Carl Hultin Teaching Years

Viola Hultin, vhult@shaw.ca

The period following my graduation in 1956 from the Saskatoon Teacher’s College was one of teaching positions in Saskatchewan, the Yukon Territory and Thompson, Manitoba. Further studies were now centered on my majors of History and English. My position as an organist has followed me through the years at my teaching positions and I was grateful to staff members who willingly covered my classes in order for me to be able to play for a funeral or wedding within the community. Parents and students were grateful for my services as a piano teacher, in several instances, not having to drive many miles to other towns for lessons. At Archerwill, Saskatchewan during my first years, the school principal enjoyed conducting “mass sing-songs.” The special occasions of Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, etc. were observed at the school level and the mass choirs helped to connect the school population. I recall the excitement in the community as we prepared to stage an Operetta at Christmas. When teaching at Balgonie, just east of Regina, I recall with gratitude when students made their special sing song requests “Can we have music and art all afternoon if we finish all our other assignments in the morning?" In Yorkton, I was a music teacher for two years, before we departed for Thompson, MB, where I taught History and English. Here, too, my services with music continued and I was the organist of the United Church for umpteen years, really enjoying working with Rev. Thompson. Even after retiring from teaching I continued with my music services. Retiring to Winnipeg, I became one of the organists at Headingley. Of course, with COVID, everything has come to a standstill and now I just enjoy playing for myself, as a pass time. n