CANORA - Residing in Canora for the past four-plus years, Shelby Stefanyshyn, daughter of Keith Stratechuk, who grew up in Canora. said she is excited to come “home” and start her new teaching position at Canora Composite School.
Stefanyshyn was born in Melville, raised in Springside, and attended Yorkton Regional High School.
“I played a lot of sports growing up,” she said, “hockey, volleyball, figure skating, badminton, track and field... pretty much anything my school had to offer. We would spend a lot of time on the weekends at my grandparents’ farm near Rama (Jack & Verna Prychak, currently living in Springside). We would do a lot of quadding there and spending time with the farm animals.”
The interest in teaching started early in life for Stefanyshyn.
“I first got the idea to become a teacher when I was in Grade 1. As I got older, I bounced around a few different ideas for future careers. In my first year of university I was taking arts and science classes to get into the nursing program the following year, but as that first year of university was coming to a close I changed my mind. I ultimately went back to the decision I made when I was six years old, and went into the teaching program instead.”
After high school, she attended the Parkland College in Yorkton, earning her Bachelor of Indigenous Education degree through the University of Saskatchewan and the First Nations University of Canada.
Stefanyshyn said, as a teacher, “It’s incredibly rewarding to see students learn new concepts, grow their confidence, and develop their own perspectives.”
She taught previously in Canora several years ago, and has also worked at schools in Springside, Melville and Kamsack.
“At CCS, in the mornings I will be doing some student support work in a couple of classrooms in math and language arts. In the afternoons, I will be teaching Grade 6 health, science, social studies, art, and career education.”
Stefanyshyn and her husband Ryley (member of the Canora Cobras senior hockey team) have been living in Canora since January 2021.
“He is a local grain farmer in the area, which is how we ended up here,” she said. “I have loved living in Canora! There are always events and activities going on in town. Our town has something for everyone.”
In her spare time, “you can find me golfing, doing yard work, hanging out at the skating rink, and spending time with friends. I also enjoy reading and shopping.
“I am really looking forward to the school year at CCS and being able to teach in my own community!”
Don't count on social media to deliver your local news to you. Keep your news a touch away by bookmarking Canora Courier's homepage at this link.
Bookmark SASKTODAY.ca, Saskatchewan's home page, at this link.
