Micheline Laflamme
The University of Ottawa’s Excellence in Education Prizes recognize educators of exceptional quality, who provide outstanding teaching while maintaining a solid research program. Profiles of each of the seven prize winners in 2006 will appear in the Gazette over the coming months.
Professor Denis Nadeau jokes that a “genetic predisposition” drew him to teaching. After all, his mother and several family members were also teachers.
Professor Nadeau possesses remarkable oratorical skills and professional rigour. He has developed a solid research program and is sensitive to the needs of his students. It is these qualities that have earned him the University of Ottawa’s 2006 Excellence in Education Prize.
For 22 years, Professor Nadeau has taught in the civil law section where he has shared his passion for labour law. “It is a branch of law steeped in historical significance. The final victory often came only after the death of men and women in factories,” remarks Nadeau.
On the first day of class, he makes a point of shaking hands with each and every student. “They are not numbers. I want to have a personal contact. At the end of the semester, I want to be familiar with as many people as possible.” This simple gesture impresses many.
“I have never encountered this before,” says Nathalie Beaulieu, a student at the École du Barreau, who, like most of her peers, knew very little about labour law before meeting Denis Nadeau.
Confronted with a somewhat sceptical audience, Professor Nadeau begins the school year. “For me, that is the ultimate challenge. We are talking about people who associate labour law with strikes, unions and maintaining the status quo. It is at this point they realize that perhaps these are stereotypes. Labour law serves to protect individuals,” points out Denis Nadeau.
For Denis Nadeau, being awarded the Excellence in Education Prize is proof that he has not worked in vain. “It is a significant recognition of my work. In law firms, it is often limited to honoraria and a huge clientele. Rarely will a lawyer receive a letter from a client telling them what an impact they have had.”
The prize, which comes with a $7,000 bursary, will allow Professor Nadeau to develop an innovative teaching approach—a master file composed of video capsules. These will contain actual situations to facilitate learning and awareness.
