Karen Bryant, Teacher
I was born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Throughout my high school years I was uncertain about my future career plans. I always knew I wanted to work in some sort of “helping” profession.
After high school, I entered first year at the University of Manitoba. I studied General Arts, not knowing what direction it was going to take me. I came to know a Speech Therapist who worked with my mother. The more I heard about her work with school children, the more it interested me. As the field was fairly new then (i.e., the mid-1970s) the training programs were only available at select universities. I began to investigate colleges and universities in Canada and the USA. I attended the University of North Dakota, as it was only a few hours car ride south of the border from Winnipeg.
After graduation, I worked as a Speech Pathologist in the Winnipeg school system for three years. I then decided to pursue a graduate degree in Ontario. Part way through my studies, I began to question if this was truly the career for me. I began to doubt myself and my choices. I left graduate school.
For the next several years, I explored various opportunities such as private tutoring, fitness instruction and social services work. I also did some volunteer work with functionally illiterate adults and adults recovering from mental illnesses.
All that varied experience was invaluable and brought me full-circle back to teaching. I went back to school at the University of Toronto, and became an elementary school teacher. That was 30 (plus) years ago. I worked in Ontario and B.C., teaching primary grades (2-4) until I retired in 2018.
I have two grown daughters who live in Vancouver and Ottawa. I live in Port Coquitlam with my husband of more than 30 years. I stay very active, as I enjoy walking, running, hiking, cycling and yoga. I also spend time reading, cooking and volunteering with the Soroptimists of the Tri-Cities.
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