Indspire, Winnipeg School Division and the University of Winnipeg celebrate first cohort of Indigenous students in Teach for Tomorrow program
June 12, 2019 – Winnipeg, MB – Ohsweken, ON – Dr. Annette Trimbee, President of the University of Winnipeg was joined by Ms. Pauline Clarke, Chief Superintendent and CEO of Winnipeg School Division and Roberta Jamieson, President and CEO of Indspire on June 10 to welcome some of the first cohort of students in the Teach for Tomorrow: Build from Within – Ozhitoon Onji Peenjiiee program.
Teach for Tomorrow: Build from Within is a partnership between Indspire, Winnipeg School Division (WSD), and the University of Winnipeg’s Faculty of Education. The goal of the program is to encourage and support First Nations, Inuit and Métis students in WSD to fulfill their ambition to become teachers. In February 2019, Build from Within – Ozhitoon Onji Peenjiiee officially began with 27 students participating from six WSD high schools. The program provides a seamless approach for students to transition through high school into university by providing college level courses to become certified as Education Assistants with eventual access to the Bachelor of Education and Arts degrees at the University of Winnipeg.
The event provided an opportunity for students to share their stories about their first year in the program, challenges they’ve faced and their hopes for the future. The students all cited teachers as role models and their inspiration for choosing the Education field. They hope to have a similar impact on the students they will be teaching in the future.
Roberta Jamieson, President and CEO of Indspire, also took the opportunity to announce that a donation of $1 million to the program had been received by the Pathy Family Foundation. “We are absolutely delighted by the investment the Pathy Family Foundation has made in the Teach for Tomorrow program”, said Roberta Jamieson. “Besides Winnipeg, this funding will also go towards the potential expansion of Teach for Tomorrow in other regions of Canada”.
“UWinnipeg is pleased to partner with Indspire and Winnipeg School Division to create unique opportunities for Indigenous students. The positive impact that they will have at the head of the classroom once they graduate from the program will be significant and will help to advance reconciliation,” says Dr. Annette Trimbee, President and Vice Chancellor, University of Winnipeg.
“As the first school division in Canada to offer the Teach for Tomorrow: Build From Within program, Winnipeg School Division, along with its partners, is providing the pathway and opportunities for Indigenous students within the division to become education leaders within our community,” says Pauline Clarke, Chief Superintendent and CEO, Winnipeg School Division. “Qualifying students for Build From Within are dedicated student learners with excellent attendance, school participation, leadership and community involvement.”
About Indspire
Indspire is an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people for the long-term benefit of these individuals, their families and communities, and Canada. With the support of its funding partners, Indspire provides financial awards, delivers programs and shares resources so that First Nations, Inuit, and Métis students will achieve their highest potential. In 2017-18 Indspire awarded $14.2 million through 4,900 scholarships and bursaries to Indigenous students across Canada.
About Winnipeg School Division
WSD was established in 1871 and currently has 78 schools, 33,000 students and 6,000 employees. Its purpose is to provide a learning environment that fosters the growth of each student’s potential and provide equitable opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and values necessary for meaningful participation in a global and diverse society.
About University of Winnipeg
UWinnipeg is noted for academic excellence, Indigenous inclusion, environmental commitment, small class sizes, and campus diversity. UWinnipeg is committed to improving access to post-secondary education for all individuals, especially those taking non-traditional paths to university.
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For more information, please contact
Nick Foglia, Vice President, Communications & Marketing
Indspire
416-987-0260 / 416-921-2678
nfoglia@indspire.ca
Kevin Rosen, Executive Director, Marketing & Communications
The University of Winnipeg
204-786-9381
k.rosen@uwinnipeg.ca
Radean Carter, Senior Information Officer
Winnipeg School Division
204-789-0412 / 204-771-5352
rcarter@wsd1.org
