Peter and Audrey Switzer Trophy Room

Donated By: Hamlet Public School
First Presented: 2011
Criteria: Outstanding Primary Choir

Debbie Mountain taught school for the Avon Maitland District School Board and its predecessor, the Perth County Board of Education, for 31 years. For her last 14 years, she taught Kindergarten at Hamlet Public School in Stratford. She entered her Kindergarten classes in singing and rhythm band classes. In addition to her classroom duties, she also assisted with the school Primary and Junior Choirs as well as providing opportunities for the children to participate in musical productions at the school. Upon her retirement from teaching in 2010, this trophy was presented in recognition of Mrs. Mountain's outstanding contribution to the musical education of the primary children at Hamlet Public School.

Since her retirement, Debbie has been an active volunteer for the Kiwanis Festival. She served on the board from 2010 - 2018. She continues to organize volunteers to assist at the sessions as well as running many sessions herself. She describes her work with the Kiwanis Festival as "a labour of love".