Maureen Tonge, longtime Yellowknife teacher, died Monday after an almost two-year battle with brain cancer.
Originally from New Brunswick, Tonge first arrived in Yellowknife in 1992 to teach at Sir John Franklin high school SA国际影视传媒� the territorial high school at the time.
Tonge taught art, French, yoga, fitness, and career and life management. She spearheaded the SA国际影视传媒淟eaving a LegacySA国际影视传媒� project where students were to create portraits of prominent Northerners, and in 2019 she addressed the high schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 graduating class.
In an August interview with SA国际影视传媒, Tonge said that teaching is in everything she does.
When asked what message she would want to leave with former students, Tonge, through tears said SA国际影视传媒渄onSA国际影视传媒檛 limit yourself.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淛ust know that you are capable of far more than you could possibly fathom.SA国际影视传媒�
Pam Schlosser began working at the high school the same year as Tonge. In a correspondence for an earlier story, Schlosser told SA国际影视传媒 of the lessons Tonge taught both in and out of the classroom.
SA国际影视传媒淗er students leave her classes with an appreciation of art, a sense of mindfulness and a confidence in their individual talents,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
Tonge, a yoga teacher of more than a decade, was also a co-founder of the Collective Soul Space studio. She eventually created a curriculum to teach yoga as a course in schools.
In her address to the 2019 graduating class of Sir John Franklin, Schlosser recalls TongeSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒渁dvice about how to live our best life, be it long or short.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淪he spoke of giving things up,SA国际影视传媒� Schlosser said. SA国际影视传媒淎mong them, the need to be perfect, the need to be right, feelings of jealousy, envy and resentment, of trying to be everything to everyone.SA国际影视传媒�
Schlosser recounts Tonge suggesting instead to replace those SA国际影视传媒渓imiting beliefsSA国际影视传媒� with gratitude, kindness and compassion.
SA国际影视传媒淓ver the teacher, Maureen left us all that day with some of lifeSA国际影视传媒檚 most valuable lessons. I hold them dear and am grateful each day for having her as a colleague, and blessed to have her as a friend,SA国际影视传媒� Schlosser said.
Though Tonge retired from teaching after her diagnosis, she remained in frequent contact with her former students.
In a message to Yellowknife Education District No.1 (YK1) families, superintendent Ed Lippert said that Tonge SA国际影视传媒渓eft an impression on everyone who met her.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淪he will always be remembered for her infectious enthusiasm and zest for life,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪he will be greatly missed.SA国际影视传媒�
