Teacher went extra mile for his kids
Memorial to be held after man drowned last month
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 13/08/2010 (5858 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Beloved teacher Nicholas White will be honoured by students and colleagues at Wanipigow school on Hollow Water Reserve next month.
The 59-year-old accidentally drowned at Otter Falls in Whiteshell Provincial Park in late July.
"He was always happy, he had wonderful ideas," said student Dakota Bruneau. "He gave us second chances when maybe we didn’t deserve them."
White had been swimming with his wife, Debbie, when he was overpowered by the strong current and went underwater.
White is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren in Newfoundland and Fort McMurray, Alta.
Friends and former students were eager to talk about White, who they say was a "one-of-a-kind" teacher, not afraid to go the extra mile.
"The thing you first noticed about Nick was that he was so genuine, he loved to talk," said Yvonne Barker, vice-principal of Wanipigow school. "He could talk to anyone from anywhere, he was a special person."
Barker said she was "still in shock" after finding out about White’s death.
"I just couldn’t believe it. I thought of the students, they’re going to miss him so much."
White taught social studies and leadership in the community on the east shore of Lake Winnipeg and would often organize fundraising events in the community.
Principal Tony Martin said this year would have been White’s seventh at the school.
"Nick was completely devoted to his students," said Martin, who attended White’s funeral in Newfoundland. "He would always go beyond the limits, beyond what was expected of him."
White moved from Newfoundland to Manitoba after he retired from teaching in Newfoundland. Friends said he thought he could make a difference in Manitoba’s northern communities.
"He pushed us to do our best," Bruneau said. "He was so positive, that’s what I’m going to miss the most."
Hollow Water Reserve resident Isabel Phillips said White taught her daughter, Joy.
"When we found out he passed, my daughters just sat there and cried," Phillips said. "The kids just loved going to school when he was there."
Martin said the school is planning a memorial service for White in September, after the kids go back to school.
Bruneau said coming back won’t be easy, without White’s gentle encouragement to urge them on. "I’m still in shock. He was very important to a lot of people."
britt.harvey@freepress.mb.ca
