While looking at Facebook a few weeks back, I noticed an invitation to an event honouring long-time math teacher Harry McKnight. After some inquiry, I learned that he was packing up and leaving Niverville after having lived here for the past 47 years.
Harry was the youngest of seven children and was born in Rosetown, Saskatchewan in 1938. At the age of seven, the family moved to Manitoba’s Interlake region, to the town of Oak Point. He received his early education in a one-room school with children all the way from Grades One through Eight.
His mother had a great value for education, so it is no surprise that after graduating high school he went to Winnipeg and applied for a teaching certificate. In the late 50s and early 60s, you were allowed to apply for a certificate and teach for one year without formal training. After that year, Harry went on to university and earned his degree.
Harry went on to teach in Swan River for a year. It was here that he met Ruth, and they were married in 1967. Afterward he taught in Thompson, Lundar, and Cormorant.
I will never forget the first time I met Harry and Ruth. It was at the Word of Life Church in Niverville in the fall of 1969. I remember being pretty incredulous that we had a teacher in our church. The culture we grew up in really didn’t put much emphasis on postsecondary education.
To say that Harry was a beloved teacher would be an understatement. He had a patient way with students, and in return the students respected the environment of his classroom.
In the past few weeks, in anticipation of the event honouring him, I talked to many of his former students. Not a one had anything but kind words and respect for him. They spoke of him as a friend—and he also thought of them as friends. He spoke of the value that he had for living in the same community where he taught. He spoke of the trust that parents had for the school, the teachers, and the education system.
Teachers at Niverville Collegiate Institute have wielded tremendous influence, including memorable names like Bob Rempel, Walter Wagner, Charlie McMillan, and Vern Hildebrand. Harry mentioned these as significant friendships. At the end of school days, he played many games of cribbage with these colleagues.
Harry taught for 27 years in Niverville and retired in 1997. It turned out that semiretirement involved a lot of tutoring, which he has continued to do right up until the last two weeks of his living in Niverville.
During the flood of 1997, he volunteered to help out with the flood-fighting efforts. After that was over and he did some project work for the town, administrative officer Jim Buys offered him a job which ended up lasting for the better part of nine years.
His volunteer impact has been significant. He served for five years as the secretary of the Niverville Health Foundation. He was president of the MCC Thrift Store for two years, and then stayed on as a volunteer for another eight years. He was treasurer of the Golden Friendship Centre for eight years as well.
His beloved wife Ruth passed in 2010, and the initial years were difficult. Harry has two daughters who presently live in Innisfall, Alberta and Petawowa, Ontario. From now on, he’ll be splitting his time between Alberta and Ontario to enjoy the last years of his life with his daughters, their husbands, and his four grandchildren.
When I asked him about leaving his home of 47 years, his answer had some emotion connected to it. He described his feelings as bittersweet. He hadn’t thought it would be so hard to say goodbye.
Harry walked throughout our lives, and throughout our community. He walks softly among us, and he will not be missed due to his large personality; he will be missed because he lived an understated life. He drew no attention to himself but was involved in so much.
Harry, thank you for the life you have shared with so many of us. May your days with family bring a lightness to your step and a renewed passion for life.
