The Ruth Rose Memorial Award

Ruth Rose (1950-1988)

Ruth attended Oak Bay High School in Victoria and graduated in 1967. Following High School she attended the University of Victoria in the Faculty of Education, specializing in Elementary Education.

Ruth started her first year teaching Grade 1 at Willows Elementary School in Victoria. She was totally dedicated to her class and school. She was truly a gifted teacher who had a way with children, parents and other teachers. She also coached and taught primary jazz to as many as 80 kindergartens to grade three students. Although she was only five feet tall, her energy was limitless.

Ruth taught at Willows until 1977, and then joined the ranks of motherhood. She and her husband John had two children, Alisa and Matthew.

In 1984 Ruth returned to teaching and taught in Saanich and Greater Victoria. Unfortunately, her return to teaching was very short. She became ill and was diagnosed with leukemia. Throughout her fight with this disease she was always the optimist. She never gave up working with children and directed a children’s church choir.

Two teachers who knew Ruth Rose remember her with these fond words: "We were fortunate to have known Ruth in high school and university. We also had our first teaching positions at the same school. We will never forget Ruth and are constantly reminded of her strategies in teaching, now that we are both back teaching kindergarten and Grade 3. We would like her to always be remembered in the teaching field, especially by a future teacher who will strive to be an outstanding teacher like Ruth Rose.