Sunny Disposition—Noel Checkley

Sunny Disposition

Noel Checkley

s a young boy, Noel never liked to be told what to do. His wild and crazy attitude sometimes got him into trouble. For instance, he would leave home in San Fernando, Trinidad, West Indies and go by the sea jetty and hang out at the fish market. He would return home for lunch and a spanking. The fourth of 7 boys and 2 girls in the family, Noel attended school and played just about every sport. He recalls being hit in the nose playing cricket. He underwent surgery for his broken nose, but he had a high tolerance for pain. He was always getting cuts and bruises and they knew him well at the doctor office.

Noel was a teacher assistant but was often responsible for the entire class of 50 students. His job was to prepare students for common entrance exams and he was always dedicated to the profession of teaching. This included Saturday morning classes. Years later when he returned to Trinidad, students would remember him from former days in the classroom. Noel wanted to become a mechanical engineer and so he went to Technical College. There were no computers and they used log books and slide rulers for drafting. His schooling enabled him to find work as a machinist, an apprentice in the oil fields, and a technical illustrator. Years later he would work on software and create diagrams for a manual for a publication department in Montreal.

He came to Montreal from Trinidad to marry his fiancé in 1972. The couple eventually moved to Calgary and raised their three children; a boy and 2 girls. Noel is very proud of his children and grandchildren. You do everything you can for them, he says and even though disappointments happen in life, you know that they have good sense and can face life. A friend once asked him if his son was as crazy like he was. Noel’s answer was “no”. He advices parents to work with their children by keeping them busy and active so they won’t get into trouble. You can’t be too militant. You have to be flexible.

Noel certainly displayed his flexibility when he arrived in Canada as a young, strong man. He arrived in the summer and a good thing because if it had been winter, he never would have stayed. The propaganda seduced many from the Caribbean by stating that Canada offered a wonderful life.

Noel didn’t go out much during the pandemic and still doesn’t. Since a heart attack and his retirement in 2015, he prefers to stay home. Now that his wife is in a home for Alzheimer’s, he lives alone but he likes to stay up late watching late shows on television and getting up late. He

Aloves his morning cup of coffee. Noel started playing the steel drums at the age of 10. He went on to teach the cultural music, but has put them away for a time when perhaps his grandson will want to learn them. Until then, he will enjoy his own cooking and dream of returning to his sunny island in the Caribbean one day.