Dianne Ballantyne, a now retired local teacher and current Wellington County Ward Six councillor, recently received a distinct honour when she was presented with the Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence.

Ballantyne taught at several schools throughout the Upper Grand District School Board throughout the duration of her 28 year career.

Ballantyne says the award came at a delightful time for her. "It was an incredible honour to be able to receive this award. Teaching really is a calling, and one that I have loved," Ballantyne stated.

"It has its challenges but it also has really incredible rewards. To receive this award just after I retired was like a wonderful bow on top of a very loved career," she went on.

Ballantyne said she loved the feeling of getting to show students a part of the world they’d never seen before, highlighting international trips she was involved in to Turkey and Egypt.

Inside the classroom, for Ballantyne, it was all about connecting with students. "I think one of the things you learn from the students is that building the relationship or rapport with them is the most important part of teaching," Ballantyne said.

"Not the curriculum, not the technology, but actually developing a one-on-one interaction with them," she added.

Ballantyne also said allowing students to realize their impact on the world in social justice classes was a highlight.

Looking back, Ballantyne said her job taught her many things, namely patience and flexibility.

Quoted in a news release Ballantyne said it’s been the “honour of my life” to be a teacher.

That "very loved career" Ballantyne referenced came to an end in June, when she retired.

Listen to the CICW story below: