Download the awards and grants nomination form here.

Award nominations will be accepted between January 1st to March 15th of each year.

Grant nominations will be accepted between April 1 to September 15th of each year.

List of BCTLA Awards

BC Teacher-Librarian of the Year – Diana Poole Memorial Award

BC New Teacher-Librarian of the Year Award

Val Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award

BCTLA Honorary Life Membership Award

BCTLA President’s Award

List of BCTLA Grants

Ken Haycock Professional Development Grant

BCTLA Representative Speaker Grant

William H. Scott Memorial BCTLA Conference Grant

Regional BCTLA Conference Grant

BCTLA New Teacher/TTOC Conference Grant

BCTLA Awards

The British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association honours teacher-librarians for their outstanding commitment to school libraries and education. This dedication is evident by the range of awards given within BC and the BC recipients of external national recognition. MOST NOMINATIONS ARE DUE BETWEEN JANUARY 1ST AND MARCH 15th OF EACH YEAR.

Application forms are available below. Some use a common online form.

BC Teacher-Librarian of the Year – Diana Poole Memorial Award

The BC Teacher-Librarian of the Year – Diana Poole Memorial Award is the highest honour of the British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association. The award honours practicing teacher-librarians who are making an outstanding contribution to teacher-librarianship at and beyond the school level in British Columbia. (Formerly The Diana Poole Memorial Award of Merit, BCTLA Award of Merit) (Fall Council, 1989, 1993, 1996; Spring Council 2009).

Criteria:

Individuals nominated for the award should be demonstrating the planning and implementation of a school library program of such exemplary quality that it is serving as a model and inspiration for others. They must also be involved in one or more of the following areas:

• Leadership and service to the profession through the BCTLA and related organizations.
• Commitment to professional growth through continuing education, research, or participation in national organizations.
• Sharing of ideas and resources through such means as workshops and publications.

Rules:

• This award may be given annually by the BCTLA Executive Board and, if given, is to be presented at the annual BCTLA Conference.
• Nominations may be made by Chapters, members, subscribers, and non-members.
• Nominees must be members of the BCTLA and be practicing school level teacher-librarians.
• The BCTLA Executive shall adjudicate the award.
• Criteria for selection will be determined as outlined on any required forms.
• Nominations shall be considered for only the year in which they are received.

Nominations:

Nominations will be accepted between January 1st to March 15th of each year.

BC Teacher-Librarian of the Year – Diana Poole Memorial Award

2022 – Doni Gratton, West Vancouver

2021 – Jennifer Araujo, Burnaby

2020 – Kristie Oxley, New Westminster

2019 – Susan Henderson, Coquitlam

2018 – Leisbet Beaudry, Prince George

2017 – Heather Daly, Coquitlam

2016 – Dayna Hart, Central Okanagan

2015 – Misty Smith, Central Okanagan

2014 – Val Martineau, Nanaimo-Ladysmith

2013 – Deb Cowland, Langley

2012 – Moira Ekdahl, Vancouver

2011 – Sylvia Zubke, Vancouver

2010 – Karen Ferguson, Coquitlam

2009 – Karen Lindsay, Greater Victoria

The Diana Poole Memorial Award of Merit

2008 – Michele Farquharson, Vancouver

2007 – Patricia Finlay, Burnaby

2006 – Sheilagh Martin, North Vancouver and Pat Kirkey, Westbank

2005 – was not awarded

2004 – Tiiu Noukas, Prince George

2003 – Odie Kaplan, Burnaby

2002 – Val Hamilton, Vancouver

2001 – Joan Eaton, Westbank

2000 – Dianne Driscoll, Coquitlam

1999 – Jim Holgate, Surrey

1998 – Pat Parungao, Vancouver

1997 – Penny Bland, Maple Ridge

BCTLA Award of Merit

1996 – Noreen Grobowsky, Richmond

1995 – Sharon Bede, Kelowna

1994 – Kay Treadgold, Kelowna

1993 – Joan Wilby, Coquitlam

1992 – Valerie Dare, Vancouver

1990 – Barbara Hall, Prince George

1989 – Peggy Beck, Vancouver

1988 – Joan Harper, Vancouver

1983 – Don Rahrick

BC New Teacher-Librarian of the Year Award

The British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association honours practicing new teacher-librarians who are making an outstanding contribution to teacher-librarianship at and beyond the school level in British Columbia. (AGM, 2009).

