Faculty of Arts Awards of Excellence 2024

Dr. Quirion arrived at the School of Translation and Interpretation in 2009, after beginning his full-time teaching career at the Université du Québec en Outaouais. An exceptional colleague, he very quickly distinguished himself through his interpersonal and leadership skills. The latter were quickly recognized as he took on the roles of chair of the school (2016–18), professor in residence at the Centre for Academic Leadership (2019–21) and finally, associate vice-dean, digital learning (since 2020).

Dr. Quirion has never shied away from challenges, persevering through complexity and changing circumstances to achieve his goals. By innovating in teaching methods—whether creating online credentials or developing out-of-the box (and out-of-the-classroom) methods such as the terminology “bicyclass” Termino à vélo—Dr. Quirion has offered new and interesting opportunities to students who might otherwise have found themselves unable to study or stifled by more traditional methods. Such innovation requires not only extensive planning and organization, but also significant funding. Dr. Quirion has repeatedly found solutions to support these initiatives, aided by organizations who were as inspired by the innovation as Dr. Quirion and his students.

Dr. Quirion’s innovation is also clearly seen in his research interests. Recognized as one of the mainstays of research in terminology implantation and terminometrics world-wide, he has developed methodologies for studying the success of new terms. Over and above the implications for the scholarly study of specialized language, this research has practical applications in supporting the development and evaluation of language and terminology planning, thus helping preserve and protect minority languages. Dr. Quirion’s abilities to link research, academia and the professional milieu have led to many fruitful collaborations, including Termino à vélo, which offered students the opportunity to meet and learn from numerous public- and private-sector professionals.

As impressive as these accomplishments are, it is Dr. Quirion’s human qualities that we value most. A treasured colleague, Dr. Quirion has consistently shown interest and concern for others and their well-being. Many of his initiatives have centred around student support and wellness, most notably the creation of the Arts Café to support students through the COVID-19 pandemic. He has established close ties with students who have come to the school to study with him, in large part, thanks to his inspiring research and teaching, and has maintained them well after the successful completion of their studies.

What stands out most, nevertheless, is his desire to continue to help others, even in the direst of circumstances. By transforming a cancer diagnosis into an opportunity to leave a lasting literary legacy for his family and to raise funds for a local health organization, Dr. Quirion has demonstrated his fundamental generosity and desire to help all those around him.

André Perrier has been a part-time professor in the Faculty of Arts for 20 years. He has been described by his peers as the central nervous system of the teaching mission at the Department of Theatre in both French and English.

André teaches acting, he teaches directing, he directs shows with our students and he carries out significant creative research, while undertaking the massive teaching responsibilities of his LTA contract. Year after year, he teaches six courses for the department — more than some teach over two years. As his teaching evaluations show, he is respected and admired by our undergraduates, who often approach our director of practical programs and ask for Professor Perrier to teach them again, and again. In countless hallway and official conversations, André shares his pedagogical insights, asks important questions regarding our programming, and makes unique and caring suggestions for teaching improvements, while taking workshops himself and seeking professional development opportunities constantly, something unique for a mid-career pedagogue/artist of his repute.

André has worked tirelessly to give our students the very best tools and experiences to prepare them for life after university. He is wildly talented, an outstanding teacher and a beloved colleague who has more than earned this honour and recognition.

“André is a principal pillar of teaching in the Department of Theatre. It is unusual to find a colleague so versatile and so skilled.” – Daniel Mroz, associate professor, Department of Theatre

Professor Mélanie Houle is an active member of the Department who always goes above and beyond to help students. Her work to produce a French version of the manual on medical terminology and its Greco-Latin roots was remarkable and attracted many students to courses in our Department, of which we are extremely proud. Each year, enrolment in her course steadily increases as word spreads. Professor Houle clearly has a gift for teaching. She commits herself fully to her students and always keeps their interests top of mind, as two of them have testified below:

“Professor Houle gives her all to make sure that her students succeed in all aspects of the course, whether its personal knowledge of the subject being taught or exams.”

“Without knowing it, Mélanie Houle allowed me to focus on my future and especially, to not drop out of university at  a time that was personally very difficult for me. I will always be eternally grateful to her.”

Professor Rocchi, who was hired in 2020, has had a remarkably energetic career as a researcher. She continues to impress us with the quality of her contributions, her productivity and her dedication to education and mentorship.

The scale and scope of her research program are noteworthy: she studies important issues in the field of interpersonal communication and motivation in health-care and educational settings. Her work explores the way in which effective interpersonal communication can serve to motivate others to make positive behavioural changes related to engagement, performance, learning and effort. Her research has also shown that the educating trainers, teachers and health-care providers in effective communication skills helps motivate athletes, students and patients to not only change their behaviours, but also maintain such change.

In addition to describing the value of her contributions and potential, I would like to highlight that Professor Rocchi is a very enthusiastic and determined person who has dedicated herself entirely to her profession since the start of her research career.

