WELCOME TO SOCIOLOGY

Shirley L. Pettifer

Shirley started "people watching" way back, when she was a kid growing up in Northern Quebec (probably as a survival skill) as one of the few English kids in a French neighbourhood, and one of the few working class kids in a middle class school. She didn't know that this is what sociologists do or that sociology even existed, until much later. After studying Education at McGill and taking a year off to travel, she got an Honours BA, then an MA in Sociology at Concordia -

focusing on popular culture, social change and sexual violence. Further studies in language acquisition were motivated by the job she loves: teaching multilingual, multicultural students at Vanier College. Two of her most cherished accolades include her selection as "Woman of the Year" during the 2002 Women's Week, as well as her recent selection as the recipient of the 2003-2004 Teaching Excellence Award. (More info below.)

Office and phone number: room A410 / 744-7500, ext 7784
Email address: pettifes@vaniercollege.qc.ca

PHOTOS


Here's Shirley with her beloved dog Betty and her god-daughter Su Ming.

2003-2004 TEACHING EXCELLENCE AWARD
Congratulations to Shirley Pettifer, from the Social and Cultural Sciences Department, for having merited the 2003-2004 Teaching Excellence Award. Although all the nominations received were most deserving, the Teaching Excellence Award Committee's selection was unanimous. Shirley will be presented with her award by the Director General at the graduation ceremony to be held on June 22 and will be honoured in several other ways. Shirley was nominated for her "outstanding dedication, creativity, devotion and integrity as a teacher, colleague and participant in a variety of Vanier activities. "Shirley's contribution to Vanier College has been a defining factor in what Vanier is today; her deep and continuing commitment to excellence at Vanier College is inspiring." (Quoted from the nomination package)


Shirley is flanked by Gloria Di Murro (left) and Pat Dichmann (right) on the
night of her award at the 2004 Graduation Ceremony held at Place des Arts


Shirley has been a member of the famous (or is it infamous?) "Bag Ladies" acting team for years.
(Other members seen above are Pat Dichmann, left, and Gloria Di Murro, right) Their hilarious
exploits have become a fixture of each and every Women's Week Champagne Breakfast.


Here's Shirley being congratulated by Marilyn Bicher (left) upon
the announcement of her selection as "Woman of the Year"
at the 2002 Women's Week Champagne Breakfast.

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