Teacher gets hug from CHEO

Posted Jan 12, 2012 By Jennifer McIntosh

EMC News - Irv Osterer, head of the arts department at Merivale High School has received a nod from CHEO for his volunteer and fundraising efforts.

On Jan. 24 Osterer - along with a few other Ottawans - will be inducted into CHEO's Order of the Good Bear, a kind of wall of fame for faithful volunteers and donors.

Osterer, who teaches graphic design, has been involved in a design competition with CHEO for more than 20 years. He originally started encouraging students to participate in the competition when he was at A.Y. Jackson Secondary School in Kanata, later at Confederation High School and for the last 11 years at Merivale.

"When I am teaching young graphic designers, part of the process is making sure that they realize they have a social obligation to use their skills to help the community they settle in," Osterer said. "Each of my students has some connection to CHEO - so the competition is a perfect vehicle to teach kids how important this is." In the past 10 years, four of the winners of the design competition have been from Merivale - meaning their image is chosen as that year's fundraising logo.

The school also does a loonie drive every year, asking that everyone give a loonie to CHEO. Osterer said they raised $1,000 in a week.

"What we try to emphasize at Merivale is that it is important for everyone to give and when each kid contributes - even if they only give a dollar - they can make a difference," he said.

jennifer.mcintosh@metroland.com