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 Stacey Koebel's mother, Trudy Buss of Sachs Harbour, left, husband Dan Koebel, son Jack, and Dan's parents Ruth and Earl Reist of Ontario attended the ceremony to honour Stacey and to present the photo that will hang in the school's reading nook. - Erin Fletcher/NNSL photo |
Erin Fletcher
Northern News Services
Stacey died suddenly on June 19, 2003. The active and healthy 31-year-old teacher was at the school when she collapsed. Doctors believe she died of a congenital heart failure but the autopsy results are incomplete.
Last week Stacey's family, including her husband Dan and 18-month old son Jack, presented staff and students with a graduation photo of Stacey to hang in the school's reading nook.
The small book-lined corner will now be known as "Stacey's Reading Area".
"We came for one year and stayed for four years. Little did we know Stacey's and my journey together would end here," a moist-eyed Dan said during a school assembly, Oct. 8.
Stacey taught the Grade 4, 5 and 6 class at the school for almost four years while her husband Dan worked as the band's financial controller. The artistic and musical woman also acted as the schools' principal during her first year of teaching.
The newly-weds came to Tsiigehtchic for the adventure. It was Stacey's first teaching job and she loved every minute of it.
"Every time you smiled, or asked a question and did your best you inspired her passion to teach.
"You showed her she was making a difference to you," Dan told the students during the assembly.
"By doing your best everyday you can take comfort that Stacey is smiling down on you just as she did everyday."
Stacey's love for people will probably be best remembered.
"She had a sensitivity and compassion for other people," said Sachs Harbour resident Trudy Buss, Stacey's mother, after the assembly. "Whatever she did she did to the fullest," said Ruth Reist, Dan's mother.
"She really brought out the best in everybody."
The reading nook won't be the only place Stacey will be remembered.
On Oct. 5, NWT Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Jake Ootes acknowledged World Teachers' Day with a tribute to Stacey.
"This one teacher represents the qualities of so many of our teachers: dedication, concern and commitment to their students," Ootes told the assembly.
The Nipissing University in North Bay Ontario, where Stacey earned her teaching degree, is also offering a Stacey Koebel Memorial Award of an undetermined value to be given to a teaching student with a desire to teach in the Canadian North.
Tsiigehtchic will continue to honour Stacey with an annual National Aboriginal Day 5 kilometre Road Race and Family Fun Walk every June 21. Stacey organized the first run but never lived to see it through. Dan hosted the day anyway, and more than 60 people attended this past June.
