The Columbia Basin Institute of Regional History (CBIRH), in collaboration with School District #5 (SD#5), has embarked on a project through our Legacy of Learning collaboration. We have collected a wealth of photos of district staff from various schools over the past two decades. These individuals have been instrumental in shaping the education of the East Kootenay region. However, most of these photos lack the names of the staff members, and we believe the community’s involvement is crucial to fill this gap.

Thanks to the efforts of Carol and Chris Johns, the CBIRH has secured significant financial support from the British Columbia Retired Teachers Association (BCRTA) and the Cranbrook Retired Teachers Association (CRTA) for this project.
“These teachers have given so much to our region. They deserve to be recognized – this project is one way to honour their contribution,” said Johns who is also a Trustee for SD#5 and a retired educator.

Our goal is to coordinate a group of volunteers who will review the staff photos and identify the individuals in them. We will then post the images on our website for public viewing, research, and nostalgia, creating a platform for former students to reconnect with their most memorable teachers while recalling essential milestones. Your contribution will help make this public resource possible.

“History is a gathering. The CBIRH is pleased to help enrich this large collection of photos. The ‘Name that Teacher’ project helps rescue documents destined for the Dumpster – preserving a collective history of students from this area, ” said CBIRH Historian Derryll White.

If you are a current or retired teacher with a passion for local history and are interested in participating in this initiative, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with Erin or Derryll at info@basininstitute.org or call 250-489-9150 to learn more about how you can get involved. We also encourage you to share this project with your network to help us preserve the history of our region.

Thank you for your support.