Well-known Penticton schoolteacher Vee Dewar will celebrate her 90th birthday later this month. Born in Vancouver on December 23rd 1915 Vee was raised on Grandview Ave where she attended Britannia School to complete her elementary and high school. She then became a Secretary after attending the School of Commerce. Encouraged to set achievement goals by friend and confidante Dr Norman Black, Vee completed her senior matriculation then attended Normal School graduating in 1937 to become an Elementary School teacher.

In 1938 Vee landed her first teaching job in Grand Forks, BC where she first had to teach English to twenty-four of her forty children of Russian decent before she could concentrate on the programmed curriculum. Vee taught in several small communities in the Kooteneys then moved to the lower mainland and taught at Mallardville. In her early years Vee learned as much as she taught including the Russian, German and French languages. Eventually Vee found her way to her beloved Okanagan where she taught for ten years at each of Summerland and Penticton High School. Although Vee's teaching career spanned 35 years she continues to enjoy one on one reading practice at Queen's Park Elementary School. Seeing many of her former students while enjoying the sights, sounds and activities in Penticton provides her a special joy.

From her earliest years Vee demonstrated a penchant for games and athletics. While other young girls were exhibiting more traditional female traits Vee was out on the playing fields learning from and competing with the boys. She was considered a 'tomboy' because she was normally the only girl participating in the field games and sports. This competitive characteristic and desire to be involved in physically active and games continued into her adult years when she attended Summer School to extend her knowledge of Physical Education. She would then remain 'in house' to teach Phys Ed to other teachers. Her love of physical education would eventually take her to the University of Toronto where from 1943 to 1946 she would earn her Bachelors Degree in Physical and Health Education.

Vee's list of the sports in which she participated is long and varied. To this day she enjoys the opportunities her good health and state of well being provide. Her list of winning accomplishments and awards is as diverse as it is long. During the BC Seniors Games Vee participated in no less than three sports. Vee continues her participation in active sport to this day. She is a career tennis player and continues to play tennis a minimum of twice a week at the tennis bubble in Queen's Park. Although she is not as spry and quick of foot as she once used to be, one can accept a degree of slowing down due to the increase in age.

Vee is an engaging socialite with a warm approachability, easy laugh and infectious smile. Her sense of humour is catchy. In 1992 Vee attended Clown University in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Although she no longer clowns in the formal sense of her clown name 'Pockets', she continues to cast her humour amongst her friends while encouraging and mentoring six other local clowns.

Vee's love of music is one of her more private pursuits. During her teaching career she found that using music and singing as a teaching aid proved invaluable. She learned to play the saxophone and piano and to this day retains a base and tenor ukulele as well as a keyboard at home.

In addition to her pursuit of fitness by playing tennis Vee is a long time member and director of the Penticton Health and Wellness Centre. In that capacity she continues to encourage older adults to remain physically and mentally active in competitively demanding sports. If Vee had a mantra that she would propound it would be; 'We don't stop playing because we get old - we get old because we stop playing'.

Vee married the late Raymond Dewar in 1948 mothering David of the Lower Mainland and Gay of Puerto Vallarta. She has three wonderful grandchildren who reside with her son.

We at The Seniors' Choice join Vee's family, friends and acquaintances, former students and playmates, competitors and sports enthusiasts, members, staff and Directors of the Recreation and Wellness Centre as well as the citizens of Penticton in a grand Happy Birthday wish to one consummate and engaging lady - Happy Birthday Vee Dewar!

2006-02   Gloria Flaman