It has been several years since Marsha Paradis retired from teaching, but she kept all of her notes and resources. She loved her Grade 2 classes, after all.
While the pandemic put many parents into the role of home-school supervisor, Paradis was ready to fill in as perhaps the most ideal substitute teacher in the world. Doing so was the easiest decision she ever made, and it also earned her a volunteer award from the Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton, or SAGE. She sees teaching as its own reward, so she was shocked to receive the honour.
"I think, as seniors, we just sometimes see a need and so we step up and step into that need, and do the best we can to either serve or help out or whatever we're called to do. We certainly don't expect acknowledgement or rewards. I felt, actually, a little uncomfortable to begin with. But you know what, in the end, it was really delightful. I kind of liked it. I liked somebody saying, 'Oh, good job,' " she said.
That "good job" meant she got to be called "Mrs. P" by her granddaughter and three of her friends, all full of energy and keen to learn.
Paradis said years of having so many seven-year-olds in her charge while teaching at Camilla and Landing Trail schools provided her with the skill of "vibrating high," though she did need a morning coffee to keep the pace.
"They were so excited. Can you imagine being a teacher and having four people who are just raring to go and excited to learn, but not only that, being curious and then wanting to take the lead by themselves? I had to become more of just a facilitator. That was kind of a dream."
SAGE offers annual volunteer awards to honour the contributions of seniors in the community for being innovative, promoting health and well-being, exercising social justice, improving sustainability efforts, and for being an inspiration. Paradis scores gold stars for all of those.
She taught science class by studying the insects in the sandpit of her Sturgeon County acreage's playground. She reinforced education on reconciliation with essential lessons on residential schooling and Indigenous culture. She said those lessons were powerful to witness.
All of the lessons were as enriching to her as they were to the students, she explained, calling it "a real life-giving experience."
She elaborated on the shock that she felt at the award. Volunteering is an activity that she calls "gargantuous" because it means a huge time commitment.
"I still honestly think things need to be 'gargantuous' to be recognized, but it really made me go within and think," she said.
"I really had to rethink. I just think that things don't always have to be done in a big way. All small acts of kindness add up. Sometimes we do have time to give back and sometimes we don't have time to give back. We're all on different journeys, but I think it's important for us all to remember that it only takes a moment, even for little things like a smile to a student or (to) hug a friend or (offer) a listening ear. If we all do our bit, and all those bits add up, it really does make our world a better place: a kinder, more inclusive community," said Paradis.
"Now, I actually feel really proud, and I feel really honoured. I think it encourages me to want to do more."