Criteria:

Individuals with less than five years experience as a currently practicing teacher-librarian nominated for the award should be demonstrating the planning and implementation of a school library program and/or of school library services of such exemplary quality that either or both is serving as a model and inspiration for others. They should also be involved in one or more of the following areas:

• Leadership and service to the profession through the BCTLA and related organizations.
• Commitment to professional growth through continuing education, research, or participation in national organizations.
• Sharing of ideas and resources through such means as workshops and publications.

Rules:

• This award may be given annually by the BCTLA Executive and, if given, is to be presented at the BCTLA Conference.
• Nominations may be made by Chapters, members, subscribers, and non-members.
• Nominees must be members of the BCTLA and have less than five years experience as currently practicing school or district-based teacher-librarians.
• The BCTLA Executive shall adjudicate the award.
• Criteria for selection will be determined as outlined on any required forms.
• Nominations shall be considered for only the year in which they are received.

Nominations:

Nominations will be accepted between January 1st to March 15th of each year.

BC New Teacher-Librarian of the Year Award

2022 – Larissa Kaminsky, New Westminster, and Kailyn Bell, Victoria

2021 – Emily Huang, Surrey, and Jenny Chang, New Westminster

2020 – Leanne Dunbar, Maple Ridge, and Hannah Abbott, Victoria

2019 – Sharon Neumann, Peace River South

2018 – Jennifer Fox, Peace River South

2017 – Jessica Bonin, Prince George

2016 – Dominique Sullivan, Nanaimo-Ladysmith

2015 – was not awarded

2014 – Nicole Aerts, Greater Victoria

2013 – Carmen Yamashita, Vancouver

2012 – Tammy Reynolds, Nanaimo-Ladysmith

2011 – Nicola Kuhn, Rossland

2010 – Tu Loan Trieu, Coquitlam

Val Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award

The British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association recognizes the commitment and achievement of teacher-librarians who have made outstanding contributions to teacher-librarianship, school libraries, and/or the BCTLA. (AGM, 2008).

Criteria:

The award may be presented annually by the BCTLA for an outstanding, substantial and recognizable long-standing contribution to the BCTLA, school libraries, or teacher-librarianship.

Rules:

• This award may be given annually by the BCTLA Executive Board and, if given, is to be presented at the annual BCTLA Conference.
• Nominations may be made by BCTLA Chapters or by individual members and subscribers.
• Nominees may be practicing or retired school or district-based teacher-librarians.
• In order for the nomination to be valid, the Nomination form must be used.
• The BCTLA Executive shall adjudicate the award.
• Nominations shall be considered for only the year in which they are received.

Nominations:

Nominations will be accepted between January 1st to March 15th of each year.

Val Hamilton Lifetime Achievement Award

2022 – Chris Evans, Vancouver, and Richard Beaudry, Langley

2021 – Mary Locke, Vancouver

2020 – Joanie Proske, Langley

2019 – Patricia Finlay, Burnaby, and Leslie Ikeda, Coquitlam

2018 – Marilyn Lunde, Kootenays

2017 – Moira Ekdahl, Vancouver

2016 – Alison Hewitt, Langley, and Lindsay Ross, Greater Victoria

2015 – Bonnie Chapman, Surrey

2014 – Marilyn Richardson, Langley

2013 – Veronica Allan, Cowichan Valley

2012 – Bonnie McComb, Saanich

2011 – was not awarded

2010 – Sharon Scott, Vancouver, and Margaret Litch, Nanaimo-Ladysmith

2009 – Judith Kootte, Richmond

BCTLA Honorary Life Membership Award

The British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association recognizes the commitment and achievement of teacher-librarians who have made outstanding contributions to the BCTLA.

Criteria:

The award may be presented by the BCTLA Executive to individuals who have made an outstanding, substantial and recognizable long-standing contribution to the BCTLA.

