Sister Irene made her mark at Fishing Lake

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For two generations, Grade 1 children at J.F. Dion School have been given a loving, caring introduction to the education system through the dedication of one very kind lady -- Sister Irene Paquin.

But after teaching for the last 22 years on Fishing Lake settlement, she will be retiring at the end of this school year.

The 68-year-old Dominican Sister has certainly made her share of contributions to education, the children and the community.

She began her teaching legacy 42 years ago, teaching 10 years in the east before venturing west in 1955. She spent four years teaching at Saddle Lake, five years at Goodfish Lake and four more at Brosseau School before moving to Fishing Lake.

"Out of 35 years in the west, I was 31 with Natives," said Carrier from her acerage on the settlement. "I liked teaching them. The atmosphere in the classroom was different. I got used to their ways."

As she spoke about the warm atmosphere that welcomed her, she motioned unconsciously with her long thin hands, then folded them again in her lap. Her memories were so vivid, the children's faces and names so fresh. She spoke easily about others but smiled nervously when asked questions about herself.

Her classroom has grown from housing three grades in the old school to a new, brighter room with Grade 1 and 2 students combined. It is a resource center of learning materials, games, lessons, projects and pictures -- most handmade personally. The long shelves are lined with neatly-sorted exercise materials. In one corner sits her desk. Her classroom time, however, is spent leaning over small desks giving direction or correcting completed lessons.

"She was always doing everything, always making things for the room and bouncing around from person to person," recalled Brenda Anderson. "She mad the work fun." Both her and husband Wayne are former students. Their six-year-old daughter, Becky, is now in Sister Irene's class.

Sister Irene notices many similarities between parents and children, so much so even the names something get confused.

For many years, the routine of the classroom revolved within its four walls where teacher and student became like a family.

"That's what I liked about teaching -- the family spirit," said Sister Irene. "It's changed now with Cree lessons, French and library. In the past we didn't have prep time. It's a different routine and we get used to it."

It's not known just how many Fishing Lake children have passed through her classroom doors but she treated all of them as individuals.

"I never neglected one. For me they were all the same. I cared as much for the last one as I did for the first," said Carrier.

"She took time for each one, who needed her special attention," said former teacher aide Elaine Ward, who spent 10 years assisting in the classroom. "She made them feel like they could accomplish things. She let them do things on their own."

The respect Sister Irene commands from her co-workers and students is evident throughout the school.

"She is good for the whole school, not just her own grade," said Ward.

"The older kids might get bold with other teachers, but she always had respect from those kids. She was a real peacemaker."

"Everything came so natural for her. She is so good at her job."

Local school board chairman Bruce Desjarlais called Sister Irene a pillar of strength, providing a strong base on which children could grow.

"She is the foundation for Grade 1's and 2's," said Desjarlais. "Even with the new harder (school) books, she had to find new ways of teaching and different methods. But the kids got to know it."

"She's done an awful lot for education and for the community," he said.

Sister Irene has collected nothing but good memories of Fishing Lake during her teaching time there. Pondering over the years, she couldn't remember ever running into complaints from parents or students.

"Fishing Lake is a place where we were accepted. I never had a problem in 22 years," said Sister. "Whenthere was something (wrong at school), I went to see the families and they were understanding. I felt their trust...Here it was special."