34 - Sunday, September 29, 1991 - North Shore News HIGH PROFILES Surprise party greets former trustee WHEN HE was six years old, Dorothy Lynas’ son Gary began to cry because she refused to attend a Parent Teachers’ Association (PTA) meeting at his school. While she didn't know it back then, those tears would set the wheels in motion for a long and distinguished career in the educa- tion field for Lynas, who cele- brated her 80th birthday last week. ‘*My son said I had to come to the PTA meeting and I said: ‘No, 1 don’t think so.’ I didn’t even know what the PTA was,’’ Lynas says. “Then he began to cry and said: ‘But teacher said vou have to tome.’ So 1 went and that's how J got involved with the PTA.” But Lynzs would end up doing AT 80 years old, former going strong. By Surj Rattan News Reporter more than just working with the PTA; she would go on to become the longest-serving member of the North Vancouver District 44 School Board (NVSB). In fact, Lynas has set a provincial record as being the longest-serving school trustee in B.C. Last November Lynas decided against seeking another term as a schooi trustee; she had served as a NVSB trustee for 31 years. She The Harmony Arts Festival would like te thank all our dedicated volunteers. We appreciate all your hard work and energy! The Harmony Aris Festival Committee — Betsy Waterbury, Chair; Robert Eadie, Brian Freestone, Kay Foerester, Judy Gosney, Patrick B. de Montmorency, Kay Wiewel. The ArtBeat Committee — Janet Lazenby, Lisa Nielson, Una Prangley, Lindsay Ross, Joan Walker, B.J. Warner, Joanne Webb. Vermaas Bet jarvis ophie Chirine Bahmanieh Barbara_Bartholomew Wer in Lisa Nietson Micki MacKenzie inne Webb June Harris Linda Wilson y Judy Kirk-Owen Veronica 8. Bartram Sherri! Samis Elizabeth Topham Marny Peirson Joan Magor tynn McGillvray rbara Atkinson O'Sullivan Shei lencerson Whitney MacMillan Ann Cross. Merla Beckerman Heather Woodall Yvon ‘own in otoller ine Ruth Smith Alice Bacon Linda Wilson Ruth B ca r rns Lori Phillips Elizabeth Carle Anton Christjansen Brad Philli era “ Stella Maquire Ruby Williams Maria O'Brien was first elected in 1957, lost her seat the next year and decided against running for trustee the fol- lowing year because of her mother’s ill health. Lynas was re-elected to the school board in 1960 and had re- mained a trustee until her retire- ment last year. Things have changed dramatically since the day Lynas decided to run for school board. At the time, there was only one high schooi and 100 teachers in North Vancouver. The only bridge to Vancouver was the now-destroyed low level bridge over the Second Narrows. In Saskatchewan, where she was born, times were tough for Lynas and her late husband Sam. ‘‘I was Pare “NEWS photo Mike Wakefield North Vancouver District 44 Schoo! Board trustee Dorothy Lynas is still Y jF. Natuie living in Moose Jaw at the time and everyone was unemployed. There were no jobs, just dust crops everywhere. The poverty was plentiful,’ recalls Lynas. Then the war broke out, and Lynas, her husband and son decided to move to B.C. where they thought there might be employment supporting the Cana- dian war effort. Lynas’ husband landed a job at a west coast ship- yard while she worked with the PTA and in first-aid stations. Lynas says she admires the teachers working today and adds that she has always felt teachers were the backbone of the educa- tional system. “*] was raised to respect teachers and was told that they were the leaders. Teachers are the heart and soul of the system. We must do everything possible for them to do the job,’ says Lynas. Lynas has been committed to education all her life. Her former colleagues on the NVSB recogniz- ° NAME: Dorothy Lynas © AGE: 80 * OCCUPATION: Retired North Vancouver School District 45 school trustee. © RESIDENCE: North Vancouver © BORN: Saskatchewan *° FAMILY: Son, Gary, late hus- band, Sam ed that commitment in 1988 when they voted to name a new school after her. The move was extremely unusual because NVSB_ policy states that a school cannot te named after a living person. Lynas says the decision to name the elementary school after her came as a big surprise. Another surprise was in store for Lynas last week when she went to a local political election office to do some work. Instead of campaign work, Lynas was greeted by a large gathering of friends and a birth- day cake. In her own words How did you feel last week at your surprise birthday party?: ‘‘I was absolutely astounded. They phoned me about doing some work. I can't climb stairs or talk to too many people on the phone, but 1 did want to do something. So they said come down around 2 p-m. and then there was this big How did you feel when you first learned a school was going to be named after you?: ‘‘I was pretty well speechless. Board policy was that you don’t name a school after a living person. The board set that policy aside while I was away. I felt greatly honored.”’ Now that you're retired, what do you like to do to keep busy?: “Today it will be 50 quarts of tomato juice. I have a pretty big garden and that keeps me busy. I can a lot of things. “When I lost my husband i decided I would stay in the house on one income. I think I was the only working stiff for a while on the school board. I made every penny count in the garden. ‘*There was a fot of work I couldn’t do because being a school trustee takes up a lot of your time. i also attended union of board of health meetings and recreation commission meetings. “I'm also involved with seniors’ issues and am on the North Shore Childcare Resource Society. I want to see kids go into school more prepared. There’s always something coming along.” STOCK UP NOW ON ALL 25 Ib. AND 50 Ib. BAGS OF OUR QUALITY BIRDSEED MIXES AND SUNFLOWER SEEDS. FREE STORAGE Buy your winter's supply at sale prices and pick it up as need- ed. You benefit from the lowest prices available and only take home what you can easily store. We keep a storage card on file and check off each bag as you pick it up. 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Saturday Hilda Von Borg Janis Antram If we have forgotten anyone, we thank you too!