Rules:

• This award may be presented at any time in a year by the BCTLA Executive Board and, if given, may be presented at a time and place at the discretion of the Executive Board.
• Nominations may be made by BCTLA Chapters or by individual members and subscribers.
• Nominees may be practicing or retired school or district-based teacher-librarians.
• Nominees must be eligible for BCTLA membership.
• The BCTLA Executive shall adjudicate the award.
• Nominations shall be considered for only the year in which they are received.

Nominations:

Nominations will be accepted between January 1st to March 15th of each year.

2018 – Heather Daly, Coquitlam

2012 – Don Hamilton, Victoria, and Bonnie McComb, Saanich

2009 – Lynn Turner, Terrace

2007 – Val Hamilton, Vancouver

2002 – Liz Austrom, Vancouver

1989 – Grace Funk, Vernon, Glen Pinch, Langley, and Gordon Stubbs, UBC Department of School Librarianship

1983 – John Church, Vancouver, BCTF, also a Vancouver trustee

Grace D’Arcy, Parksville/Qualicum

Mel Rainey, UBC Department of School Librarianship

Frances Sbrocchi, Kamloops

Elsie Wagner, Past BCTLA President

Florence Willson, Prince George

BCTLA President’s Award

The British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association recognizes the commitment and achievement of teacher-librarians who have made outstanding contributions.

Criteria:

The award may be presented by the BCTLA President to honour outstanding teacher-librarians for their work and contributions.

Rules:

• This award may be presented at any time in a year at the discretion of the BCTLA Executive Board and, if given, may be presented at a time and place at the discretion of the Executive Board.
• Suggestions for nominations should be sent to the BCTLA President.
• The BCTLA Executive shall adjudicate the award.
• Nominations shall be considered for only the year in which they are received.

Nominations:

Forward suggestions for nominations to the bctla@bctf.ca.

BCTLA President’s Award

2022 – was not awarded

2021 – Rebeca Rubio, Richmond

2020 – Richard Beaudry, Langley

2019 – Maureen McDonough, Martha Cameron, Leigh Husieff, Surrey

2012 – Val Hamilton, Vancouver

2011 – Al Smith, Kelowna

BCTLA Grants

Ken Haycock Professional Development Grant

The British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association recognizes the need to further the professional development of a member of the BCTLA by giving a grant to be used for any credit or non-credit course, workshop, conference or program in the field of teacher-librarianship. This grant is not to exceed $500.00.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the Ken Haycock Professional Development Grant an applicant must be:

• A Canadian citizen.
• A resident of British Columbia.
• A member of the BCTLA. Prospective applicants who are not BCTLA members may obtain membership by contacting the BCTF.
• A holder of a valid BC Teaching Certificate.

Terms:

• Use the grant monies within 12 months of presentation.
• The maximum amount of this grant shall be the lesser of:
  • (a) reimbursement for approved costs borne by the successful applicant; or
  • (b) $500, which will be considered a full grant.
• Receive payment of the grant monies upon proof of completion of the course, workshop, conference, or program; submission of costs.

Selection Process:

The recipient(s) of the grant shall be selected by the Executive Board. If a grant is given the decision will be made in June and the successful nominee(s) will be recognized.

Applications:

Nominations will be accepted between April 1st to September 15th of each year. Please include in your application statement a brief outline of the course, workshop, conference or program.

Ken Haycock Professional Development Grant

2022 – was not awarded

2021 – Devika Chudy, Maple Ridge, Joseph Jeffery, Prince George, Carmen Woo, New Westminster, Vanessa Broadworth, Surrey, and Kathy Gyori, Surrey

