McTavish Award Fact Sheet

OSSTF District 11- Thames Valley
Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation
680 Industrial Road, London, Ontario, N5V 1V1
Phone: (519) 659-6588; Fax: (519) 659-2421; Email: osstf11@execulink.com

E.C. McTavish Award Fact Sheet

Basic Philosophy

In 1973 the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation in London, established the E.C. McTavish Award in memory of the late Ernie McTavish. OSSTF District 11-Thames Valley is pleased to carry on Mr. McTavish’s fine ideals within the Thames Valley Secondary Schools.

One of the major aims of this achievement recognition program is to reward those students who best exemplify the philosophy of the educational system in which they are a part. In this particular case, the basic philosophy of our educational system is to enable each student to attain the maximum development of his/her whole person; that is the physical, mental, emotional, social and moral sides of an individual’s behaviour.

Objectives of the Award

	To recognize outstanding individuals in the area Secondary Schools, who have faced obstacles in their path and have overcome these challenges.
	To promote the idea of freedom with responsibility.
	To increase interest in the concept of well-rounded education.
	To perpetuate the name of Mr. McTavish and the excellence of his work in education.

Nomination Procedure

Each Secondary School chooses a student, from students nominated by the staff, student body and/or student council. The Branch President (or designate) will be responsible for establishing a McTavish Award Selection Committee from within the school. The purpose of this committee will be to interview each potential winner and select a final school winner who best exemplifies the criteria of this award. (Please note this student will not always be the school’s "shining star".)

The criteria for nomination/selection are:

	A student who is in the final, graduating year of his/her program at a Secondary School, and who is either post-secondary bound or strongly employable.
	A student who has done his/her best while overcoming some significant difficulties.
	A student, who perhaps has had to do part-time work while in Secondary School, and therefore has not been able to participate in as many extra-curricular activities as others.
	The intent is to recognize a worthy, striving student who has contributed to the school and community, but has not been, nor will likely be, the recipient or nominee of other awards.

The Selection Committee in each school should adhere as closely as possible to the selection criteria, and it is strongly recommended that a student be chosen who has not won a major award in his/her graduating year. It will be the responsibility of the Selection Committee to complete the typed script including personal comments - likes and dislikes - and to take photographs so that preparation of the Powerpoint presentation can be more personalized.

How the Recipients will be honoured

The winner from each Secondary School

	and his/her guests and Principal are invited to an Awards Dinner.
	receives a Chapters gift certificate, a framed certificate, a memento package, and a group photograph.

Biography of Ernie McTavish

Reflections upon a life greatly lived can take on the nature of a legend, and legends can grow with the passage of time and the dimming of our memories. But not with Ernie McTavish!

From his first assignment as a teacher of Physical Education and Geography at London South Collegiate in 1946, Ernie's dedication to principle and greatness of spirit prevailed in his career and touched those with whom he came in contact. His strong, positive spirit remains with those who worked with him and learned from him; it is as though his presence was but a moment ago and no embellishment is possible, let alone necessary, to express his impact.

His leadership was early recognized in his elevation to Head of the Physical Education Department at South in 1947. To his students, he became known fondly as "Mr. Mac". Although a large man with a booming voice, "Mr. Mac's" disarming, constant smile inspired confidence. A tough ethic dominated his thought and actions; but his caring nature endeared him to others. He believed strongly in the value of hard work and self-discipline, and his warm, supportive manner inspired others to adopt his attitudes. Ernie never criticized; he had too strong a faith in the fundamental goodness of others. When disaster struck, as it did in Mr. Mac's life, he displayed unprecedented equanimity.

In his role as Vice Principal at G.A. Wheable Secondary School, to which he was appointed in 1961, and his tenure as Principal at Westminster Secondary School, beginning in June, 1964, Ernie McTavish established himself as a principled leader who worked with his staff to solve their problems, but more importantly, to take advantage of their challenges. His positive, good-humoured, and confident manner inspired an unquenchable enthusiasm to achieve. And this same spirit imbued his tenure as Principal of H.B. Beal Secondary School to which he was appointed in 1967. Often professionals distinguish between the considerations of career and personal life; but such a distinction for Ernie was impossible. The ethics ruling his private life governed the practice of his profession, admitting of no compromise; yet, his caring practical wisdom could achieve compromise satisfactory to both sides in tough controversial issues. In the conduct of his office as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum from January, 1970 and Superintendent of Operations from June, 1970, he became known as "Mr. Integrity". We lost his physical presence on January 15, 1973; but his legacy lives on.