A banquet was held this weekend to honour four long-time teachers who are retiring this year.

Colleen Weimer, Pat Reed, Blake Johnson, and Jacquie Williams were honoured with a ceremony by their peers at the Weyburn Legion Friday night. Put on by the Southeast Cornerstone Teacher's Association, the evening included greetings from Saskatchewan Superannuated Teachers (Weyburn Chapter), presentations by Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation and SECTA, as well as entertainment by the Weyburn Comprehensive School STARS Choir and the 7th Avenue Band.

Colleen Weimer thanked her family and colleagues at the event.

Colleen Weimer retires after 37 years as a teacher - 36 in Weyburn. She retires from teaching drama and choir at the Comp and music at Assiniboia Park Elementary School.

Weimer delivered a speech, sharing some advice from former Goodwater teacher Esther Verde, who taught at the school where Weimer began her teaching career.

"Always listen to your students," said Weimer. "It doesn't matter how old our students are sometimes they just need to tell you something or they need a hug or just a smile. It doesn't have to take too many minutes from our busy day and it means so much."

She shared her own advice, as well.

"Also, if I did have advice it would be to always get involved with an extra-curricular activity. Pick something you love to do, share it with the kids who want to be there. It's an incredible experience."

Jacquie Williams had the room of her family, friends and colleagues laughing and crying during her unprepared speech.

Jacquie Williams retires after 33 years as a teacher - 28 of those in Weyburn. Williams taught at the Weyburn Junior High School for 20 years. She spoke to the room of teachers and former teachers, thanking her family, friends and colleagues, saying she couldn't have done it alone. 

"Murray Sproule, He taught me that no job is small enough that you don't roll up your shirt sleeves and get down to doing it...he taught me hard work," shared Williams. "Warren Becker, he taught me integrity...Keith Keating, he taught me there's always time in the day to laugh and then finally Oberg, he taught me the significance of customer service. You'd go in to see Wade and for that moment you felt like you were the most important person there. He'd listen to you and then he'd get 'er done and those were great lessons for me."

Williams retires from the Comp a phys. ed. and math teacher and basketball coach.

Blake Johnson accepted a gift from Margot Arnold, who represented the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation.

Blake Johnson retires after 33 years as a teacher - 20 of those in Weyburn. Johnson was a science teacher at the Comp. He was also a coach for many years.

He shared a special aspect of teaching young people in an interview after the event.

"When I see, say the singers that were up there tonight or people that are in my classroom or people that I've coached is, when I see them 10, 20, maybe 30 years later, what they've become. Those are the kind of people that you go 'wow, maybe I had something to do with their successes'. Not necessarily right at the time but later in life."

Pat Reed accepted a gift from Margot Arnold, who represented the Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation.

Pat Reed retires from teaching at Queen Elizabeth Elementary School after a 31-year career. She began her teaching career in Creelman. 

"It's been an incredible career. It goes by amazingly quickly," shared Reed in an interview. "I'm looking forward to the next chapter."

WCS teachers also retiring this year include Audrey Carlton, Randy Lueck and Bob King.

A dance was held after the dinner and ceremony with entertainment by The 7th Avenue Band, who are former students of many of the retiring teachers honoured Friday night.

 

Related: 

Beloved Music Teacher Takes her Last Bow

School says Farewell to the King after 50 Years