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4FOCUS-FEBRUARY2015Continuedfrompage3ComptonCableTVforashorttimebutshereallywantedtohelppeoplesoshewentbacktoschool.TheUniversityofOntarioInstituteofTechnologyUOITwasagoodchoiceforteacherscollegeoffer-inganamazingprogramandtheyevensenthertoapracticeschoolinBermuda.Buthergoaloflandingafull-timejobclosertohomewiththeTrilliumLakelandsorKawarthaLakesschoolboardsmetwithadeadend.Teachingissocompetitivethatshecouldntevengetonalistforsupplyteachinghere.Itwasverydis-couragingshecommented.Itwaslikeafulltimejobjusttryingtondajob.TherearesimplytoomanyteachersandnotenoughjobsinOntarioshepointedout.NextarecruitmentagencyforsupplyteacherssenthertoLondonEnglandtoworkbutthatwasntherproverbialcupoftea.IdidntlikeLondonNicolesaid.Imnotacityperson.NicoleappliedforjobsalloverCanadaandhastrav-elledextensivelywhichshesaystaughthertoreallyappreciateherhomecountrysohergoalwastoliveandworkinsidetheCanadianborders.FinallyanopportunitycameupinFortSt.JohnBrit-ishColumbiamorethan5600kmfromherPortPerryhome.TheteachingpositionpiquedherinterestbeingasmalltownandshethoughtthatitmighthavemoreofaPortPerryatmosphere.NicoleacceptedthejobandnowlivesinFortSt.Johnasmallcity790kmnortheastofVancouveralongtheAlaskaHighwaybutshecommutestoworktoapublicschoolatPrespatouapredominantlyMenno-nitearea75kmfurthernorth.Herrstpositionattheschoolwasteachingkinder-gartenandGrade1coveringforateacheronmaterni-tyleaveforsixmonths.ThenanopeningcameupfortheGrade4classandsheacceptedthisjobimmediately.SincethePrespatouareahasonlyoneplacetoshopaconveniencestorethelocalsareveryself-sufcientNicoledescribed.Huntingformeatorraisingtheirownanimalsforfoodispartoftheirlifestyle.EventhoughthemodernMennoniteshavecarsandelectricitysomestillchurntheirownbutterandmanysewtheirownclothing.Partoftheirsurvivalentailsraisingchickensandgrowingtheirownvegetablestopreserveforconsumptionduringthewinter.Nicolebuysfresheggsfromthestudentsonaregularbasis.NicolecommutestoworkfromFortSt.Johnwithveotherteachersinavanprovidedbytheschooldistrictwithtwoofthemtakingturnsatthewheel.Inthewin-teritcanbeaterriblecommuteshesaid.Theydontusesaltontheroadbutdoaprettygoodjobmaintainingthem.ThesnowismoredrythaninOn-tarioandtheytrytoclearitbutitcanbeslippery.Snowdaysareararity.ThesceneryisbeautifulonnicedaysNicoleenthused.Growingupinacountrysettingsheappreci-atestheforestsandnaturesbeautyandcreatures.Whileenroutetoworkshehasseenmoosecoyoteswolvesfoxesowlselkdeerandevenabaldeagle.CattledrivesaresomethingelsethatyoudontseebackhomeNicolepointedout.Allthekidsliketostopstudyingandwatchwhenaherdofcowsismovingfromonepasturetoanother.TheweatherinnorthernB.C.isalsoquiteextremecomparedtoherhometownhereinScugogTownship.Forsixweekslastyearthetemperaturewasstuckintheminus40s.Onedayitcanbezeroandthenextdayitsbelowminus20Nicolesaid.Youhavetodressproperly.ButNicoleandtheotherstaffandstudentsatherHerbreakfnallycamewhenapositioncameup5600kmawayinnorthernBritishColumbiaAtergraduatingNicolesupplytaughtinLondonEnglandbutreturnednotlikingcitylie.Pleaseturntopage6DogandCatBoardingandDaycare1855ScugogLine12Seagrave905-862-4108infojust4pawsboarding.cajust4pawsboarding.ca4playoutingsadayVeterinaryrecommendedSeniororspecialneedsJust4PawsPetBoardingCateringtoyourpetslifestyleComputerREPAIRSITandNetworkSUPPORTPCandServerUPGRADES333MajorSt.PortPerry905-985-0568gmcmullenmajortech.caSERVINGSCUGOGUXBRIDGETOWNSHIPSEverydayLowPricing20-80BelowRetailSwimSummerStylesYear-RoundBras1888ScugogStreet905-985-1890ATKOTYAPEEKINWinterClearout