June 3 1948
Free Press Files
Miss Isabella Dicken was honoured at a testimonial dinner in the King Edward Hotel when some fifty of her colleagues paid tribute to her excellent teaching record during the past forty years in Fernie. Miss Dicken retired at the end of June.
Mayor Tom Uphill, M.L.A., F.P. Levirs, Inspector of Schools, A.L. McPhee, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Fernie School District; W.S. Creamer, Fernie Representative of the District Council of the East Kootenay Teachers’ Association; Sydney Crookes, Principal of Fernie Schools; Dr. Sparling East, school trustee; Alfred Simcoe, and William Quail of the Fernie teaching staff praised the youthful spirit, the great influence exerted on the pupils, the patience, the cheerfulness, the respect earned in the community and the high excellent standard of teaching performed by Miss Dicken. All wished her happiness, health and many long years of enjoyable rest to enjoy them.
On behalf of the school board and the Fernie teachers, A. L. McPhee presented Miss Dicken with a purse of money. A bouquet of roses together with a congratulatory message from the East Kootenay Teachers’ Association was presented by W. S. Creamer.
Miss Dicken has set an enviable record in the teaching profession. Through the entire forty years of her teaching career, she has worked for the same school board in the same city and has taught beginners’ class throughout that whole period of time. The last thirty-five of the forty years were spent in the same classroom. During that period of time some 1400 children in Fernie commenced their education under her capable direction.
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