Scurouno

I'm always hesitant about these reports about teacher shortages. I was a teacher in Manitoba and spent years bouncing from term to term as school divisions are under severe budget constraints and have no permanent roles to give out. They say we have a teaching shortage as well, but what they mean is no one will become a substitute teacher to make $30,000 a year. Or that no one will take the plethora of "part-time" positions where they are offering a 0.2 or 0.3 position which pays $25,000 a year (but of course expects a host of admin and extracurricular work so you don't really have the luxury of finding another job). I left teaching for a 50% pay cut in the heritage sector. The reduction in income hurts, but not being jerkd around by the system is a nice change. I'm not really in a place in life where I can relocate, but I would happily move to Quebec if the supposed guarantee to permanent teaching roles was really as good a the media makes it out to be.

Sorry for the off topic rant. Affirming a student's chosen pronouns makes a world of difference, and being able to make sure you school's data system can accurately report those chosen pronouns and whether or not parents should be informed of those pronouns can be a literal lifesaver! I've taught students who committed suicide because their parents emotionally and physically abused them for being gender fluid, and having teachers who (for their own bullshit reasons) refused to change a single word in how they referred to that student. If all it takes is changing a field in our data system, and admin reminding teachers just how important that identity can be to a teen, that is a simple change that can literally save lives. Stop using teens lives as a pawn in you pearl-clutching vote grab Conservatives!

This is tied into the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Rüsslander Mennonites arriving in Canada. There are a number of other celebratory events going on this year as well. The Saengerfest coincides with a train trip from Halifax highlighting the Rüsslander journey, and next summer they are commemorating the arrival of the first ship of Mennonites on the Red at Glenlea who settled in Niverville in 1874 (so 125 yrs). The Saengerfest itself with feature around 250 singers, and the conductors are some of our best from Manitoba, and all Mennonites to boot. It will be a great experience all around. The Mennonite Heritage Village in Steinbach also celebrates Mennonite history every year during Pioneer Days on the first weekend in August. There is a parade on Main street on Friday and then music, interpretive events at the museum, and food. For these big events they usually have free genealogy search support, so you can look up your family history with people who are experts at it.