MusiCounts, Canada’s leading music education charity, is excited to reveal Raquel McIntosh from Adelaide Hoodless Elementary School in Hamilton, ON is the winner of the esteemed national 2026 MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award, presented by Anthem Music Group. McIntosh received the award during tonight’s live JUNO Awards broadcast at the TD Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario.
Raquel McIntosh from Adelaide Hoodless Elementary School (Hamilton, ON) is an extraordinary educator and has transformed her school’s music program by establishing student-led choirs, organizing school performances, and providing on-stage and behind-the-scenes opportunities for every student.
Raquel is the 21st recipient of the MusiCounts Teacher of the Year Award. In recognition of this achievement, she will receive a $10,000 cash prize, a significant contribution to her school’s music program through the MusiCounts School Music Funding Program, a JUNO Award statuette, and grants to additional schools in her honour
McIntosh is a key contributor to the unique Creative Minds initiative at the school, which aligns educator strengths and passions with student voices to meet learner needs. McIntosh is also an innovator, having founded “Beyond the Soundtrack”, a program that combines spoken word, slam poetry, restorative practice and musical foundations to prepare students for the highly anticipated mobile music production studio at the school. Through this initiative McIntosh continues to model Black Excellence by ensuring BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and the diverse array of students can access space to be vulnerable, explore identity, and grow together through music-making
“Congratulations to Raquel McIntosh, this year’s MusiCounts Teacher of the Year,” said Kristy Fletcher, President of MusiCounts and COO of CARAS/The JUNO Awards. “It’s a privilege to spotlight the dedication and passion of music teachers, and especially meaningful to celebrate an educator in the community she calls home. Raquel has made an extraordinary impact on young people across Hamilton, and we’re proud to recognize her as this year’s winner..”
“Thank you to my wonderful family, my supportive and creative colleagues, and of course the students that bring music class to life at Adelaide Hoodless Elementary School,” said Raquel McIntosh. “MusiCounts has given me and my incredible colleagues the opportunity to dismantle the systemic barriers that decide who is worthy of holding an instrument. Every child has the right to experience the transformative power of music with dignity.”