Community backers lauded
Star reporter wins award for series on 'Cool Schools'
Two principals and publisher also honoured for work
Featured in The Toronto Star, May 7, 2003. Written by Tess Kalinowski / Education Reporter.

Toronto Star education reporter Louise Brown was among four individuals honoured yesterday for their contributions to the community.
Brown, who has been working at the Star since 1977, first as a parenting columnist and then as an education reporter, was recognized in the media category for "Cool Schools," a series of articles that profiled innovations in publicly funded schools across Greater Toronto.
The third annual CARRRE (Canadian Awards of Respect, Restraint and Responsibility Everywhere) awards were presented by Chioma Productions. Chioma, a motivational speaker for high-school students, said she started the awards to reinforce responsible citizenship.
"We as a society have so much tension and conflict happening, we have to get back to the basics," she said.
Brown noted that schools have been at the centre of political conflict in Ontario for years. "In the last few years, covering education has felt a lot like covering a war zone. Just reporting on changes the government has introduced ... has meant a steady diet of disheartening news for everyone, readers and reporters alike," she said.
"Meanwhile, despite the turmoil, life goes on in the classrooms, day after day, in school after school - some of it very innovative."
Other recipients include Arnold Auguste, publisher of Share magazine, in the image category; Cindy Brown, principal of Don Mills Collegiate Institute, and Parkdale Collegiate Institute principal Gary Duncan, who were honoured with leadership awards.
The awards ceremony at the Royal Bank tower at Front and Bay Sts. was attended by more than 300 people - many of them students.
Born in Nigeria, Chioma grew up in Glace Bay, N.S. After university, she moved to Toronto and struggled to make ends meet. She eventually received her real-estate licence, sold her first home in 1991 and launched a successful career.
Chioma took up speaking after a car crash prompted her to think about her life. She has spoken to thousands of students in more than 300 schools in the last three years.
Students at yesterday's awards ceremony got another dose of inspiration from keynote speaker Billie Holiday, co-host of KISS FM radio's morning show.
Holiday broke her neck at the age of 14 after being thrown into the shallow end of a swimming pool. Doctors told the paralyzed teen she would never walk again. When she proved them wrong, she was diagnosed with a severe learning disability. Labelled as mentally challenged, Holiday said she became discouraged and left school in Grade 10. "I wanted to work in journalism and broadcasting, and they said I'd never do it," she recounted.
But eventually she went to Humber College as a mature student and launched a career that has not only put her behind the microphone, but also in front of the camera at Global Television, CTV and YTV.
Mayoral candidate John Tory encouraged the students to stay in school and learn from their failures. He recalled failing Grade 10 math but remaining focused. "When somebody tells you you should not do something, it should make you work harder. The price of success is hard work."