Grade 5 teacher Marie Bélanger of École Émilie-Tremblay is the recipient of the Prime Minister’s award for excellence.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the 69 winners on Tuesday from a list of 240 nominees across the country.

Bélanger will travel to Ottawa next week to receive her award from Trudeau on Tuesday.

Described as innovative and passionate, Bélanger was nominated by her principal Manon Carriere.

“Congratulations to Canada’s exceptional educators who challenge students to reach higher, work harder and think bigger, while instilling in them a lifelong passion for learning,” Navdeep Bains, federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

“Today more than ever, students benefit from digital skills, critical thinking and creative problem-solving abilities. Thanks to our teachers, young Canadians are set up to succeed in the jobs of tomorrow.”

Bélanger is being recognized for her approach to teaching using innovation and inspiration.

City Coun. Laura Cabott paid tribute to the teacher at council’s meeting Tuesday night.

Her success can be seen in the success of her students who have themselves gone on to win regional and national competitions in science, technology, engineering, mathematic and fine arts.

Bélanger has developed a flexible classroom that allows students to work together in creative work spaces, reads the biography included in the announcement,

She uses old unused equipment her students can take apart and re-assemble.

“Marie has created a comic strip with characters representing her students in actual situations to make them aware of ethics, consent, reliability of sources and online security.”

She uses an electronic platform to share her students’ work with their parents.

“Marie prepares our students for a digital and innovative economy,” reads a statement by principal Carriere. “In turn, they will keep on developing their own culture of innovation that we need now and in the future.”