Marc Mailhot and Lynda Brown

Recipients of the 2017 Governor General's History Award for Excellence in Teaching

November 8, 2017
Canada's History speaks with Lynda Brown and Marc Mailhot about their project, "GrandPals."

Montgomery Village Public School, Orangeville (Ontario)

Marc Mailhot and Lynda Brown have developed a cross-curricular, experiential and service-based project for Grade 5 called GrandPals. In the first part of the project, “All About Me,” students explore their personal histories and identities by conducting family research. Following this, students work with community seniors to complete the second section of the project, “All About You.” Students learn about their GrandPal’s life and discover key themes and events from Canadian history. Students choose one story to present and collect primary source documents, audio recordings, photographs and secondary research. The completed stories are published and distributed to each senior that participated. One copy is presented to the Dufferin County Museum and Archives to form part of their collection. Finally, students present their stories orally to seniors and community members at the year-end GrandPals Gala. The greatest measurement of the program’s success is the depth of friendship that students and seniors develop over the course of the project.

  • View of guests sitting in ballroom at Rideau Hall
    The 22nd presentation of the Governor General's History Awards was held on November 22, 2017
    MCpl Vincent Carbonneau, Rideau Hall © OSGG, 2017.
  • Julia George shakes hands with Governor General Julie Payette
    Julie George (left), recipient of Indigenous Arts & Stories with Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Julie Payette
    MCpl Vincent Carbonneau, Rideau Hall © OSGG, 2017
  • Two teachers wearing medals pose with the Governor General (centre)
    Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada (centre) with teaching recipients, Leia Laing (left) and Naomi Fortier-Fréçon (right)
    MCpl Vincent Carbonneau, Rideau Hall © OSGG, 2017.
  • Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, holds a framed certificate
    Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Julie Payette (centre) and Dr. Maureen Matthews (left) and David Swanson (right), recipients of the Governor General's History Award for Excellence in Museums: History Alive!
    MCpl Vincent Carbonneau, Rideau Hall © OSGG, 2017.
  • Rob Flosman shakes hands with the Governor General Julie Payette
    Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Julie Payette, shakes hands with Rob Flosman, recipient of the Governor General's History Award for Excellence in Teaching
    MCpl Vincent Carbonneau, Rideau Hall © OSGG, 2017.
  • Julie Payette poses with Michel Harnois and Marie-Eve Gingras
    Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Julie Payette presents the Governor General's History Award for Community Programming to Michel Harnois and Marie-Ève Gingras, from the Sherbrooke Historical Society
    MCpl Vincent Carbonneau, Rideau Hall © OSGG, 2017.
  • Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail speaks from a podium
    Author and historian Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail was the Master of Ceremonies for the Canada's History Forum and the History Makers Gala
    Brittany Gawley
  • Tim Grove speaks at a podium
    Tim Grove, Chief of Museum Learning at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, speaks at the Canada's History Forum about the History Relevance Campaign formed in 2012 to raise the profile of history.
    Brittany Gawley
  • Five people in chairs on stage
    Session 1 of the Canada's History Forum was entitled, "Making the Case for History."
    Brittany Gawley
  • Tracy Calogheros speaks from podium with other panelists in chairs on stage
    Tracy Calogheros presents the award-winning project Hoduleh'a - A Place of Learning at the Canada's History Forum
    Brittany Gawley
  • Life Speaker Noel Starblanket speaks into a microphone
    Life Speaker Noel Starblanket participates in the panel discussion at the Canada's History Forum
    Brittany Gawley
  • Calvin Racette speaks from podium
    Calvin Racette presents on the Treaty4Project at the Canada's History Forum
    Brittany Gawley
  • Speakers sit on stage with power point on screen behind them
    Naomi Fortier-Fréçon presents on Treaty4Project at the Canada's History Forum
    Brittany Gawley
  • Video projector with TD logo
    This History Makers Gala is sponsored by TD Bank Group
    Brittany Gawley
  • Robert Ghiz, former Premier of PEI, and Don Newman, former broadcast journalist with CBC, were guests at the History Makers Gala
    Brittany Gawley
  • Minister Lebouthillier kneels to pose for a picture with Isaac Landry
    The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier and Kayak Kids' Illustrated History Challenge winner, Isaac Landry
    Brittany Gawley
  • Group of guests posing for photo
    Sean Casey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, (fifth from right) with David Ross, Chair of the Board for Canada's History Society (forth from left) and Janet Walker, President and CEO of Canada's History (second from right) and the recipients of the Governor General's History Award for Excellence in Teaching
    Brittany Gawley
  • Robert Falcon Ouellette poses for a photo with guests
    Member of Parliament Robert Falcon Ouellette (fourth from right) poses with youth recipients Elly Hooker (fifth from right) and Mackenzie Anderson (second from right) and their guests
    Brittany Gawley
  • Three women pose for photo
    Mackenzie Anderson (middle), Indigenous Arts & Stories winner, with her guests at the History Makers Gala
    Brittany Gawley
  • Elder Commanda speaks from podium
    Elder Claudette Commanda welcomes guests to the traditional, unceded territories of the Algonquin nation.
    Brittany Gawley
  • Janet Walker speaks from podium to dinner guests
    Janet Walker, President & CEO of Canada's History, welcomes guests to the History Makers Gala at the Canadian Museum of History
    Brittany Gawley
  • Andrea Barrack speaking at History Makers Dinner
    Andrea Barrack, VP, Community Relations and Corporate Citizenship at TD Bank, speaks at the History Makers Dinner
    Brittany Gawley
  • Mark O'Neill speaks to dinner guests from podium
    Mark O'Neill, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of History brings greetings at the History Makers Dinner
    Brittany Gawley
  • Dinner place setting
    The theme of the 2017 History Makers Dinner was "the Visionaries"
    Brittany Gawley
  • Avah Solomon speaking at the History Makers Gala
    Avah Solomon, 2017 Young Citizens recipient, gives a toast to the Visionaries at the History Makers Gala
    Brittany Gawley