Ecole Mother Teresa School Head Secretary Corinne Fontaine recently received an Award for Excellence in Catholic Education at the Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools Celebration of Excellence. Fontaine was nominated by Vice-Principal Ken Meraw and Grade 5 teacher Matthew Ribeiro
Ribeiro nominated Fontaine after she took him under her wing, after he moved to Sylvan Lake from Ontario.
“Corinne is a very generous person,” he said. “She took me under her wing when I got here. I didn’t have any family or friends or anything, so she took me in like her son. She really puts others ahead of herself and she sacrifices a lot of her needs to help other people.”
Fontaine did not know she was going to receive this award and was honoured to accept it.
“I was a little bit taken back, because I thought I was doing what everyone else does, but they said the award was given to me because I go above and beyond my job description,” she explained. “They recognized that I helped others and I try to help my community. It is quite humbling, because I don’t think of myself any different. It was quite touching.”
According to Ribeiro, Fontaine may not often be at the forefront, but her actions will be.
“She is very giving and a true woman of God,” he said. “She can be below the radar because she is such a humble person - so I think this award is something she definitely deserves. She is a very great person.”
Ribeiro added that after he broke his leg, Fontaine drove him to work everyday.
“Matthew broke his leg and had no car,” she said. “He lives right by me so it was easy to pick him up. My kids are all grown and gone so it was easy to do what I would normally do with them.”
Fontaine explained that giving back is something that makes her very happy
“Serving is really easy for me and its not something I have to think about doing,” she said. “It is about setting an example. We are all humans who need to be loved and taken care of - we forget that.
Ribeiro added “her faith is shown in her actions. I have never met someone like her. Her actions speaks volumes.”
todd.vaughan@sylvanlakenews.com