OISE wins national silver medal for JICS Centennial-themed photography

The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education has won honours from the Canadian Council for Advancement of Education (CCAE), Canada's leading advancement association.

OISE has received the 2026 CCAE Prix D’Excellence silver medal for Best Photograph, which recognizes the best original photograph to appear in an institutional publication. The submitted photograph, “Play, Purpose, and Vision: A Centennial Image for Education’s Future,” captures students actively engaging in the newly built Sara Jackman Playground at the Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study (JICS) on U of T’s St. George campus.

The photo was taken at the playground’s unveiling—a moment a part of JICS’s ongoing Centennial celebrating 100 years of innovation, education, and community at the JICS Lab School, a globally reputable lab school and a Nursery to 6th Grade School at the University of Toronto.

“This image is both historically significant and a striking reflection of JICS’s values – inclusivity, intentional diversity, inquiry-based learning, and appropriately risky play,” said Richard Messina, JICS' Principal. “The playground reflects JICS’s commitment to student-centered, developmentally responsive play-based education.

“We are so tremendously honoured to be nationally recognized with honours by CCAE.”

This fully accessible, state-of-the-art playground welcomed students for the first time in February 2024 and was made possible by the Jackman family’s extraordinary $1 million naming gift. 

This photograph was born out of a clear vision to capture the unveiling of the playground in a way that felt true to who OISE and JICS are – not a staged moment, but with children actually learning, playing, and belonging. 

“What helped make our submission stand out was being able to show how far this single image traveled, including its selection as the lead visual in our OISE 2025-2030 Academic Plan,” said Sim Kapoor, director of OISE’S Office of Advancement, Communications, and External Relations. “The image is the result of deliberate advancement strategy, and an effort on our part to ensure our communications work was woven into OISE's broader institutional priorities.”

The award was announced as part of CCAE’s 2026 Prix d'Excellence announcements (see the announcement of OISE's win at 21:37 of the video). 

“The photograph is aesthetically striking and conceptually clear,” added Kapoor. “The image reflects JICS’s core values of educational philosophy, community engagement, and commitment to accessibility in a single compelling frame.

“What an incredible honour, to be nationally recognized for this tremendous photo, a symbol of our tireless efforts. Our team will treasure this honour.”

This CCAE Prix D’Excellence medal is latest the small but mighty team in OISE’s Office of Advancement, Communications, and External Relations. The team won the CCAE 2021 Prix d'Excellence bronze medal in honour of the OISE Stay at Home Club. In 2019, the Office of Advancement, Communications, and External Relations won the Prix D'Excellence silver medal for best alumni event, for that year's Winter Wonderland and Community Skate event.