Award Winners
MRA member Barbara Penner and Kathie MacIsaac
Kathie MacIsaac – MRA Crocus Award to an Advocate for Literacy, 2018
Kathie MacIsaac has been a librarian at Headingley Municipal Library for the past nine years, serving the last two years as the children’s librarian. Kathie has been the Summer Reading program co-ordinator for the past eight years and has served for two years as a member of the Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice award committee.
Kathie believes a librarian needs to be a child’s advocate, helping them find books and resources that are of interest to them, and supporting them as they develop their literacy skills in the way best suited to their needs. Kathie fulfills this role through weekly story time programming for early literacy, her support to local organizations such as daycares, nursery schools, Phoenix School, and the MacDonald-Headingley Recreation District. Phoenix School is next to Headingley Library which has provided opportunity for partnerships between the community library and the school. Kathie also visits surrounding communities schools and children’s centres. Kathie is also a storng promoter of Manitoba authors attending book launches and promoting their books at her library and on social media.
To say that Kathie is active on social media is an understatement. In addition to maintaining an Instagram account for her library’s children’s department, she also has an active personal bookstagram (@the_neverending_stack) and Twitter account (@kmcmac74) where she promotes children’s literature, Canadian books, authors, and independent book stores. Kathie is co-moderator of MG Book Village, a website dedicated to promoting middle grade fiction. Kathie is the Canadian voice on this international website and her experience has connected her and our literacy community with children’s literature in countries around the world.
Kathie is extremely generous with her time and her wisdom sharing her love of literacy with a wide audience. Join us in congratulating this inspiring, empowering literacy advocate!
Kathie MacIsaac has been a librarian at Headingley Municipal Library for the past nine years, serving the last two years as the children’s librarian. Kathie has been the Summer Reading program co-ordinator for the past eight years and has served for two years as a member of the Manitoba Young Readers’ Choice award committee.
Kathie believes a librarian needs to be a child’s advocate, helping them find books and resources that are of interest to them, and supporting them as they develop their literacy skills in the way best suited to their needs. Kathie fulfills this role through weekly story time programming for early literacy, her support to local organizations such as daycares, nursery schools, Phoenix School, and the MacDonald-Headingley Recreation District. Phoenix School is next to Headingley Library which has provided opportunity for partnerships between the community library and the school. Kathie also visits surrounding communities schools and children’s centres. Kathie is also a storng promoter of Manitoba authors attending book launches and promoting their books at her library and on social media.
To say that Kathie is active on social media is an understatement. In addition to maintaining an Instagram account for her library’s children’s department, she also has an active personal bookstagram (@the_neverending_stack) and Twitter account (@kmcmac74) where she promotes children’s literature, Canadian books, authors, and independent book stores. Kathie is co-moderator of MG Book Village, a website dedicated to promoting middle grade fiction. Kathie is the Canadian voice on this international website and her experience has connected her and our literacy community with children’s literature in countries around the world.
Kathie is extremely generous with her time and her wisdom sharing her love of literacy with a wide audience. Join us in congratulating this inspiring, empowering literacy advocate!
Tanis Theissen and MRA President
Lisa Carlson
Tanis Theissen – Crocus Literacy Award to an Administrator, 2018
Tanis Thiessen has been a high school math and science teacher, principal at Elm Creek School (Elm Creek, MB), math consultant for Pembina Trails School Division and most recently, is principal at Oakenwald School (Winnipeg, MB). Tanis is known for her passion in all areas of education, but especially in literacy, both in math and language, as well as being a leader in social justice and arts programming and experiences for both staff and students.
Tanis encourages her staff and students through planning many activities and writing an endless number of grants in order to add to the school’s resources and opportunities for students. Some of these programs/resources/opportunities she has provided for her staff and students most recently include: the United Way’s poverty simulation, birch bark biting (led by Indigenous artist, Pat Bruderer), providing PD through book studies, personally providing classroom literacy resources and for Family Literacy Day, and setting aside a portion of school funds for literacy resources and classroom library books. Other projects include storytelling through Artists in the School, cross-grade literacy projects with local high school students and maker space materials. Also, time is put aside each day for cross-grade reading at Oakenwald School.
Being technologically-minded, Tanis was able to bring in the Best Buy Geek Squad to teach the students music and 3D printing (one of nine schools in Canada; the only one in Manitoba). She is also a regular on social media, updating parents and the community on various upcoming events and celebrations. Tanis is a joy to work with and known for being so supportive and caring when it comes to students, staff, families, care givers, and those in need. She passes this passion on to all those around her. “If there's a grant out there, I’ll write an application for it. If there's a community member with connections out there, I'll try to nudge them to our school to share their talents. Whichever school I've been in, building student and staff capacity for learning and loving learning has always been my goal” (Tanis Thiessen, 2018).
Tanis Thiessen has been a high school math and science teacher, principal at Elm Creek School (Elm Creek, MB), math consultant for Pembina Trails School Division and most recently, is principal at Oakenwald School (Winnipeg, MB). Tanis is known for her passion in all areas of education, but especially in literacy, both in math and language, as well as being a leader in social justice and arts programming and experiences for both staff and students.
