Heather (McDougall) Thompson

Heather May Thompson was born October 8, 1940, in Regina, Saskatchewan, to Elwood McDougall and Margaret Hetherington. She had one younger sister, Georgia. Heather grew up on a farm two miles north of Avonlea, Saskatchewan; they just recently celebrated 100 years as a family farm. 

She attended Long Creek School, a one-room school, located across from the farm, where her mother was the teacher and Heather was the only female student for two years.

She attended Avonlea High School where she loved track and field and she also liked writing. Heather graduated in 1957 at 16 years of age. She received the Governor-General’s Medal for Academic Achievement.

Heather married her high school sweetheart, Robert G. Thompson, on October 10, 1959. The next years were very busy years of raising children, advancing their own careers and moving many times.

Heather and Bob raised five children: Robert Scott 1960, Matthew Ward 1962, James Trent 1964, Cheryl Michele adopted in 1969, and Ryan Miles 1974.

Heather began her elementary school teaching career in Regina, Saskatchewan, in 1958.

Bob was working for Dominion Bridge as a welder in Training. A 68-ton beam fell from an overhead crane just missing him by inches. Needless to say, this ended his training to become a welder…he quit. At the time Transport Canada was having staff shortages for licensed wireless operators. The only place in Saskatchewan that offered this training was Moose Jaw Technical High School, fifty miles away. So, Bob drove from Regina to Moose Jaw each day for ten months to obtain his certificate. This was recognized in eight Commonwealth countries for ship, aircraft, coast guard and land stations. Morse Code was a major component at that time. Bob signed on with Edmonton Air Service in 1963 and was sent to Ottawa for further training in Meteorology and for Traffic Control.

Upon Bob graduating, the family was posted to the Radio Range Station in Aishihik, Yukon. Thus began Heather’s teaching career in the North.

Over the years they moved to Snag Station, then Burwash, on to Whitehorse to Selkirk School, then to Teslin, back to Selkirk and, then to Yellowknife to J.H. Sissons School. The final move was back to Whitehorse in 1978 where Bob was promoted to area Manager of Air and Marine operations for Yukon and Northern BC and Heather again found herself teaching at Selkirk Street School.

Over the years she was a classroom teacher, a teaching principal, an acting principal and then a full principal. She also spent part of one year in the Department of Education as Acting Superintendent. Her final years were at Takhini Elementary as Principal.

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The following is written by Patti Nash:

When I came to teach at Kluane Lake School in 1970, I was so impressed with how well prepared the children were for their grade levels, how well they listened, and what independent workers they were, that I knew their previous teacher was excellent. I discovered it was Heather and met her that fall.

As we talked, she showed me the most efficient way to mend by doing all clothes of one color together so that she didn’t have to continually change thread. (She was a firm believer in multitasking, mending as we visited.) I liked her immediately.

In 1972, we ended up teaching the primary grades together in the portable at Teslin School, where my admiration of her as both a teaching mentor and close friend was firmly cemented.

Heather had boundless energy and was very creative with repurposing materials we had on hand. For the Spring Concert, she chose the folk song “Froggy Went a ‘Courting.” She dyed an old sheet blue for the pond and cut holes out of it so that the children could pop out when their part came, and much fun ensued.

Our paths diverged for a few years, but we kept in touch. When Ken and I moved back to the Yukon in 1989, Heather was principal of Takhini School, and I taught on her staff for twelve years. She was a born teacher and leader. The well-being and education of students was her primary focus and she encouraged teamwork amongst the staff.

She was a whirlwind of ideas, activities and interests. One year she convinced me to take a bird-watching course with her. Two other colleagues joined us and we formed a small club we called the OBBC, short for the Old Broads’ Bird Club. We birded together for years, and with Heather leading the way, we did such conservation activities as building and putting up various birdhouses around Whitehorse, and participating in local bird counts. She also started a Bird Club at the school to get children involved in the love of nature.

