MHADRTA 2020 Volunteer of the Year

Vicki McCaig

 

When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade--or perhaps, a delicious lemon dessert! The pandemic was a lemon to us—it soured our plans to recognize and award our 2020 Volunteer of the Year at our April 8 General Meeting. The membership would have had the opportunity to honour Vicki McCaig. COVID-19 prevented that from happening, and we hoped things would improve by fall. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened, but we wanted to hold the event in 2020. The crowd was much smaller than we had hoped. Together with the MHADRTA executive and immediate family present at our October 13 Executive Meeting (where social distancing occurred), Vicki was presented with her certificate and ARTA clock in a surprise ceremony.

 

Vicki McCaig is a most worthy recipient of this award. She was nominated by a former colleague and long time friend, Donna Smith. Vicki joined MHADRTA after retiring from very successful and rewarding career with Medicine Hat School District #76.

 

Vicki was born to be a teacher. She loved kids and she loved teaching Math! She began her teaching career at Crestwood School in 1965 and taught there until the birth of her first child, Heather, in 1973. The family was completed with the birth of son, David, in 1976. During the next seven years while her children were young, Vicki stayed home with them. However, she kept her foot in the door doing some substitute teaching before returning full-time in 1983 at Ross Glen School where she taught until her retirement in 2002.

 

Math was Vicki’s passion. This was evident with Vicki establishing a Math Facts Club that met after school in order to help students who were falling behind or struggling with Math. She planned fun and creative games that they played together to help her students enjoy learning Math. Many student teachers also got their start in Vicki’s classroom learning from a very creative teacher. As an active member of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, Vicki served on Local No. 1 committees such as the Economic Policy Committee for many years.

 

When we talk about volunteering in the community, Vicki and her husband were a team. Along with her husband, Bob, she was and continues to be very active with the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Board. Vicki sits on the Pioneer Village Board which is a subcommittee of the Stampede Board. Her work involves looking at improvements that need to be done in Pioneer Village, and to ensure that this heritage area is maintained for future generations. Together, Vicki and Bob are involved on the Grandstand Committee and help with the horse races and chuck wagons during the Stampede. The Stampede Family Christmas is a favourite for Vicki and she is involved in organizing and running the annual event.

 

Upon retirement, joining MHADRTA and the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association, Vicki began her volunteerism in retirement as the liaison for Local No.1. She continues to be a very valued member of our branch who is always quick to volunteer. Currently, in her role as a board member on the Pioneer Village Committee, Vicki organizes and coordinates school tours in May and June to Pioneer Village where the McKay Creek Schoolhouse, of days gone by, stands. MHADRTA teachers volunteer to staff the school to meet with the visiting classes. During the four day Stampede in July, Vicki again coordinates volunteers for the school house where thousands of visitors passed through Pioneer Village and the school house. Within her role on the Stampede board, an Old Fashioned Christmas occurs in December where once again the school house is opened for tours.

 

Vicki and Bob volunteer the Santa Claus Fund—an organization they have been involved with for more than ten years. They both volunteer at Prairie Gleaners, while Vicki also volunteers with students at Crescent Heights High School where her daughter teaches.

 

It was truly a pleasure to honour Vicki at our first post-COVID meeting since February. We will formally recognize and honour Vicki at a future general meeting when those events are permitted to resume. Vicki McCaig is a most deserving and worthy recipient! I am proud to be her retired teacher colleague and friend!

 

Mel Deydey

President, MHADRTA