Thunder Bay teacher receives national recognition

Greg Chomut, (BEd ’08, BA ’08) who teaches art, history and media at Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School, received a Certificate of Achievement in the 2020 Prime Minister's Awards program.

A government announcement credits Chomut with building multiple bridges between his students and the wider community "in a city with a troubled history of racism":

In a city with a troubled history of racism, Greg Chomut (BEd ’08, BA ’08) builds multiple bridges between his Indigenous students and the wider community. He organizes innovative classroom activities and runs diverse extra-curricular activities. Above and beyond all that, he regularly invites at-risk students to live with his family as they finish their education; all of the students who have lived with him have graduated.

Teaching approach

Greg focuses on giving his students confidence and helping them find their voices, whether they're making a painting, learning from Elders how to bead moccasins, recording a song with a Juno-winning act, or writing letters to politicians.

In the classroom

• Promotes students' artistic expression through an after-school art club: student artworks are displayed in airports and were the backdrop for journalist and author Tanya Talaga's Massey Lectures; many students have sold pieces and now consider art as a career path.
• Helps students earn college credits: art students became so proficient with digital tools, such as Adobe Creative Suite and Apple Final Cut, that Greg was able to set up a program with Confederation College that allows students to earn a college credit for their work.
• Stages an annual full-school re-enactment of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, using paintball equipment: the demonstration includes an hour-long lesson on Ojibway sniper Francis Pegahmagabow, with the grandson of this highly decorated First World War soldier speaking to students.
• Fosters political awareness: coordinates class visits by senators and members of Parliament; leads trips to Ottawa, where students meet politicians.

Outstanding achievements

• Founded the Wake the Giant Music Festival: students perform alongside Indigenous and non-Indigenous acts, such as Wolf Saga and Metric, in what is one of Thunder Bay's largest festivals, designed to boost inclusivity and cross-cultural understanding.
• Reaches out to local businesses: some 300 firms and organizations display decals noting they are inclusive spaces for Indigenous youth; a student said a decal made him more comfortable entering a counsellor's office; Greg organizes field trips to local businesses for hands-on activities, such as making gelato.
• Developed program to help students navigate the city: older students work with new students during an "Amazing Race"-style orientation, as they learn how to travel to useful local organizations and services on city transit.
• Sources:  TB Newswatch and ic.gc.ca