Ryerson president Sheldon Levy is being recognized for what an education watchdog says is his dedication to public education.
People for Education announced on Wednesday that Levy is this year’s recipient of the Egerton Ryerson award.
According to the organization, the award is given to individuals who have made extraordinary enhancements to public education from early childhood to post graduation.
Levy is the eighth person to receive the award, which has been presented yearly since its inauguration in 2008.
Previous honourees include former prime minister Paul Martin and former Ontario premier Bill Davis.
The organization says it is recognizing Levy not just for his presidency at Ryerson, but also for his work at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Sheridan College, and York University, where he was a vice-president of institutional affairs.
The organization says he has been “outspoken about engaging many communities in a public dialogue about education,” and has been a leader in post-secondary education for nearly 40 years.
Former lieutenant governor of New Brunswick and past Egerton Ryerson award winner Margaret McCain told People for Education that Levy has “led Ryerson University into the forefront of research and innovation.”
The organization is a charity supporting public education in Ontario’s English, French and Catholic schools.
Levy announced last December that he won’t be returning for a third term as president of Ryerson University and will be stepping down in 2015. He has been president since 2005.
TVO’s Steve Paikin will be hosting People for Education the award ceremony on Nov. 17 at TD Bank Tower at the Toronto-Dominion Centre.
Kathleen McGouran was a reporter for the Ryersonian. She has been a staff writer for Toronto music blogs Anchor Shop and livemusicTO, and has a weekly radio show on Ryerson's internet radio station, Spiritlive.net.
Kathleen graduated from the Ryerson School of Journalism in 2015.