If you stroll far enough on Prince Albert’s Rotary Trail will you connect with the North Pole? Well... sort of. Rotarians face a ‘test’ when answering such a question. One of the requirements of the reply is: “Is it the truth?”

Research at our local Historical Museum and Rotary’s website helps us seek the truth. 

Recently memories were recalled at a fortieth reunion of Prince Albert Technical High School students. I was not there, but I am certain many stories were recalled, and of course embellished. It must have been a great time. 

I taught at PA Tech from 1966 to 1975. I have many fond memories - memories of the staff, of classroom events, and of extracurricular activities. I will recall here a few recollections that I have of coaching football at Tech. I will center my comments around one particular student. I do this hoping that I do not disparage the hundreds of other students that filled my days with laughter, actions, excitement, and, yes, challenges.  

‘When all Canadian cultures meet on a level playing field, the true benefits of multiculturalism will fully enrich our society.’

This philosophy lies at the base of the actions of Liza Brown, Program Coordinator of  SUNTEP. SUNTEP is an acronym for Saskatchewan Urban Native Teacher Education Program. It is a post secondary education program that has existed in Prince Albert since 1981, and is housed in the Gabriel Dumont Institute. The graduates of the program hold a Bachelor of Education. Over one hundred SUNTEP graduates are presently employed in Prince Albert schools. 

Terry Fox became the ‘Heart’ of the Cure for Cancer movement in Canada, with his personal ‘Marathon of Hope.’ It began in April of 1980 in St John’s, Nfld. In September of that same year, cancer launched a counter attack and ended Terry’s ‘Run’ at Thunder Bay, Ontario. But, cancer did not win the war. Even though Terry was forced to stop running, and Terry’s  heart stopped in June the following year, the Marathon of Hope did not stop. The soul of that dream took hold in the hearts of thousands of Canadians across our nation and in the hearts of thousands more around the globe.

In the last ‘Whale of a Tale’ I stated: “Despite thinking I taught students, they taught me - taught me lessons that stayed with me throughout my days in the classroom.” The following is one of the most important lessons students passed on to me.