The hard work of teachers and staff in the Light of Christ Catholic School Division was honoured May 27.
It was the night of their 23rd annual staff appreciation dinner. While the ongoing labour dispute between teachers and management across the province was a topic on the minds of many of those in the room, the event provided everyone an opportunity to put aside the labour woes and honour the hard work of several longstanding employees of the separate school division.
Two recipients were given the high honour of the Lumen Christi Awards (Latin for Light of Christ). One of those went to Fr. Gerard Cooper, parish priest at St. Peter's parish in Unity and a major supporter of St. Peter's School in the community. He was credited for his work in bringing the Catholic faith to life for parishioners and students there. Cooper is leaving that role this year, moving on to a new appointment as parish priest in Kindersley.
The other Lumen Christi award in the faculty staff category went to Theo Masich, principal at Ecole Monseigneur Blaise Morand in North Battleford. Masich was particularly honoured for his work in St. Joseph's Parish in leading musical endeavours, including the Saturday night choirs and in directing choirs in the area.
Also honoured were teachers and staffers celebrating anniversary milestones for years of service, with honourees receiving recognition for 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 year milestones. Those honoured for 30 years of service were Lyle Bendall, Suzanne Lavoie, Vivian Sieben, Loreen Stabbler and Dan Wilgenbusch.
Recognition went to Clarence Briand, Guy Denton, Bonnie Flahr and Gilbert Rousseau on their retirement following long careers in education inside and outside the school division. Briand was a teacher at John Paul II Collegiate, Denton was working as financial officer at the school division's central office, Flahr was supervisor of student services and educational psychologist in the school division and Rousseau was a caretaker at John Paul II.
