Celebrating Inclusion: Meet Saskatchewan’s 2026 Inclusive Education Award Winners
By: Mitchell Happ, STF Communications
On June 6, 2026, Inclusion Saskatchewan celebrated the winners of the 2026 Inclusive Education Awards at its annual Inclusive Education Gala. In partnership with Inclusion Canada, these awards recognize people, schools and groups that are helping create classrooms and communities where students with intellectual disabilities feel welcome, valued and included.
2026 Inclusive Teacher of the Year
Dean Armstrong, Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre
In partnership with Inclusion Canada, Inclusion Saskatchewan has named Dean Armstrong of the Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre the 2026 Inclusive Teacher of the Year.
For Armstrong, inclusion is personal. As a student, he experienced barriers and discrimination while trying to access the support he needed. Those experiences continue to shape his work as a teacher today.
Armstrong describes his classroom as “a place to be brave.” With a background in theatre, he uses drama, puppetry and creativity to build connections with students. His goal is to create a learning environment where students feel safe, respected and valued.
Throughout his career, Armstrong has worked to remove barriers and ensure students have a voice in their learning. Drawing on his experience in curriculum development with the Ministry of Education, he helps students find learning pathways that meet their individual needs.
Rather than expecting students to fit the system, Armstrong adapts instruction to fit the student. He encourages learners to demonstrate their knowledge in ways that work best for them, helping them learn with confidence and dignity.
One parent praised Armstrong’s approach, noting that he understands the challenges many neurodivergent students face and works to make learning more accessible and meaningful.
2026 Inclusive School of the Year
École Palliser Heights, Prairie South School Division
Inclusion Saskatchewan and Inclusion Canada named École Palliser Heights School the 2026 Inclusive School of the Year.
At École Palliser Heights, inclusion is not a program – it is part of everything the school does. The school promotes a culture of belonging, teamwork and high expectations for every student.
All students learn together, and staff work to meet a wide range of learning needs within the classroom. The school has no segregated or special programs, ensuring that all students learn alongside one another. Students also have access to communication supports, including augmentative and alternative communication devices, to help them participate fully in school life.
School leaders are committed to removing barriers and creating a place where every student feels valued. As one parent shared, they have never heard staff say, “we can’t do that.” Instead, the team works together to find solutions and support student success.
2026 Dr. John Dolan Spirit of Inclusion Award
Nathan Brooks and the Mayfield Campus Montessori School of Regina
Inclusion Saskatchewan has presented the 2026 Dr. John Dolan Spirit of Inclusion Award to Nathan Brooks and the Mayfield Campus of Montessori School of Regina.
The award recognizes a school community that sees possibilities where others see barriers. The nomination came from the family of a child who had been turned away from several early learning programs because of his disability.
Rather than focusing on what the child could not do, Brooks and the Mayfield Campus team focused on how they could help him succeed. They worked closely with the family to secure additional funding and ensure he had the support he needed to take part in the prekindergarten program.
The school also took care to find a support worker who was not only qualified, but also a good fit for the student. Staff used personalized programming, classroom adaptations and creative teaching strategies to meet his needs and help him feel safe, understood and included.
For the student’s family, the impact has been life-changing. His parent says he now sees himself as a kind, capable and intelligent boy who knows he belongs in the classroom. He believes his ideas matter, his voice is heard and he is worthy of friendship, respect and inclusion.
About Inclusion Saskatchewan
Inclusion Saskatchewan is a provincial charity supporting the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and neurodivergence. Through self-advocacy, skill-building programs, individual and systemic advocacy, employment and transition support, and a family network program, Inclusion Saskatchewan works toward its vision of a society where all people are valued, supported and included in every aspect of life.