Alumni Association of the Voice of Our Nova Scotia Teachers College Alumni Volume 38 February 2010 professionalism of its members through professional development Inside this issue: and resource material, and by en- President’s 3 NKABOM II hancing the relationships between Message schools and their communities. An- Nova Scotians and Ghanaians other part of the project assists de- Alumni Profiles 2,13, 23 Growing Together prived rural villages and neglected & 24 by Helen MacDonald neighbourhoods to acquire skills and Notice of Motions 3 strategies for community develop- Over the past number of years retired ment. Class & Faculty 4 teachers from Nova Scotia have trav- Nkabom II is concentrating on the Notes elled to Ghana in West Africa to work needs of teachers and primary schools Reunion 2009 5 with their Ghanaian counterparts on in very poor communities across the NKABOM II, a project designed to im- country. In the past thirty months the Class Photos 6-7 prove the quality of In Memoriam 8 education for Ghana- ians. Nkabom is a NSTC Foundation 9 Ghanaian term which Executive Council 15 means “working to- Minutes 16-23 gether in a joint en- deavour” and the Reunion 2010 25 project has given Agenda! some retired teach- Reunion 2010 26 ers an opportunity of Class Chairs a lifetime. The project sup- ports children in Of Interest: Ghana’s deprived schools, in rural and • Reunion 2010 will be held August urban areas, through 20-22, 2009 in Truro. Plan to the professional de- attend! velopment of A presentation to schools in Ghana from NSTU Book Mark Project. • We are now online! See inside. Ghana’s teachers and headmasters. It project has trained one hundred Ghana- • Nominations sought for President, also assists GNAT (Ghanaian National ian teachers to serve as trainers and Vice-President and several Association of Teachers) to support the (Continued on page 10 - see Ghana) Area Reps. See page 27. • New Events for Reunion 2010. See page 25. TC Alumni Carry Olympic Torch • Alumni in the Senate? Page 2. Daren White and Owen Parker, both graduates of the class of ’86, carried the Olympic Torch in the relay this past fall. Daren carried the torch in Elmsdale, NS on November 18, Day 20 of the run, and says it was “an awesome day - a thrill of a lifetime.” He met Sidney Crosby that day and had him sign the torch just be- fore Sidney ran. Daren Daren White is congratulated by took the torch back to Michael Wilson, ‘87, friend and fellow TC grad. (Continued on page 13 - see Torch) Prof. Tassel appears courtesy of Neil Fisher presentations at both local and Alumni Profile - provincial teachers’ conferences. Jane (MacKinnon) Senator Cordy has served as vice-chair of the Halifax- Cordy, ‘70 Dartmouth Port Development Commission. She was also the chair of the Board of Referees for employment insurance. She also served on the Board of Phoenix House for Youth. Senator Cordy has just completed two terms as a Board Member of Mount St. Vin- cent University (2007 – present). Senator Cordy is a past president Did you live here? of the Nova Scotia Women’s Lib- 53 Pleasant Street, Truro, NS eral Commission. She also served on Prime Minister Chrétien’s task Peggy Ouelette, ‘57, continues to work on the Seton Hall Project to force on seniors. Senator Cordy research and compile some of the his- was a member of the senate com- tory of this building while it served as mittee which published a report a residence for NSNC/NSTC students. “Out of the Shadows at Last” a study of the issues relating to If you have information, stories or mental health, mental illness and photos that would be of use, please addiction in Canada. She was also contact us at: a member of the special senate [email protected] committee on aging. Senator Cordy is the past chair Senator Cordy was appointed to of the Canadian NATO Parliamen- Voice of Our Alumni Newsletter the Senate by the Right Honour- tary Association. She is presently able Jean Chrétien on June 9th, serving as an international vice Editor Alexander MacDougall, ‘85 2000. She was born in Sydney, president of the NATO Parliamen- Nova Scotia and now lives in Dart- tary Assembly representing North Editorial Committee Alumni Association Executive mouth with her husband Bob. Her America on the executive. She is daughters Alison and Michelle also also vice president of the Civil Di- Special thanks for editorial advice and live in Dartmouth. mensions of Security Committee in assistance to: Neil Fisher and Murray Baillie Senator Cordy is a graduate of the Assembly. the Nova Scotia Teachers College Senator Cordy has a particular Please direct correspondence to: Alumni Association of the Nova Scotia (1970) and Mount St. Vincent Uni- interest in issues related to mental Teachers College versity. She