Centre Dufferin District High School student wins prestigious award

March 19, 2014 · 0 Comments

For 26 years, this prestigious Student Achievement Award referred to as the highest honor that the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) can bestow upon a student, (formally known as the Marion Drysdale Award) has cast a light on the best and brightest young student authors of our time.

This year was no exception and Centre Dufferin District High School Student, Conor James Arbeau was awarded a $1000 cash prize and framed certificate. To understand the magnitude of the accomplishment, one must first realize Arbeau’s work first competed at his school level, then carried on to our local district level, followed by further competition regionally and finally winning at the Provincial level. Winning authors were then visited by a film crew and the video of the interview was shown at the Award Ceremony in Toronto for all to see.

This years theme, ‘you cannot lock up an idea,’ was based on the famous speech of Politician, Tommy Douglas, then the leader of the Saskatchewan Co-Operative Commonwealth in 1944, who retold the story of Mouseland, originally told by Clarence Gillis, Cape Breton Mp, in 1940. Mouseland depicts a political situation where Mouseland was run by cats creating hardship for the mice. Ending with the powerful words, “ But I want to remind you that you can lock up a mouse or a man but you cannot lock up an idea!”

Arbeau’s story entitled “Light Bulb” has all the right stuff as Arbeau won in his category being Pose/Poetry/A2 Intermediate Grades 9–10 Applied/Essential category. Light Bulb is a four part prose each beginning with a favorite quote of Arbeau’s as an introduction and explores a struggle with the protagonist.

“It feels really good to win this award and the experience taught me to be a little better with editing and writing. My favorite thing about Light Bulb is the quote by Abraham Lincoln, ‘My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with failure’,” commented Arbeau. “Someday I’d like a career in writing. Working for National Geographic would be great because I like animals so it would be the best of both worlds.”

Arbeau didn’t achieve this feat on his own and under the guidance of his English teacher, Lela McKee, his effort paid off. “I’m excited for Conor and I’m happy for him. I’m so glad he got the recognition he deserves,” a proud, modest McKee admitted. “Connor is strong in English, he was interested in writing but didn’t start writing until high school. I’m very proud of him.”

And so McKee should be proud of this feather in her cap as this young mans accomplishment clearly revealed McKee’s dedication to her students and their abilities. Travelling to Toronto to accept this award, Arbeau’s parents and grandparents attended the ceremony with pride.

Arbeau says he is interested in participating in contests in the future. With community support and teachers the likes C.D.D.H.S behind him, there is certainly a bright future on Arbeau’s literary horizon.

If you would like to read a booklet containing all the winning student’s submissions and watch a professionally produced DVD about the students and their work, contact the Ontario Secondary School Teacher’s Federation.

To read Tommy Douglas’ 1944 speech where Mouseland became famous, go to http://3-114.weebly.com/uploads/3/2/4/2/3242763/tommy_douglas_speech.pdf

By Alex Sher