During the Celebrating Service Retirement Banquet held on Friday, May 23, 2025, the Strait Regional Centre for Education extended congratulations and sincere thanks to the retirees of 2025 for their many years of dedicated service and significant contributions to students, families and school communities in the Strait Region.
On behalf of the Strait Regional Centre for Education, I sincerely thank our retirees of 2025 for the many contributions they have made to public education throughout their distinguished careers. I extend my deepest gratitude to them as they conclude one chapter of their life and begin the next exciting phase.
People who choose careers in the field of public education are more than just employees. Regardless of the position they hold, all retirees have had a tremendous impact on the lives of our students and families. Their commitment and leadership have played an important role in our students’ well-being, achievement and success. Their devotion to our students, colleagues, school communities, and to the public education system in the Strait Region as a whole has made a meaningful difference in our students’ lives, now and well into their future.
Although there have been many changes in public education over the years, one very important factor has remained constant. Students still rely on, and need the guidance, wisdom and support of our staff. There is no substitute for a competent, caring adult when it comes to helping our children and youth achieve their success. The students whose lives the retirees have touched are making tremendous contributions to our communities, our province, our country and indeed the world, and our retirees are in no small part responsible for their success. Thank you for being mentors and caregivers to our future leaders.
I extend to each retiree my sincere congratulations and may good health and happiness be theirs in retirement. They will indeed be missed.
Sincere best wishes to the SRCE retirees of 2025!
Paul Landry
Regional Executive Director of Education
Strait Regional Centre for Education
The retirees of 2025 include:
- Rose Aucoin, Teacher, Antigonish Education Centre
- Denise Bekkers, Teacher, Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School
- Carl Campbell, School Bus Driver, Dalbrae Academy and Whycocomagh Education Centre
- Ann Marie Chisholm, Teacher, Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School
- Tommy Chisholm, Nova Scotia Virtual School (NSVS) Student Success Lead, Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School
- Flo Delaney, Head Janitor, H.M. MacDonald Elementary School
- Yvonne Dorton, Teacher Assistant, Inverness Education Centre/Academy
- Bonnie Jean Fraser, Teacher, Antigonish Education Centre
- Janet Fraser, Information Technology Technician
- Janice Gough, Director of Human Resources
- Mary Grace, Teacher Assistant, Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School
- Lindsey Hart, School Bus Driver with Additional Duties, Cape Breton Highlands Education Centre/Academy
- Darlene Hodgson, School Bus Driver, Chedabucto Education Centre/ Guysborough Academy
- Vince Jessome, School Counsellor, Inverness Education Centre/Academy
- Marie Kennedy, School Counsellor, St. Andrew Junior School
- Priscilla LeBlanc, Janitor, Cape Breton Highlands Education Centre/Academy
- Ann Marie LeLièvre, Teacher, Inverness Education Centre/Academy
- Cathy Lombardo, Teacher, Chedabucto Education Centre/Guysborough Academy
- Karen Lundrigan, Teacher, St. Andrews Consolidated School
- Brenda MacDonald, Teacher, St. Mary’s Education Centre/Academy
- Carolyn MacDonald, Teacher, St. Andrew Junior School
- Pauline MacDonald, Janitor, Bayview Education Centre
- David MacFarlane, Nova Scotia Virtual School (NSVS) Mathematics, Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School
- John MacKinnon, School Counsellor, Cape Breton Highlands Education Centre/Academy
- Dave MacLellan, Carpenter/Maintenance Supervisor, Operations Department
- Mary Beth McCarron, Teacher, Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School
- Jim Mills, Building Operator, St. Andrew Junior School
- Joyce Morrison, Teacher, Bayview Education Centre
- Carmen Novak, Building Operator, Antigonish Education Centre
- Jackie Rankin, Teacher, Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School
- Lorraine Reddick, African Nova Scotian Student Support Worker, Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School
- Carolyn Webber, Pre-primary Program Lead, Programs and Student Services Department
Note to Editors: Please contact Deanna Gillis to request a digital copy of the group photo.
Photo Caption:
Standing left to right: SRCE Regional Executive Director, Paul Landry; Retirees Lindsey Hart, Cathy Lombardo, Karen Lundrigan, Marie Kennedy, Dave MacLellan, Yvonne Dorton, Pauline MacDonald, Joyce Morrison, Janet Fraser and Tommy Chisholm.
Seated left to right: Retirees Janice Gough, Carolyn Webber, Jim Mills, Ann Marie LeLièvre, Rose Aucoin, Bonnie Jean Fraser, Lorraine Reddick, Denise Bekkers, Ann Marie Chisholm and Jackie Rankin.
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For more information, please contact:
Deanna Gillis, Coordinator of Communications, 902-625-7093/1-800-650-4448