6 minute read
Dr. Louisa Loeb Permit Teachers Of Manitoba 12th Annual Reunion
Text and Photos by Ed Arndt, Virden, MB
12th Annual Dr. Louisa Loeb Permit Teachers of Manitoba Reunion Committee Front Row L-R: Vera McCallum-Student Rep., Karen Boughton, Committee Chair-Theresa Antoniuk, Edith Alexiuk-Registrar, Margaret Lesperance. Back Row L-R: Bill Badiuk, Wally Stoyko-Past Presient, Alex Alexiuk, Mel Bodnarus-Treasurer, Ralph Trombo, Ed Arndt-Secretary. Missing from photo: Lavone Lesperance-Caron, Sydney Puchailo-Student Rep.
On July 14, 2016, some 70 permit teachers, guests and former students gathered at the Viscount Gort Hotel, Winnipeg, for the 12th Annual Dr. Louisa Loeb Permit Teachers of Manitoba Reunion.
Building on last year’s success, the theme of this reunion was once again, “Teachers and Students Together Again” and former students of permit teachers were invited to attend. This year’s 40% increase in attendance of both teachers and students over last year was a result of some increased publicity efforts utilizing many rural and urban newspapers.
The reunion got underway with Committee Chair, Theresa Antoniuk, calling the attendees to order using an old fashioned antique school hand bell which I am sure brought back many memories to those attending. Committee member, Wally Stoyko, introduced a rather humorous “Ice Breaker” activity involving alphabetical listing of body parts which indeed did get everybody mixing and “breaking the ice.”
Reunion Chairperson, Theresa Antoniuk welcomed all in attendance and gave a brief outline of the day’s agenda. Teachers who had former students in attendance (nine in total) were given an opportunity to introduce them.
Committee Member, Ed Arndt, introduced the Guest Speaker, Dr. Gordon Goldsborough, the Webmaster & Journal Editor at the Manitoba Historical Society, university professor and author of a number of books and many articles. He has catalogued/photographed thousands of historic sites (old schools, bridges, elevators, etc.) throughout Manitoba. His presentation included slides of only a very minute part of his extensive
Dr. Gordon Goldsborough, guest speaker (centre), flanked by Ed Arndt (L), who intoroduced him, and Wally Stoyko who presented a token of appreciation to him on behalf of Dr. Lisa Loeb Permit Teachers of Manitoba 12th Annual Reunion Committee. Photo courtesy of Theresa Antoniuk. Reunion committee member, Wally Stoyko, presents a token of appreciation to guest speaker, Dr. Gordon Goldsborough.
Edith Alexiuk (right), reunion registrar welcomes Karen Boughton to the reunion. Theresa Antoniuk presents the award for coming the furthest distance to attend the reunion to Sylvia Halls from Reston, MB
research and photograph collection. This proved to be of great interest to his audience. Wally Stoyko thanked the guest speaker and presented him with a “rare” copy of Dr. Louisa Loeb’s book, Manitoba Permit Teachers of World War II.
Karen Boughton gave a touching tribute to the role of permit teachers in her “In Memoriam” presentation.
Following a delicious lunch prepared and served by the staff of the Viscount Gort, Committee Member Bill Badiuk, introduced us to Marlowe Cochrane (Marlowe’s Magic) , an illusionist from the Fisher River First Nation. He certainly impressed this writer with his “amazing magic tricks.” One of the most frequently uttered comments I overheard from my colleagues was, “How did he do that?”
Several attendees were recognized with a small gift for various reasons: Rose Podruski from Winnipeg, for being the first to register for this reunion and Sylvia Halls from Reston for travelling the farthest to attend.
An “Open Mic” session, moderated by Mel Bodnarus, provided an opportunity for former teachers and their students to share some humorous, intriguing stories of their experiences.
Thanks to many generous donors, a number of door prizes were given away during the day.
A new Reunion Committee was formed to plan the 2017 Reunion tentatively scheduled for July 13. This committee includes, but may not necessarily be limited to Andy & Edith Alexiuk, Theresa Antoniuk, Ed Arndt, Bill Badiuk, Mel Bodnarus, Karen Boughton, Levone LesperanceCaron, Margaret Lesperance, Ralph Trombo and former students, Vera McCallum and Sydney Puchailo. n
Donating your Teaching Treasures
Submitted by Manitoba Teachers’ Society
“Downsizing” “Culling” “Decluttering”. Any way you look at it, the goal is the same; to divest yourself of material things you no longer have room to keep.
The process itself can range from being a wonderfully liberating experience to a distressing one. Either way,
The Manitoba Teachers’
Society urges you to contact them if you have items from your teaching days in that mix of memorabilia.
“Anything from the MTS to you as a member is of particular interest. No letter or notice of an upcoming local association meeting is inconsequential,” says Mireille Theriault, the
Archivist at the Manitoba Teachers’ Society. “In getting ready to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the MTS, we also hope to gather all types of teaching tools of by-gone days from textbooks and tin lunch pails to photographs of you and your fellow teachers.”
This time of year is popular for cleaning out basements and garages, and forgotten treasurers can surface in the oddest places. “Last year, I had a lady who found a collection of photographs belonging to her late uncle who was a teacher back in the 1930’s. They were in an old, molding suitcase in his garage. Before contacting me, she apparently threw away a great many she deemed too damaged, but I would have liked to have had the chance to review them myself. I may have been able to make good digital copies of some of them.
I’ll never know.”
Theriault says this example brings up another point in handling all types of items but especially photographs. “I can’t emphasize enough the need to wear gloves to protect the film from fingerprints. Depending on where the items were stored, it’s just as important to protect yourself by wearing a mask or kerchief over your nose and mouth as well as gloves.” If you are not sure what may or may not make a worthwhile donation, it’s best to just pack up the lot and give Mireille a call to pick it up. There is no need to organize anything or put items in any particular order. Quite the opposite; the less items are handled, the better. This includes resisting the urge to ‘repair’ torn or warped pages by smoothing them or using adhesives of any kind.
“The most important thing we want to convey is that we will assist you in making sure every item for donation is appropriate for the collection and properly attributed to you. Although the donation becomes the property of the MTS Archives, the origins of the items and the details of the donation form part of their record.”
A high-quality digital record of photographs and documents can also be provided at no cost to the donor. That and knowing their donation will be treated with respect and reverence is very important to those who took great pains to keep those items for generations to come. It may make the decision to donate them a little easier. “Not only will it be kept as a record for your own family, it will form part of a larger collection on the history of teaching in Manitoba for others to explore this aspect of the social fabric of our province.”
More information on the donation process is available by contacting Mireille at 204-837-4666 extension 354 or email at mtheriault@mbteach.org. n
