In the company of fellow educators, farmers, diplomats, health-care workers and a host of other Prince Albert residents who made a marked contribution to Saskatchewan, Stubbs and Phaneuf received their medals at the Art Hauser Centre on Nov. 18.
The commemorative medal was created to mark the 70th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II鱿鱼视频app accession in 1952. It has been awarded to people who have made a positive impact on society.
Stubbs and Phaneuf met that criteria for their years of dedication to Catholic education in this central Saskatchewan city.
鈥淭o be recognized for something you consider a vocation is really something you don鈥檛 expect,鈥� said Phaneuf, principal of 脡cole St. Mary High School since 2004. 鈥淏ecause I have been lucky to work in the Catholic school system for almost my entire career, over 30 years, it is incredibly gratifying.鈥�
Stubbs鈥� roots in Prince Albert run deep. The current chair of the PACSD is a graduate of 脡cole St. Mary High School who later championed the Catholic school community when her own kids began their educational journeys. She became a trustee in 2008 and has remained active ever since.
The congregant and music leader at St. Joseph鱿鱼视频app Parish credits the overall excellence of the school community for her getting noticed by the selection committee.
鈥淥ur graduation rate is really doing well 鈥� we鈥檙e actually outperforming the provincial rate, which is really exciting,鈥� said Stubbs. 鈥淲e are there for our kids and we try to advocate for getting what they need for them to continue moving forward in their education. Advocacy plays a big part in our role (as a school board).鈥�
According to data released by the Government of Saskatchewan in late September, PACSD鱿鱼视频app three-year graduation rate for First Nation, M茅tis and Inuit (FNMI) students is 63 per cent compared to 40 per cent averaged by the rest of the province. The non-FNMI three-year graduation rate for PACSD is 94 per cent, 10 points higher than the province鱿鱼视频app 84-per-cent average.
This high level of achievement is a reflection of the dynamic environment within PACSD schools like 脡cole St. Mary High School, said Phaneufl.
鈥淚 feel like this career is life-giving,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e around youth all the time so it is very energizing and positive. I am very hopeful about our current youth becoming future leaders. They just show daily the compassion, the empathy and the love that you want adults to have in society as well.鈥�
Phaneuf adds that over 1,000 students currently attend 脡cole St. Mary and he is on a first-name basis with all of them.
The opening months of the 2022-23 school year have been largely embraced as special by students and staff, said Stubb. It is the first fall semester since 2019 without COVID-19 looming large.
鈥淚t鱿鱼视频app such a huge improvement. The teachers are telling us, 鈥榤an it鱿鱼视频app so good to be back in the classroom teaching our kids.鈥� And the biggest thing for our kids is being able to be with their friends, which is so important. There is also the return of activities such as sports, music or drama. All those were gone for two years. The kids are just so excited to be back. The smiles are on their faces as they come into the building.鈥�
Not lost on Stubbs and Phaneuf is the historical significance of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal. As a result of the long-reigning monarch鱿鱼视频app passing on Sept. 8, this year marked the last time a jubilee medal with her namesake will be awarded.
Considering Queen Elizabeth II was the only monarch ever to reach the 70-year milestone in the monarchy鱿鱼视频app 1,200-year history, there is a strong likelihood that the occasion of a platinum jubilee will never be seen again.
鈥淚 am a huge monarchist, believe it or not,鈥� said Phaneuf. 鈥淚 was a great supporter of Queen Elizabeth II. For me it had extra significance because it would be the last to bear her likeness and her name.鈥