St. Peter Catholic High School Teacher Honoured with the Arie Van Mansum Award
When we speak about Building Bridges, we often think of connections between people, communities, or ideas. For St. Peter Catholic High School teacher Mr. Daniel Maillet, those bridges are built through education, empathy, and remembrance.
Arie Van Mansum Award
Mr Maillet was recently recognized with the Arie Van Mansum Award at the Ottawa Holocaust Education Month Launch Event, hosted by the Centre for Holocaust Education and Scholarship (CHES).
The event, “CHES at 10 Years: Holocaust Remembrance & Education in a World of Turmoil,” brought together educators, diplomats, and community leaders to reflect on what we need to learn and relearn about courage, humanity, and truth.
The award, presented by Her Excellency Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Canada, and Marg Harris and Ria Euverman, daughters of Arie Van Mansum, honours educators who go above and beyond in keeping Holocaust education alive for new generations. It recognizes those who teach not only history, but humanity.
Teaching Beyond the Textbook
For Mr. Maillet, Holocaust education is not a unit or lesson plan. It is an invitation to understand the consequences of silence and the power of standing up for others. His students explore survivor stories, witness testimonies, and the ways small acts of compassion can resist hate. Through meaningful conversations and creative projects, he helps them see that remembrance is not about the past alone. It is about the kind of community we choose to be today.
In a world that can feel divided, Mr. Maillet’s classroom serves as a bridge. One that connects faith to action, history to empathy, and knowledge to kindness.
A Lesson for All of Us
As Catholic educators, we are called to build bridges rooted in dignity and understanding. Mr. Maillet’s example reminds us that when we teach with heart, we do more than inform minds. We inspire today’s students to make a difference. His work reflects what it means to Be Community, Be Well, and Be Innovative through learning that transforms and unites.
Congratulations
Congratulations, Mr. Maillet, on this well-deserved honour. Your commitment to truth and compassion ensures that the lessons of history continue to shape a more just and hopeful tomorrow.
