Teachers Pam and Craig Walsh arrived in Fort Smith in August 1993, and when they retire in the near future, the community will remain their home.

For the first few years of the 1990s, they were teaching in Davis Inlet, Labrador, where they met.

SA国际影视传媒淲e wanted a change,SA国际影视传媒� Pam said of departing Labrador for the Northwest Territories.

But that desire for a change of scenery hasnSA国际影视传媒檛 revisited them in nearly 30 years.

SA国际影视传媒淲e just found that when we got to Fort Smith, everything we saw about the town, we liked,SA国际影视传媒� said Craig. SA国际影视传媒淚t was the right size. The first thing we noticed as we moved into town was the cleanliness. People were friendly and it had the amenities that you needed to live a comfortable life and raise a family.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚t was a beautiful little community,SA国际影视传媒� Pam added. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a really good quality of life.SA国际影视传媒�

They raised their two children in Fort Smith. Megan, 26, is a nurse in Yellowknife while Matthew, 24, works in the trades at one of the diamond mines. He still resides in Fort Smith.

SA国际影视传媒淚t did them well,SA国际影视传媒� Pam said of the elementary and secondary education her son and daughter attained in the North.

Craig, originally from Newfoundland, taught at Joseph Burr Tyrrell (JBT) Elementary School for 19 years and was principal for 16.

Ready to part with the heavy administrative burden of principalship, he transferred to Paul William Kaeser (PWK) High School eight years ago to become the industrial arts instructor, a subject heSA国际影视传媒檚 fond of.

SA国际影视传媒淚 like teaching shop,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 donSA国际影视传媒檛 consider myself going to work day to day when you love what you do. I always enjoy working with kids.SA国际影视传媒�

He likes to send photos to parents showing the projects that their children are forging in industrial arts.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 always something positive that comes out of that, just seeing the kids bring something home that theySA国际影视传媒檙e proud of and give it to their parents, who are equally as proud of what their children have done. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 what I enjoy,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚 try to instill in kids the notion that itSA国际影视传媒檚 not all about academics. If theySA国际影视传媒檙e at all inclined to be going down this route SA国际影视传媒� working with their hands SA国际影视传媒� that even if they donSA国际影视传媒檛 (turn it into an occupation), theySA国际影视传媒檙e learning skills that theySA国际影视传媒檒l need.SA国际影视传媒�

Find more stories on NWT students advancing their education in the Degrees of Success 2022, available online here: See more: Degrees of Success 2022

SA国际影视传媒楽hare your thinking with confidenceSA国际影视传媒�

Pam, who hails from Nova Scotia, worked as program coordinator with the school board for 10 years and has also taught at JBT and PWK. While serving as regional literacy coordinator in 2017, she earned a staff award for excellence in education.

High school English is the class that brings her the most satisfaction.

Recently, she had her high school students making speeches on key figures from the French revolution.

SA国际影视传媒淭hatSA国际影视传媒檚 one of the things I talked to them about SA国际影视传媒� learning how to speak publicly and share your thinking with confidence is something that will go well beyond academics,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

The Walshes have witnessed many advances in classroom technology over the past three decades, but the general principles of education remain the same, according to Craig.

However, the past couple of pandemic years have brought complications that Pam admitted have been difficult, particularly the transition to online learning, when required.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 been a real challenge,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭he stops and starts in terms of getting kids in the building SA国际影视传媒� their resilience, though, is quite amazing, not only students but teachers too.SA国际影视传媒�

But the end is in sight. Pam recently turned 60, so sheSA国际影视传媒檚 retiring first. Craig, a bit younger, will call it a career at 55. They have plans to do some travelling, but they will always be coming back home to Fort Smith.

SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e made a good life in the North. The North has been good to us, and I think weSA国际影视传媒檝e given back as well,SA国际影视传媒� Craig said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e made so many good friends throughout the North that we go, SA国际影视传媒榃hy would we leave a place that we enjoy living in?SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒�