Diane Ballantyne's teaching career recognized with Prime Minister's award

Wellington County councillor and retired longtime Centre Wellington District High School teacher Diane Ballantyne has been honoured for her distinguished teaching career.

On Thursday, Ballantyne was announced as a recipient of the Prime Minister Awards for Teaching Excellence, recognizing outstanding educators "for their dedication and commitment to their students."

The award noted that Ballantyne "is an exceptional teacher who upholds the fundamental values of multiculturalism, equity and equality."

Ballantyne recently retired from teaching after 28 years with the Upper Grand District School Board, 23 of those at Centre Wellington.

She was selected by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a 2023 recipient for her activism, advocacy for fundamental values, said a news release.

“Councillor Diane Ballantyne is an inspirational educator who made a real difference in the lives of the students she taught for over 28 years,” said Warden Andy Lennox. “On behalf of County Council and the residents of Wellington County, I would like to congratulate Councillor Ballantyne on this well-deserved award, and thank her for her dedicated service to the Wellington County students she taught.”

“This is a great honour to cap off a deeply rewarding career,” said Ballantyne. “The enthusiasm, curiosity and humour of teenagers was a joy to experience over my 28 years in the classroom. I learned so much from them, this award is really for them. Education matters. But sufficiently funded, universally accessible, public education matters more. It has been the honour of my life to be a teacher and this award is a wonderful way to wrap up a much-loved career.”