Endless Educator—Janice Ottewell

Endless Educator

Janice Ottewell

What if she had stayed at university to study history or gone to Europe instead of staying with her boyfriend? What if she had written a best-selling book? What if she knew then what she knows now? These are all questions that Janice asks herself. She knows that she followed her mother’s advice to “never marry a musician” but she often wonders if she would have led a different life if she would have followed her dream of being an archeologist or a nurse. At a career fair, she decided that a teaching career was worth pursuing at the University of Calgary. Janice has and still is curiously interested in learning. Her love for reading and interest in history has never waned. As a child, Janice was studious and compliant. The only occasion she can recall was when she was spanked for jumping into the Christmas tree when her parents had guests over. She and her older brother had a stable childhood and when she “aced” her departmental exams in Grade 9, her parents purchased a sewing machine for her. Walking down to Woolworth’s for glazed donuts and egg salad sandwiches, biking around Calgary, playing “kick the can” in the neighborhood and “calling on” or visiting neighbors was “normal.” Life was easier for parents when kids walked to school and went to church on Sundays. The family would take holidays in the summer to the States to buy clothes for school and enjoy the Ding Dongs and bring back Mrs. Butterworth pancake syrup. Those were carefree days. Calgary always felt like home and will be soon again. Janice still has friends from childhood there.

Janice eventually married at the young age of 20 and in 1978 they moved to “hick town” High River. Janice continued to commute to the city when the last set of lights was at Southland Drive. They raised their daughter and son for some years, until Janice became a single mother. She was thankful for an education and a decent job. Her parents were also living there to help support her. Her mental strength and positive thinking helped her through some difficult years after she and her husband split up.

At 68 years of age, Janice has always been intrigued by the mystery of life as it plays out. She eventually remarried but has recently become a widow one month after COVID. She felt alone and isolated but has since reignited her love for teaching by continuing to guest teach once again. Graduation is a nostalgic time as she sees these young people, untouched by the vastitudes of life, ready to go out into the world. Her advice to the next generation is to get an education.

Janice’s most treasured moment is becoming a grandmother and spending time with her daughter and son and their families. She loves watching TV series, movies and reading and art; among her favorites are Princess Bride and Tale of Two Cities by Dickens. Janice continues to be awe of the path that life leads her down and will soon discover another fork in the road. Perhaps obtaining her PhD is next.