Last week, 12 dedicated Strait Regional Centre for Education students received Nova Scotia Lieutenant Governor Education Medals for their outstanding achievements. The annual awards, which recognize academic excellence and community service, were presented by Lieutenant Governor Arthur J. LeBlanc during a special ceremony at Richmond Education Centre and Academy.
Among the proud recipients was Jannelle MacEachern from SAERC in Port Hawkesbury. “It feels amazing to be recognized for my hard work,” MacEachern told me after the ceremony. The grade 11 student balances academic excellence with volunteer work at the local food bank and serving as student council vice-president.
The medals program, established in 1961, continues to highlight Nova Scotia’s commitment to educational achievement. Paul Landry, Regional Executive Director of Education, noted that “these students represent the best of our education system – not just academic excellence, but leadership and community involvement.”
Each medal recipient has demonstrated remarkable dedication to both studies and community. Take Brooke MacIntyre from Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School, who maintains a 98% average while volunteering with the Special Olympics. “I believe education should extend beyond classroom walls,” MacIntyre explained during our conversation.
According to the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, approximately 220 medals are awarded across Nova Scotia each year. The selection process involves careful consideration by school principals and guidance counselors who look for students demonstrating exceptional achievement, leadership, and service.
Lieutenant Governor LeBlanc, making his annual tour of provincial schools, emphasized the importance of recognizing young achievers. “These students are tomorrow’s leaders,” he said in his address. “Their commitment to excellence in all aspects of their lives benefits not just themselves but our entire province.”
Parents and educators filled the ceremony space, many visibly moved as students received their medals. Christine MacDonald, whose daughter was among the recipients, shared that “seeing the lieutenant governor personally recognize these kids means everything to a parent.”
The medals themselves carry significant weight – both literally and figuratively. Crafted with the provincial coat of arms, they represent a tradition of excellence spanning over six decades in Nova Scotia education.
What makes these awards particularly meaningful is the requirement that recipients demonstrate more than academic ability. Community involvement ranges from environmental initiatives to peer tutoring programs. Grade 12 student Jacob Doiron’s work with a local watershed management program exemplifies this balance.
Local school board data shows medal recipients are 80% more likely to pursue post-secondary education and maintain community involvement throughout their careers. “These aren’t just students getting good grades,” explained guidance counselor Marian MacPherson. “They’re young citizens actively shaping their communities.”
For smaller schools like Fanning Education Centre, having a student receive provincial recognition provides a significant morale boost. Principal Kenneth Ferguson noted how “one student’s achievement lifts the spirits of our entire school community.”
The ceremony also highlighted the unique challenges rural students often face. Many recipients travel considerable distances to attend school – some catching buses before 7 a.m. – while maintaining extracurricular commitments and part-time jobs.
Looking beyond the ceremony, these medals open doors. Previous recipients have leveraged their recognition for scholarship opportunities and university applications. The Lieutenant Governor’s office confirmed that several past medalists have gone on to prestigious national scholarship programs.
Education Minister Becky Druhan, though unable to attend this particular ceremony, issued a statement praising the medal program’s role in “celebrating the whole student – mind, character, and community spirit.”
The Strait Regional Centre for Education serves approximately 5,900 students across Antigonish, Guysborough, Richmond, and Inverness counties. In a region facing economic challenges and declining population in some areas, these educational success stories provide welcome inspiration.
As the ceremony concluded and proud families gathered for photos, the mood was distinctly hopeful. These students – from communities like Port Hawkesbury, Antigonish, and Isle Madame – represent not just academic achievement but the resilience of Nova Scotia’s rural communities.
For young MacEachern and her fellow recipients, the medals represent both recognition of past efforts and motivation for future endeavors. “This makes me want to work even harder,” she said, medal gleaming against her school blazer. “Not just for myself, but for my community.”
And perhaps that’s the true value of the Lieutenant Governor’s Education Medal program – recognizing not just what these young Nova Scotians have already accomplished, but what they’ll contribute to our province in years to come.
