale Gregory, (BC), Wally Diefenthaler (AB/NT), John Trites (Atlantic), Yves Khoury, (QC) and Linda Gollick (ON).
The Canadian Council for Geographic Education was established in 1993. It serves as the education program of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society from whom it receives its funding.
Gail Smith joined the Calgary Board of Education in November, 2004 and is presently teaching Grade 5 at Crossing Park School. She has been actively involved with the CCGE since 1997, when she completed the Summer Geography workshop for teachers. In 1998, she was chosen to attend the National Geographic Society's Summer Workshop for teachers. This fabulous workshop provided a great opportunity to become involved with a variety of geography activities.
She completed her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in Regina and wrote a handbook on teaching geography as her project. She has been actively involved with geography by presenting geography workshops for teachers and assisting with curriculum implementation. She has also been involved with The Great Canadian Geography Challenge and the pilot for the Family Geography Challenge. She thoroughly enjoys her work and involvement in geography and hopes to be able to continue these activities with the Calgary Board of Education.
Teachers interested in finding out about the CCGE can visit their website at www.ccge.org.
