A Sub Fund of the Education Foundation of Ottawa and An Endowment Fund within the Community Foundation of Ottawa

Bob and Bonnie Dagenais were both educators, and this fund honours their legacy as supportive, caring teachers. Bob and Bonnie were high school sweethearts, happily married for over three decades. They were passionate about helping students and are remembered for their kindness and patience. Bob had a quick and self-deprecating wit that put others at ease. Bonnie taught Grades 1 and 3. It was a career that she loved. She was an innate teacher: always organized and thoughtful. Her classrooms were colourful, with walls full of ideas, guidance, and opportunities for learning—anything from the alphabet or how to tell time. When they weren’t teaching or pursuing more learning through professional development, the couple would spend holidays and weekends at their nearby cottage with their families.

Purpose of the Award

The Bob and Bonnie Dagenais Fund is meant to support one or more of the following purposes:

• to assist individual students who are in need and may be struggling personally or academically;
• to support programs for students in the area of literacy, sports or the arts;
• to help students seeking opportunities for educational or career advancement.

Eligibility

All graduating students at Ottawa Technical Secondary School or Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School are eligible for this award.

Judging/Criteria for Selection of Winner

Eligible students will be selected annually by a committee independent of the Education Foundation of Ottawa that includes a panel of teachers and administrators from the recipient’s school.

Award

Two (2) Bob and Bonnie Dagenais Fund Awards will be given (1 to Ottawa Technical Secondary School and 1 to Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School). The total amount of the award is dependent on the endowment fund’s annual earnings.

No application required. OCDSB staff from OTSS and Sir Guy Carleton to select recipient and notify the Education Foundation of Ottawa.