Her colleagues also underscored her many skills:

“Meredith Rocchi is an excellent young researcher with considerable potential. Having had the opportunity to work directly with Meredith, I can confidently say that she is a brilliant, dedicated and motivated young researcher.”

“...Meredith Rocchi has demonstrated on many occasions that she has all the qualities of a high-level researcher. I am firmly convinced that she will continue to be productive and innovative in her work, that she will have a positive impact on her field, and that she will judiciously advise her university peers.”

Marie-Eve joined the Faculty of Arts in the fall of 2022 as a senior officer, academic administration. As part of her duties, she takes care of several academic functions and frequently interacts with students. Since her arrival, she has shown remarkable dedication, engagement and speed in integrating into the Faculty of Arts.

In 2023, a year of transformation for the Undergraduate Studies Office (USO), a reorganization led to several changes in the leadership team, which affected the assignment of work. Not only did Marie-Eve maintain a positive attitude to this transition, but also she played a key role in implementing new processes. Despite an increase in workload for our team, Marie-Eve never faltered. On the contrary, she rolled up her sleeves and proposed several solutions to assist in making these new processes more operational. Without her involvement and leadership in this process, we could not have managed this difficult transition.

Moreover, Marie-Eve has actively helped strengthen team spirit within our group. She volunteers her time and efforts to help improve the wellbeing of staff members and the work environment at the USO.

Her commitment to the University of Ottawa, and more specifically to the Faculty of Arts, is undeniable. Marie-Eve is always available to support her colleagues and to participate in recruiting activities after business hours. She sincerely wants to see the University shine, and this is reflected in her actions and interactions. She is a source of inspiration for her colleagues and an invaluable asset to our Faculty. Her smile, her desire for excellence and her positive attitude affect not only our students, but also all our internal and external partners.

Ms. Vinet, a Franco-Ontarian artist and author, graduated from the University of Ottawa with degrees in French literature, in 1984 and education, in 1987, specializing in French as a second language.

Ms. Vinet's career as a Franco-Ontarian artist and author is a testament to her dedication to excellence and creativity. Her passion for writing, born of childhood and inspired by the thoughtful gesture of her parents during an illness, has led to a prolific career. Despite the difficulties of growing up with little French literature in Ontario, Ms. Vinet's passion and dedication to her mother tongue remained unwavering.

Ms. Vinet has published five books, including a collection of poetry in English and four novels in French, published by Prise de parole and L'Interligne, for which she has received nine nominations and four literary awards: the Trillium Award in Ontario, the Prix Émile-Ollivier, from the Conseil supérieur de la langue française, Quebec, the Prix littéraire Le Droit, Ottawa, and the Prix du Livre d'Ottawa in 2022. She was also guest of honor at the Salon du livre de l'Outaouais in 2021.

Her most recent novel, JAZ, was a finalist for the Alain-Thomas Literary Award at the Toronto Book Fair, and is currently a finalist for the 2024 Ottawa Book Award.

Even in retirement, Ms. Vinet continues to inspire others through creative writing workshops, collaborations with the Ottawa Public Library, and involvement in various educational, community, and humanitarian initiatives, including her alma mater. Her extensive travels to present her work underscore her commitment to promoting the representation of beauty through her intuitive writing process. It is also worth mentioning that Ms. Vinet's participation in the collection of texts "De l'enfermement à l'envol, rencontres littéraires", which features over a hundred creative texts from workshops held in prisons and rehabilitation organizations, was a transformative pivot in her career as an author.

Ms. Vinet's renowned contributions to the artistic and literary world in Canada has been a vital force in the development of the Franco-Ontarian community. Her impact extends beyond awards and accolades; it resonates in the hearts of those she has touched through her work, teachings, and creative endeavors.

Dr. Williams and his late wife Shelagh have been strong supporters of the Faculty of Arts' School of Music for over 25 years. Although not graduates of the University of Ottawa, they recognized the need to support the arts in Canada and chose to champion their city's emerging artists.

David and Shelagh’s commitment to the School of Music is exemplified through The Shelagh and David Williams Scholarship in Music and The Shelagh and David Williams Vocal Excellence Initiative. Their named scholarship in Music underscores the importance of helping students concentrate on their education without undue financial stress. Since 2004, the scholarship has supported over 50 students, providing them with the financial stability needed to focus on their studies and excel in their musical pursuits.

The Vocal Excellence Initiative further highlights David and Shelagh’s dedication to elevating the next generation of artists in the community. This initiative supports key elements of the School of Music's vocal program, including masterclasses, specialized coaching, workshops, and public events showcasing the students' work. Through this initiative, David ensures that uOttawa students have access to the best resources, experts, and opportunities to hone their skills and prepare them for a professional career in music.

He is also a member of the University of Ottawa’s Heritage Circle, which honours donors committed to maintaining the University's tradition of excellence through planned gifts. His and Shelagh’s incredible generosity and unwavering belief in our students has had a profound impact on the School of Music, helping to ensure that music education and performance continue to thrive at the University of Ottawa.