Teachers of the Thompson Teachers' Association gathered at the Juniper Centre on the evening of March 4 to congratulate and celebrate the service and dedication of colleagues who have taught with the School District of Mystery Lake for 20 and 30 years.
Emceed by T.T.A's 20/30-year committee co-chairs, Amanda D'Aguilar and Teresa Jenkins, the two teachers provided humourous interludes between speakers and newsworthy memories from 1989 and 1990.
In her official greetings from the association, T.T.A. President Anne Lindsay reminded attendees how many of the evening's celebrants intended to stay for a year or two but chose to stay longer and make Thompson home. Recounting some of the issues of the day when the honourees were hired, Lindsay noted how in 1989, T.T.A. negotiated in its contract a new dental plan, 24-week pay periods and, when on the topic of Manitoba Teachers' Society resolutions, T.T.A. steadfastly held the position against provincial bargaining.
While recounting some memories, Lindsay recalled how the association rented a railway car for teachers who went up to Churchill one weekend in October to see the polar bears. Wishing each celebrant all the best in her closing remarks, Lindsay then congratulated all the honourees by expressing how each of them have made a difference in the lives of many children.
Eight people were honoured at the celebrations. In one of the evening's most memorable speeches of the night, Burntwood School's Chris Victor honoured R.D. Parker Collegiate's Sara Gillis, who is apparently well known for her witty expressions.
Sharing some of Sara's many "Gillicisms," Victor provided attendees with some noteworthy expressions such as "Some days you are the pigeon, and other days you are the statue" or "You are only given one spark of madness; be careful not to lose it" and "A woman is like a teabag; you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water."
A special recognition that evening was given to Burntwood School's Joanne Forke who celebrated 30 years of service with the School District of Mystery Lake.
The Thompson Teachers' Association would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the following teachers for their years of service to the School District of Mystery Lake and to the youth of our city:
Joanne Forke (Burntwood School - 30 years);
Katie Maloney-Buchanon (R.D.P.C. - 20 years);
Wendy Howe (Burntwood School - 20 years);
Sara Gillis (R.D.P.C. - 20 years);
Robert Davies (R.D.P.C. - 20 years);
Lori Smith (R.D.P.C. - 20 years);
Debbie Oleschak (Westwood School - 20 years);
Karla Turton (École Riverside School/S.B.O.);
Cathy Neziol (R.D.P.C. - 20 years).