Tanis encourages her staff and students through planning many activities and writing an endless number of grants in order to add to the school’s resources and opportunities for students. Some of these programs/resources/opportunities she has provided for her staff and students most recently include: the United Way’s poverty simulation, birch bark biting (led by Indigenous artist, Pat Bruderer), providing PD through book studies, personally providing classroom literacy resources and for Family Literacy Day, and setting aside a portion of school funds for literacy resources and classroom library books. Other projects include storytelling through Artists in the School, cross-grade literacy projects with local high school students and maker space materials. Also, time is put aside each day for cross-grade reading at Oakenwald School.
Being technologically-minded, Tanis was able to bring in the Best Buy Geek Squad to teach the students music and 3D printing (one of nine schools in Canada; the only one in Manitoba). She is also a regular on social media, updating parents and the community on various upcoming events and celebrations. Tanis is a joy to work with and known for being so supportive and caring when it comes to students, staff, families, care givers, and those in need. She passes this passion on to all those around her. “If there's a grant out there, I’ll write an application for it. If there's a community member with connections out there, I'll try to nudge them to our school to share their talents. Whichever school I've been in, building student and staff capacity for learning and loving learning has always been my goal” (Tanis Thiessen, 2018).
David A. Robertson and ILA Provincial Coordinator Barbara Lepp
David. A Robertson – ILA Celebrate Literacy Award, 2018
The Manitoba Reading Association is pleased to present Manitoba author David A. Robertson with an International Literacy Association Celebrate Literacy Award. The Celebrate Literacy Award recognizes individuals that have made significant literacy contributions at the local or provincial level. Our recipient has made contributions locally, nationally and internationally. The author of a number of graphic novels, YA titles and adult fiction, David’s picture book, When We Were Alone, was recognized with the Governor General’s Literary Award, as well as McNally Robinson’s Best Book for Young People, and TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award finalist.
MRA is pleased to call attention to this wise and gentle man who is helping us make indigenous culture known and celebrated. David is assisting educators meet the Call to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to develop and implement curriculum and learning resources on Aboriginal peoples. With few resources for early learners, David wrote his picture book to be able to give teachers a resource they can bring into the classroom to support indigenous learning. Using age-appropriate ways to approach the story that are sensitive creates empathy in young learners. David believes it is very important to start providing information when children are young to build a foundation to understand indigenous people. His work with truth and reconciliation motivates him and has been life changing for him.
David devotes many hours to speaking to students in classrooms and to teachers in professional learning sessions. David believes his writing opens the doors to face to face talks which are really important to develop understanding. David is helping us understand the past and what we can do to move forward.
David has been a partner with the Manitoba Reading Association participating in our 4th Adolescent Literacy Summit in 2017 and will be a speaker at the upcoming 5th Summit in 2019. We celebrate David A. Robertson and his contributions to literacy!
The Manitoba Reading Association is pleased to present Manitoba author David A. Robertson with an International Literacy Association Celebrate Literacy Award. The Celebrate Literacy Award recognizes individuals that have made significant literacy contributions at the local or provincial level. Our recipient has made contributions locally, nationally and internationally. The author of a number of graphic novels, YA titles and adult fiction, David’s picture book, When We Were Alone, was recognized with the Governor General’s Literary Award, as well as McNally Robinson’s Best Book for Young People, and TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award finalist.
MRA is pleased to call attention to this wise and gentle man who is helping us make indigenous culture known and celebrated. David is assisting educators meet the Call to Action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to develop and implement curriculum and learning resources on Aboriginal peoples. With few resources for early learners, David wrote his picture book to be able to give teachers a resource they can bring into the classroom to support indigenous learning. Using age-appropriate ways to approach the story that are sensitive creates empathy in young learners. David believes it is very important to start providing information when children are young to build a foundation to understand indigenous people. His work with truth and reconciliation motivates him and has been life changing for him.
David devotes many hours to speaking to students in classrooms and to teachers in professional learning sessions. David believes his writing opens the doors to face to face talks which are really important to develop understanding. David is helping us understand the past and what we can do to move forward.
David has been a partner with the Manitoba Reading Association participating in our 4th Adolescent Literacy Summit in 2017 and will be a speaker at the upcoming 5th Summit in 2019. We celebrate David A. Robertson and his contributions to literacy!
Previous Years
2017
Joyce Sawatzky – MRA Crocus Award for Literacy: Advocacy
Dawn Kidder – ILA Celebrate Literacy Award
Susan Mooney – ILA Celebrate Literacy Award
Monica Wiebe – ILA Celebrate Literacy Award
Joyce Sawatzky – MRA Crocus Award for Literacy: Advocacy
Dawn Kidder – ILA Celebrate Literacy Award
Susan Mooney – ILA Celebrate Literacy Award
Monica Wiebe – ILA Celebrate Literacy Award