The Janusz Korczak Medal honours those working to improve children’s lives in ways that encourage love for children, listening to children, fostering healthy children’s lives, and building capacities in children, in the spirit of Doctor Korczak.  The Medal is awarded jointly by the BC Representative for Children and Youth and the Janusz Korczak Association of Canada.

A heart-warming ceremony hosted by our Lieutenant-Governor, Her Honour Janet Austin, at Government House in Victoria recognized the 2023 Korczak Medal recipient Mary Teegee.  The Lieutenant Governor welcomed guests and recognized the good work of both Mary Teegee and the Janusz Korczak Association of Canada. The BC Representative for Children and Youth, Jennifer Charlesworth, spoke to the many achievements and high regard with which Mary is held in the province, followed by thoughtful comments recognizing Mary’s work from the Representative’s Indigenous advisor.  Board Member Ron Friesen spoke about Janusz Korczak and the work of the Janusz Korczak Association of Canada.  Jerry Nussbaum, the President of the Association, welcomed guests and expressed how honoured the Association was to present this award in collaboration with the Representative and to recognize the outstanding work of Mary Teegee.  Board Members Nancy Bell and Anton Grunfeld presented the award.

Mary Teegee delivered a moving speech recognizing the importance of holistic child, youth, family and community centred approaches within the context of culture.  At the podium Mary was joined by family and close friends, including her brother Terry, who is Regional Chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations.

Mary is from the Takla Lake First Nation in north-central B.C.  She believes that community wellness depends on nurturing tradition, cultural values and the environment.

Mary is the Executive Director of Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS), whose life cycle model of care acknowledges that there are multiple determinants of holistic health and well-being for people at all life stages. The health and well-being of all Carrier individuals affects the health and well-being of everyone else in that person’s life and community.  CSFS was created to support First Nations control of justice, health, social and family services. Staff work together across disciplines to provide holistic wellness services to First Nations people in Carrier and Sekani territory.  Services are aimed at supporting holistic wellness for community members. All programs are built on a strong cultural foundation, blended with evidence-based approaches.

Mary also provides cross-cultural training to agencies and individuals who offer services to the Carrier Sekani people.

Mary is President of the BC Aboriginal Child Care Society, whose focus is on nurturing excellence in indigenous early learning and child care.  She served on the National Advisory Committee for Child and Family services; and Co-Chaired the Minister’s Advisory Council for Indigenous Women, which was established in 2011 by the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation to advise government in the development of policy and programs to improve quality of life for Aboriginal women and address the social and economic challenges that expose Aboriginal women and girls to violence. Mary received her MBA from the Beedie School of Business at Simon Fraser University in 2019 and received the Dean’s Convocation Medal.