Teacher trio in liard
Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Fort Liard (Dec 01/00) - If you are a student at Echo Dene school, there's a good chance your teacher is a May.
Gerald and Pat May, who have taught in Fort Liard for four years, have been joined by their daughter, Jannine, now a full-time Grade 1 teacher at Echo Dene school.
Gerald and Pat met while studying for their education degrees at the University of Saskatchewan's Regina campus. They married and spent much of the next two decades dotting the map across the North.
Their careers began in 1972 with a three-year stint in Pangnirtung. Then it was on to Wha Ti (known then Lac La Marte) for a year, Fort Providence for three years and Yellowknife for nine years.
When Jannine went to university, the Mays packed their bags and bought a restaurant in Regina Beach.
"To get the family back together again, that's why we left," Gerald explained.
After five years of operating the business, Gerald and Pat were ready for another tour of the North. They spent four years teaching in Wrigley before landing in Fort Liard.
Naturally, they met many people along the way. MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew, then a teacher, and former teacher's assistant Sam Gargan were among their co-workers. They met Tom Wilson, now mayor of Fort Simpson, in Pangnirtung. Kaitch Nahanni's tenure in Fort Providence overlapped the Mays'. Nahanni now teaches Slavey at Echo Dene school.
Over the years, Gerald has taught Grades 3-12 while Pat has guided students through kindergarten and through graduation from secondary school.
"It's a beautiful place to live. Professionally speaking, you see a broader gamut of things in education than you'd ever see down south," Pat said. "You also get to know the teachers and the kids because you live in the same community. You see them every day. It's fun."
Jannine, after excelling in her studies at four different universities, and acquiring her education degree at UBC, settled down in British Columbia for eight years. She spent much of that time as an assistant stock broker, but the urban setting gradually lost its appeal.
"I grew up in small towns and I was commuting for two hours every day," she explained.
When Pat underwent surgery last year, Jannine decided to return home to the North. Not only did she lend mom a hand, she put her education background to work.
"I always liked teaching, but I've always fought it," said Jannine, who, with teachers for parents, spent more than your average number of hours in the classroom as a child. "But I'm comfortable with it. I enjoy it."
Three teachers in the family is already a noteworthy achievement, but could there be a fourth? Well, it just so happens the Mays' other daughter Stephanie, living in Leduc, Alta., is interested in getting her education degree too, Pat said, laughing.