2020 – was not awarded

2019 – Devika Chudy, Maple Ridge

2018 – Lindsay Ward, West Vancouver

2017 – Grahame Rainey, Coquitlam

2016 – Janet Mumford, Richmond

2015 – Janis Bridger, New Westminster, and Kim Riddick, Delta

2014 – Sheri Kinney, Cowichan Valley

2013 – April Hilland, Maple Ridge

2012 – Pat Parungao, Vancouver

2011 – April Hilland, Maple Ridge

2010 – Cheriee Weichl, Vancouver

2009 – Chris Evans, Vancouver

2008 – Moira Ekdahl, Vancouver

2007 – Iris Mennie, Nanaimo

2006 – Janet Mumford, Richmond

2005 – Mary Locke, Vancouver

2004 – Rick Mulholland, Mission

2003 – Sarah Wethered, New Westminster

2002 – Donna Lee, Vancouver

2001 – was not awarded

2000 – was not awarded

1999 – Faye Meek, Maple Ridge

1998 – was not awarded

1997 – Gail Crawford, Delta

1996 – was not awarded

1995 – was not awarded

1994 – was not awarded

1993 – was not awarded

1992 – Teresa Brinton, Kelowna

1991 – Jack Allen, Vancouver

1990 – was not awarded

1989 – Lina D’Onofrio, Vancouver

BCTLA Representative Speaker Grant

The British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association recognizes the need to share the expertise of BCTLA members with other institutions, organizations and associations by giving a grant to be used to represent the BCTLA as a speaker/facilitator at a course, workshop, conference, or program other than the annual BCTLA conference. This grant is not to exceed $350.00.  (April 2010).

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the BCTLA Representative Speaker Grant an applicant must be:

• A Canadian citizen.
• A resident of British Columbia.
• A member of the BCTLA. Prospective applicants who are not BCTLA members may obtain membership by contacting the BCTF.
• A holder of a valid BC Teaching Certificate.
• Not already receiving a fee, salary or an honorarium for their speaking/facilitating services.

Terms:

• Use the grant monies within 12 months of presentation.
• With the addition of—at the complete discretion of the BCTLA Executive—release time, the maximum amount of this grant shall be the lesser of:
  • (a) reimbursement for any registration or tuition fees and travel costs borne by the applicant, and $50, which will be considered an honorarium; or
  • (b) $350, which will be considered a full grant.
• Receive payment of the grant monies upon proof of attendance as a speaker/facilitator at course, workshop, conference, or program other than the annual BCTLA conference; submission of costs.

Selection Process:

The recipient(s) of the grant shall be selected by the Executive Board. If a grant is given the decision will be made in June and the successful nominee(s) will be recognized.

Applications:

Nominations will be accepted between April 1st to September 15th of each year. Please include in your application statement a brief outline of the course, workshop, conference or program.

BCTLA Representative Speaker Grant

2022 -was not awarded

2021 – was not awarded

2020 – was not awarded

2019 – was not awarded

2018 – Andrea Langelaar, Surrey

2017 – was not awarded

2016 – was not awarded

2015 – was not awarded

2014 – was not awarded

2013 – Jeff Yasinchuk, Kootenay Lake

2012 – Moira Ekdahl, Vancouver

2011 – was not awarded

William H. Scott Memorial BCTLA Conference Grant

The British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association recognizes the need to further the professional development of a member or subscriber of the BCTLA by giving a grant to be used to attend the annual BCTLA Conference. This grant is not to exceed $350.00. (April 2009).

Eligibility:

To be eligible for the William H. Scott Memorial BCTLA Conference Grant an applicant must be:

• A Canadian citizen or landed immigrant.
• A resident of British Columbia.
• A member of the BCTLA. Prospective applicants who are not BCTLA members may obtain membership by contacting the BCTF.

Terms:

• Use the grant monies for the current BCTLA Conference.
• The maximum amount of this grant shall be the lesser of:
  • (a) reimbursement for the amount of the annual BCTLA Conference registration fee and travel costs; or
  • (b) $350, which will be considered a full grant.
• Receive payment of the grant monies upon proof of attendance at the annual BCTLA Conference.

Selection Process:

The recipient(s) of the grant shall be selected by the Executive Board. If a grant is given the decision will be made in October and the successful nominee(s) will be recognized.

Applications:

Nominations will be accepted between April 1st to September 15th of each year.

