Congratulations Mrs. Peragine and Mr. Mitchell, IEC Excellence in Education Awards 2009!

On April 30, 2009 educators and business and community leaders gathered at the Industry Education Council’s annual breakfast and awards. The breakfast’s main topic was ‘Rebound’ - a program designed to evaluate the issues surrounding adult career changes.  Guest speakers included The Honourable John Milloy MPP, Minister of Training Colleges & Universities and Dr. Nancy Irwin, Author of YOU-TURN, Changing Direction in Midlife. 

The breakfast also honoured six leading educators in the elementary, secondary and post-secondary fields who were presented with awards for Excellence in Education.  HSC’s Mark Mitchell and Heidy Peragine were honoured for their outstanding work in education over many years, and with the Human Development Committee and SISO respectively more recently.

Heidy has experienced a diverse career in education over the past 27 years.  She graduated from U of T with a specialist degree in French, and also studied German, Spanish and Linguistics. She prides herself on the exceptional level of proficiency her students have attained from the high school French program, as proven by their ranking in national contests and in continued university studies.

Heidy’s greatest educational accomplishment has been a recent one, when she started a unique initiative for Hillfield Strathallan College in collaboration with SISO (Settlement and Immigration Services Organization) Hamilton.  The idea of linking the Third World to compassionate and sensitive volunteers arose after Heidy spent 8 weeks of service experience in the Dominican Republic.  In the local SISO initiative Heidy and HSC student volunteers piloted a program called ECC (English Conversation Circle), where they taught English to refugee youth from Sudan and Myanmar. The program was a tremendous success on both sides, not least for the HSC volunteers who learned about the countries of their clients, directed fundraisers for needs that arose through their new relationships, and offered a Day of Dreams to their new friends this past June in Niagara Falls.

Mark has followed his passion for the study of geography and the environment through 14 years in education, teaching in both the public and independent school systems. A graduate of Wilfrid Laurier, he has taught geography in both elementary and secondary schools. At Hillfield Strathallan College Mark’s contributions have been significant. Through his leadership he has created and promoted a greater understanding, appreciation and awareness in our students with regard to environmental and global issues.

Mark’s greatest educational accomplishment at HSC has been the creation of the Human Development Committee, a student leadership opportunity focusing on Human Development around the world. Through Mark’s encouragement and support, this student-led committee has supported a wide variety of organizations in our community. This program has been a tremendous success because our students are gaining greater understanding of world issues while making a significant contribution to both the local community and the world around them

Mark and Heidy were joined at the awards breakfast by their families and HSC supporters, including Dr. Tom Matthews, PA President Manal Ramadan , Deanne Levy, SISO volunteer, and other staff and faculty.