The final school board meeting of the year was a heartfelt evening of community, celebration, and reflection on years of quiet dedication. On Wednesday, Tricia Sawchuk, a Grade 1 teacher at Oakville School (OVS), was presented with the Portage la Prairie School Division (PLPSD) Excellence in Education Award, recognizing her outstanding contributions and commitment to her students.
The ceremony brought together school staff, trustees, and Sawchuk’s family to mark the occasion. Superintendent Pamela Garnham and Vice Chair Tracey Asham presented the award in recognition of years of hard work.
Sawchuk, who’s been teaching for 24 years and 22 of them at Oakville School, says she was genuinely surprised to learn she had been selected.
“It was so nice to be recognized, but I wasn’t expecting it at all,” Sawchuk explains. “Our principal is great at always acknowledging the things that we were doing within the building, but this was on a bigger scale. It was surprising, but nice to feel seen outside of this building.”
She was informed of the award at the end of May, allowing the school and her family to come together in support at the year-end ceremony.
Principal Mark Sokolowski, who nominated Sawchuk for the award earlier this spring, speaks with deep admiration for his longtime colleague.
“She’s an amazing teacher, an amazing person, and an amazing colleague to work with,” Sokolowski says. “She’s creative, a problem solver, innovative, and she works so hard for her kids. There are a lot of neat learning opportunities happening in her class where the kids are learning hands-on and then revising what they’re doing to come back and improve on it.”
Related stories:
- Smiles, sunshine, and teamwork mark Oakville’s year-end Fun Fest
- Sacred plants and stories bring culture to life at Oakville School
- Conservation efforts branch out across Manitoba
Sawchuk’s classroom is a place where young minds are encouraged to explore, engage, and rethink. Beyond her teaching, she’s also actively involved in coaching and supporting school-wide events, helping to shape the OVS community from the ground up.
“She’s a big part of our building and a big part of our team here. She is most deserving of this,” he adds.
The award also serves as a point of pride for Oakville School. Sawchuk is the second recipient of the Excellence Award from the school in the last three years. Grade 4 teacher Ashley Tulley received the honour in 2023.
“We’re proud of what we do here,” he continues. “We work extremely hard to give our kids the best learning opportunities we can. Nobody does this for recognition, but at the same time, if we have a chance to recognize one of our team members, it’s important to do so.”
For Sawchuk, the recognition is humbling. A lifelong resident of Portage la Prairie, she began her career at North Memorial School before moving to OVS in 2002. Although she always dreamed of becoming a teacher, she didn’t necessarily plan on teaching Grade 1 for over two decades. It just happened naturally.
“I always wanted Grade 2,” she recalls with a smile, “but I stepped into a Grade 1 role, and then I just happened to stay there. There’s no real reason, I just liked it, so I stayed.”
That kind of quiet devotion speaks volumes in a profession where adaptability and heart go hand in hand. As the school year winds down, the Oakville School community ends on a high note, grateful for teachers like Tricia Sawchuk who make a lasting impact one day, one lesson, and one student at a time.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@portageonline.com.
PortageOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the PortageOnline app.