William H. Scott Memorial BCTLA Conference Grant

2022 – was not awarded

2021 – was not awarded

2020 – was not awarded

2019 – Kristine Clark, Port Alberni

2018 – Melissa Park, Peace River South

2017 – Christopher Hunt, Chilliwack

2016 – Beth Chng, Prince George

2015 – was not awarded

2014 – was not awarded

2013 – was not awarded

2012 – was not awarded

2011 – was not awarded

2010 – was not awarded

Regional BCTLA Conference Grant

In most years, the BC Teachers’ Federation provides a limited number of $3,000 Regional Conference Support Grants to support PSA conferences held outside the Lower Mainland and/or outside Southern Vancouver Island. The British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association encourages Chapters to organize Regional BCTLA Conferences in addition to the October BCTLA Conference. The BCTLA invites Chapters to request that BCTLA apply to to the BCTF for a Regional Conference Support Grant on their behalf.

Eligibility:

To be eligible to request that BCTLA apply for a grant, a Chapter must be:

• An active, registered Chapter within the BCTLA.
• An active participant in Council Meetings.
• Up-to-date with Chapter reports and all required documentation for the BCTLA.

Terms:

Availability of the grant:

1. BCTLA may be eligible for only one Regional Conference Grant in a year.
2. BCTLA and/or the interested Chapter may join with another PSA for the conference, however the joint conference will only be eligible for one grant.
3. Two-thirds of the grant will be released by BCTF on approval of the grant application and the final third of the money will be released once the conference report is received by the BCTF.

The recipient Chapter(s) shall:

• With support from BCTLA’s Conference Chair, make all arrangements for the Regional BCTLA Conference including securing additional funding beyond the $3,000 grant.
• Hold the conference within the school year outside the Lower Mainland (east of Chilliwack and Mission) and/or outside Southern Vancouver Island (held in Nanaimo and north).
• Include participants from more than one school district in the conference.
• Print the following on the conference agenda: We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of this conference by the B.C. Teachers’ Federation.
• After the conference, submit a report through BCTLA’s Conference Chair to the BCTF including a copy of the conference agenda, information regarding the number of participants attending the conference and a summary of evaluation forms completed by conference attendees.

Applications:
A complete request to BCTLA shall consist of:

• A completed and signed Request Form.
• The proposed conference plan (see Request Form for required details).

Selection Process:

Requests may be submitted throughout the year but must be received well in advance of the proposed conference date. The Executive may or may not approve the request and selection shall be based on the quality of the proposal.  Please note that even with BCTLA’s approval, BCTF may or may not approve the grant.
Submissions:

Submit request forms and attachments to the bctla@bctf.ca.
Required Forms:

• Regional Conference Request Form

BCTLA New Teacher/TTOC Conference Grant

In most years, the B.C. Teachers’ Federation provides a limited number of $500 Local/PSA New Teacher Conference Grants to support the organization of conferences which include “a significant component for new teachers and teachers teaching on call”.  The British Columbia Teacher-Librarians’ Association encourages Chapters to organize New Teacher Conferences in addition to the October BCTLA Conference.  The BCTLA invites Chapters to request that BCTLA apply for to BCTF for a Local/PSA New Teacher Conference Grant on their behalf.

Eligibility:

To be eligible to request that BCTLA apply for a grant, a Chapter must be:

• An active, registered Chapter within the BCTLA.
• An active participant in Council Meetings.
• Up-to-date with Chapter reports and all required documentation for the BCTLA.

Terms:

Availability of the grant:

To be eligible for the grant, a proposed conference plan is required, which must include the following information:

• Conference date(s)
• Conference location
• Expected number of attendees
• Conference title or theme
• Focus or component designed for new teachers (conference program/outline)

The recipient Chapter(s) shall:

• With support from BCTLA’s Conference Chair, make all arrangements for the BCTLA New Teacher Conference including securing additional funding beyond the $500 grant.
• After the conference, submit a report through BCTLA’s Conference Chair to the BCTF including financial information and information regarding the number of participants attending the conference.

Applications:

A complete request to BCTLA shall consist of:

• A completed and signed Request Form.
• The proposed conference plan (see Request Form for required details).

Selection Process:

Requests may be submitted throughout the year but must be received well in advance of the proposed conference date. The Executive may or may not approve the request and selection shall be based on the quality of the proposal.  Please note that even with BCTLA’s approval, BCTF may or may not approve the grant.

Submissions:

Submit request forms and attachments to the bctla@bctf.ca.

Required Forms:

• New Teachers Conference Request Form