Definitely Durham Hall of Fame

Honouring the Outstanding Achievements of Durham District School Board Graduates

Definitely Durham is the Durham District School Board's (DDSB) Hall of Fame to celebrate and showcase the successes of former DDSB students and public education in our community.

Nominations

Community members, former classmates, neighbours, and friends can nominate former DDSB students for the 2023 Definitely Durham Hall of Fame. The Durham District School Board was inviting nominations from community members for the next round of the Definitely Durham Hall of Fame.  The 2023 honourees will be celebrated at the February 2024 board meeting, where they were each presented with an award.

Nominations are now closed.

Deadline for nominations was:  July 4, 2023 at 4:00 p.m. 

  • All nomination forms (and supporting information) become property of the Durham District School Board upon submission and will not be returned.
  • Nominators should retain a copy of their submission for reference.
  • All submissions will be acknowledged in writing.
  • Nominees cannot be “self-nominated” or nominated by immediate family members (nominee’s spouse, parents and grandparents, children and grandchildren, brothers and sisters, mother in law and father in law, brothers in law and sisters in law, daughters in law and sons in law or adopted, half, and step members).

Recent Inductees

The 2020 honourees were celebrated virtually at the February 16, 2021 board meeting, where they were each presented with an award. Learn more about the 2020 honourees.

The Honourable Christine Elliott is a proud Anderson CVI graduate and one of this year’s Definitely Durham Hall of Fame inductees. She was named the first-ever Patient Ombudsman and is currently serving as the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health of Ontario. Listen to what Christine had to say about growing up in the Durham District School Board.

Watch Christine Elliott's inductee video

Dale led an all-star hockey career as both a player and coach and gave back to his community at every opportunity. Dale attended Woodcrest PS and Dr. F.J. Donevan CI in Oshawa. His sister Dayna proudly accepted the award on his behalf. Watch the video on how Dale’s kindness and generosity left a lasting impression across the nation.

Watch Dale Hawerchuk's inductee video

Jessica has inspired many with her dedication to equestrian sport and commitment to achieving her dreams while growing up in Uxbridge. Check out how she remembers her experience attending Joseph Gould PS and Uxbridge SS.

Watch Jessica Phoenix's inductee video

Geoff  has a love for music that has led him to a nomination for Song of the Year at the 2019 Grammy Awards and to work with many notable musicians. He grew up in Pickering, walking the halls at both Vaughan Willard PS and Pine Ridge SS. Listen to what he had to say about his past teachers and coaches in the Durham District School Board.

Watch Geoff Warburton'sinductee video

Past recipients

2017

Gail Elliott

Larry Jacula

Nikki Shaffeeullah 

2016 

Perdita Felicien

Rex Grignon

Governor Stephen S. Poloz 

2015 

Candice Hollingshead

Chief Kelly LaRocca

Anne Ottenbrite-Muylaert 

2014 

G. Gary Edgar

William Lishman

Nigel Wilson 

2013 

Andil Gosine

Donald Jackson

Debra Thompson 

2012 

Dr. Elizabeth Josephine Allin

Neil Pasricha

Honourable Mabel M. VanCamp

2011 

Dr. George Beaton

Honourable Ed Broadbent

Lynn Philip Hodgson