Heather continued to teach me many valuable things over the years, even near the end of her life when she was very ill. More than once during that sad time she said to me, “It’s important to try and get out into the world, although it’s difficult to make that effort when you’re ill and in pain. It’s easier to stay home, but remember, it’s helpful to be with people as much as possible, and to stay involved in the world around you.” As always, she led by example. My life was greatly enriched by her friendship, and I will always treasure my many wonderful memories of Heather.

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The following is written by Margaret Hanulik:

Heather was the Principal and half-time classroom teacher when our twins attended Grey Mountain Primary School. During this time, I volunteered and served on the School Council and recognized what an amazing teacher and administrator Heather was.

Then Heather became the Principal at Takhini Elementary School, a position she held until she retired in 2004. I joined the staff in 1986, so we worked together for eighteen years.

Heather led by example. She was well-organized, hardworking, and straightforward, but at the same time, she was sensitive to her staff. I remember Heather saying to me, “I always know my staff is okay when I hear them laughing in the halls.”

Heather was a visionary and through this attribute she kept her staff on the cutting edge of innovations in education. She always did her homework before she introduced new programs and ideas to better serve the students’ needs. The staff worked as a team and she made school a better place for the students, staff and parents.

In addition to what was going on within the school, Heather was aware of what was happening on the playground and on the buses, which she often rode during the first few weeks of school. Even though Heather was Principal, she always had time to teach classes or listen to students read. She kept the staff informed via the “Monday Minder” regarding important information such as meetings, deadlines, extra-curricular activities, yard cleanup, and duties to keep the school running efficiently. She would send a letter to staff members recognizing any special projects they did.

As Heather and her staff retired, they began meeting once a month to keep in touch; this is a tribute to Heather’s influence on her staff.

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Heather attained her Bachelor of Education (University of Saskatchewan), her Yukon Principal’s Certificate (University of Oregon), and then her Master of Education (University of Alaska). 

She also was involved in many, many educational programs: sitting on panels, as a member of various innovative programs and as a presenter at many in-services. Heather also was chairperson, co-facilitator, president, guest speaker, and coach for many other educational associations and conferences at the local and national level.

During all of those busy times, they raised five children and made time for the family. They managed six cruises; trips to Las Vegas, the Maritimes, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, BC, Alaska and all through the Yukon as well as a special trip to Ireland.

Heather retired on November 24, 2004. In her retirement she enjoyed family camping where they always had pets; often a dog and cat accompanied them on their trips. She also enjoyed cross-country skiing, canoeing, and quilting. Heather loved the Yukon scenery and wildlife. These interests developed into bird watching and collecting Yukon art and pottery. She also had a long desire to hike the Chilkoot, which she did.

Heather was an incredible cook. Her specialties were family turkey dinners, sourdough bread, and making jams from Yukon berries.

She also found time to pursue her love of genealogy; she wrote wonderful family histories and made memory scrapbooks for her children.

She was a talented seamstress and perfected her love of quilting with her friends in “Quilters Without Borders.” This was a group of Whitehorse women known for their generosity to others. Their quilts were often donated in the Yukon, in Alberta and in Saskatchewan.

Heather was a generous contributor to many charities. She was also active in The Yukon Council on Aging, the Yukon Retired Teachers Association and Breakfast for Learning Program.

During her career, Heather received the following awards:

Outstanding Teacher Award (Learning Disabilities Association of the Yukon) 1998

Yukon Nomination to Distinguished Principal of the Year Award 1998

Reader’s Digest Leadership in Education Award – Honorable Mention (Staff Nomination) 1994

Innovations in Teaching Award (School Council/Parent Nomination) 1994

F.K. Stewart Fellowship (Canadian Education Association) 1988

Superintendent’s Award (Emphasis on Special Needs Students) 1987

Hilroy Fellowship (as a team member) 1986

Grollier Scholarship for Academic Achievement 1986

Governor-General’s Medal 1957

Heather passed away December 2, 2013.