As classes resume at Kiilinik High School in Cambridge Bay, something is different.

Patti Bligh, a pillar of the Kitikmeot education community for more than two decades, is no longer there. She has retired from the profession, taking a job in Yellowknife on a one-year term as Northern studies and social studies co-ordinator with the Government of the Northwest Territories. She said it will allow her to embrace her SA国际影视传媒渉istory geekSA国际影视传媒� side and spend more time with her daughter, who lives in the NWT capital.

Bligh and her husband, Gordon, came to Cambridge Bay in July 1998, after Gordon accepted a position with the Royal Bank. The plan was to stay for 18 months.

Patti, who hails from Saskatchewan, was preparing to start her first full-time teaching gig back then, but the high school burned down that summer.

A scramble ensued to offer classes from the new Nunavut Arctic College community learning centre, among other buildings.

SA国际影视传媒淵ou learned very quickly to be flexible,SA国际影视传媒� she recalled, adding that the emphasis was on making the entire community the school, including the outdoors. SA国际影视传媒淚t was exciting and interesting and challenging.

SA国际影视传媒淚t changes how you teach SA国际影视传媒� I would have said thatSA国际影视传媒檚 probably the richest way to teach in the North, is the community is the campus,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

A combination of creeping SA国际影视传媒渟outhern legalitiesSA国际影视传媒� over the years and, particularly, the emergence of Covid-19 since 2020 has put much greater limitations on how lessons are taught. Many classes have moved online and use more technology.

SA国际影视传媒淚t is a learning curve for me,SA国际影视传媒� she admitted. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 time for me to not be teaching.SA国际影视传媒�

She added that she yearns to see more continuity among educators, less turnover. For that reason, she fought to get the Nunavut Teacher Education Program back in Cambridge Bay.

She also encourages more parental support for their childrenSA国际影视传媒檚 education.

SA国际影视传媒淲e need to move that up a notch,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he kidsSA国际影视传媒� success at school comes from the teachers but is driven by the parents.SA国际影视传媒�

Patti said she has no regrets about staying in Cambridge Bay, which she has found SA国际影视传媒渧ery welcoming,SA国际影视传媒� and her three children went through the school system there, getting a quality education. She also acted as a foster parent to close to 40 children over the years.

SA国际影视传媒淐ambridge Bay is home for us. WeSA国际影视传媒檙e not leaving just because ISA国际影视传媒檓 done teaching,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

It quickly became clear that the admiration for her dedication was widespread as word of her pending retirement spread prior to Christmas and words of praise spilled over social media.

SA国际影视传媒淚 have been overwhelmed by how kind people are. I am very confident that there are people who are not saying anything (negative), and I appreciate that too,SA国际影视传媒� she said, laughing. SA国际影视传媒淚f everybody loves you, I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think youSA国际影视传媒檙e a good teacher. YouSA国际影视传媒檙e somebody that created a world that was having them live in false illusions.SA国际影视传媒�

Students know her for her penchant for poetry and her love of history, which saw her chaperone six school trips overseas to Second World War battlegrounds where Canadian soldiers fought.

Mia Otokiak was one of PattiSA国际影视传媒檚 students, and the relationship has grown far beyond teacher and pupil as Otokiak reached adulthood.

SA国际影视传媒淚 met Patti because her daughter (Siobhan) and I are the same age and we met in Grade 1. Since then Patti has been a second mother to me. Even my mother calls her my second mom,SA国际影视传媒� said Otokiak. SA国际影视传媒淪he has done so much for me, from teaching me my manners, to getting me into so many amazing programs all over Canada; to not only helping me realize how important school is, but helping me get through and graduate high school.SA国际影视传媒�

Patti was also involved in many extra-curricular activities such as curling and Beavers. Otokiak referred to her as a SA国际影视传媒渘on-stop volunteer.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 could write a whole book about how much Patti has amazingly influenced my life,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檇 just like to add that Patti is an amazing teacher, mother and friend. I love her so much and truly canSA国际影视传媒檛 thank her enough for all sheSA国际影视传媒檚 done for me.SA国际影视传媒