MusiCounts is excited to announce five nominees for the 2022 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation.

Each year, the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award recognizes an inspirational Canadian music educator's impact on students and music education. Today, the charity is proud to highlight the five Award nominees from across Canada:

• Jewel Casselman - Lakewood School, Winnipeg, MB
• Darren Hamilton - David Suzuki Secondary School, Brampton, ON
• Sophie Jalbert - École Roy-Joly, Rivière-du-Loup, QC
• Kelly Stronach - Mitchell Woods Public School, Guelph, ON
• Janell Toews - Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy, Canmore, AB

"Thanks to their commitment, expertise, passion, and resilience, young people all across the country experience the power of music and its many benefits,” said Kristy Fletcher, President of MusiCounts. “We are honoured to recognize an exceptional teacher with the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation. This year’s nominees are a remarkable group of teachers who represent the excellence and dedication of music educators nationwide.”

The award was established in 2005 to recognize and honour an exceptional Canadian music teacher each year. To date, this award has celebrated the accomplishments of sixteen music educators from across Canada who strive to preserve the livelihood of music education in their school and community. This year’s five nominees were announced live at the virtual JUNO Award nominee press conference broadcast at CBCMusic.ca/junos.

“Congratulations to this year’s MusiCounts Teacher of the Year nominees,” said Peter Lewis, Vice President, Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation. “The Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation has celebrated the accomplishments of music educators across Canada and continues to recognize the vital role these educators play in shaping the lives of young Canadians.”

The recipient of the 2022 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation, will be announced live on The JUNO Awards broadcast on May 15, 2022 at Budweiser Stage, live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music, CBC Listen, and globally on CBCMusic.ca/junos. The Award winner receives a $10,000 cash prize, a significant contribution toward their school music program, as well as a JUNO statuette.