Teachers both new to the profession and new to the School District of Mystery Lake were welcomed to the local education community by the executive of the Thompson Teachers' Association at the annual T.T.A. Induction Dinner held Oct. 8 at the Juniper Centre.
T.T.A. vice-president Shaun Kennedy began the evening's celebration by recollecting his first year of teaching, noting how members of the T.T.A. became his adopted family, helping him and his family feel welcomed and comfortable after an exhaustive moving process from Northern British Columbia.
Then, in her formal greetings from the Manitoba Teachers Society MTS President Pat Isaac, who was present to share many fine observations on the teaching profession with new teachers, recalled a three-page page teachers' contract that her father had negotiated with Morden, Man. schools in1963 and noted how the profession had come a far way since, due to the strength of teachers working together in solidarity.
While sharing with new teachers how they will never forget the ups, downs and unknowns of their first year of teaching, Isaac concluded her speech by requesting all new teachers to the profession to get involved in their professional associations so that they too, someday, can say that they have contributed towards the legacy of striving for better working conditions.
In the final speech of the evening, T.T.A. president
Anne Lindsay affectionately mused about some of the characteristics that constitute the persona of the average Thompson teacher. While the word "crazy" immediately came to mind when she surveyed some within the membership, the two that were foremost to her were independent and diligent, with a healthy sense for adventure. Noting how many Thompson teacher's career began as a one-year stint that lasted 30 or more years, Lindsay went on to say that Thompson teachers have the right to brag about having one of the best contracts in the province just as they also have the right to lend their voices within TT.A. and M.T.S. However, Lindsay also countered those statements with one of responsibilities, primarily that of always being diligent in one's duties as a teacher and being active within the association. With that, Lindsay then wished all new teachers the best in their careers and welcomed each teacher to the T.T.A.
The Thompson Teachers Association would like to congratulate and welcome the following new teachers to the Thompson Teachers' Association and to the City of Thompson:
Abbey Muirhead (Burntwood School)
Jill Lautenschlager (Deerwood School)
Peter Fancy (Juniper School)
Alicia French (Juniper School)
Roy Wiseman (Juniper School)
Danielle Arsenault (École Riverside School)
Michelle Arsenault (École Riverside School)
Angela Bishop (Burntwood/Riverside Schools)
Sara Fudge (École Riverside School),
Kristie MacLean (École Riverside School),
Ashley McInnis (École Riverside School),
Amy Portey (École Riverside School)
Gary Biglow (R.D.P.C.)
Rodney Hall (R.D.P.C.)
Kristin Heis (R.D.P.C.)
Ryan Land (R.D.P.C.)
Sarah Lewis (R.D.P.C.)
Kevin Lewis (R.D.P.C.),
Rob Zoller (Wapanohk)
Patricia Noelle (Westwood)
