Page 25 - 1997

When a school loses a caring, gifted, compas- ;ionate teacher a terrible void is created. Patri- :ia Grant is such a teacher. When she retires in ,ebruary of 1997, another will replace her, but he void will remain.
>at was raised in Owen Sound where she received 1er elementary and secondary education. She 1eaded south to the University Of Toronto. Here ;he obtained her degree in modern languages. >at continued her academic career by obtaining 1er teaching certificate in English from the Onat- •rio College Of Education and later her Guidance >pecialist from OISE.
Pat and her husband Chuck have three grown :hildren and one grandson. The coming year pro- nises to be a great one for five-year-old John :irant. Grandma Pat will be able to give him the ime and love she generously gave to the stu- lents of CCI.
In her 30 years at CCI, Pat has touched the ives ·of countless students. She is that 'special ;omeone' who has helped many students through he particularly difficult times that are associ-
Richard (Dick) Edwards began his teaching areer at Park Street Collegiate in Orillia in 1963 1here he immersed himself in working with stu- lents in the Science laboratory, on the Football ield and in the Science and Outdoor clubs hroughout the nine years he spent there. After aking a year off in 1968 to travel around Eur- 'Pe with his wife Gloria, Dick returned to Park itreet until 1972 when he was appointed Science )epartment Head at Collingwood Collegiate. )ick quickly brought his coaching skills and foot- ,all expertise to the athletes at CCI and contri- uted to the development of several players who 1ent on to play University and professional foot- all in the Canadian Football League. A genera- ion and a half of young men thank you, Dick, )r your years of dedication to player growth and evelopment. Dick's coaching expertise paid off •ith GBSSA Football Championships in 1985 nd 86.
In the classroom, Dick is memorable for his reat ability to recall appropriate jokes to make point. His students will remember him for
Mrs. Marian Russell has worn many hats dur- •g her long association with CCI. She arrived 1Collingwood in 1960 with her husband, Jim, nd came on staff with the English department 1e next year. Two years later, Mrs. Russell !Ught Phys-Ed and Typing. As a phys-ed ~acher, she was reponsible for all the girls' extra- LJrricular activities, including Volleyball and Bas- etball, Badminton and Track & Field. She was 'irector of the Drama Club and involved in many ommunity activities.
Mrs. Russell spent 3 years in France and Hol- •nd with her husband and it was there that her •ve of French was born. She later returned to Cl to teach Vocal Music and French before re- ring to raise her three children. After a num- er of years at home, she was hired again in the 1oderns Department where she has been a val- ed and respected member of the French staff. he will be remembered for her enthusiasm and )ie de vivre' both in the classroom and with her )lleagues.
ated with growing up. These students will never forget her compassion, caring and giving nature. She is the person who stayed late to listen, to counsel, to be there when a friend was needed.
After thirty years of teaching Pat, has earned her retirement. She and her husband Chuck plan to spend time travelling, hiking, skiing and spoil- ing their grandson. Pat will become even more active in the Beaver Valley Brue Trail Associa- tion, Grace United Church in Thornbury and the Mental Health Board.
Patricia will be missed by all of us at Colling- wood Collegiate. We wish you good health, long life and a continuing passion to enjoy it all!!
his frankness and the caring manner in which he approached learning of the most difficult con- cepts in all areas of science. Dick has led CCI's Science Department through the years of expan- sion in the '70s, the upheavals of the Ministry of Education in the '80s and the cutback in the '90s, always with a mindset to make the best change for the betterment of the students in our classroom. His democratic leadership style led the Science Department to take active roles in all area of education at CCI.
Dick's legacy has touched all areas of educa- tion at the local and county level. There are ap- proximately 7,000 former students who can chalk up part of who they are to their interaction with this excellent teacher, coach and mentor. Additionally, all of his colleagues in Simcoe County wish Dick a happy and healthy retire- ment where he will likely spend more time on his hobbies woodcrafting, hiking, gardening and travelling.
Over the years, Mrs. Russel has watched CCI grow from a small school with a staff of 35 to the community it is today, much larger, but just as involved. She has known many Collingwood families, having taught both parents and their children.
When asked to reflect on her time at CCI, Mrs. Russell said, "CCI has always been and innov- ative school with a strong extra-curricular pro- gram in place for students."
After retirement, Mrs. Russell hopes to spend time with her husband and sons in Collingwood and to travel, visiting her daughter in New Zea- land. We wish her good health and much happi- ness to come.
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