Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services

Inuvik (July 13/01) - Tony Stewart has put away his chalk.

Stewart is retiring after a teaching career in the North dating back to 1970. He is going to live in Ottawa, where his parents and his sister and her family reside.

Tony Stewart recently packed up his things at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school. Stewart is retiring after teaching for three decades in the North. - Malcolm Gorrill/NNSL photo

Stewart said he's enjoyed his time in the North, and that he hopes he's made a difference for all his students.

"You hope to make some positive changes," Stewart said.

"You've only got them for a year, and you've only got them for part of the day, and you're not miracle workers. Of course, they have their parents and their own upbringing, but you hope you can instil upon them sort of an interest and a desire to succeed in life."

Stewart was born in Camp Shilo, Man., and moved around a lot growing up because his father was in the armed forces. In the 1960s Stewart's father took a job in Yellowknife to help with the centennial program.

Stewart visited his father there. On a visit in the summer of 1970 Stewart -- fresh out of the University of Toronto -- bumped into the chief superintendent.

They needed teachers right away, so Stewart got hired on that fall as a teacher at large. In that year he taught in Repulse Bay, Baker Lake and Coral Harbour.

In 1971 Stewart got hired on in Aklavik, and stayed there until 1991. He became principal there as well in the late 1970s, but continued to teach some.

In 1991 Stewart moved to Inuvik.

He taught at Samuel Hearne until four years ago, when he went on educational leave.

He has taught at Sir Alexander Mackenzie school the last three years.

Over the years Stewart has taught grades 4, 5, 6, junior high, and Grade 10.

"The elementary students tend to be maybe a little more enthusiastic. They want to please much more, I suppose, than sometimes the older students."

Stewart said he's had some interesting talks with high school students contemplating their futures.

Stewart said he'll miss teaching, but is ready to try something different.

"I found time's gone very quickly," he said of the past three decades.