Fund Type: Scholarships & Bursaries
Community: Prince George
The LINDA WILBUR MEMORIAL BURSARY was established following her death on March 10th, 2017 at the age of 68. The Wilbur family established the bursary as a legacy honouring the life of a wonderful woman - a woman who was kind, strong, funny, talented, and loving. She was a person whose love and kindness touched the lives of many people and none more so than the children she taught over her forty-four year teaching career. Linda’s love of teaching and her dedication to students was superseded only by her love of her family.
Linda was the consummate teacher. Like all superb teachers, she worked tirelessly to help her students. Her ability to help children learn, both the bright and talented and those who struggled, was admired by all who had the pleasure of teaching with her. Linda also mentored many student teachers over the years, generously giving of her time and knowledge to help them grow into professional educators.
She began her teaching career in Yellowknife, North West Territories followed by a year of teaching in Delta. After her marriage to Dave Wilbur in 1973 and a move to Prince George, her career was spent teaching at Seymour, Spruceland, Malaspina, and finally, at Hart Highlands Elementary where she taught for seventeen years.
Even after retirement, Linda continued to teach. One of her greatest pleasures during this time was working with Prince George Cougar, Slovakian-born Martin Marincin, helping him learn the English language. As always, her skill, laced with humour and respect, worked their magic with Marincin who has gone on to play in the NHL for Edmonton and Toronto.
The Bursary reflects Linda’s passion for teaching ALL students, no matter their ability. It is open to students who attended Hart Highlands Elementary and who demonstrate satisfactory academic achievement and financial need. The Bursary can be disbursed prior to graduation to a student upon acceptance in SD57's Career Technical Centre program or after graduation, upon registration in a trades, vocational, or academic program.
The Career Technical Centre Program is a partnership between the College of New Caledonia and School District 57 that allows high school students to have a unique opportunity to take their first year of trades training at CNC while earning dual credits, graduating ready to enter the workforce as an apprentice. This is a program very near and dear to Linda’s heart.
The bursary is a part of School District 57’s Springboard to Success Program, a partnership program between SD 57 and the Prince George Community Foundation and was a natural choice as a way to honour Linda as a loving person and an exemplary teacher.