taught elementary health, seniors and aging, NATO PO Box 1252 school for 30 years in Nova Scotia, and Gender Security, education Truro NS B2N 5N2 teaching in Sydney, New Glasgow and children. Email: [email protected] and the Halifax Regional Munici- Website: nsteacherscollege.ca From Senate of Canada Website. pality. She has made numerous We welcome comments and suggestions: Email: [email protected] Guest Speaker— pus (former NSTC) at 7:30 pm on You can find past issues on our website: August 20. nsteacherscollege.ca Reunion 2010 The guest speaker is usually a Voice of Our Alumni is published once a former faculty member or student year by the Alumni Association of the Nova Scotia Teachers College. Senator Jane (MacKinnon) Cordy (in some cases both) or someone ‘70, has agreed to be the guest else with a strong connection to The opinions expressed in stories or articles speaker for the opening of Reunion the College. Previous guest speak- herein do not necessarily reflect opinions or policy of the Alumni Association, its Execu- 2010. The opening will be held at ers have included, Paul Zann, tive or Directors. the Best Western Glengarry in David White, Alistair MacLeod, Truro (across from the NSCC Cam- Karen Casey. © Alumni Association of the Nova Scotia Teachers College 2010 Voice of Our Alumni Newsletter 2 President’s Message By Helen MacDonald Another successful reunion! Again she will maintain her contact and association with our Executive and Council under the Association. the leadership of Bob Jordan and Plans are well underway for this year’s Reunion Sandy MacDougall provided an from August 20-22, 2010. We have Executive, Council event filled weekend, with lots of members and alumni from many of the honoured opportunities for renewing friend- years reaching out to contact as many graduates as ships and making new ones. Bob possible. and Sandy co-chair this event and We are looking forward to seeing many graduates they consider every detail. The return to Truro, especially those whose graduating evaluations tell us that those who year ends in “0”. The itinerary promises an interest- attended were very pleased with the program pro- ing weekend. Bob and Sandy are still working out the vided. Thank You Bob and Sandy. details of specific events and activities. You’ll be Lenore Zann was our guest speaker at the open- able to keep up to date on the website as details be- ing of Reunion 2009 and her story and plans for the come available. old Normal College sparked lots of memories and op- This year, we are pleased to welcome Senator timism that the old building may find new life. Jane Cordy as our guest Speaker. Senator Cordy is a graduate of Teachers College ’70 and I am sure will Now it is on to Reunion 2010! provide for an interesting Friday evening. Each district of the province has area representa- The Executive and Council of The NSNC/NSTC tives who are always trying to reach out to graduates Alumni Association met in October. The Council wel- of Teachers’ College. Their names are listed in this comed Kim Grant as Area Representative for Pictou, newsletter. Contact them and they will provide any Antigonish, Guysbourgh. Kim replaces Dorinda information you may need. McCully who served on the council for a number of Please feel free to contact me at any time with years. I wish to express a sincere thank you to any queries or suggestions - [email protected]. Dorinda for her dedicated service and for the crea- We want as many of the Alumni as possible to be tive talent she shared with us. Although Dorinda is active and engaged. Remember to visit the website stepping away from her role as Area Rep, it is hoped (Continued on page 9 - see President) Notices of Motion Motion # 2 Moved that a new standing committee be added, namely the Building Fund Committee. Motion #1 Moved that an additional objective be added to Motion #3 Moved that the name of the Publications Com- Article II, namely “the preservation of the history and mem- mittee be changed to Communications Committee, and all ory of the Nova Scotia teachers College and its predeces- references in the constitution and By-Laws be changed ap- sors.” propriately. The full article would then read: The appropriate section of the constitution would then read: ARTICLE II—Objectives ARTICLE VII—Committees The Association shall concern itself with the following objec- Section I tives: The following standing committees shall be formed annually 1. the renewing and continuing of the association and fellow- by the Executive Council: ship with former classmates. Membership Constitution 2. the provision of an opportunity for members to keep abreast Publicity Special Projects of curriculum change and innovations in teacher training. Reunion Communications 3.