This book is dedicated to the great teachers I have known, spanning five generations. Their names bring back floods of memories, their  passion for teaching inspires all their colleagues, their touch on the lives of youth stretches on.  Though some have retired and some have passed away, others continue to teach and some of the ones I admire are still young and  inspiring leaders.  What a dream team they would be. 

Doris Smith, Blanche Markstad, Janet Fraser, Jim Byrne, Ms. McDonald, Eva Jagoe, Marilyn Perkins, Lucille Bergerman, Martin Poirier, Helen Rennie, Muriel Young,

Brian Thorlacius, Jane Parchewsky, Lillian Carr, Dr. Murray McDonald, Taco Albrecht,

Dr. Lorraine Slater, Darlene Unruh, David Dyck, Debbie Love,  Diane Crowley, Kim Doan, Chris Knebel, Katrin Lusignan, Ann Carr, Dorothea Reimer, Michelle Price,  Helen Coburn,  Diane Hagel, Madeleine Monod,  Robert Walls, Mrs. Vaselenak, Gabriella Ostendorfer,  Mr. Herman, Mr. Bob Wallace, Mr. Price, Dr.  Hetty Roessingh,  Pat Kover, Rebecca Bromwich, Dr. Jacob Jaremko, Ralph Dilworth, Mr. Kennedy, Hazel Turcotte, Ryan Turner.

I offer also  a special dedication to the teacher aides, school secretaries and facility operators over the years who are a much undervalued constant support in the lives of kids. Teachers and principals get transferred and promoted  but the constant in some schools is actually the support staff. Kids know them, run to them for help, kid around with them, watch them as role models of how to handle life. I am in awe of the secretaries who keep their sense of humor and perspective amidst the chaos and at the teacher’s aides and librarians who go the extra mile every day so teachers can make a lesson even better.  I especially give tribute to Mr. Vivian, Mr. Ostrander, Mr. G. Nicol, Mr. G. Lloyd,  and Mr. D. Armstrong and thank you all for the chats we’ve had, the laughs we shared and for keeping the school safe for all the kids in our care.

Everyone has school memories and recalls teachers they loved or disliked hugely.  A universal of life is that we did grow up and those people were part of that process.  A few stayed with us forever, as inspirations of how to handle problems as cheering sections in our struggles, and as guiding lights to head us to careers we’d love. Most teachers fade though into the ‘unacknowledged’ category eventually.  I acknowledge all of them.