Jane Jacques – A Keyano Icon Retires

Posted On Thursday July 07, 2022

Just passing by Jane Jacques’ office would tell you she’s an English instructor. The set of three Shakespeare teapots and mugs caught your attention first, then the teapot of Dickens’ David Copperfield, and quite a few more. It was a treat. But the “office China” as she dubs it, is home with her now as she retired this June after 33 years at Keyano College.

“The three Shakespeare teapots and mugs were produced by James Sadler in England: Hamlet, Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Romeo and Juliet. I also have a teapot and mug of Wind in the Willows. Then there are the two Anne of Green Gables teacups, and mugs with quotations from Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, and Samuel Johnson. Oh, and an Alice in Wonderland teapot and a Peter Rabbit teapot and plate. I also have a teapot shaped like Alice in Wonderland and another shaped like Little Red Riding Hood; and a Curious George mug with a China banana at the bottom inside (drink up all your milk like a good child and find George’s banana),” recalls Jane.

Originally from Edmonton, Jane completed both her graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of Alberta. At 11 she knew she wanted to be a teacher, because she loved learning, and sharing those learnings with others.

“Also, teachers had the summers off, which I found an appealing prospect. Little did I know that they actually spent much of each summer preparing for the next term. I taught grades one and two at Inglewood School in Edmonton before returning to university to earn my Master’s.”

Jane moved to Fort McMurray in 1989 for her husband’s work. She joined Keyano in October 1989, first with the Early Childhood (now Childhood Studies) Department, and then in Upgrading, Continuing Education, and University Studies.

“I did contract and part-time work throughout the Nineties, with two full-time years (1995-1996 and 1999-2000) when a colleague was on leave. In August 2001, a position opened, and I started full-time in University Studies, where I’ve been ever since. In total, I’ve taught at Keyano for 33 years: 10 years on contract and 23 years full-time,” she notes.

Front and centre helping students, colleagues, organizing conferences, Jane has never been reluctant to lend a hand. She helped develop and launch a number of new courses in the University Studies program over the years, including courses in fantasy, children’s literature, book history, creative writing, and the literature of King Arthur. She was also involved with the Keyano Lecture Series from its inception and helped organize and present the University Studies conference for seven years.

Jane received the Instructor of the Year award four times at the College. It is particularly meaningful, she says, as it’s voted on by the students. Over the years, she was the Chair of Academic Council “three or four times,” and has served on a variety of Keyano committees.

In the community, she is a co-founder and the Managing Editor for NorthWord, A Literary Journal of Canada’s North, Wood Buffalo’s first and only literary journal published twice a year since 2009. And emcees the magazine’s launch events, often performing famous poems, much to the joy of attendees.

Jean-Pierre De Villiers, Chair, University Studies and Environmental Technology at the College has high praise for Jane.

“In her decades of service, Jane has maintained exceptionally high standards in her approaches to teaching and scholarship. Her courses on folklore and children’s literature were praised by generations of students and also spun off into several memorable public lectures where Jane shared her passion and deep reading of classics such as Beowulf, Frankenstein, and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. She is also a central figure in Fort McMurray’s community of writers, most notably with the launch and ongoing publication of the literary journal NorthWord. It is difficult to capture in a few sentences how much of a contribution Jane made to the College and the community at large. Although we wish her well in her future travels, her retirement will leave a big hole for us to fill.”

Sandra Efu, Dean, School of University Studies, Career Programs & Academic Upgrading agrees.

“Jane’s quiet but powerful presence will be missed. She has been a rock for the University Studies Department, and a go-to for all her co-workers, mentoring the new ones, and guiding the seasoned. We are grateful to her for making the College better with her wisdom and expertise. We wish her the best in retirement.”

So, what is she going to miss and not miss about working?

“I’ll miss my colleagues and my students! My colleagues are wonderful, supportive, compassionate people who have taught me so much over the years. And Keyano students are simply the best: bright, curious, challenging, and often hilarious (intentionally or otherwise). I’ve loved teaching them.”

“What I won’t miss: the marking! As an English instructor, I’ve had a never-ending pile of essays, assignments, and exams to grade year after year. It’s been a joy to help students improve their skills, but I’m looking forward to having evenings and weekends without a stack of essays beside me,” she shares with a smile.

Indeed, her retirement is going well as she remains in town, and is following her plan “to read, write, exercise, travel, volunteer, and enjoy not marking.”

What is the biggest and best change she’s seen at Keyano?

“I’ll have to say that the biggest and best change was the introduction of the B.Ed. program in 2007, in collaboration with the University of Alberta. Before that, many talented aspiring teachers had no way to complete their degree because they were unable to leave the community. Now our students can finish a B.Ed., right here in Fort McMurray, and the local school boards are happy to hire graduates who want to stay in town. The B.Ed., program has been a win for Keyano, for the region, and especially for students.”

As for wisdom to share with future teachers, she noted, “teaching is the easiest job in the world – unless you care. I cared a great deal, and that meant putting in the time to study, research, plan, prepare, listen, advise, teach, and, yes, mark. Anyone who contemplates teaching needs to care about the students in order to give them the best experience possible.”

It’s been a privilege to spend most of my working life at Keyano. The College has afforded me opportunities for course development, teaching, and professional growth that I would not have had at most other institutions. I hope that the College continually renews its commitment to the community. As a previous marketing slogan put it, ‘no place so near can take you so far.’”

Thank you, Jane, for helping us take Keyano far for over three decades! Your legacy is strong as you’ve cultivated lovers of poetry, literature, and the written word. Congratulations on your retirement.

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