BRAVO! AWARD
SD8 Wins National Award for Communications and Engagement

School District No.8 (Kootenay Lake) has won a/an Award of Distinction 2023 BRAVO! Award from the Canadian Association of Communicators in Education (CACE) for its 2024-2029 Strategic Plan Engagement.

The award recognizes and honours exemplary work in public relations, communications, marketing and engagement in school board communications across Canada each year.

"It's an honour to be recognized nationally by the Canadian Association of Communicators in Education for the hard work and commitment that the SD8 team demonstrated in engaging with our communities, Our strategic plan is the result of participation from many people, and it is heartening to know that residents of our region are passionate about seeing children learn and thrive across our district," said SD8 Superintendent Trish Smillie.

SD8 has been recognized for its work engaging with school communities including students, families, staff and educational partners including Indigenous partners to develop the five-year plan.

Between January and April 2023, the district engaged with close to 1000 people online and hundreds in person during meetings and in community sessions held in the Slocan Valley, Kaslo, Crawford Bay, Creston, Salmo and Nelson. Participants submitted 1882 ideas for the strategic plan that led to five strategic priorities: lifelong learners, connected learners, a caring and inclusive learning culture, cultural and identity development, and career development. 

"On behalf of the Board of Education I want thank the CACE for this award for communicating and engaging with our communities. Each trustee in our district gained a much deeper understanding of what is important to students, staff, families, and our educational partners on the journey to developing our strategic plan. That's a reward in itself. To receive formal recognition is the icing on the cake," said SD8 Board Chair Lenora Trenaman. 

Under the Communications Project category, the Award of Distinction is one of the highest recognitions for education communications and engagement programs and campaigns in Canada. Each year, hundreds of school districts submit projects and pieces for judging by communications and engagement experts outside the K-12 education sector, in the in pursuit of recognition for excellence, distinction or a "coup de coeur" for a single communication piece that stands out from the others.