SA国际影视传媒淒onSA国际影视传媒檛 limit yourself. DonSA国际影视传媒檛 pigeonhole yourself. Know that you are capable of far more than you could possibly fathom.SA国际影视传媒�

That is Maureen TongeSA国际影视传媒檚 parting message. 

Tonge, originally from New Brunswick, has been a teacher at YellowknifeSA国际影视传媒檚 Sir John Franklin high school since 1992. She has seen generations of school kids pass through the halls and file out in graduation gowns. 

Tonge, now two years retired from teaching, walked away after she was diagnosed with brain cancer. She has surpassed the original prognosis telling her she wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 see 2020, but when Tonge says this is probably her last winter, she seems to mean it.

She has been told she has five months left to live, and says she plans to spend that time with the people that mean the most to her. 

Last year, Tonge addressed Sir John FranklinSA国际影视传媒檚 graduating class. 

In her address she spoke of giving up the need to be perfect, the need to be right, feelings of envy and resentment and self-judgement and trying to be everything to everyone. She says addressing the class of 2019 SA国际影视传媒渨as truly a dream come true.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e made some amazing connections over the years that I taught so it was really special.SA国际影视传媒�

When Tonge went into teaching, she thought it would just be until she figured out what to do next. At a certain point she says it became clear, SA国际影视传媒渢his is what ISA国际影视传媒檓 meant to be doing.SA国际影视传媒�

Though she would never say it, the hoards of former students she remains in "almost daily" contact with speaks volumes about the lives sheSA国际影视传媒檚 touched. She keeps in touch through email, social media, and snail mail, where, even still she receives gifts "out of the blue."

SA国际影视传媒淪he has inspired a broad range of students in all kinds of ways,SA国际影视传媒� says Pam Schlosser, head of the high school's math department. 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."

Schlosser began at Sir John Franklin the same year as Tonge. She says that beyond the curriculum, Tonge taught on SA国际影视传媒渞eleasing limiting beliefs and adopting liberating beliefs, adopting an attitude of gratitude, being kind and showing compassion, being fully present, and being curious.SA国际影视传媒� 

Tonge has also been a yoga teacher for over a decade and was one of the founding members of Collective Soul Space studio. She says teaching is in everything she does. The creativity and patience she has learned are among the tools she has taken from her years as an educator that continue to serve her into her diagnosis and everyday life.

Schlosser says that Tonge spearheaded the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 SA国际影视传媒淟eaving a LegacySA国际影视传媒� portrait project. The assignment is part of TongeSA国际影视传媒檚 art class where students create portraits of Northerners. Among the portraits hanging in the high school are Indigenous leaders, Northern Educators, and Sir John Franklin alumni. Without Tonge to run Leaving a Legacy, the project is deemed complete. 

Schlosser, though, contends it will SA国际影视传媒渞emain unfinished until MaureenSA国际影视传媒檚 image joins the collection.SA国际影视传媒