Christine Ritsma

Christine Ritsma retired in June this year after more than 40 years of dedicated service to education. She began in the museum world at Historic Fort York and the Waterloo Regional Museum before joining the Avon Maitland District School Board in 1990. After three years in alternative education, she moved to Northwestern Secondary School in 1993, teaching special education and history with passion and creativity. In 2019, she co-founded the Board’s first Green Industries program, giving students hands-on experience in agriculture, horticulture, and environmental stewardship. Her leadership in this and other initiatives earned her the 2024 Baillie Award for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching from Queen’s University, selected through nominations from former students. In June of 2025, Christine was also a co-recipient of the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority’s “Inspiration Award“, shared with the school’s student-led Eco-Club. Christine also co-advises the award-winning SDSS Eco-Club and plans to continue that role in retirement.