Chinook's Edge School Division -- one of the largest rural school divisions in the province -- has many examples of staff who are related to one another. There is perhaps no stronger ‘family institution' than the custodians who work at Chinook's Edge schools in Didsbury.
Darrel Howden has been the custodian at Ross Ford Elementary School in Didsbury for 26 years, after having worked in the school division's maintenance department for 12 years before that.
His brother Wayne has been with Chinook's Edge for 20 years, first as custodian at Cremona before moving to Westglen middle School several years ago.
Long before they swept into Chinook's Edge, their father Roy had been the custodian at Ross Ford for 27 years.
“Dad actually helped build Ross Ford School, because he was a truck driver hauling supplies at the time,” said Darrel.
“When the school was done in 1963, he was hired as their first custodian. Then I took over when he retired, so this school has never been without a Howden as custodian.
“He was working here the whole time we were growing up and we used to come into the school with him on weekends. Then the teachers started putting us to work doing extra cleanup after school, knowing we were his kids. It's where we got our start, that's for sure.
“I was part of the first Grade 1 class here, so between being here as a student and now as a staff, I've been here my whole life.
“I've only had two jobs in my entire life – the other was at a fertilizer company where brother Wayne was my boss. We've literally worked side by side for my entire life and I can't imagine it being any different.”
Wayne held a few different jobs through the years, but has been settled at Chinook's Edge for the past two decades. ‘Coming home' to Westglen School has made him happy.
“It's hard to think of ever leaving. I'd miss the kids, the great staff, the positive school environment,” said Wayne. “We've seen a lot of changes in the equipment we use, I guess, as it has become electronic and provides easier ways to clean. The kids haven't changed too much through the years, though – they still make the same amount of mess.
“Actually, I guess I would say one thing that's changed is the amount of respect for us in our roles. We constantly get letters and notes of thanks from the kids, and we know we really matter to them.
“And you couldn't ask for better staff to work with. They are kind and caring, they really appreciate what we do and they'd do anything for us, too.
“These are our schools, but to us it's like home. It's great work, but I think we're the end of our family's era in Didsbury schools – both of our sons say ‘Dad, that's it.'”
Another long-serving custodian family are Pauline and Ron Vallee, a husband and wife team at École Steffie Woima School in Sylvan Lake.
They have both been with Chinook's Edge since the mid-1970s, first at École H.J. Cody School and now together at Steffie Woima for over 23 years.
“The only person who has been here longer than me is our principal, Angela Eadie-Gyori,” said Pauline. “It's just so good to be here every day, to be together and to be part of this staff. Everyone at a school has an important part in the life of these kids. They are what this is all about.”
- Bexon is a communications officer for the Chinook's Edge School Division.
