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Opening comments: Maybe more at the end.
There is a Ruth Thompson Middle School in Churchill Meadows.
Back to the Lyndwood School Cover-up.
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Mississauga News - Dec. 1, 2010 - By John Stewart - jstewart@mississauga.net
Veteran trustee bids farewell
Ruth Thompson retires.
The Peel Board of Education held a retirement party for respected long-time trustee Ruth Thompson
at the Mississauga Grand Banquet Hall last night.
Thompson was joined by friends and family, including her brother David Crombie, former mayor of Toronto.
Staff photo by Rob Beintema
Last week, veteran Trustee Ruth Thompson was heading into the Peel District School Board offices when she bumped into former Director of Education John Fraser.
Thompson, who was in her last week of service after 36 years as a school trustee, asked Fraser why he was back at the board offices.
"Oh, some old bag is retiring," Fraser quipped.
Thompson recalled the story this morning, the night after 150 people gathered at the Mississauga Grand Banquet Hall last evening to pay tribute to Thompson, who was first elected in 1972.
Not everyone would recount a quip like Fraser's about themselves, but the down-to-earth Thompson has never stood on formality.
That's probably why many of her former school board trustee colleagues, principals, and administrative staff turned out in such large numbers to honour her.
"It was lovely to see so many old faces," Thompson told The News. As for the glowing tributes to her lengthy tenure as trustee for Wards 3 and then for the combined Mississauga Wards 3 and 4, Thompson joked, "after a while, you kind of think you did it all by yourself but of course, nothing could be further from the truth."
Peel District School Board Chair Janet McDougald said she was struck by a comment that former Board Director Jim Grieve made at last night's celebration: "the history of Peel is in this room."
Several speakers spoke of the dedication to students that has marked the career of Thompson, vice-chair of the board for the past 13 years.
Among them were Fraser, McDougald, Caledon mayor Marolyn Morrison (a former colleague from the board), former Chair Beryl Ford on behalf of trustees and Diane Gordon, the principal of Tomken Rd. Middle School, who spoke on behalf of the Applewood and Glenforest family of schools.
Students from Tomken Rd. sang two songs. The evening also featured a video prepared by students of Ruth Thompson Middle School in Churchill Meadows. The students spoke about the school's logo, a riptide representing the values Thompson stands for. The school's motto is, "strong, dynamic force making change as it goes."
Mayor Hazel McCallion also dropped in to salute Thompson and present her with a plaque on behalf of the City.
Thompson was surrounded by her family, including her brother David Crombie, who was elected mayor of Toronto the same day Thompson was first elected a Peel trustee.
The retiring trustee, who is 72, said she enjoyed her tenure so much at the board because trustees and staff worked so well together.
"As a system, whether you are elected or non-elected, we always have to remember why we are there, for the success of the students. We didn't veer far from that. I'm proud of the fact that we were there for all of the students," she said.
Thompson, who was in her last week of service after 36 years as a school trustee, asked Fraser why he was back at the board offices.
"Oh, some old bag is retiring," Fraser quipped.
Thompson recalled the story this morning, the night after 150 people gathered at the Mississauga Grand Banquet Hall last evening to pay tribute to Thompson, who was first elected in 1972.
Not everyone would recount a quip like Fraser's about themselves, but the down-to-earth Thompson has never stood on formality.
That's probably why many of her former school board trustee colleagues, principals, and administrative staff turned out in such large numbers to honour her.
"It was lovely to see so many old faces," Thompson told The News. As for the glowing tributes to her lengthy tenure as trustee for Wards 3 and then for the combined Mississauga Wards 3 and 4, Thompson joked, "after a while, you kind of think you did it all by yourself but of course, nothing could be further from the truth."
Peel District School Board Chair Janet McDougald said she was struck by a comment that former Board Director Jim Grieve made at last night's celebration: "the history of Peel is in this room."
Several speakers spoke of the dedication to students that has marked the career of Thompson, vice-chair of the board for the past 13 years.
Among them were Fraser, McDougald, Caledon mayor Marolyn Morrison (a former colleague from the board), former Chair Beryl Ford on behalf of trustees and Diane Gordon, the principal of Tomken Rd. Middle School, who spoke on behalf of the Applewood and Glenforest family of schools.
Students from Tomken Rd. sang two songs. The evening also featured a video prepared by students of Ruth Thompson Middle School in Churchill Meadows. The students spoke about the school's logo, a riptide representing the values Thompson stands for. The school's motto is, "strong, dynamic force making change as it goes."
Mayor Hazel McCallion also dropped in to salute Thompson and present her with a plaque on behalf of the City.
Thompson was surrounded by her family, including her brother David Crombie, who was elected mayor of Toronto the same day Thompson was first elected a Peel trustee.
The retiring trustee, who is 72, said she enjoyed her tenure so much at the board because trustees and staff worked so well together.
"As a system, whether you are elected or non-elected, we always have to remember why we are there, for the success of the students. We didn't veer far from that. I'm proud of the fact that we were there for all of the students," she said.
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