Debates of May 16, 2007 (day 8)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I want to take this opportunity, with Mr. Bob White in our visitor’s gallery, to pay tribute to Bob and his wife, Susan, for their many years of teaching in the North with just three years experience teaching in Ontario and has added 30 years to that record in the North. His wife, Susan, has also taught in the North for 30 years.

The Whites are a part of the numerous outstanding teaching husband/wife teams that we have had in Hay River. Bob has taught all three of my children, and Jillian had him one year and then when Bob changed grades to the next grade up, Jillian begged to have him as her teacher again the next year. I am not sure if her begging helped, but she did get her wish and she still talks about that.

The Whites are two of the most positive and encouraging people I have ever met. They are like that with everyone, student or neighbour, aspiring athlete at the track and field meet, at the cross-country ski trails or just with anyone they come in contact with.

If there is one thing our young people need today, it is teachers and role models who instil confidence, positive encouragement and positive thinking.

Regardless of social conditions or economic realities in the home, every child should have a dream, and I have watched with amazement as the Whites have tirelessly taken interest in their students and have followed their lives, with interest, through the good times and the challenging times.

Every child goes through stages of self-doubt and sometimes a lack of confidence. Who can really measure the impact of a caring teacher who motivates and celebrates their largest and smallest achievements? We need an education system with people like Bob and Susan White who choose to see the good and best in their students and who bring that out in them. When the Whites retire this year, the students of Hay River and the teaching community will greatly miss them.

There are those who have a job and those who have a gift and a calling to a career that reveals that gift to the fullest. They are the ones who enrich and change lives, and the Whites have gone above and beyond the call, as demonstrated by Bob’s presence here today with 52 Grade 6 students. I don’t know what new and exciting plans lay ahead for the Whites, but might I suggest that the Department of Education take a serious look at finding a way of engaging their extensive knowledge of teaching in the North.

Teaching is not easy. I have said many times that I could not do it. In the small and often remote communities of the North, our mostly young teachers might stay a little longer if they had a visit from a couple like Bob and Susan White.

For the record, Mr. Speaker, in these proceedings of the Legislature today, on behalf of my children and the many northern students who the Whites have taught over the years, I would like to…

Mrs. Groenewegen, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.

Thank you. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement. Thank you.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? You may conclude your statement, Mrs. Groenewegen.

Thank you. I didn’t time that very well. I had one sentence left to say. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you, colleagues.

I would like to tell the Whites today, on behalf of the many children who they have taught in the North, that they have earned our respect, our affection and our very, very heartfelt thanks. Thank you to them. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause