Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award

CSSE inaugurated the Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award for outstanding service to the Canadian Society for the Study of Education in 1997. Pete Coutts (1907-1996) was the first president of CSSE, from 1972 to 1973. He was a giant educational leader and the Society continues to bear his stamp in numerous ways. He joined the University of Alberta in 1946 when there were only about 25 staff members and subsequently became Chair of Secondary Education and then the Dean of the Faculty in 1955. When he stepped down as Dean in 1972, he was persuaded to become our founding president. He believed strongly in a national organization and wrote to every faculty member in education inviting them to join the new organization. Over 400 faculty members accepted his invitation. Under his leadership, CSSE was admitted as a member of SSRC and given two seats on the executive. We are pleased to honour our founding president through this award.

The award is for outstanding service to and in CSSE, which should be demonstrated beyond service to individual association(s) or to the profession in general (unless these are explicitly advancing CSSE at a broader level). Examples might include participation in CSSE working groups, committees, and the Board of Directors; supporting the annual conference or other initiatives; establishing partnerships or connections with other associations; as well as other leadership and community involvement.

It will be awarded at most once a year, but may not be awarded in any given year.

Prize

The award consists of all expenses (travel, accommodation, registration) to attend the annual meeting of CSSE, and presentation of a plaque at the meeting.

Submission Requirements

A nomination should enclose a detailed letter of nomination, explaining the significance of the individual’s contribution, and three letters of support from academic colleagues, which need not be as detailed. The committee would prefer receiving the entire package at once.

The selection committee, consisting of members of the current Board of Directors, is chaired by the immediate past president or designate.

Past Recipients

2026 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Tim Howard

2025 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Julian Kitchen

2024 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Nicholas Ng-A-Fook

2022 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Dwayne Donald

2021 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Lynn Thomas

2020 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Kurt Clausen

2018 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Kathy Sanford

2017 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Rita Irwin

2016 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Victor Glickman

2015 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Sharon Cook

2010 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Alice Collins

2008 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Michel Allard

2007 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Donald Fisher

2004 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Jane Gaskell

2002 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Todd Rogers

2000 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Naomi Hersom

1999 Herbert T. Coutts Distinguished Service Award
Michael J.B. Jackson

1993 Distinguished Service Medal
David Friesen