As Thanksgiving weekend invites reflection on the people who make a difference in our lives, several community members are sharing stories about the teachers who shaped, encouraged, and inspired them through the years. For Steinbach librarian Aubrey Walker, it was her high school English and drama teacher in Alberta, Mrs. Van Dellen, who kept her love of words and stories alive. “She could joke and laugh with her students and be real with them,” Walker said. “It really gave us an opportunity to grow exactly where we were.” Walker fondly remembers playing Watson in a comedic version of Sherlock Holmes in Grade 9 — a performance she calls “a formative experience.” Today, surrounded by books in her role as a librarian, she credits her teacher with helping nurture her passion for stories. Others in the community also have fond memories of teachers who made learning meaningful. Carla Walker says she has several who stand out. “My grade 6 teacher, Melvin Toews — he was an amazing man and an incredible teacher,” she said. “I was never really good at his riddles that he read every day, but I thought they were great.” She also remembers Mr. Kornelson, her Grade 7 teacher, for his warmth. “He was one of those teachers when you walked into the room, he just right away made you feel welcome and part of the class,” she said. “And then Mr. Neil Thiessen too — he passed me, so congratulations to him!” she added with a laugh. Carla says it was the teachers who made connections with their students — like Mary Jane Ramsey and many others — who left a lasting impression. “Those are the teachers that stick in my mind,” she said. For Audrey Harder, her most memorable teachers were the ones who showed compassion and encouragement during difficult times. She remembers being shy as a student and said her teacher Dale Sawatsky was especially patient and kind. “He was very understanding of who I was and let me try to grow on my own,” she said. “He didn’t judge me. He made me feel like it’s okay to be who I am. Eventually, I grew out of that very quickly — and I kind of attribute that to him.” Harder also spoke about the support she received in Grade 12, when she was expecting her first child. “All my Grade 12 teachers encouraged me to continue, to pass, to graduate, and to grow from there,” she said. “At that time, there weren’t a lot of options for students like me, but they gave me extra help and support after class to make sure I didn’t fail. I did it — I passed, I graduated. Now, it’s one of the best things I ever did.” For Logan Collins, high school teacher Julie Dyck was someone who went above and beyond to support her students, both in and out of the classroom. “I would hang out with her during my spares,” Collins said. “I was a very anxious high schooler, always worried about my future, and she would just tell me, ‘Chill out, you’ll be fine.’ She made me feel so much better.” Dyck, who taught math and science, was known for creating an engaging and understanding classroom environment. “She was never upset at anyone,” Collins said. “Even if no one was in the mood for it, she’d say, ‘You’re not in the mood? Okay, then you go extra hard tomorrow. For today, let’s just go slow.’ She was very good at meeting kids where they were at.” And for Jennifer Waite, it was her elementary school teacher Mrs. Luchuk who made the biggest impression. “She was so pretty, she had blonde hair, she was so nice. And our whole class just loved her. She was calm, she was patient with us.” Waite said she had Mrs. Luchuk in both Grade 3 and Grade 4 and still remembers her fondly. “There was one time somebody had dropped something off on her desk and we thought it was her birthday, so we threw her a birthday party — and it wasn’t her birthday,” Waite recalled, laughing. “But she was so sweet about it.” Sometimes it’s not the regular classroom teacher who leaves a lasting impression — substitute teachers can have a big impact too. Mindy Joss recalls a substitute music teacher from her school days who completely changed the way she and her classmates experienced music. “We had a very strict music teacher who taught very conservative music,” Joss said. But when the substitute stepped in for a couple of weeks, he introduced the class to doo-wop and even taught songs like Runaround Sue. “It was the first time I ever saw all the kids in the class completely drawn to the teacher. He made music class fun,” she said. Even today, every time she hears that song, she thinks of him — proof that sometimes even a short time with the right teacher can leave a lifelong impression. From inspiring a love of stories to offering encouragement and kindness, these stories show that great teachers don’t just teach lessons — they create memories and confidence that last a lifetime. -With files from Laura Turner.