Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence
Ann Marie Vanneste won the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence in 2023, an honour that recognizes educators for their leadership, exemplary teaching practices, and dedication to helping students acquire the skills needed for future success. This prestigious award reflects Ann Marie's unwavering commitment to her students and her focus on fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in education.
Women of Courage Award
Ann Marie Vanneste was honoured with the prestigious "Women of Courage Award" by the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation in recognition of her tireless advocacy and work to raise awareness about Emmett Till’s powerful story. This award celebrates women who demonstrate extraordinary strength and resilience, inspired by Mamie Till Mobley, whose courage in the face of her son Emmett Till's brutal murder sparked the civil rights movement.
Ann Marie embodies this courage through her work as an educator and advocate. In 2023, she organized a screening of the film Till for over 900 students and staff from her school, followed by leading the annual Walk Till Justice event. With over 11 years as a performance dance teacher, a track coach, and a speed and conditioning coach in Ottawa, Ann Marie continues to inspire students by fostering inclusivity and championing equity, particularly for Black students in her community.
Lowell Milken Center International Fellowship
LMC Executive Director Norm Conard says, "Ann Marie's enthusiasm, along with a teaching approach dedicated to inclusion, has made her students realize their valuable places in this world. All of them are encouraged to reach high levels of learning. The motivating and inspiring projects her students have experienced will be a catalyst for ideas and collaboration with this year’s team of LMC Fellows.”
Global Teacher Prize
Celebrated for her outstanding 25-year career, Ann Marie Vanneste of All Saints High School has been named a Top 50 Finalist for the 2025 GEMS Education Global Teacher Prize. Her bold leadership, inclusive vision, and dedication to student success have made a meaningful difference in the lives of learners and educators alike—locally and across the globe.
