What do an archbishop, a nun and a grandfather all have in common? They’re Higgins Award winners! Since the annual Justice James Higgins Award was first handed out more than 40 years ago, people from all walks of life from across the country have received the honour.
In memory of a distinguished Canadian jurist and Catholic School Trustee, the Honourable Justice James Higgins of St. John’s, Newfoundland, the CCSTA Board of Directors annually presents an award to a person or group that has made an outstanding contribution to Catholic education in Canada.
From Archbishop Adam Exner to Sister Joan Cronin to Norm Bethune (he’s the grandfather, among many other things!), the Higgins Award has taken the opportunity to recognize the commitment that so many people have made over the years when it comes to Catholic education.
Although the award can only be given to one person each year, it doesn’t mean there aren’t more deserving people or group who could earn the accolade. Each year, the selection committee reviews the nominations, and it’s always a difficult choice to select just one person for the award.
“Sometimes, you want to pretend it’s an elementary school track and field meet where everyone gets a ribbon,” explains CCSTA Executive Director Julian Hanlon. “We’ve seen some outstanding contributions to Catholic education in Canada, and you wish each of the nominees could receive the award.”
The winner receives the award at the CCSTA annual AGM, which will be held in Yellowknife this June.
Nominations for the 2016 Justice James Higgins Award are open until Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. To learn more about the award and to nominate a deserving educator, layperson, trustee or grandfather, please visit the Higgins Award webpage.
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