Honouring our teachers

By Chelsea Clark

By honouring teachers of the past and present, the Faculty of Education will mark the 100th anniversary of the event which started it all–the foundation of the Calgary Normal School.


The education faculties, both at the University of Calgary and University of Alberta, can trace their roots back to the Calgary Normal School. The school received its charter the same year that the province of Alberta formed in 1905. To commemorate this anniversary, the Faculty of Education will host the Centennial Story Project.


“The purpose is to honour teachers,” said Maureen Washington of the Centennial Story Project, which is to be a collection of memories of Alberta’s best teachers. “But most of all to share the stories and say ‘thanks.’”


Anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to describe, in no more than 700 words, the influence and effect that an Alberta teacher had on their life. One hundred entries will be published in an anthology to be placed in school libraries across the province.


“These stories will hopefully get people to think about how important [teachers] are,” stated Washington.


Judges will look for originality in writing, the significance the teacher had and the teaching methods they used. Washington said that they will also be looking for stories representing a cross section of different eras and cover the entire province. Entrants who have their stories published will be invited, along with their teacher, to an afternoon tea party in November later this year.


Submissions can be made before Mar. 1 by mail or online at: www.celebrateteachers.com.