An internationally acclaimed literacy curriculum designer from Brentwood Bay is one of 13 British Columbians who were appointed to the Order of British Columbia on Monday.
Dr. Janet Mort receives the province’s highest form of recognition for her dedication to giving all young children — especially vulnerable primary learners — an equal start in literacy.
After a 35-year career as a teacher, principal and superintendent of schools on Vancouver Island, Mort retired and returned to school, earning a PhD in language and literacy.
She wrote two books and aligned her research and experience to develop her Joyful Literacy Interventions program. She designed an effective assessment/teaching/tracking paradigm that educates children through playful activities.
Her program is used in more than 100 classrooms in B.C. and teachers have reported a great sense of accomplishment among students using it.
Her appointment was announced by Lt. Gov. Janet Austin, chancellor of the order.
“As the representative of the Crown in British Columbia and chancellor of the Order of British Columbia, I am delighted to welcome 13 new members to the order,” Austin in a statement.
“They have helped us to grow as a province, taught us to care for our environment, enriched our lives with literature and art, helped us to address past injustices and inspired us to become a more caring and inclusive society. To recognize these remarkable people, who are changing our communities for the better in many ways, is an honour of great personal significance to me.”
Fellow recipients this year are:
• Shashi Assanand of Richmond
• Ryan Beedie of West Vancouver
• Michael Bublé of Burnaby
• Shirley Chan of Vancouver
• Neil Cook, MGC, of Cranbrook
• Paul George of Gibsons
• Rusty Goepel of Vancouver
• John Malcolm Horton of Delta
• Mel Krajden, PhD, of Vancouver
• Tracy Porteous of Vancouver
• Carole Taylor, OC, of Vancouver
• Ruth Williams of Kamloops
Since its inception, 460 British Columbians have been appointed to the order. Members have been appointed from all regions of the province and in numbers generally proportionate to a region’s population.
The Order of B.C. investiture ceremony will be postponed for 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions. A ceremony will be held for recipients and invited guests at Government House in 2021.
For more information about the recipients, go to orderofbc.gov.bc.ca.
